Sallie R Wagner
Sallie R. Wagner was a photographer, author, weaver, and a benefactor and patron of dancer-choreographer Erick Hawkins and his dance company.
Category Archives: Film
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Gyo Fujikawa
Gyo Fujikawa (1908–98) was a prolific author, illustrator and designer of children’s books.
Takayo Fischer
Nisei actress Takayo (Tsubouchi) Fischer appeared in dozens of major Hollywood films including Moneyball (2011), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) and War of the Worlds (2005).
Nobuko Miyamoto
Nobuko JoAnne Miyamoto (1939-) is a songwriter, dance and theater artist, author, and Artistic Director of Great Leap, who found her political and artistic voice in the Asian American movement.
Dorothy Toy
In the decade prior to WWII, the Asian American dance duo Toy and Wing sold out theaters in New York and England, and were featured in three films. While most Asian roles were performed by white actors in yellowface, Toy and Wing broke through barriers constructed by the white entertainment industry and stunned audiences with their undeniable talent.
Nobu McCarthy
Actress and artistic director of East West Players.
Reiko Sato
A talented dancer and actress, Reiko Sato (1931–81) gained visibility as a performer on Broadway and in Hollywood and had some success fighting racial typecasting.
Sanae Kawaguchi
Versatile Nisei performer and literary artist who made her mark in mainstream circles in New York during the postwar era.
Dr Cora Johnstone Best
Minneapolis-born Cora Johnstone Best achieved international success as a mountaineer during the 1920s. She was a pioneer in the sport, becoming a licensed guide at a time when women were rarely given the opportunity to be lead climbers.
Hilda Simms
Civil rights activist Hilda Simms became a national celebrity for her leading role in the first all-Black performance of the Broadway show Anna Lucasta. Frustrated by her struggling career and the lack of roles for Black actors, Simms worked as the creative director for the New York State Human Rights Commission to address racial discrimination in the entertainment industry.