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My grandma passed 3 months ago in Feb, age 93, of natural causes. I spent a lot of time scanning photos she left behind for her funeral and scanned more over quarantine.

My grandma, 梁萍 (Leung Ping / Teresa Leung; sometimes "Liang" instead) was a prominent "shidaiqu" pop singer under EMI/Pathé in Shanghai, who grew up in and witnessed hardships during the Chinese Civil War, Sino-Japanese War/WW2 and Communist Revolution. Upon the latter, shidaiqu was banned, deemed "Yellow Music" (in Chinese, "yellow", 黄, is a pun for "pornographic"). She fled to and continued singing in Hong Kong, then Singapore, before mostly retiring in San Francisco.

She was very private of these photos—I'd never seen them before she passed. My aunt reflected how she once asked her if she could look at them, and she smirked, "You can look at them when I go."

Here's a playlist of her music.

This is a condensed version, so you can visit my original Facebook album to see more.

More info: Facebook

#1

Photo Model, Around 50s

Photo Model, Around 50s

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Photos are mostly focused on the 1940s, 50s (most prominent) and 60s, with a bit into modern times; and focused on her career, with a little bit of her personal life.

#2

With Elizabeth Taylor, Mike Todd, And Run Run Shaw

With Elizabeth Taylor, Mike Todd, And Run Run Shaw

w/ Run Run Shaw (Shaw Bros.), Elizabeth Taylor and her husband Mike Todd (who'd pass away only 4 months later in a plane accident). Singapore, November 1957.
She was asked by Shaw to be a representative of the Singaporean entertainment industry to greet Taylor.

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#3

In Her Wedding Gown

In Her Wedding Gown

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I originally shared these on Facebook to an overwhelmingly positive response and figured the Bored Panda community might appreciate a look too, into the past of times gone by.

#4

A Proud Mama With My Mom!

A Proud Mama With My Mom!

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#5

With Her Mom, My Great-Grandma

With Her Mom, My Great-Grandma

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This is a condensed version, so you can visit my original Facebook album to see more.

#6

Obligatory Selfie, Nye 2013. We Miss You!

Obligatory Selfie, Nye 2013. We Miss You!

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#7

All Styled-Up

All Styled-Up

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#8

Beautiful Black Dress

Beautiful Black Dress

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#9

With Marian Anderson

With Marian Anderson

w/ Marian Anderson, one of the most important African-American singers who helped break many racial barriers. 1957.

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#10

In A Cool Background

In A Cool Background

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#11

A Candid Photo

A Candid Photo

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#12

She Still Looks Beautiful

She Still Looks Beautiful

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#13

Posing With A Bike

Posing With A Bike

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#14

Heyday

Heyday

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#15

Looks Like A Shot From A Movie

Looks Like A Shot From A Movie

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#16

A Watercolor Painting Of My Grandma In '89, Which Hanged In The Hallway Of Her House

A Watercolor Painting Of My Grandma In '89, Which Hanged In The Hallway Of Her House

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#17

I'm Guessing This Was A Broadcasted Live Performance On Radio Malaya

I'm Guessing This Was A Broadcasted Live Performance On Radio Malaya

Malaya is a former name of Malaysia, that Singapore was part of until 1965... well, basically. The 50s and 60s were a crazy time between the UK, Malaysia, and Singapore).

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#18

In Malaya, In Kedazaan-Dusun Tribe Clothing

In Malaya, In Kedazaan-Dusun Tribe Clothing

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#19

With My Aunt

With My Aunt

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#20

Beer Ad

Beer Ad

Advertisement for German beer, Beck's. Was told that "Kunchi" is Malaysian for "key".

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#21

Another Newspaper Clipping, Competing For Miss Hong Kong

Another Newspaper Clipping, Competing For Miss Hong Kong

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#22

With Yao Lee (I Believe That Is)

With Yao Lee (I Believe That Is)

I speculate that may be Yao Lee by my grandma. Yao Lee was an important singer of shidaiqu, one of the "Seven Great Singing Stars" of Shanghai, and helped my grandma's singing career. The two of them would sing together over the radio.
You may have heard her music recently in the film, "Crazy Rich Asians."

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#23

A 1967 Release, I Believe

A 1967 Release, I Believe

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#24

40s-50s

40s-50s

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#25

Another Obligatory Selfie

Another Obligatory Selfie

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#26

On A Bicycle

On A Bicycle

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#27

Concert

Concert

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#28

Still Performing In The 70s!

Still Performing In The 70s!

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#29

Broadcasting Ad

Broadcasting Ad

Broadcasting ad, sponsored by a multivitamins company and some good ol' Danish beer.

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#30

Concert

Concert

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#31

Looks Like A Show

Looks Like A Show

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#32

Showing Off A Vinyl Cabinet

Showing Off A Vinyl Cabinet

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#33

Another Take From The Celebrity Party

Another Take From The Celebrity Party

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#34

In Her Youth

In Her Youth

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#35

With Carrie Koo Mei

With Carrie Koo Mei

I am not sure who that is to picture-left, but at the right is 顧媚 (Gu Mei / Carrie Koo Mei), another prominent shidaiqu singer, who also starred in a few Shaw Bros. films, before retiring to Vancouver to become a painter.

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#36

Not Sure If She's At Recording Studio Or On Radio

Not Sure If She's At Recording Studio Or On Radio

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#37

Singing Or Talking To An Auditorium

Singing Or Talking To An Auditorium

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#38

Another Newspaper Clipping

Another Newspaper Clipping

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#39

Singing On Radio Rediffusion In Hong Kong

Singing On Radio Rediffusion In Hong Kong

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#40

Playing With The Band

Playing With The Band

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#41

Writing... A Letter, Or A Song?

Writing... A Letter, Or A Song?

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