9/24/23, 5:40 PM Frank Lee -- media mogul N E W S | B AY A R E A & S TAT E Frank Lee -- media mogul By Vanessa Hua , Chronicle Staff Writer Oct 18, 2002 2002-10-18 04:00:00 PDT San Francisco -- Frank Lee, a local media mogul who developed one of the first Chinese radio programs in the United States and established Chinese movie theaters in New York and California, died Sunday at his daughter's home in Walnut Creek. He was 79. Everything to know about visiting SF's Angel Island A native of San Jose, Mr. Lee enlisted in the Air Force during World War II and was stationed in Kunming, China. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Frank-Lee-media-mogul-2783198.php Newsletters 1/4 9/24/23, 5:40 PM Frank Lee -- media mogul After returning home, Mr. Lee graduated from San Jose State University. He worked as an engineer for Ampex in Redwood City and later for the Defense Department in San Francisco and in Washington, D.C. From 1956 to 1968, Mr. Lee broadcast the nightly "Voice of Chinatown" in San Francisco and New York. His wife, Nancy, was the voice of the program, which aired news and the latest music from Hong Kong. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad In 1964, Mr. Lee began distributing Chinese films to major U.S. and Canadian cities. He imported modern color films in Mandarin, a contrast to the black-and-white Cantonese movies that had been available previously. He also opened Mandarin movie theaters in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. "There wasn't much media for Chinese people, so it was very important to bring that to America," said his daughter Jenny Lee Chan. Her father was always interested in bringing in the most cutting-edge movies and technology, she said. The theaters closed in the mid-1980s, as more Chinese movies became available on video and broadcast on television. His son, Frank Lee Jr., now runs the 4-Star Theater on Clement Street, which specializes in Asian films. Everything to know about visiting SF's Angel Island During the 1960s, Mr. Lee was active in San Francisco's Chinatown. He emceed the Miss Chinatown pageant and participated in the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Lee Family Association. Mr. Lee was also an avid photographer, chronicling what he saw during World War II and in his travels. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Frank-Lee-media-mogul-2783198.php 2/4 9/24/23, 5:40 PM Frank Lee -- media mogul He is survived by his children, Elberta Lee Bodle of Walnut Creek, Robert S. Lee of Concord, Frank Lee Jr. of Greenbrae and Jenny Lee Chan of San Rafael. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy O'Hara Co., Geary Boulevard at 10th Avenue, San Francisco. Oct 18, 2002 By Vanessa Hua Vanessa Hua is a former reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Examiner, the Hartford Courant and the Los Angeles Times. At The Chronicle, she launched an investigation that led to the resignation of the California secretary of state and prompted investigations by the FBI. She’s won a number of journalism awards from groups including the Asian American Journalist Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. She also won the Everything to know about visiting SF's Angel Island James Madison Freedom of Information Award. Her short-story collection, “Deceit and Other Possibilities,” won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. Her debut novel, “A River of Stars” received a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award, and her next novel, “Forbidden City,” is forthcoming from Ballantine. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Frank-Lee-media-mogul-2783198.php 3/4 9/24/23, 5:40 PM Frank Lee -- media mogul Top About Contact Quick Links © 2023 Hearst Communications, Inc. Terms of Use Your CA Privacy Rights (Shine the Light) Privacy Notice CA Notice at Collection DAA Industry Opt Out Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads) Everything to know about visiting SF's Angel Island https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Frank-Lee-media-mogul-2783198.php 4/4
