San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade 1985: The Year of the Ox; Part 1

But. It was one of those chilly nights in Chinatown. I was driving around Kearney Street and grand haven't you. I selfish. It's funny how trying to turn his cheek. Something's always dissing the old guys playing checkers in Portsmouth Square. The kids kids all over Chinatown hope crazy with those firecrackers every Chinese New Year something's oldies they sing old timers like myself I still write. A lot of little fun in Chinatown to meet people from all over in time for the early here to read. That always draws a big crowd. I check out the pose little to see of some of the guys are on right now I gotta chase down some feelers. There's one. Where Jodi is the parade around here tonight. Yeah you want to go there yet you give me a left Thanks.

Live from Chinatown Simon Cisco the 1985 Chinese New Year parade celebrating the year of the Ox. Lunar calendar year forty six eighty three. Days to the year the phrase I would not tell you the best possible view of this great is going to be looking at lion dancers marching bands and artifacts numerous floats and of course the parade for the brand new 160 foot long long golden dragon. Joining me tonight in the books will be Channel 7 News

man David Lee. Maybe give me joy to everyone Ed. was also going to have the newly crowned Miss Chinatown tonight going to look at all over the state and much more from time to time will also be taking a brief look at some of the festivities surrounding the Chinese New Year holiday which officially began on February 20th of this year. Now we're not just not just the two of us are here tonight we've got other people on board today are going to help describe what's going on in the parade route. Joining us in front of the reviewing stand is Roberta Wong Roberta Let's check in with you and see what's going on down there. Thanks David Felicia Happy New Year. We've got a front row view here with the ringside seat right next to the reviewing stand. All the parade he was going to be stopping by to perform for the judges. Who will decide which units get the best awards for float drill team and marching band and so on down that road back. In just a moment we'll be taking a look at our first parade action. But before we do that let's go down to San Francisco's man on the street now Sharpe will be joining us right now and he is a special

guest. What a dramatic moment at the parade this is the year of the ox and we have the ox right here Peter. What exotic place in China does the ox come from. Really for many exotic cities for marine world which is in Redwood City Redwood City we're kind of an ox is not a wonderful place to be from. He's very used to this kind of thing. Now this is the longest walk he's ever taken. That's right he's done short stories of marine world before but never quite two miles and we're going to wrap this up why didn't he jump. Why did he jump with all the firecrackers. Well one of the reasons is that he just happened to have done it right all right back to the boat. Even had the right idea. I think so we're protected to be lazy. It's going to be interesting. I'm really excited to see the most fabulous. Float. People here are expecting about 50000 people on the action right now. Coming up toward us is the cable car motorized of course.

We're already talking there on the curbside. Here wishing us a Happy New Year Happy New Year. You look beautiful. Thank you for joining us. This is my first. This is my first New Year's parade and I'll tell you want to be first of many. I want to do it. Actually most of these folks will be here. I have some very specific criteria. Absolutely. Forty percent of the total float or display a group or band is done on theme alone an appearance of any other factors as well. And they have exactly 90 seconds. There you see that time there's a possibility they can even be eliminated. So I think that we will get rid of the laws.

Thank you. Coming up next we got the Boy Scouts of America troop number three from where else San Francisco. We've got about 20 participants marching down the street down coming toward us on Kearney Street. They've been walking about what about two and a half three miles just to reach this point so far. Students range in age from 10 to 16. Their leaders are former members of the crew. This is. There are a lot of other units of men passing by the review stand as a matter of fact very early on in the parade we had a very special guest a VIP. Certainly the number one politician in all of San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein. I understand we're going to see her husband bloom in the parade participate. You can see her arriving here coming up towards the reviewing stand she's there in the middle I think she's.

On the right side is Willie Brown and her husband Richard. There she is waving blue or blue the french fan. Are you OK. Back to the library now we've got the Ocean View High School band coming all the way from Huntington Beach California. There are about 75. Marching band and they're marked by. You know they're traveling on. Here tonight but they've been traveling. Pretty trippy. Just go. To Monterey. Well. You know I really don't see how these drum majors and the marchers have to. Do.

With their skimpy outfits here tonight. This is their moment of glory for their reviewing stand hoping really for us those. Great marching. Band is hoping to really get a top score. Today. First place of course. Bright smile. You can just tell it in their face they want that top score. The very problems that all along the parade route everyone is very very

happy. To have something in. The hospital. OK. Your father is in the hospital. Yes that's and I said listen if this is 20 days we're going to play the Super Bowl again. Oh that's right for sure man I'm a forty niner fan who's going to win that Super Bowl Forty-Niners. Let's go back now to the booth. Thanks now. We have a fabulous cell line dancing come through. Coming up these are the clubs from Redwood City. They've got about 15 participants of this is our first glimpse of the headline so far on the parade route tonight.

This performance of the lion dance and childish food demonstration are the two fight scenes performances a combination of both annoying and hands on the style of play. Or the style dancing is a little bit more docile the southern style has a little more ferocity and hold it in. And so by having a combination you have both I guess both the benevolent lion and one that's a bit. Yourself. Well. Listen the dancing going. On. Here. Yes. Traditionally. Part. Of them. Just write about 30 different movement of these. Creatures for instance. That is. A little bit like dogs with a dog.

As we mentioned the northern and southern style uses a different one. Looks more like a dog because of its long. This was you heard them playing a drama gong on a symbol we have to be played simultaneously and that is all part of the lion dance. Mel seems to have cornered somebody else who is his next man on the street. Now. We have a lady down here what part of San Francisco you're from nursing and Michigan we can talk to you. Right here this is what I what are you doing on our show. I want to come to break right now I want to ask you what is the difference between an ox buffalo and a yak. I don't know where you're from. Get out of here out of here back to you in the booth. What kind of crowd is this.

Come on Mel to find some really outlandish people. Lady on the street we're celebrating Chinese New Years in a typically American way with the Chinese American years the celebrated as a family event. We asked Chinese American story to tell us about some of the traditions and customs surrounding the new year. China the Chinese a lot. Because they get to celebrate two New Years days every year. The first one is wrong. It was the first like most people celebrated using the Gregorian calendar. John has been using that 1912 when the Chinese Republic was established. But old customs die pretty hard in China. And so they still celebrate. New Year Day. According to the old lunar calendar. And that they've been using for the last three thousand years.

According to that calendar New Year's Day falls somewhere around the end of January and in February. The. Lunar New Year all Spring Festival is still the most popular festival in the Chinese year. This is the time to honor the ancestors and senior citizens. It's a time for all round where you are traditionally a family pays off all its debts and spring cleans the house. Because no work should be done during the holiday. On New Year's Eve families get together and exchange presents and enjoy a good meal and the next day families exchange visits with friends and neighbors and greetings of joy. Meaning may you prosper. All the best. This spring festival is very rich in focal families traditionally decorate their homes with written blessings and good wishes around the doors. And put up new year pictures on the walls.

Some of these are religious. In the old days every household had a paper icon of the kitchen god in a little shrine. Another ancient custom was to paste on the front doors pictures of the so called ball gods who was supposed to protect the home. People still put up such colorful pictures to decorate and bless their homes. Women of the household put up pictures of Kwan Yin the goddess of mercy much as Christians in other countries put up pictures of the Virgin Mary. Other popular pictures of the gods of lend give it to me. And the God of wealth. Then there are pictures with all sorts of good luck symbols like peaches for long live tigers to give coverage in the face of life's difficulties. Fat babies and calm symbolizing children and well-being. And dragons which represent water which means it's good harvest and prosperity.

Most of these symbols come from the avocat for life. And families like those in Chinatown here cherish these customs and the rifle pictures and folklore that go along with them. As part of the long cultural heritage. This is come down to them. And that is why homeroom the great dragon still winds his way through San Francisco today. To bring the blessings of prosperity into the computer. I just like Chinese New Year's it just brings back more memories of that combination July 4th Christmas everything rolled into one good memories how about you. Absolutely has all the elements you want to remember about and. This will be so much energy but as Jack pointed out and also as this parade points out there's a lot of rich history that we should not forget. And as we look at some of the freedom that's come by bringing really gives an opportunity for everyone. To remember some of the tales of Chinese literature for example you know this coming up right now the four brothers these brothers are national heroes from the romance of the three kingdoms a

tale of Chinese literature written about the second century. Robin Hood like adventurers will reap feared and honored for their good deeds. Now these men are mannequins of course they're part of seven others imported from Hong Kong making their debut just this year. The others are for Blue show and characters from the Monkey King legend. And that's what life size institute we're going to have some are dancing there about 40 members of this little one here I think joining this raid for the first time the very first time. And not only young youngsters but also some young animals I think we're going to be in store to see here. I'm constantly amazed about the organizational lever that goes into making sure every unit has all the necessary things they have to have. I think of the mothers making the costumes and proud moms and dads they must be the night as they march down Kerney street coming north through the heart of Chinatown.

As you can see this really is a bicultural type of event. You've got people people of all. Ethnic and racial backgrounds enjoying and understanding and appreciating the Chinese culture at this time of year when everyone celebrating the lunar new year. The youngest fellow in the group is five years old and we go up to their mid 40s. These children go to class after school. See the lions there. Goodbye to the fat man to give them some encouragement. Now the crowds lining Kearney Street and other streets one of. 10. People.

Just lined up people waiting to see what's going on this is one of the biggest events here in San Francisco. Break dancing. Got. Physical. Many restart their training just as early as 5 years old. So they by the time they get into their teens they're. Well trained. And. Extremely skillful. Chinatown was always delusion with people coming into town earlier this afternoon.

A lot of people forget to tell off a need for this magic moment tonight. I think. That's one of the little girls here that's in the. Right. How old are you. Hun. That's are now. It's your first. Really good line. That's. A good five year olds sometimes don't talk too much but at least you got her name and. She was a. Tail so that's a. Great. Looking at me. I notice a lot of the SEALs colors in the beards trying to distinguish what. Was which was a house with an indication different aspect. So if you're personality types about. The Red Dress Ignace and roses black side by side.

They are surely one of the largest political body which was destroyed. Say. You know it's right we're going to be joined by two San Francisco after Janice Dunn of the Asian American Theater Company killed in each of the theater of the range. Everyone by now knows about young people young urban professionals. But what about just meeting young Asian professionals comedians Goldie and Dennis done with us now to poke fun at this new young breed roaming the streets of San Francisco. And.

His pets are you some old ladies from hell for a. Young professional as you say the radicals don't get us confused with the common because the A stands for aging and they used up it is years and doctors and lawyers and suddenly be put out a party but we talk too much. My parents told me education was the way and that's why I got my MBA I could not tell if I cannot tell a lie. I got to be very and I really 20 I love to keep so we can talk for hours on the telephone. And out of the club later with the ladies at the Pizza Pub pessimistic and Union Street is Runners club hanging out on our feet. When you get to it every night even ever oh yes she's all right. Watching Now I don't forget my roots. Picket line I put on my boots make it so much money because I'm a winner. Pick up the tab at the Chinese New Year dinner on New Year's Day we eat a dish called got no meat. Don't ask me why. Chicken and fish with the head and tail it brings good luck and we cannot fail we can't tell and we leave on the stand it represents life and it's good for them. Ellis put money in red envelopes. Well the

money's not important but the kids we get together we speak Chinese I sometimes forget but for them it's a breeze and the cousins we don't see them all you like gossip to each other saying Did you hear so-and-so got married he finally got her. Daughter Mercedes a brand new fur poor goal and we put on a J to show everybody all the money we made and every year we make a sculpture old I feel so good and that's no lie. Money talks. Year the year is the year of the arts. That's too much. Alright. Now truthfully Felicia are you. Trying to Will. But I'm not going to. One way or the other more freedom actually less going on. Let's go check out the Syria total high school marching band. They're approaching a stand right now with one hundred twenty five participants. This is the first of.

The year 30 40 and 60 and 70. Years. Extremely intelligent and very stubborn person tends to be one who hopes to. Get there. Do you think people are still. Getting. Some high energy groups from the ship began dancing. Look at Sirius after they walk the distance to get to this point in the parade route. They have a lot of enthusiasm.

Now has somebody else down here again. Ok what a great parade a great night this is you having a good time. Not too much here is there anybody here from Brisbane. But we've heard the British band is boycotting the far right. We don't know what these people are not from Brisbane. We don't know why. But there's also some interesting people working at the for a. New York in the parade here. Yes well that's where I can tell you one more time right to the queue. OK David Felicia please. Teacher Absolutely. We appreciate his efforts out there too. Absolutely agree. Right now we've got some international. Beauty that.

We have to we miss San Francisco and this San Jose. You would think that they would have an opportunity to ride in a car or something like that. San Francisco. Albany High School Marching Band sixty strong. They're number. Three. You. Stand. Has been a traditional participant since 1961. They place first in the parade two years ago. Did you notice we all know it for you but it's really nice to see something.

Albeit they really are. The song. Was well. Last year but again the thing I think. Here is well. Something that. Is. True.

Where. Are you home. For. Their new home. Razors.

We have three gods. They're part of a large especially for this year's parade. Congress in particular ocular homes. This is. San Francisco.

Look. Here again living next to the border in southern style. Peace living. From a childhood or the fall of militants. Fears will be strangled. When was the family back in 1969. I mean this is what you're seeing right now raising a 10 to 30 years old. Yes. I thought I would. See. There was a line to draw there are Dragon right here right now.

About turns out they've rearranged the the units here a little bit and they put together their their dragon with their lines. This is 150 foot one. That was purchased in Hong Kong. It was actually donated by room in Hong Kong. All of this man does. Make a. Debut here. Yes this is interesting enough in this country who are. These. This. Man. Says the same. One. The first. Thing. Physically. Do. You know. This. Disappoints me. For Granted.

This is really. What will. Be. Heard. Especially for San Francisco told. Me. You. Should. Sorry guy but indeed when. I go sandwiches go I want to make sure there. Are plenty of regular hands to celebrate many years would you. There. Was one reason why there. Still hasn't rained dragon which. Is the very. PLACE WHERE IT. Looks like. We don't live. Together. According to an X-ray a show where the. Realities are there really no doubt about that. But. What

we. Can do that you're testing me against I can't get comfortable. The point is that it. Was. A man who was in an. Hour to get this thing going to take your body this season will be. Playing all those live action right Purdy street at the order of Jackson. PLS. PLS. PLS. Just so. Yes.

All right so I don't know if you noticed but that was Jacques Cousteau under the head of the dragon there we also hear Alastair Cook is somewhere under one of the dragons feel like dragons. I love that a Brisbane accent is OK. What is it what is there is a dragon a reptile an amphibian or an insect. I would say reptiles. A dragon is a reptile. Yeah. You're wrong you OK QED five bucks. Oh OK. OK let's go back to the bows. All the time for about 20 participants this year and. It's amazing how many generations of young girls participated in this very distinguished group. Back in chains. Already. So they've been around a part of San Francisco for a

lot of years. And they started playing. I guess because it has a wonderful sound like let's give a listen to. It. John every few years. This guy has been with a 53. Man with 30 years which is a pretty great for a woman watching all this and.

You know actually expecting a lot more by now. It does seem a bit quieter this year compared to past years. It. Was a time that I think this is appropriate time. Everybody from all over the country just to see that is one of the founders of the Chinese New Year. Has missed. This year.

Because of his work. The culture of. Living. Many of these groups had to assemble at the beginning of the movie. They have been out here for a long time but they certainly are so excited to be here. Even after all this time. This is one time you might look for their critical problem.

According to the last census Asians are the fastest growing group in the country. One quarter of San Francisco's population is Asian with Chinese topping the actual numbers among them. To many Americans Asians are viewed as the model minority one third of all adults hold college degrees twice the rate for the general population. At the University of California Berkeley campus 25 percent of the undergraduates are Asian. Education is highly valued. So are strong family ties the work ethic and the desire to succeed while their record in education looks impressive. The fact is that Asians tend to cluster in technical jobs that require a few verbal and communication skills and that offer little opportunity for advancement. Among new immigrants the employment situation is more critical. Recently large numbers of Southeast Asians have settled in and around Chinatown. This influx has intensified existing problems of inadequate housing and unemployment. Many

refugees and immigrants work 60 to 70 hours a week and wages far below minimum wage because of language and cultural barriers. Newcomers are compelled to take these low paying jobs if they can find work. And all. Of Chinese for affirmative action. Chinatown has seen a literal explosion in labor surplus. There are many employers whether they're restaurant owners or commercial retail outlets who know that there are many people who are looking for jobs. And now knowing English is a criteria here in selecting workers in different Chinatown establishment and it makes it that much more difficult for the non-English speaking refugee who knows no English to survive in an area like Chinatown. Not surprisingly San Francisco's Chinatown is the most densely populated ghetto in the United States. It's estimated that over 60 percent of Chinatown

housing is substandard. Often lacking heat and water. The housing shortage has become acute. With the onset of city redevelopment downtown is coming into Chinatown because there's a lot of high rise development pressure and it's very enticed. To Chinese property owners and to many family associations to look at high rise development as a purposes of generating more property income. As this pressure becomes greater many low and moderate income families in Chinatown with elderly are being pushed out. And we stand the risk of seeing a Chinatown where it's no longer a neighborhood but an area where it's purely for commercial development. In recent years Chinatown has faced another critical problem a resurgence of discrimination and racism toward Asians Southeast Asian refugees many of whom are ethnic Chinese from Vietnam have been the target of racial attacks

throughout the U.S. the Chinese here as well as in other parts of the country are alarmed by these attacks which they view as a revival of hostility towards Asians. So while China Town is what it seems to be a blend of east and west it's problems of discrimination poor housing and an equal employment persist. Problems which can only mount with a continually growing population. To say that the rest of the world thinks it is these nations who are doing it. Indeed Felicia I know a lot of people on social service agencies are working on these problems trying to settle and solve them and try to make life better for everyone. Else to. Be done is a lot going on the parade route. Let me take a look see what's coming up next. They were in the middle of a group of people from the Islam temple of San Francisco. I see next next fall they just passed us so I guess where up to the next one. I have to say that's it only in San Francisco sort of the group that we did.

San Francisco this is fabulous San Francisco. You know you have a little bit of everything here. That's true in fact they even had nine units altogether in theirs. Well. What do you have for us. You know we have the lights and everything what a great parade I want an exciting day and I wouldn't be you know Chinatown without reading some fortune cookies we handed some out. But see what your fortune cookie says. Read it out loud. Good day for during the Enterprise's. In the afternoon in a bar. Isn't that great a joint enterprise. All right a little bit here. What do you got. Laid. I can't. Wait you can't read you can do this I made. You the first Chinese person we talk to and you can agree this is awful. I don't understand this well.

What do you got there. My fortune to. Paul Clare for romance tonight. Tyra why you have to work for us. This is San Francisco. Love makes the world go round and round says a dramamine pill might help. How you doing up there. Well Mel elevation might have more probable altitude than we do with a motion sickness. What we're looking at now if we should go ahead are taking long pig and Sandy these giant puppets represent central figures in the Chinese fable. The supernatural monkey little pilgrimage to India from China to bring back the sacred scriptures of Buddha. He was accompanied by these three young kids handing in on the successful return he was given the title great sage and equal to heaven. These four puppets are part of the shipment of parade artifacts custom made in Hong Kong to schools

to. Us. A. Hundred. As we just saw. As we just as we do these Chinese folklore Chinese figures as we see preparations for the underway in Chinatown.

Every year Chinatowns victory hall is transformed into a temporary home for many artifacts that we see in the parade these giant specially constructed for the parade represent and legendary Chinese folklore. Here in this large hall they have been removed from their huge crane repaired and assembled. These figures have their origins in the stories and legends of China's folk culture that Lay former. House. About 90 95 percent of people were farmers today 85 percent of peoples of the people in China are farmers. So it's a very low culture of folk culture. These stories and legends for the masses even though the high culture were aware of them but they didn't take them seriously as the folk culture did. Among the favorites are the immortals immortals their dolls to the Chinese and they are the fun loving side of the Chinese These are people

mortals that became immortals through certain certain things they did but most of them are loved to drink and play practical jokes there to follow the Chinese. Food look and sour also familiar figures to many Chinese Americans. They're all sold dollar estate teas and they represent three blessings the Chinese hope for meaning prosperity or wealth because status or position in life is longevity. So these are three things three blessings the Chinese foreign and most Chinese family you will find these three figurines porcelain figurines. And Chinese family. These are very common Chinese figures. Many kids may have heard of them from their bedtime stories. But for those who haven't the parade is an opportunity for Chinese Americans to acquaint their children with these legendary.

Do you happen to be surprised. While a. School district in banning competition. Is a favorite David. This is all look forward to every year. There. Are people who are particular. To me. This is just.

Imagine. What. Do you think of being. In a procession like this. What. Would you like. Perhaps. But in addition to that there are fifty three hundred. Six. Hundred. A.

Radio station will. Be. Personal. No I think Mel has run into somebody else to talk to some character Mel what's going on down there. I don't know what's going on here David don't you know what's going on here from now if I am out here so this is probably going on history is one of the loudest parades in history. If for nothing else at least the loudest. Have you done anything to make it loud. Oh yeah oh yeah I've given my voice to the Chinese New Year's parade. Now I know when I used to work at can I like camel. They don't call it that anymore I hear a rumor that the general manager is going to start calling it the ox Is that true. Well yeah you see it was a tradition that we try to do the Year of the rat we change the K rat in the dog which range of the k dog and one year it was K gorilla and the FCC gets a little torch will you

do that every year so we should listen good talking to you good luck to you in the Red Sox in your mouth. All right take care. Right and now we're going to continue and we're going to meet some of the press and see who's. Covering this event here today. How you do and where you're from. Barr come from Taiwan. Covering it for Taiwan isn't this exciting. Well let's meet some more of the press who you're covering this for. Free lance but no state stamps is just a pretext for a landfill newspaper to try to see how you're covering this for Harry reporter paper newspaper and someone else covering this for covering this for. You doesn't want to talk. Let's go back to the I have a funny feeling from his uniform we know he's working for. We have been doing for many many years now we have over 200 tell members and explore cadets presently now they represent over 14 law enforcement agencies in northern

California. And they're wearing their. Uniforms of wages. In a few cities and represented here. Davis Martina's Milpitas Oakland San Francisco you name it they're from all over the Bay Area Northern California. They're. Interested in becoming Forsman officers I wonder the phrase going forward. To look around them and see how well this crowd is being controlled receiving by the San Francisco Police Department. So perhaps they can be inspired by what is going on right here. To be able police activities League means to spill beautiful one of those twinkling lights on that great big dragon. This Art's partner in their costume. And as I mentioned they are on their own exactly how many but a lot of them because down

here on the parade route it is a glorious sight. Even lights in the trees. This years. You have. What's your name. It's your first. You bet it isn't that flashing red lights and all. I want to see the marine world is going to be a little jealous to see this ox getting so much attention. The crowd here has been absolutely. Everyone was watching this parade is enjoying this wonderful event tonight. It's been

orderly It's been a lot of fun. A lot of enthusiasm in the. Atl. I'm always mystified by how people get on rooftops and on the sign. A number of people hanging from the oddest places. People were standing at curbside they get up on the rooftops as you say and they get a pretty good vantage point. China Airlines and their big floats. With six or seven people on the. On board there. Any. Flight attendants wearing different costumes. Trying to airlines of course is the the flight carrier of the Republican National. One. They have. Their banners there. Yeah I gather that's for their lives. You. Will be.

Able. To sequence. Atlanta. What can be done to tell you some stereotypes about every Chinatown with a heart of gold. The generation gap during Chinese New Year. Thank you.

I'll. Tell you young man. I'm fine. Yeah. It's a real for you. To know that 95 recorded someone the whole time or just shows you how much you know. OK listen all those stations a little bit too commercial. You know what I mean. Like people like us we like you know I understand I'm going through the same thing myself. I'm always so it's a very happy man. Are you for real. Rocker. Good to meet you young man she could make you a nice man.

Listen. To me. I really don't know. I was born in. My real name. Women who. Want you in Portsmouth Square with all the old Chinese men and all the young Chinese. You know all the pretty pictures.