Maria is mentioned in a quick blurb as part of a Hollywood gossip column that does a run-down of various bits of more or less newsworthy items. In the case of Maria it mentions her playing a Japanese role in Alcoa Theatre‘s “Medals for Harry” and her being happy to be out of a type-casting rut.
Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, May 8th, 1959
(Unknown Author)
A brief blurb mentioned Maria playing her first Japanese role in Alcoa Theatre‘s “Medal For Harry” and quotes her as being happy about being out of a type-casting rut. A very similar blurb ran in the Minneapolis Star Tribune a couple of weeks later on May 20th.
Studio City Television Service (Hollywood Television Service, a division of Republic Pictures)
Aired
January 10th, 1959
Cast
Rex Allen (Dr. Bill Baxter), Harold Huber (Hongkong Harry), Maria Tsien (Mei Ling), John Crawford (Sergeant Blake), Lyle Talbot (Police Chief), Joe Forte (Staff Doctor), Marshall Bradford (Mr. Mahew)
Maria McClay as Mei Ling, a helpful employee of Hong Kong Harry’s
When a patient dies of cholera, the doctor is determined to find the carriers of the disease. His investigation leads him to Hong Kong Harry’s in Chinatown, a “low class hangout for derelicts of every class and color, with a tawdry, sordid atmosphere that attracted innocent sightseers as well as worldly thrill seekers.”. Here he meets Mei Ling (Maria), an employee of Hong Kong Harry’s, who helps him greatly with his cause, after the owner, played by Harry Huber in Yellow Face, proves to be less than forthcoming.
This episode features Maria in a more extensive speaking role and she is present throughout the entire second half of the show. Unfortunately this episode is also rife with racial prejudice of the 50s, mostly “Yellow Peril” kind of stuff, as well as the obligatory use of Yellow Face (Harry Huber as Hong Kong Harry).
Scenes Featuring Maria
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Spring Byington (Lily Rushkin), Frances Rafferty (Ruth Henshaw), Dean Miller (Matt Henshaw), Verna Felton (Hilda Crocker), Harry Morgan (Pete Porter), Pierre Watkin, Peter Leeds, Bob Duggan, Maria Tsien (Tahitian Glamour Girl Tanana)
Maria McClay as Tanana, with Harry Morgan (Pete Porter) and Peter Leeds (Major Walker)
Lily Rushkin (Spring Byington) signs up Matt Henshaw (Dean Miller) with the Air Force Reserves, ruining his plans for a vacation in Acapulco with his wife. His buddy in the air force, Major Walker (Peter Leeds) pulls a prank and gets him an assignment in Glacier Island, Alaska. In return Matt and the rest of the gang trick him into thinking that Glacier Island is a tropical paradise full of beautiful women in order to make him switch assignments. This is where Maria comes in. As part of the ploy Tanana, a Tahitian glamour girl, played by Maria is hired to pretend being one of the women from Glacier Island. An effective strategy, it turns out, as Major Walker is quite enamored with Tanana and the plan succeeds.
Scenes Featuring Maria
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South Bend Tribune, South Bend, Indiana, USA, October 9th, 1958
[Unknown Author]
This short blurb with a photograph of Maria and Dean Miller talks about her appearance as Tahitian Glamour Girl Tanana in the Alaska Show episode of the December Bride series (Season 5, Episode 2), which will be airing that evening on WSBT-TV.
Valley Times, Los Angeles, California, USA, June 17th, 1958
Allen Rich, Radio and TV Editor
This article is a prime example for much of what was wrong in the 1950s. Allen Rich, real-life sleazy creep and the author of this piece, is, with all due respect, which is close to none, oozing sexism, exoticism and various other unpleasant -isms from every pore. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Maria to endure this man for the length of an entire interview.
Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, USA, Feb 19th, 1958
(Unknown Author)
Maria was one of two New Year’s princesses of New Chinatown in 1958, alongside Lisa Lu. Together with Chester Kuan, president of the New Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, they visited Undersheriff Pete Pitchess to wish him a happy new year.
Los Angeles Evening Mirror News, Los Angeles, California, USA, Feb 18th, 1958
(Unknown Author)
Maria was one of two New Year’s princesses of New Chinatown in 1958, alongside Lisa Lu. Together with Chester Kuan, president of the New Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, they visited Undersheriff Pete Pitchess to wish him a happy new year.
In February of 1958 Maria and Lisa Lu were Chinatown princesses appearing at events celebrating the Chinese New Year, which, in this case, was the Year of the Dog.
Adam Kennedy (Dion Patrick), Seán McClory (Jack McGivern), Nan Leslie, Keye Luke, John Anderson, Maria Tsien (Mei Soong), Kam Tong, Richard Cutting
Maria McClay as Mei Soong is being placed as a bet during a high stakes poker game.
Dion Patrick (Adam Kennedy) and the vigilantes are investigating human trafficking in San Francisco’s China Town. While making inroads with the community Dion wins Mei Soong, played by Maria, from a dubious Chinese business man.
In the end he manages to return her to her true love, his Chinese guide during his investigation, and, with help from both, takes down the true villain: the white English teacher in a school for Chinese children.
Maria McClay as Mei Soong finds herself in a confusing situation while being kept safe at Dion’s home.
Maria didn’t get to many lines in this role but had plenty of screen time. While there are still plenty of racial stereotypes in play in this show at least it was surprisingly low on Yellow Face and had a comparably high number of non-white actors in Asian roles for its time.
Scenes Featuring Maria
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