The Forbidden City Nightclub

The Forbidden City was a Chinese-themed nightclub and cabaret in business from the late 1930s to the late 1950s , in San Francisco. The Forbidden City featured Asian American singers, dancers, chorus lines, magicians, strippers, and musicians. Charlie Low opened the Forbidden City in 1938, naming it after the Forbidden City in Beijing. It was the first, and most famous, among approximately 12 Asian-themed cabaret clubs in Chinatown. It thrived during World War II, and throughout the 1940s and 1950s.

This is a major inspiration for 'Gosney & Kallman's CHINATOWN.' We get asked a lot why we chose to call the club CHINATOWN. Besides the fact that we think it is cheeky and clever, cities all over the world have Chinatowns and it is where the East meets West. Shanghai, being in the forefront of the most happening cities in the world, deserves to have it's own Chinatown- where West meets East.

CHINATOWN Goes to Borneo!

"How To Be A Showgirl in a Muslim Country"

I have been wanting to share the story of our adventure of bringing our performance troupe to Borneo since we've been back and am just now getting the opportunity to sit down and write it out, so if you have a minute to read, I hope you will enjoy it!



So CHINATOWN was invited out to Malaysia, on the North West side of the 3rd largest island in the world of Borneo to perform at the opening of the five star hotel 'The Pullman!' Although we graciously accepted this invitation with enthusiasm and tanning lotion in hand, there were several points during which the four of us CHINATOWN producers looked at each other wide-eyed wondering if there had been a mix up, as we specialize in Cabaret, Vaudeville, and Burlesque style entertainment and Malaysia is of course a Muslim country!



I was given several guidelines to prepare our show for this performance adventure. 1) No Skin- No legs, thighs, mid-drifts, breasts, shoulders, bottoms, etc. 2) No Contours of the body and 3)No implied stripping or nudity. Most of our acts and costumes for our troupe of 6 showgirls are actually based on the exact opposite philosophy, so this was a considerable challenge! I bought long underwear in several colors, tons and tons of feathers, made giant necklaces to hide any cleavage behind, shoulder pieces, stockings, sparkling tube tops, etc. The result was we were covered (Though at our dress rehearsal for their Cultural Department they asked us to add even more feathers to all the chest areas to be sure of no accidental 'Contours'!), but the aesthetic was somewhere between Ostrich and our great great grandmother's showgirls. In fact, I'm pretty sure some of the showgirls took this opportunity to send some photos home to their grandmothers and anyone else who has been skeptical about what they have been getting up to China!



We were in Kuching ('City of Cats'), the capital of Sarawack. We pulled off a 2 hour show that heavily relied on singers and production numbers. A number I was surprised got past the censors, and actually turned out to be everyone's favorite act of the night was the one where we do 'Synchronized Swimming' behind 'Waves of Water' while our singer, Frank Bray, sings 'Beyond the Sea'. We were told to keep the towels on the whole time, and we made our best effort to, but this wasn't always an easy task and I had to send several girls 'drowning' into the sea to readjust things multiple times. (Maybe this is why it was such a favorite!)



The Chief Minister of Sarawack, the 74 year old man by the name of Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud was our special guest. He was meant to stay for twenty minutes, but to everyone's shock he stayed for the entire show, which we've been told is the highest of compliments! The show was for 1000 people, about half were Muslim, a fourth Chinese, and a fourth Christian Malays. It is safe to say that about half of the people there did not look up from their plates, barely ate, and didn't talk to each other. Out of the rest some people did not like us, but a surprising amount of Malay women, Chinese woman, brave men, and people living their as expats thought we were the best thing since sliced bread, and lined up to have their pictures taken with us after the show.



The show felt to us like a bit of a marathon. We usually stick to a very well thought out show plan that goes between group acts, songs, and solo acts allowing plenty of time for costume changes, etc., but in this case we had very little solo acts and tons of extra costume bits ("Feathers! You need more Feathers!"), causing us to sweat profusely and scramble into places. We were told by the client that we were a huge success, that the fact that half the people looked up from their plates meant we had achieved something, and that some people clapped at the end of numbers- even better! It was one of the strangest shows I have ever done- Burlesque in Borneo- I shall never forget it!



The most rewarding moment for me was afterwards we were packing up and the staff were just getting off work, and they were fussing over us like we were the Beatles! Everyone wanted pictures, autographs even! (I guess when a country rejects Beyonce we look like the next best thing!) It was really sweet. One boy asked me to give him a kiss on the cheek and they went nuts! I ended up giving many kisses on the cheek and left feeling like I had honestly made a few people's days (But I have to admit... they really made mine!).



What followed was Norman and I taking a week on the beach at a resort we had to ourselves in the middle of the closest thing I have ever witnessed to paradise. To the left there was clear, beautiful ocean, to the right, miles and miles of mountainous rain forest. We took some much needed rest and personal attention and felt like two of the luckiest people in the whole world! Words can't describe, but if you get a chance to see the photos you will see what I mean!



Since we have come back we have been right back in the thick of it. We are dealing with the Shanghai Expo starting in a little over a week, which has meant constant surprise visits and exciting new rules from the police and Cultural department. We are expanding to include a lot more Chinese language into our shows and suspect we will be a bit more geared to tourists on Wednesdays and Thursdays, leaving us to please ourselves over the weekends. We have been working so hard and very much appreciate all he support we have received from family and friends all over the world. We very much encourage you all to come and pay us a visit! It is an extraordinary time we are living in at the moment and watching Shanghai develop is a good example of the world changing rapidly. Also, it is looking more and more likely that they will float the RMB against the dollar in the next few weeks, which will mean a big value increase for anyone with money invested in this country! (Yea!)



I'd like to encourage you to view our Borneo photos at the address below,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ameliakallman/

INSIDE: The Chelsea Hotel

Book by Julia Calfee

Back on the Blog...

Back on the Blog….
Dear Family and Friends,
It is with my sincere, heartfelt pride and pleasure that I am finally able to blog again. It has been quite sometime since my previous blog and I wish to explain why and share with you the excitement of finally being able to tell you about the opening of ‘Gosney & Kallman’s CHINATOWN!’
In between now and my previous posts we have been tried and tested. There were more times than I wish to remember that I was scared this post would have to say we have been defeated, but our team of myself, Norman, Tim Clark, and our latest addition, Anna Patterson, have remained steadfast, passionate, and we have succeeded by sheer will and persistence up against all odds. This venture has sustained itself on our blood, sweat, and tears and while this moment has been long anticipated I find myself here with tears in my eyes, moved by our accomplishment. Not to say there are not more obstacles ahead, but it has been us-against-the-world for what seems like an eternity and at least now we get the payoff of showing everyone exactly what we have been dying to do! This project has taken on such a greater meaning than I ever imagined possible.
I just looked it up and we will be opening exactly 2 years to the day that we arrived in Shanghai, with nothing but one phone number and 2 suitcases. We are still very happy to be here in Shanghai. Norman’s predictions about the crash of the global economy have proved true and this city seems to be taking it a lot better than some others, though that’s not to say this city hasn’t been challenging, because it has been on many levels. But the timing still feels right here. It is still as exciting as ever, and the people here who have supported us have become like family and are truly world class.
Norman and Tim deserve so much of the credit for making this happen. I thankfully got to take on the creative responsibilities, which have had it’s ups and downs of course, I’ve been disappointed by some people, but the good talented, passionate people make up for it all a hundred fold! The team we have arrived at the finish line with I would put up against any in the world.
The club is coming along beautifully. Norman has thought about everything and we have so many perfect additions that make this place truly unique on a global scale. Three of our bar staff hold international bartending titles. The girls and guys of the cast are one of the most talented ensembles I have ever seen, and I swear I am not just saying that. One thing I have been working on is an art piece/collection I have titled “Tassology: The World’s Largest Pastie Collection, Part V.” I m delighted to announce that the collection has been picked up to be exhibited in a very famous and prestigious art gallery here called ART LABOR, with the opening party Friday August 21! It will be another dream come true to be exhibited as a proper artist in a proper gallery! I will be sure to take pictures. The collection will then be on permanent display in the nightclub, and it remains open for donations at any time. It has been very fun (and funny) receiving them in the mail from all over the world!
I think I have said enough for now. Feel free to check out our website: http://www.chinatownshanghai.com though it will be getting a bit of a makeover in the next several weeks. If you have any club related questions my new email for that type of thing is: ak@chinatownshanghai.com. If you read this and have a moment to drop Norman or myself a line, we would love to hear from you, and hope to see you out here to entertain you at ‘Gosney & Kallman’s CHINATOWN!’
With sincerity and love,
Miss Amelia Kallman Gosney (Ha! That is the first time I’ve written that! I look forward to people asking me ‘Which one are you?’ to which I can answer “Both!”)

It's All About the TEASE!

Writing a new blog finally! So much has happened since the last time I wrote, we've had some ups and downs, but now the temperature is rising and things are bound to become even hotter in the next few months! One thing I always meant to mention, but I don't think I ever did, so let me just throw it out there before I forget! I had a celebrity moment not too long ago when Sasha (One of the World's top DJ's... either #1 or #2) was brought to town by my friend Andrew Bull to tour China. Now if you know me you know I don't know much about that world of DJ's, but come on, everyone knows Sasha, and I was really impressed with how cool and down to earth he was. It was really a funny scene though because we are in the VIP lounge and the Chinese LOVE him so much and kept taking pictures and getting autographs, but in between no one would talk to him and he was left sitting all alone, which just stikes me as hilarious! So of course, being the kind of person I am I take it upon myself to let him know there was a person in the room that could form full sentences and could carry on a regular conversation! Heard all about his new born and I got a kick out of it when he said he loves to come to Shanghai to relax! Ha! Anyways, it was just another one of those "This couldn't happen anywhere else in the world," sort of things, like the time I hung out with Talib Kwali, who, if you are from NY, you know that's pretty impressive! I can't wait till our club is open and i get to entertain every celebrity who comes to town in my own house! So enough bragging, I just thought it was a cool story!

Been to a lot of great parties lately, and actually thrown some ourselves! M on the Bund, the 1st establishment on the Bund, had it's 10th anniversary party and guess what their theme was? "Pink Burlesque!" They brought in The Atomic Bombshells again, I was a bit confused why they didn't hire our local Burlesque troupe, "The Chinatown Dolls," but they went over a treat, and the reaction is very encouraging.... this town is SO ready for what we have to offer, I think we will blow people away when they finally get to see the real thing! Then we threw a party at Hamilton House, BIG NIGHT OUT believe it or not, which you may or may not know is a party Norman has been throwing for 20 years in New York City as "Norman's Big Night Out!" We had our favorite choreographer and drag queen perform, Chinatown Charlie sang "Puttin on the Ritz" on the bar, I performed a special Showgirl Birthday number, Miss Sassafras performed a fire act, and then I concluded the night with the debut of a brand new Burlesque act! So I'll tell you a little secret... While I have been performing in Burlesque shows for over 4 years now and I've been a show girl and performed my famous "Any Movie in 3-Minute Acts," I've never actually done a real burlesque before, so this was very exciting for me! I have chosen not to go down to pasties and g-strings though, which is a personal choice (My mom would kill me!), but also I really am standing by my stance of The Tease is Sexier then seeing everything! In New York "Burlesque" has almost become a bad word, as it often now means an inexperienced, Dita-loving girl working out her issues on stage, and you end up seeing the exact same act over and over again, which is a dance around, then they pop their tits out, and sure you can wear a million different costumes, but at the end of it, it's still the same act and their is no creativity or stage-craft involved, which is what I stand by as REAL BURLESQUE- WHAT WE DO! My examples are people like Ms.Tickle and Lady Ace, I've been lucky enough to be influenced by The Best Burlesquers in the world, and I am so glad to be coming to burlesque from this side of things, as if I had started 4 years ago I probably would have been one of those girls I mentioned blindly going throw the actions that they've seen a million other girls do before them, missing the whole point of the ART that is involved. Also, I find it a bit disturbing now how eager people are to show the world their secrets.... I mean, I've worked really hard to come up with original, never-before seen ideas, and the truth is I don't really want them out there for the world to copy... I struggle with this a bit because things like facebook and myspace are great on a lot of levels, but everything is so exposed these days... It's all about the Tease!! There, my rant on Burlesque for the day, I can scratch that off the list now! :)

So you may or may not know that when the financial crisis happened we lost one of our major investors, leaving us two-thirds the way through the project, but missing half our capital, so we have reduced the share price and are now selling shares to individuals, as well as some very important businesses who are buying up blocks. At this moment there are still some shares available at a bargain price, and the sooner we sell it the sooner we can open our doors, so get in touch if you would like to know more! The club is GORGEOUS!! We have added a 3rd floor private bar, I can't tell you all our secrets, but boy do we have some tricks up our sleeves and surprises in store for you! So since that Hamilton House gig, (which I forgot to mention, turned out a crowd of 400 people, and we ended up having to turn away 100 at the door because we were so packed) we have been getting calls and offers from all over town! I have "The Chinatown Dolls," booked out 5 nights this week, and it looks like we have several more major gigs coming up as well! The first night The Dolls went up was sort of a big night for me I felt, as it was the first time EVER where I didn't perform and got to be there as director instead! I liked it! I am so proud!

Norman and I have obviously been feeling the stress of this project and can't wait to just focus on the creative work we look forward so much to! Our business manager Tim Clark is a swell marsupial (Australian) and as an investment in all our futures decided it was time for Norm and I to take a vacation, and he sent us both to Phuket Thailand over Chinese New Year for the most amazing, beautiful, and relaxing Honeymoon anyone could ask for! The weather was perfect... we sat on the beach and got tanned (Well Norm became Lobster Boy on the 2nd day, I managed to make it half way through before I became Shrimp Girl!), I went snorkeling for the first time! I couldn't believe the incredible psychedelic fish down there! It was hard at first to get my body not to go into panic mode, breathing underwater is an odd sensation. Norman says those beautiful neon stripped fish go grey when taken out of the water, and that where we were wasn't great diving, but I loved it! Our hotel was great with a nice pool, balcony, tub, breakfast... We rented a motorbike and went all over in it! I definitely noticed the air quality, and a few days in the sun and ocean cleared up all aches and pains and sniffles. We went to the main touristy area a few times, saw all the lady boys and a bunch of drunk tourists. The highlight there for me was finding a rasta bar tucked back away from the crowds. One night we went to see the Ladyboy Cabaret show... ugh! It was awful! Great, world class sets, and some impressive costumes (but all the same drag queen stuff, after seeing it over and over it's not nearly as impressive), I mean, quite frankly, there was no talent there! But hey, I told Norman, "If I was a ladyboy, I would be very happy with a gig like that!" But we had a hard time bringing ourselves to clap... it was good to see it though as it just underlines how good the stuff we do is! The Thai food! Just the best! The fresh seafood, and green curry, with a margarita.... I can't think too hard about it because I miss it! Another big highlight for me was riding an elephant and petting a baby elephant! Even the baby was huge though! I was very aware that baby could have me! I got to feed one pineapple, and it was so cool! That big, huge pointy tongue, and their trunk trying to pry it out of my hand! I fell in love! We also took a pilgrimage to see The Big Buddha, which overlooks all of Phuket. It was a lovely experience, we were both blessed by a monk and still have the strings around our wrists from it. The Thai people seem like a really fun culture. Very funny, and fun sense of humor, though I got the impression when your back is turned they are actually laughing at you! We ate lunches on the beach, saw the sunsets both from the beaches and from high peaks... We didn't want to come back! But I'm glad we did!

I miss my friends and family back home. It seems like a lot of people have been going through rough times lately with health issues, and this financial crisis. We feel happy we aren't in the states and NY right now, but we also had hoped to be open before this crisis hit, as it is now affecting us very much too. We hope to be back in the states and UK during the month of August! I'm very much looking forward to the party my parents will be having to introduce Norman to all my family and friends! All this being said, while times are tough, I feel so lucky to have my husband, who at the end of the day, we can always make each other happy, and a beautiful supportive family, and a fabulous group of caring friends. During hard times it becomes quite apparent who is for real and who is not. I've grown up so much in the last year, I am very happy to be where and how I am now, and quite honestly, I just see it getting better!

Thank you for your kind attention! I have toyed with the idea of really doing a blog make-over and make it more often, and while that sounds like it could work, I honestly don't have the time or the computer patience necessary, so i apologize for the infrequency of these blogs, But I definitely appreciate your interest and like I said before, who wants to give away all their secrets? It's all about the TEASE!

Big Love,
Miss Amelia
Also, check out www.flickr.com/ameliakallman for pics from Phuket!

2009: The Year of The Showgirl

Happy New Year! Hope you all had an incredible 2008, but get ready! 2009 is going to be even Bigger and Better! Stay posted for the word on 'Gosney & Kallman's CHINATOWN' opening sometime after the CHinese New Year! "The Chinatown Dolls," (Which includes the lovely Miss Lavender Chase, our sizzling chanteuse- Miss Reina Sunshine, from the Copa Cabana:-Miss Bella del Rio, Shanghai's own- Miss Pinky, the sassy Miss Sassafras, and the hauntingly beautiful Miss Honey B. Witched) brought the house down at Hamilton House on New Year's Eve along side myself, the legendary Norman Gosney, and our spectacular emcee in training, Chinatown Charlie! Showgirls mingled with guests, the show included a solo song, a burlesque, 3 full song and dance production numbers in the most colorful and sexy costumes, Me popping out of a giant cake at midnight!, and we concluded with that mastrpiece of Victorian techno- "The Can Can" that had the audience jumping out of their seats! Besides the audience inside, we were flabbergasted to find that we had stopped traffic on the bund with hundreds of spectators trying to get a peek in! It was a fabulous night and we all look forward to our next appearance, and entertaining you on our own stage!

Hope you enjoy seeing the pictures from New Year's Eve, and on behalf of myself, The Chinatown Dolls, and Gosney & Kallman's CHINATOWN,
We wish you good food, good friends, and good fun this year! Make the best of it, it's only 2009 once!

Much love,
Yours truly,
Miss Amelia

Club Club Club Food!

Things are definitely heating up over here! We plan on being open in 6-7 weeks! So much to do in between! I'm taking an hour or so to attempt to catch you up on all the craziness that life has gleefully provided us of the late! I should start by saying I am happy to be alive and relieved to be healthy! I thought I was really in for it this week! On Monday I had terrible back pain on my left side, as if I had thrown my back out, but the muscles weren't tense, and the pain also was slightly in the front of my ribcage on the left side too. I took my temperature sort of as a joke because I never have a temperature, and it was 101 degrees! The pain got worse. I got a bit worried then, went to bed, woke up at 4am with a temperature of 103 degrees, cried, thought about calling my mom, or waking up Norman and going straight to the hospital, but decided to take ibuprofan and settle down, eventually falling back to sleep. Went to the doctor's keeled over in continuous pain, feeling faint the whole time. I went to the foreigners doctor this time, no muckin' about. I was sure I needed surgery or something, but fortunately two doctor's agreed I had this as a result of having chicken pox as a kid. The virus mutated, climbed into my intercostal muscles of my ribs on the left side and decided to make my life miserable! They gave me medicine, thank god for antibiotics and pain-killers! I spent the next 2 days in bed shivering under blankets, sweating off a fever, unable to barely walk or talk. Norman took the best care of me, even in his tremendously busy schedule. I would have lost my mind had he not been there! So, today I am better. The pain is faint, I am on my last day of meds. Took myself off the pain killers, can easily see how people become addicted to those. Now, back to work. Of course this illness was brought on by stress! Joke's on me! I guess I can afford to lighten up a bit! Being able to read in bed and turn off my cell and computer for days really helped to make me feel more in balance again.

We had auditions and have cast my chorus line of very talented international beauties as The Chinatown Dolls! The first auditions we had, before the ones that were publicized, were through a Chinese talent agency. The things we saw that day! First of all, they were almost all children. There were two adult magicians, but the rest were kids, anywhere from 6-16. I didn't believe along with the rest of you that the "16 year old" gymnasts from China were really that age, but Now I do!! Some of the acts we saw: 2 sisters, one maybe 7, the other 16 (looks about 12), do an acrobatics act together, climaxing with the older one balancing 5 fully lit candelabras (2 on her feet, 2 on her hands, and 1 on her forehead) and Then she does a full circle, turning herself over completely! As I write this it is a bit of a struggle to put in words what we saw! Hope to use those girls by the way. Another act, 2 twin boys, 7-8.... The cutest things! They juggled hats, did some balancing, mostly they were just adorable though, and they were one of the acts that looked like they loved it. They had "Show business" written all over them! We hope to use them too. One act we will also use is a girl who balances a fan on her forehead, with another fan on top of that, and then a cup of water on that, and then swings hoops on her arms and legs, all at the same time! Some acts were a little "Jean Bonet" if you will, and in the states red flags would go up immediately, but apparently not here. One very pretty little girl looking about six, did a whole contortionist act and her only steady point was her mouth biting down on a tripod thing, supporting the rest of her body. Then later she did an act on her back twirling and balancing a chinese umbrella. We were taken beck by the massive amounts of bruises covering every inch of her feet and ankles. Enough to turn your stomach, poor thing. One act which we will not be using was a small girl with a teenage girl on roller skates. It starts out cute, but then they each get neck harnesses and they clasp themselves together by the neck. The older one start skating in circle, while the younger one is flying around, parallel to the ground, flipping in circles, supported only from the neck! Quite frankly, it scared the shit out of us! Really incredible, but Really dangerous!!!

The auditions we had that were publicized attracted mostly foreigners, with some rather amusing exceptions! We had some fabulous singers come in, found some good girls and guys. Found a great Flamenco band, some beginnings of really interesting acts, some great dancers... and a few not so great dancers! All in all, we were happily surprised and are now feeling really good about the talent here and the ensemble we have formed! Right now in The CHinatown Dolls I have girls from all over, Norm calls it "The United Nations": Brazil, Poland, Uzbekistan, Australia, Shanghai, New Zealand, USA.... Went to check out the site yesterday. They have the bamboo scaffolding 3 stories high, all the way around the center of the club, and on the outside. 3 booths and a few bathrooms are laid, the ones that will support the 3rd floor. They work so fast here, it is unreal! So excited to see it actually happening!! Getting music in by the day from Joey Altruda, our musical director in LA. We have signed on Frank Bray, our Amazing show singer, Charlie Mayer from London as our MC (called him the other day and he was in Greece literally on his hands and knees scrubbing Aretha Franklin's toilet! Got to love it!), and have acquired a fabulous choreographer who also does costumes from France, but lives and works here in Shanghai, and is up for being a full time member of the team! Feeling very good all thing considered. Started rehearsals last week. Norman and I can't wait for the club to be open! Realizing that will bring a whole new set of issues and problems, but those are the kind we love to handle! We are rehearsing 9 numbers with the girls, then another 4-5 ensemble numbers that are mostly involving the men. It is all very exciting!

So being sick and not being able to do much I got to catch a few episodes of Gossip Girl. Find it interesting that they go to a "Secret burlesque speakeasy" to get their kicks. Where ever did they get that inspiration?

We were fortunate enough to go to dinner in The World Financial Building a few weeks ago. It is the tallest building in the world at the moment. That is arguable, but it is the tallest place anyone can stand in the world at least. So we were invited as the private guests of the GM of the Park Hyatt Hotel, which still isn't even officially open. I should preface this by saying this was one of the best nights of my life! I have never had a food experience like this one before. It actually caused me to go into a fast for four days after, not because I was feeling food guilt, but because the thought of eating regular food depressed me! So we arrived on the 87th floor, and the view is unreal. We were looking out on top of the Jin Mao Tower, the Pearl Tower, could see Shanghai far far off. We ate in the GM's private dining room... oh it was so romantic! A large open room, high high ceilings, a kitchen, a bar, a large private wine cellar, a long dining table, the perfect low music playing... We started with Champagne and caviar, and then this amazing meal:

Flower crabmeat salad, tomatoes, beans.-Champagne
King prawn (To DIE for!), char grilled, ratatouille.-white wine
Veal tenderloin, slow roasted, porcini risotta, balsamic marinated parmasan.-red wine
Lamb rack, Australia, oven roasted, garlic creme, lentils.-red
Brie de Meaux-red
Caramel ice cream bombe, dulce de leche. -port
Then coffee and fresh macaroons

I should be so lucky! It was unbelievable, I felt like an absolute princess! Turns out Norman knew the GM's father, he had a restaurant in Clifton in Bristol! We have arranged with them to send their people our way after dinner and we will send our people their way. We have also been arranging rickshaw services from restaurants and hotels to our place!

Those are the highlights at the moment without getting too into the gritty details! I am about to meet up with our costumer to talk to the feather guy! I will let you know soon about the opening, maybe even see a few of you here for it! Thanks for reading! Enjoy this October, I love this time of year! Yours truly, Miss Amelia