tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post116006011715710190..comments2024-03-20T05:28:18.440-05:00Comments on Doug Dawgz Blog: Asian District - The UndergroundDoug Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287287108412180656noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-2220942264726806172012-10-10T00:41:20.223-05:002012-10-10T00:41:20.223-05:00I remember reading about this when it was publishe...I remember reading about this when it was published in the paper back in '69 as a wide eyed 10 year old. <br /><br />Interesting observations:<br /><br />1. I have a printed note card (copy) from A Points Northe, which was James Neil Northe's bookstore. It mentions <br /><br />"There were tunnels connecting the main theatres: In those days three houses would be showing the same film: no I would show the first reel and then the usher would rush it over via the tunnel to No.2. . . while Reel two was being shown in theatre one. . Threatre 3 would then start the reel no i. . . etc.<br /><br />These tunnels may exist. . . I talked to men who as boys used to get into the tunnels and said they extended to the shooting gallery at the S.W. corner of Broadway and Grand. They also extended to the old Chinese restaurant, THE GOLDEN PHEASANT."<br /><br />My father worked at the old Liberty theatre before joining the Marines in '53. He did confirm the presence of the tunnels.<br /><br />2. The article mentions a health department check in 1921. These records should still exist. Can someone head down to the city County health department and see if they can obtain a copy of them? ( I would do it, but I live in Claremore.) I also wonder if any of the OLD city engineering maps reflect any of these tunnels. <br /><br />The tunnels would have had to have been deep and well supported as they apparently never were compromised by the city streets or buildings. <br /><br />The tunnels, still a fascinating subject. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-48022114294689055932012-05-13T14:36:46.646-05:002012-05-13T14:36:46.646-05:00I just finished reading this and wow what a great ...I just finished reading this and wow what a great article. I never knew about this until I ran across in a book in the library called "Wierd Oklahoma"--it has a picture of one of the rooms and the stove that was found. I also read on Wikipedia about a little and it says tho the Chinese left during the depression. But you indicate they were flurishing at that time with their businesses. Just wondering. Anyway thanks for a great article.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-44828899600972241692012-02-28T22:39:41.539-06:002012-02-28T22:39:41.539-06:00I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article. My fath...I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article. My father grew up in OKC during the 50's. His family lived downtown and one of his childhood friends was the son of an OKC police officer who once took them to the doorway and told them that the door led to the underground city.<br /><br />When I was a child he told me all about the underground Asian community. Many people told him it was just an urban legend but he continued to be a believer until the day he died in 2008.<br /><br />Thank you for the article, research and photos. I plan to pursue additional information on the subject in my spare time.<br /><br />The only thing I really remember as being a specific landmark when he told me about the door was that it was located next to The Golden Pheasant, a Chinese restaurant in the area.<br /><br />Once again thanks for your work. I am planning a blog post about the current OKC Underground, former knlown as the Metro Conncourse. I will be certain to link back to this article when I do.<br /><br />I am also going to paste a link to THIS post as a stand alone on my site as well. It looks like you have a great site and I will certainly check out more of your posts as I get time.<br /><br />You can check out my site at www.rantingsofthebobman.com if you likeThe Bobmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17154229713701776882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-50077540064445243212011-11-08T11:43:27.526-06:002011-11-08T11:43:27.526-06:00I took a class at Oklahoma City University called ...I took a class at Oklahoma City University called "Mapping Subcultures in Oklahoma City". We studied the Chinese underground. It was difficult though because we could not find very much evidence outside of newspaper articles. I wish I knew this article existed then. This is really amazing.John Riesenbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-52678060109164183832011-05-15T22:54:16.329-05:002011-05-15T22:54:16.329-05:00My father, who grew up in OK during the 50's t...My father, who grew up in OK during the 50's told me about it. I've tried to get more info on it for years. I had begun to believe that it was an urban legend and only looked it up on a whim. It was quite refreshing to find this information. I can't wait to share it with my Cultural Awareness class. We have been studying (historical) immigration issues this year, this will be a Great lesson to end the school year with. Thanks for taking the time to share your research.Mrs. Leiternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-10238116737517791852009-04-27T00:15:00.000-05:002009-04-27T00:15:00.000-05:00You're very welcome, anon! Hope the presentation g...You're very welcome, anon! Hope the presentation goes well.Doug Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14287287108412180656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-50362027320599214962009-04-26T19:00:00.000-05:002009-04-26T19:00:00.000-05:00Thank you for writing this article. I've been doi...Thank you for writing this article. I've been doing research for a Sociology project and this was just what I wanted. The photos were a very great help. I was having trouble finding historical photos to go with the presentation. Thanks again for being thorough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-79689725065933732852008-08-25T23:59:00.000-05:002008-08-25T23:59:00.000-05:00Thanks, Wind, I'd not heard of that book. I'll kee...Thanks, Wind, I'd not heard of that book. I'll keep my eye out for it.Doug Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14287287108412180656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-10044675843825256352008-08-25T23:58:00.000-05:002008-08-25T23:58:00.000-05:00You're welcome, magpie! Glad you liked it!You're welcome, magpie! Glad you liked it!Doug Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14287287108412180656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-26767617478902672212008-08-23T12:49:00.000-05:002008-08-23T12:49:00.000-05:00Incredible article. Thank you!Incredible article. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-40165206510773622682008-02-19T07:32:00.000-06:002008-02-19T07:32:00.000-06:00A recent book, Strange State: Mysteries and Legend...A recent book, Strange State: Mysteries and Legends of Oklahoma by Cullan Hudson (2007) also mentions the tunnels and some other "under reported" items.WHORLBOOKShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01104100049728524761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-1163648763594334952006-11-15T21:46:00.000-06:002006-11-15T21:46:00.000-06:00This is incredibly fascinating! Though my family h...This is incredibly fascinating! Though my family has been here since the Land Run, not a lot of actual OKC history is told through my family. Most of it is about Lockridge (a now non-existent town near Oklahoma/Logan/Canadian/Kingisher County corner) and about Edmond.<BR/><BR/>Also, the Oklahoma "1976 Bicentennial" stuff was probably part of the nation's bicentennial craze for America's 200th birthday. I think the dates you are given could be described better as "demi-centennal," seeing as they are 50 year anniversaries and not 200 years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-1160087407431770262006-10-05T17:30:00.000-05:002006-10-05T17:30:00.000-05:00Anon, I completely agree - you are absolutely dead...Anon, <BR/><BR/>I completely agree - you are absolutely dead-on right. It's amazing enough that none seemed to care enough to figure out some entrances <I><B>well before</B></I> George Shirk's 1969 mini-adventure ... but it's even <I><B>more amazing</I></B> that after he did and it hit paydirt with a front page <I>Oklahoman</I> article that none seemed to care enough to explore further ... as far as I know, at least. I would think that historian types would go ape-shit crazy over something like this. <BR/><BR/>I managed to get my grubby hands on a copy of <I>Born Grown</I> which is now my very own (yea!) and just checked what appears to be its very thorough index, and found no mention of the Chinese Underground, but maybe it's there and I missed it. This book was the 1st approved project of the Oklahoma "1976 Bicentennial" (but was published in 1974) ... bicentennial of "what" has not yet registered in my noggin ... 1949 would have been the bicentennial for the 1889 land run and 1953 would have been statehood's bicentennial year ... but I guess the book will tell me.<BR/><BR/>But, since the book was published in 1974, you'd think that Shirk's 1969 visit to the Chinese Underground would still have been kind of fresh in the author's memory.<BR/><BR/>Go figure.Doug Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14287287108412180656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31117373.post-1160075579015561072006-10-05T14:12:00.000-05:002006-10-05T14:12:00.000-05:00I can't believe such an interesting find wasn't ex...I can't believe such an interesting find wasn't explored more... the articles seem nonplussed by the fact that there was an underground city beneath downtown, and no one really cared that it was being destroyed without much documentation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com