fiefoe

Ann Marie Fleming comes a family without borders, (and part of her heritage must be her love of exclamation points).

(In Okinawa:) I couldn't leave the country because you needed an exit visa, and you need an entry visa to get an exit visa, and I didn't have an entry visa because I was born there.
Pu Yi and the Ching empire was overthrown by republicans. Wearing long hair is forbidden. Those who refuse to cut their kews face execution. .. No more hair tricks for Long Tack Sam and Co. Even though they are in Europe. Just another example, I guess, of how politics affects art!
At the height of his fame and fortune Long Tack Sam owned five theatres in China (including the Majestic 美琪 in Shanghai).
Sam presented the label cut from a box of Chinese tea to the Russian border guard as entry visa.
Sept, 1940: the Japanese invade Shanghai. The Dearns - being British - are put in camps for 3 years.
1945.. the same year Bobbie marries a Japanese woman.. another triumph of LOVE over HISTORY!
石家庄 is the final resting-place of Canadian physician, Norman Bethune.

'说变就变' is such a cool phrase.

(Sam) promoted his show by skydiving into Bondi Beach (in Sydney), droping leaflets offering free tickets to that evening's performance.
(Sam's daughter Mina): My teacher was Pavlova's partner, Morrisov.
Sam, retired as a magician, (was) a member of the grand order of the water rats, the vaudeville club,.. and a 32 degree (fez-wearing) mason.
Mr. Sun Tai, the once world-famous mouth artist
吕洞宾, the patron saint of the Chinese magicians
"I had other teachers, including the great Long Tack Sam." (from the BBC's Orson Welles Sketchbook 1955)
He still did the Goldfish Bowl Trick. He was 73 years old!

The book even has an easter egg: 'Flip the bottom corner of the book to see an animated sequence from the movie.'

"The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam"