CHAN Chon Hoe 陈春和
Chinatown,
Accession Number 002268
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 28
Total Reels
- Jesley Chua Chee Huan
Interviewer
- 13:46:00
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 28
Metadata
- 29 Feb 2000
Recording Date
- 00:29:27
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in 1909. Father came to Singapore from HongKong. Father had a shop selling blowlamps in Pagoda Street. Father also worked for United Engineers. Father brightened up streets in Chinatown with his lamps. How father defeated the gangsters who asked for protection money. Witnessed execution outside Outram Prison in 1918. Description of slave trading firm, Kwong Hup Yuen. How the slaves were dressed.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 28
Metadata
- 29 Feb 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:36
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Heng Wai Sun, Heng Seng Peng opera theatre. Description of opera theatre interior. Prices of theatre seats. Types of food sold within theatre. Standard of living then. Where opera troupes were located in Chinatown. Tram services and their charges. Seating arrangement of the tram. How the ticket collector was dressed.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 28
Metadata
- 29 Feb 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:17
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Elaboration on transportation. Tram route. Mosquito bus. Tram colours. Horse carriages were mainly found in Eskine Road. Bullock carts. Bullock carts basically carried night-soil and goods. Horse carriages were mainly for transporting people. Rents in Eskine Road. How rickshaw pullers were dressed. Main dialect group of the rickshaw pullers.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 28
Metadata
- 29 Feb 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:26
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
There was a group of higher class rickshaw pullers for 'Pipa' girls. Description of this group of pullers. Story relating to Kusu karamat. Father's blow lamp shop was looked after by interviewee's brother. Left Pogoda Street for Kampong Bahru at the age of 11. Interviewee's marriage. His views on the British government. He was the Food Control Inspector.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 28
Metadata
- 6 Mar 2000
Recording Date
- 00:29:55
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Father invented the blowlamp. Why father's shop was looked after by second brother. Used to rent their lamps for wayang performances. How gas lamps in Chinatown were lighted by Indians. How these Indians were dressed. Lamps were lighted from 6pm to 6 am. Elaboration on father's relationship with gangsters. Names of the various gangs. Pipa girls in the early days were about 12-13 years old. Older Pipa girls appeared in late 1920s. Occupations of people in Sago Lane.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 28
Metadata
- 6 Mar 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:38
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Account on Loke Yew. Slave centres in Chinatown. Brothels got their girls from China. Brothels had introducers at the gates to negotiate prices with clients. Brothels were closed in 1931. How the prostitutes were dressed. Their age. Prices charged. Interior of the brothel. Interviewee used to visit the cabaret. Prices changed for dances. Places he danced in. Names of some of the brothels.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 28
Metadata
- 6 Mar 2000
Recording Date
- 00:29:43
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Number of girls in the brothels. Visited brothels with wife's consent. His reasons for visiting brothels. Precautions he took during his visit. Why Pipa girls were more expansive than prostitutes. How the Pipa girls were dressed. They had a contact person to help them liaise with clients. There were about 20 Pipa girls in Keong Saik Street then. Opera theatres in Chinatown.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 28
Metadata
- 6 Mar 2000
Recording Date
- 00:29:23
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Silent movies in Tanjong Pagar Empire theatre. Used to have a live band to provide music for the movie. Sound movies came after 1931. Types of movies screened. Price of tickets. Ventilation in the cinema. How people used to dirty the cinema. Cinema seats. Early cinemas in Singapore. Happy Valley in Tanjong Pagar. Tanjong Rhu was a popular place for recreation.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 28
Metadata
- 13 Mar 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:13
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Bullock cart drivers were mostly bare-chested. How horse carriages were kept in Erskine Road. Elaboration on amusement centre, Happy Valley. New World Cabaret. Prices charged. Prices charged for dancing with the girls. Dance hostesses were identified by the table number. Layout of the dance floor.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 28
Metadata
- 13 Mar 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:19
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How the dance hostesses were dressed. Dance hostesses would also teach clients how to dance. Footwear for dancing. Elaboration on the occupants of Sago Street. Description of the death houses. The sick were looked after by attendants. Males and females were segregated in the death houses. Those dying were sent to the death houses.
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