Tag: Maria Tsien

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S06 E33 – The International Set (1958)

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

DirectorOzzie Nelson
ProducerOzzie Nelson
Production CompanyStage Five Productions
AiredMay 28th, 1958 on ABC
CastOzzie (Ozzie Nelson), Harriet (Harriet Nelson), Dave (David Nelson), Rick (Ricky Nelson), Parley Baer (Darby), Skip Young (Wally), Madge Blake (Party Shop Lady), Jack Wagner (Caterer), Stanley Farrar (Party Shop Man), Hal Smith (Chef), Sally Hughes (Sally Darby), Maria Tsien (Japanese Girl – Exchange Student Fumiko Yamaguchi)
Harriet Nelson and Maria McClay.
Maria McClay as Mei Soong is being placed as a bet during a high stakes poker game.

Ozzie and Darby throw separate parties on the same night each with a different theme. Things become complicated when they both decide to host their parties together and can’t agree on a theme.

During the course of the ensuing chaos Japanese exchange student Fumiko Yamaguchi (Maria Tsien) offers to prepare a “very good native dish” for the party. The dish, once served, turns out to be “Pizza Pie Tokyo Style”.

As with almost any material from this time period this episode is rife with racial and ethnic stereotyping but, at least, Maria didn’t have to play the usual submissive Asian female character and gets to show a bit of humor.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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Maria on Groucho Marx’ Show

Various Papers, February 2nd, 1961

(Unknown Author)

Maria appears in a blurb about that night’s episode of the Groucho Marx Show on which she is set to appear as a contestant. Unfortunately the author of the blurb couldn’t help himself and threw in a bunch of sexist language.

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Don’t Say Sweetie Cause She’s Bitter

Minneapolis Morning Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, May 20th, 1959

Mike Connolly

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”. A very similar blurb had run a couple of weeks earlier in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

20 May 1959, Wed Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Newspapers.com

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Out Of 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.

Out Of Type Casting RutOut Of Type Casting Rut 08 May 1959, Fri The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

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Out of a Type-Casting Rut

Various Papers, May, 1959

by Mike Connolly

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.

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S01 E16 – Illegal Entry (1959)

Frontier Doctor

DirectorWilliam Witney
ProducerEdward J. White
Production CompanyStudio City Television Service (Hollywood Television Service, a division of Republic Pictures)
AiredJanuary 10th, 1959
CastRex 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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S05 E02 – The Alaska Show (1958)

December Bride

DirectorFrederick de Cordova
Producer Frederick de Cordova
Production CompanyDesilu Productions
AiredOctober 9th, 1958, CBS
CastSpring 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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Listening Post And TV Review

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.

Listening Post by Allen RichListening Post by Allen Rich 17 Jun 1958, Tue Valley Times (North Hollywood, California) Newspapers.com

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Chinese Open 4-Day New Year Fete

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.

Chinese Open 4-Day New Year FeteChinese Open 4-Day New Year Fete 19 Feb 1958, Wed The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com

Maria McClay