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Biblioasia Jan-Mar 2017.Pdf Vol. 12 Issue biblioasia04 2017 JAN–MAR 02 / “Lancing Girls” of Yesteryear 16 / The Tan Tock Seng Story 20 / Fashion from the 60s 32 / From Britannia to NCO Club 46 / Syonan Gallery Opens 56 / Party Time at the Raffles SINGAPORE Revisited p. 8 BiblioAsia Director’s Note Editorial & CONTENTS Vol. 12 / Issue 04 JAN–MAR 2017 Production The Italian philosopher George Santayana (1863–1952) underlined the value of memory when Managing Editor he wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. History is Francis Dorai littered with enough examples of follies being repeated either due to ignorance or because FEATURES mankind seems incapable of learning from history. By the same token, there are some Editor things worth remembering (and reliving) because of the pleasant memories they recall. Veronica Chee Beneath the Glitz and This issue of BiblioAsia – aptly themed “Singapore Revisited” – remembers illustri- Editorial Support 02 Glamour: The Untold Story ous (and sometimes colourful) personalities as well as significant places and momentous of the “Lancing” Girls Masamah Ahmad events that have shaped the course of our history. Stephanie Pee Many Singaporeans are familiar with Tan Tock Seng, whose legacy lives on in a hospital Windows into History named after him, but few would know of the Danish missionary Claudius Henry Thomsen, Design and Print 08 who produced some of the earliest Malay-language publications in Singapore and Malaya. Oxygen Studio Designs Pte Ltd Sue-Ann Chia recounts the rags-to-riches story of her distinguished ancestor (she traces Contributors From Pauper to 02 08 her lineage to Tan Tock Seng), while Bonny Tan documents the life of the Danish printer. Adeline Foo, Bonny Tan, 16 Philanthropist: The Tan The dance hostesses from the cabarets of New World, Great World and Happy World Fiona Tan, Francis Dorai, Tock Seng Story amusement parks were more famous for their risqué stage shows than their works of char- Georgina Wong, Goh Sin Tub, ity. Adeline Foo tells us about the “lancing girls” who set up a free school for impoverished Ho Phang Phow, Michelle Heng, 1960s Fashion: The Legacy Sue-Ann Chia, Yeo Kang Shua, children in post-war Geylang. Swati Chandgadkar 20 of Made-to-Measure Many of the stained glass windows that adorn churches in Singapore were produced in Belgium and France between 1885 and 1912. Recently discovered drawings, or “cartoons”, Please direct all Claudius Henry Thomsen: in a Belgian archive help fill gaps in the history of stained glass windows in Singapore, correspondence to: A Pioneer in Malay Printing according to Yeo Kang Shua and Swati Chandgadkar. National Library Board 26 100 Victoria Street #14-01 The former NCO Club and the Raffles Hotel on Beach Road are two iconic structures National Library Building From Britannia to the that were built for different purposes. The former – now conserved as part of the South Singapore 188064 32 NCO Club Beach development – was once a favourite off-duty spot for soldiers, as Francis Dorai Email: [email protected] tells us. The fabled Raffles Hotel has hosted many lavish parties since its opening in 1887. Website: www.nlb.gov.sg 16 20 26 Jessie Yak previews a selection of hotel menu cards that reside in the National Library’s On the cover: Rare Materials Collection. Stained glass windows found in Ties That Bind: The Story Fashion journalists John de Souza, Cat Ong and Tom Rao describe Singapore’s style the side chapels at the Convent 38 of Two Brother Poets scene in the 1960s, a time when bell bottoms, hot pants, maxi dresses and chunky platform of the Holy Infant Jesus (today shoes reigned, in this extract from a newly published book entitled Fashion Most Wanted. repurposed as a commercial The Sook Ching In the 1970s, Singapore students had to learn the painstaking way of writing Chinese complex known as CHIJMES) at script in its proper form. Ho Phang Pow describes a textbook series from 1936 that has the corner of Victoria Street and 42 Bras Basah Road. Courtesy of been preserved in the collections of the National Library. Swati Chandgadkar. Finally, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 2017, we remember those who perished during the dark days of the Japanese Occupation. Goh Errata: Sin Tub’s short story “The Sook Ching” is a visceral first-hand account of how he escaped In the article “Time-Honoured Temple Design”, published the mass executions that took place in the days following the British surrender. in BiblioAsia, Vol. 12, Iss. 3, 32 38 42 Still on the subject of war, Michelle Heng reveals the touching story of two brother Oct–Dec 2016, we incorrectly poets, Teo Kah Leng and Teo Poh Leng, whose literary works were only recently discov- stated that the temple’s three- ered. Poh Leng was killed in the Sook Ching massacres, while Kah Leng survived to pen a tiered gopuram (or tower) was poignant poem in remembrance of his younger brother. erected in 1903. According to The Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942 and the horrific events that followed in photographic records, the three- tiered tower existed as early as NL NOTES its wake are documented in the revamped “Syonan Gallery: War and its Legacies”, which 1861. The online edition has been opens at the Former Ford Factory on 15 February 2017. The atrocities unleashed by the revised accordingly. We apologise Syonan Gallery: War war is a painful reminder why such an event must never happen again. for this error. 46 and its Legacies On a much lighter note, do make time to visit the exhibition, “Script & Stage: Theatre in Singapore from the 50s to 80s”, held at levels 7 and 8 of the National Library Building 哎哟华文字真难写！ until 26 March 2017. Also ongoing is an exhibition on the renowned artist Tan Swie Hian in “Anatomy of a Free Mind: Tan Swie Hian’s Notebooks and Creations” at level 10. 52 We hope you enjoy reading this edition of BiblioAsia. Party Time at the 46 52 Raffles Mrs Wai Yin Pryke All rights reserved. 56 National Library Board, Director Singapore, 2017. Script & Stage: National Library ISSN 0219-8126 (print) 62 Theatre in Singapore ISSN 1793-9968 (online) from the 50s to 80s The views of writers and contribu- tors do not reflect the views of the Publisher. No part of this publica- BiblioAsia is a free quarterly publication produced by the National Library Board. tion may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior writ- It features articles on the history, culture and heritage of Singapore within the larger ten permission from the Publisher Asian context, and has a strong focus on the collections and services of the National and copyright owner(s). Library. BiblioAsia is distributed to local and international libraries, academic institutions, Whilst reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of government ministries and agencies, as well as members of the public. the information in this publica- 56 62 tion, the Publisher accepts no The online edition of BiblioAsia is available at: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/biblioasia/ legal liabilities whatsoever for the contents of this magazine. 01 BIBLIOASIA JAN – MAR 2017 Vol. 12 / Issue 04 / Feature Dancers by Night, Benefactors by Day wasn’t just the “Queen of Striptease” who school Happy Charity School, in an obvious titillated men on stage; she was equally nod to the most popular landmark in Geylang People whom I spoke to about the cabaret generous in donating to various charities then – the Happy World amusement park.4 life would mention how the “lancing girls” that cared for children, old folks, tuber- The first principal of the school was were the main draw for the men. For as little culosis patients and the blind. Wong Guo Liang, a well-known calligrapher. as a dollar for a set of three dance coupons, Rose Chan wasn't the only “charity When Wong first met Madam He at the male customers could take the girl of their queen” from the cabaret world. There were interview for the position, he remembered choice for a spin on the dance floor. But, two other women from the Happy World being struck by her charisma and generos- invariably, the discussion would turn to the cabaret who worked tirelessly to start a free ity. Despite the irony of her situation, she most famous “lancing” girl of all time: Rose school for children. These women became advised him to set a good example as the Chan, a former beauty queen and striptease the founders of the Happy School in Geylang. principal and live up to the responsibility of dancer who joined Happy World Cabaret in being a role model for his charges. More 1942. When asked what was it about Chan A Happy School for Children importantly, he should never ever step into that was so memorable, many would say the Happy World Cabaret. it was her audacity to strip completely on In 1946, cabaret girls from Happy World Madam He related how her impover- stage, or to shock audiences by wrestling answered the call by one of its “big sisters”, ished past and the lost opportunity to be with a live python in her acts. Madam He Yan Na, to donate money to set educated made her even more determined Not many people were aware that up a Chinese medium school in Singapore. to help destitute children. She was unshak- Chan, like other “lancing” girls of that era, Madam He, the chairperson of the Happy able in her view that a good education was was involved in charity work.
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