Tag: 1954

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The New Adventures of China Smith

The New Adventures of China Smith Title Card

1954-1955

The New Adventures of China Smith Title Card

Maria appeared in various roles alongside Dan Duryea in this 1950s television adventure series about “China Smith”, a soldier of fortune wearing a white suit and a panama hat living in Singapore, who would face new dangers and excitement every week. The series was made with a two-year gap between “China Smith”, shot in 1952 in Mexico and Los Angeles, and “The New Adventures of China Smith”, shot in 1954 and 1955 in San Francisco.

Dan Duryea as “China Smith”

We have identified Maria in two episodes so far, playing as “Jade Flower” in “The Night the Dragon Walked” (s02 e14) and as “Miss Giong” in “The Tidewalker” (s02 e24). However, according to a copy of a credit list by agent Bessie Loo found in Maria’s estate she may have appears in other episodes as “Li Mei”, “Gin Len” and possibly 5 more characters. We have yet to identify these episodes but, rest assured, if we should find them we will make posts for them on this site.

Episodes

S02 E24 – The Tidewalker (1954)

Maria plays the role of “Miss Giong”, sharp-tongued and not easily intimated secretary of Mr. Norodam , whom China Smith has business with regarding the planting of contraband on a tramp steamer.
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S02 E24 – The Tidewalker (1954)

The New Adventures of China Smith

DirectorGene Fowler, Jr.
ProducerBernard Tabakin
Production CompanyNational Telefilm Associates (NTA), New Albion Studios San Francisco
AiredMay 5th, 1954
CastDan Duryea (China Smith), Regina Gleason (Steffi), Ted Hecht (Shell), Mark Sheeler (Norodam), Ray Bell (Wheelsman), Larry Chan (Police Sergeant), Maria Tsien (Miss Giong)
Maria McClay as Miss Giong, mostly ignoring a rather agitated China Smith (Dan Duryea)

Maria plays the role of Miss Giong, the sharp-tongued and not easily intimated secretary of Mr. Norodam (Mark Sheeler), whom China Smith (Dan Duryea) is investigating in order to find out how contraband was planted on the tramp steamer owned by the lovely Steffi (Regina Gleason).

For some reason it appears the name “Giong” is really hard to pronounce for all the white male actors interacting with her, but, well, that’s the 50s for you right there.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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S02 E14 – The Night the Dragon Walked (1954)

The New Adventures of China Smith

DirectorGene Fowler, Jr.
ProducerBernard Tabakin
Production CompanyNational Telefilm Associates (NTA), New Albion Studios San Francisco
AiredApril 16th, 1954
CastDan Duryea (China Smith), Ted Hecht (Min Su), Joan Morgan ( Marnee), Charles Lung (Mr. Ronald), William Sweeney (Justin Kobol), Maria Tsien (Jade Flower)
Maria McClay as Jade Flower, being not particularly inclined to tell China Smith (Dan Duryea) anything at all.

In this episode Maria plays the role of “Jade Flower”, a not entirely sober dancer in a seedy joint, who is said to have information on Mr. Ronald (Charles Lung) a person of interest, which China Smith (Dan Duryea) is looking for after being hired by the frightened son of a murdered Englishman, who fears he is next on the killer’s list.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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Tone’s Parade Wins Honors As “Romeo”

The Journal Herald, Dayton, Ohio, USA, March 16th, 1954

by Dorothy Kilgallen

Maria is mentioned briefly in a long gossip column. Apparently one Woolie Donahue’s is calling her at her residence at the Langdon on Fifth Avenue, trying to suggest perhaps that there was more to it, though Maria was still married to her first husband at the time. She is referred to as a model and tobacco heiress. The same article ran under a slightly modified title around this day in a number of other newspapers.

Tone's Parade Wins Honors as Tone’s Parade Wins Honors as “Romeo” 16 Mar 1954, Tue The Journal Herald (Dayton, Ohio) Newspapers.com

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The Voice of Broadway

The Shreveport Times, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, March 14th, 1954

by Dorothy Kilgallen

Maria is mentioned briefly in a long gossip column. Apparently one Woolie Donahue’s is calling her at her residence at the Langdon on Fifth Avenue, trying to suggest perhaps that there was more to it, though Maria was still married to her first husband at the time. She is referred to as a model and tobacco heiress. The same article ran under a slightly modified title around this day in a number of other newspapers.

The Voice of Broadway by Dorothy KilgallenThe Voice of Broadway by Dorothy Kilgallen 14 Mar 1954, Sun The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) Newspapers.com

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Kilgallen Says: R. Bing Has Opera Fans Shrieking

The Nashville Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, March 14th, 1954

by Dorothy Kilgallen

Maria is mentioned briefly in a long gossip column. Apparently one Woolie Donahue’s is calling her at her residence at the Langdon on Fifth Avenue, trying to suggest perhaps that there was more to it, though Maria was still married to her first husband at the time. She is referred to as a model and tobacco heiress. The same article ran under a slightly modified title around this day in a number of other newspapers.

Killgallen Says: R. Bing Has Opera Fans ShriekingKillgallen Says: R. Bing Has Opera Fans Shrieking 14 Mar 1954, Sun The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) Newspapers.com

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The Voice of Broadway

Des Moines Sunday Register, Des Moines, Iowa, USA, March 14th, 1954

by Dorothy Kilgallen

Maria is mentioned briefly in a long gossip column. Apparently one Woolie Donahue’s is calling her at her residence at the Langdon on Fifth Avenue, trying to suggest perhaps that there was more to it, though Maria was still married to her first husband at the time. She is referred to as a model and tobacco heiress. The same article ran under a slightly modified title around this day in a number of other newspapers.

The Voice of Broadway by Dorothy KilgallenThe Voice of Broadway by Dorothy Kilgallen 14 Mar 1954, Sun The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) Newspapers.com

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Voice Of Broadway: The Bulletin Board

Victoria Daily Times, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, March 13th, 1954

by Dorothy Kilgallen

Maria is mentioned briefly in a long gossip column. Apparently one Woolie Donahue’s is calling her at her residence at the Langdon on Fifth Avenue, trying to suggest perhaps that there was more to it, though Maria was still married to her first husband at the time. She is referred to as a model and tobacco heiress. The same article ran under a slightly modified title a day earlier in the Bangor Daily News and in the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

Voice of Broadway The Bulletin Board by Dorothy KilgallenVoice of Broadway The Bulletin Board by Dorothy Kilgallen 13 Mar 1954, Sat Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) Newspapers.com

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Voice Of Broadway: Broadway Bulletin Board

The Bangor Daily News, Bangor, Maine, USA, March 12th, 1954

by Dorothy Kilgallen

Maria is mentioned briefly in a long gossip column. Apparently one Woolie Donahue’s is calling her at her residence at the Langdon on Fifth Avenue, trying to suggest perhaps that there was more to it, though Maria was still married to her first husband at the time. She is referred to as a model and tobacco heiress. The same article ran under a slightly modified title a day later in the Victoria Daily News and on the same day in the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

Voice of Broadway by Dorothy KilgallenVoice of Broadway by Dorothy Kilgallen 12 Mar 1954, Fri The Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) Newspapers.com

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Voice of Broadway – Broadway Bulletin Board

Franklin and Oil City News Herald, Pennsylvania, USA, March 12th, 1954

by Dorothy Kilgallen

Maria is mentioned briefly in a long gossip column. Apparently one Woolie Donahue’s is calling her at her residence at the Langdon on Fifth Avenue, trying to suggest perhaps that there was more to it, though Maria was still married to her first husband at the time. She is referred to as a model and tobacco heiress. The same article ran with slightly modified titles around this day in number of newspapers.

Voice of Broadway - Broadway Bulletin Board by Dorothy KilgallenVoice of Broadway – Broadway Bulletin Board by Dorothy Kilgallen 12 Mar 1954, Fri The News-Herald (Franklin, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

Maria McClay