Anna May Wong

About this episode

This episode tells the story of Anna May Wong, Hollywood’s first star of Chinese descent, and her rise to fame in the 1920s and 1930s.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Anna May Wong, an American actress of Chinese descent, rose to international fame while starring in films such as the Thief of Baghdad and Shanghai Express. Her career spanned vaudeville, film, television, stage, and radio. This is the story of Anna May Wong - Hollywood’s first star of Chinese descent. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_May_Wong https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/anna-may-wong Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anna_May_Wong_-_portrait.jpg Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details). History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Matt Breen, McKinley Breen

Topics covered

• Anna May Wong
• Hollywood
• Chinese descent
• film history
• vaudeville
• acting career

Keywords

• Anna May Wong
• Hollywood
• Chinese actress
• film history
• vaudeville
• Shanghai Express
• Thief of Baghdad

Sponsors

Factor Meals

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Airwave Media, Megaphone

Books & works: Thief of Baghdad, Shanghai Express

More episodes of History Dispatches

• The Centennial Light: The Bulb That Refused to Burn Out · June 12, 2026 · 18 min
• Haymarket Affair: Blood, Bombs, and Labor Rights · June 10, 2026 · 24 min
• The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Wonder or Myth? · June 8, 2026 · 22 min
• Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Encore) · June 5, 2026 · 27 min
• The 335 Year War (Encore) · June 4, 2026 · 11 min
• The Rosetta Stone - the Key to Unlocking Egypt's Past (Encore) · June 3, 2026 · 21 min