Jeff Chandler stars in a Richard-George Pedicini story about Tong rivalry in San Francisco. There are tensions among the Tong factions of San Francisco over a wedding of young people. Each of their families are warring factions of two rival groups. The reporter has a long-time friendship with leader Loo Dock, and is a long-time confidant of him. Chandler’s character tries to balance the loyalty of that relationship with his generally positive relationship with law enforcement.
This episode is promoted as “a factual document” and not an “actual event.” The phrase “factual document” is intended to sound authoritative and stoke listener curiosity. It just words, and the story uses a collection of facts without context as a springboard. This story seems to be contemporary to its broadcast but the actual Tong violence in San Francisco was mostly ended by the early 1930s. Pedicini takes some “facts” that Tongs existed, that takes advantage that Tongs and Chinese culture were mysterious to much of the listening audience, and that an interesting plotline could be developed around them ignoring the historical chronology.
Tongs had their own justice system and “laws” in their neighborhoods which caused stress between local law enforcement and the ethnic communities where the Tongs had power. A Wikipedia page about the Tong Wars may be helpful in some of the references, such as “hatchet men,” or “boo how doy.” The Wikipedia page may https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tong_Wars Some of the names of the Tongs seem to be fictional, but are combinations of sounds of actual Tong names.
Inside joke? “Loo Dock” according to Google Translate eventually brings you to “toilet” or “lavatory.” The character “Kum Gee Ho” just seems to phonetics that sounds like a name. The young girl involved in the upcoming marriage is named “Ah Toy.” That was the name of the woman who was a notorious and influential San Francisco madame in late 19th Century https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ah_Toy If it was the real Ah Toy, the story would be almost one hundred years earlier.
William Conrad playing a Tong leader might be considered odd or offensive to today’s ears, but it does not stoop to stereotypical pronunciations of English words that would be common in the radio era. Conrad plays the role using a timing pattern of dispassionate expression that implies careful and considered word selection by someone for whom English is a second language. Conrad’s approach is explained early in the story. Loo Dock was highly educated and studied and maintained knowledge of Western culture which he used to his advantage.
The police in the story wanted no part of the Tong conflicts. They were anxious to close their investigation of an incident that involved the murder of Loo Dock. It was a hoax facilitated Loo Dock himself. His death was faked using a severely mutilated body, deliberately disfigured in a vicious manner by his hatchet men. It made an accurate identification impossible. It’s clear that both the police and the reporter knew the body was not that of Loo Dock. The police decide to close the books and go along with the hoax, and walk away. The reporter, however, is spurred on to find Loo Dock and learn what was really going on.
It’s a good story, and Chandler sounds so very much like his performance in the Michael Shayne syndicated series. He does well in this role. Ignore the picking and choosing of “facts,” sidestepping of history, and note that Conrad’s performance was of its time in the business and the culture. Don’t let the “facts” get in the way of enjoying a generally good plotline and overall story.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP520107
THE CAST
JEFF CHANDLER (Dan), Herb Butterfield (Wilburn / Chinese 2), Byron Kane (Sonjac / Chinese), Joe Kearns (Muccia), Jack Kruschen (Kum Gee Ho), William Conrad (Loo Dock), Sam Edwards (Tommy), Lillian Buyeff (Ah Toy), Larry Thor (Narrator)
COMMERCIAL: Tom Holland (Hap), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Sylvia Simms (Operator)
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