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
214points
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
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.
She was asked by Shaw to be a representative of the Singaporean entertainment industry to greet Taylor.
204points
#3 In Her Wedding Gown
204points
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!
197points
#5 With Her Mom, My Great-Grandma
197points
This is a condensed version, so you can visit my original Facebook album to see more.
#6 Obligatory Selfie, Nye 2013. We Miss You!
191points
#7 All Styled-Up
191points
#8 Beautiful Black Dress
185points
#9 With Marian Anderson
w/ Marian Anderson, one of the most important African-American singers who helped break many racial barriers. 1957.
183points
#10 In A Cool Background
172points
#11 A Candid Photo
171points
#12 She Still Looks Beautiful
167points
#13 Posing With A Bike
161points
#14 Heyday
160points
#15 Looks Like A Shot From A Movie
159points
#16 A Watercolor Painting Of My Grandma In '89, Which Hanged In The Hallway Of Her House
157points
#17 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).
156points
#18 In Malaya, In Kedazaan-Dusun Tribe Clothing
151points
#19 With My Aunt
148points
#20 Beer Ad
Advertisement for German beer, Beck's. Was told that "Kunchi" is Malaysian for "key".
144points