L.A. Chinatown memories / clip from 'Shaolin Popey II: Messy Temple'...a cult Kung Fu classic from 1994

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

Back in the day, 1970's / 1980's, when living in L.A., I used to go to Chinatown a lot. Beside the movies, I liked the steamed buns. The chicken store would have chickens in the cage. You pick the one you want They slit the throat and threw the chicken flapping in a trash can to bleed out. Then they plucked it and processed it for you to go. A few years later, they hid the process from you and did it in the back room. More year's pass, and you saw no live birds in the store. You bought the processed and packaged birds just like in the supermarket. 

The Chinese theaters had the real kung fu movies. One such theater was up some side street, don't remember its name. It was a little hole in the wall, but they had great Chinese / Hong Kong kung fu films. 

Here is a clip from a cute kung fu comedy film they made in 1994. 

Clip from Shaolin Popey II: Messy Temple : D.D.Teoli Jr. A.C. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Edited March 5, 2022 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr.

[charles pappas]

Regarding Chinese theaters, back in the day I had occasion to explore a couple of abandoned Chinese owned movie theaters. One was relatively new and had only shown Chinese language films. The other was much older and smaller and had changed to porn before been being closed (abandoned). Both were basically unlocked. 

The thing I got a lick out of was that behind the screen in each theater were the remnants of a gambling den. Chairs, gaming tables and small bars - all too beat-up to be worth moving out.

 

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

Very interesting. Thanks for the exploration rundown Charles! I never had any idea about the gambling den. Did you take any photos?

Decay photography is a big deal nowadays. They have a Facebook group on it. I had heard that from a piece on the Sunday Morning show they had about an abandoned house photographer. The guy they showcased used Google satellite view or some such thing to find them. He looked for decayed roofs. 

You sound like a prime candidate for decay photography. Maybe something to look into if you are not already in it...and you got any spare time.

I was never into decay photography, but I remember seeing it from my early photo forum days. It is a good social documentary record of things. The closest I may get to decay photography is some rodent damage photos.

 

...or some rusty reels / cans in the cine' reel and can archive.

 

 

Edited March 6, 2022 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr.

[charles pappas]

West Texas. Junk storage.

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

What a mess! 

What was your interest in exploring it? Broke bohemian looking for salvage furniture? Bored / General interest? Decay enthusiast?

Or??

 

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

Here is a 2nd clip...from Messy Temple of the little monk breast feeding for a fight. (Also, I think these films were made in Taiwan and not China...but not sure.)

Shaolin Popey II Messy Temple Breast Feeding Clip 1994 : D.D.Teoli Jr. A.C. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

It starts out with a short clip of the monks trying to leave the Shaolin Temple to save the old Master from being killed in an electric chair. To leave, they have to fight. Then it fast forwards to them trying to save the old Master from being electrocuted by the bad guys.

The little monk fights a variety of people and drinks mothers milk from a bottle to get energy. But the bad guys get his bottle and smash it. Then a willing wet nurse appears and gives him what he needs to beat the bad guys. 

In Shaolin Popey #I, the little monk would suck on a binkie while fighting. Just cute as hell! 

Edited March 17, 2022 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr.