Performing Chinatown: Hollywood, Tourism, and the Making of a Chinese American Community

In 1938, China City opened near downtown Los Angeles, featuring a recreation of the House of Wang set from MGM's The Good Earth. Chinatown and Hollywood represented the two primary sites where Chinese Americans performed racial difference for popular audiences during the Chinese exclusion era. Performing Chinatown argues that Chinese Americans in Los Angeles used these performances to shape widely held understandings of race and national belonging during this pivotal chapter in U.S. history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 274 pages
Publication date: 14 May 2024
Publisher: Stanford University Press

In 1938, a new Chinatown emerged near downtown Los Angeles, showcasing a recreation of the House of Wang set from MGM's iconic film "The Good Earth." This remarkable Chinatown employed a significant number of Chinese Americans who had previously served as background extras in the 1937 movie. Chinatown and Hollywood became the primary stages where Chinese Americans performed racial difference for widespread audiences during the Chinese exclusion era.
In his book "Performing Chinatown," historian William Gow explores the profound impact of these performances on shaping widely held perceptions of race and national belonging during a crucial period in U.S. history. Gow argues that Chinese Americans in Los Angeles utilized these cinematic portrayals and their performances in Chinatown for tourists to shape their understanding of race and national identity.
Performing Chinatown delves into the intricate connections between these racial representations and the restrictive immigration laws that governed Chinese entry into the U.S. beginning with the 1875 Page Act and continuing until the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. At the core of this argument lies the voices of ordinary individuals, including Chinese American movie extras, street performers, and merchants. Through extensive research in over a dozen archival and family collections, as well as more than 40 oral history interviews, this book offers a retelling of the long-overlooked history of how Los Angeles Chinatown influenced Hollywood and, in turn, shaped perceptions of Asian American identity.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503638099