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Conrad Yama

January 01, 1970

Conrad Yama (born Kiyoshi Conrad Hamanaka; October 8, 1919 – March 10, 2010), was an American theatre, film, and television actor.

Conrad Yama
Conrad Yama in Taking of Pelham One Two Three 1974
Born
Kiyoshi Conrad Hamanaka

(1919-10-08)October 8, 1919
DiedMarch 10, 2010(2010-03-10) (aged 90)

Early life edit

Born and raised in Fresno, California, Hamanaka attended Fresno State after high school, studying speech and psychology. As a Nisei (2nd generation Japanese-American), Hamanaka was interned in Jerome, Arkansas during World War II due to Executive Order 9066,[1] where he worked on camp newspapers. As a conscientious objector, Yama was also labeled a No-No Boy.[2] While in the camp, one of his children caught pneumonia, and another contracted tuberculosis.[3]

Career edit

Upon his release, Hamanaka moved to Chicago, where, despite being accepted to study psychology at the University of Chicago, Hamanaka took the stage name Conrad Yama, and following a period of training at the Goodman Theatre, pursued an acting career. Some of Yama's first major credits were television appearances in Asian specific roles. Following tours of Teahouse of the August Moon and Auntie Mame, Yama made his first appearance on Broadway in the original production of Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song as Dr. Li, and understudying Keye Luke in the character of Wang Chi Yang. Flower Drum Song was a significant musical because most of the Asian characters were played by Asian American actors, whereas white actors in yellowface makeup was the norm. His later Broadway credits included the musicals I Had a Ball and Pacific Overtures where he played a trio of roles. Yama also appeared in the dramatic play Plenty, both Off-Broadway, at The Public Theatre, and on Broadway after the Public's production transferred. Off-Broadway, Yama originated roles in "Santa Anita '42" at both Playwrights Horizons and the Chelsea Theater, and in Frank Chin's The Year of the Dragon at The American Place Theatre. In the made-for-TV version of Year of the Dragon, broadcast by PBS as part of the series Great Performances in 1975, Yama returned as Pa Eng, the father of the protagonist, played by George Takei, who replaced Randall Duk Kim in the leading role. Yama's performance in Pacific Overtures was recorded when the entire production was taped and broadcast on Japanese television in 1976. Yama was also friends with comedian Severn Darden, and would appear in some of his late night comedy acts.[4]

Due to his resemblance to Mao Zedong, Yama played Mao several times. Yama originated the part of Chairman Mao in Edward Albee's Box-Mao-Box, delivering authentic Mao quotations from the Little Red Book. The role was played by Wyman Pendleton during its brief Broadway run in 1968. One of Yama's largest movie parts was playing the title role, an unnamed Chairman Mao opposite Gregory Peck in The Chairman (1969), also known as "The Most Dangerous Man in the World". The New York Times review stated, "In the best scene of all, as the story moves into Chinese headquarters, Mr. Peck has an ideological Ping-Pong match, swatting it out verbally over a table with an incisive actor named Conrad Yama".[5] To prepare for this scene, Peck and Yama received table tennis coaching by former British table tennis champion Johnny Leach.[6] In a parody of this scene, Yama appeared as a Mao like figure for a Van Heusen shirt commercial, playing table tennis with a Van Heusen wearing American diplomat. Yama had another role similar to Chairman Mao when he portrayed the Chinese Prime Minister in "The Virgin President."

Yama's other onscreen acting included a number of small and supporting roles in film, television, and made for TV movies. His highlights include The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), and Midway (1976) as Admiral Nobutake Kondō. In The Godfather (1972), Yama played the fruit-seller during the Don Corleone shooting scene.[7] Yama's last onscreen role was a small part in "See China and Die", a made-for-TV movie starring Esther Rolle in 1981.

Family edit

Yama had three children. His oldest child and only son is the prominent San Francisco cultural figure, writer, and musician V. Vale.[citation needed] His oldest daughter is the New York City musician/singer Lionelle Hamanaka. Yama's youngest daughter is the noted children's author and illustrator Sheila Hamanaka.

When Yama acted alongside his friend Severn Darden in The Virgin President, his eldest daughter Lionelle Hamanaka also appeared with him onscreen in the part of the Prime Minister's daughter (credited as L'nelle Hamanaka). Lionelle was born after Yama was released from the camps following World War II. Because Yama withheld this from her, she only found out about internment in school. Lionelle wrote "Rohwer", a play based in part on her family's experiences which was presented as part of a series of plays about Japanese American internment by the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre.[8] Yama was a fan of jazz, and Lionelle performs professionally as a jazz singer.[9]

Yama died on March 10, 2010. Several years after his death, a picture of Yama (among other photographs) appeared on the cover of an academically published monograph collecting various profiles of Japanese Americans which has originally been featured in the Nichi Bei Times.[10] His professional name "Yama" means "mountain" in Japanese.

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1969 The Chairman The Chairman
1969 The Virgin President Chinese Prime Minister
1972 The Godfather Fruit Vendor Uncredited
1972 The King of Marvin Gardens Fujito
1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Mr. Tomashita
1976 Midway Admiral Nobutake Kondō

References edit

  1. ^ "Japanese American Internee Data File: Kiyoshi Hamanaka". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  2. ^ Robinson, Greg (May 29, 2008), "The 'Double Life' of Journalist-Turned-Actor Conrad Yama (Hamanaka)", Nichi Bei Times
  3. ^ "3 DRAMAS ON JAPANESE-AMERICAN INTERNMENT DAYS". The New York Times. 12 March 1982. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  4. ^ Coleman, Janet. The Compass: The Improvisational Theatre that Revolutionized American Comedy. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-11345-6.
  5. ^ "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. 10 September 2021.
  6. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-06-18. Retrieved 2018-03-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ . Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2013-07-16. See page 6.
  8. ^ "STAGE: ANGUISH OF INTERNMENT AMONG JAPANESE-AMERICANS". The New York Times. 19 March 1982. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  9. ^ . Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  10. ^ Robinson, Greg (September 2016). The Great Unknown: Japanese American Sketches. University Press of Colorado. ISBN 9781607324294.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
conrad, yama, born, kiyoshi, conrad, hamanaka, october, 1919, march, 2010, american, theatre, film, television, actor, taking, pelham, three, 1974bornkiyoshi, conrad, hamanaka, 1919, october, 1919diedmarch, 2010, 2010, aged, this, article, includes, list, gene. Conrad Yama born Kiyoshi Conrad Hamanaka October 8 1919 March 10 2010 was an American theatre film and television actor Conrad YamaConrad Yama in Taking of Pelham One Two Three 1974BornKiyoshi Conrad Hamanaka 1919 10 08 October 8 1919DiedMarch 10 2010 2010 03 10 aged 90 This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Family 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editBorn and raised in Fresno California Hamanaka attended Fresno State after high school studying speech and psychology As a Nisei 2nd generation Japanese American Hamanaka was interned in Jerome Arkansas during World War II due to Executive Order 9066 1 where he worked on camp newspapers As a conscientious objector Yama was also labeled a No No Boy 2 While in the camp one of his children caught pneumonia and another contracted tuberculosis 3 Career editUpon his release Hamanaka moved to Chicago where despite being accepted to study psychology at the University of Chicago Hamanaka took the stage name Conrad Yama and following a period of training at the Goodman Theatre pursued an acting career Some of Yama s first major credits were television appearances in Asian specific roles Following tours of Teahouse of the August Moon and Auntie Mame Yama made his first appearance on Broadway in the original production of Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song as Dr Li and understudying Keye Luke in the character of Wang Chi Yang Flower Drum Song was a significant musical because most of the Asian characters were played by Asian American actors whereas white actors in yellowface makeup was the norm His later Broadway credits included the musicals I Had a Ball and Pacific Overtures where he played a trio of roles Yama also appeared in the dramatic play Plenty both Off Broadway at The Public Theatre and on Broadway after the Public s production transferred Off Broadway Yama originated roles in Santa Anita 42 at both Playwrights Horizons and the Chelsea Theater and in Frank Chin s The Year of the Dragon at The American Place Theatre In the made for TV version of Year of the Dragon broadcast by PBS as part of the series Great Performances in 1975 Yama returned as Pa Eng the father of the protagonist played by George Takei who replaced Randall Duk Kim in the leading role Yama s performance in Pacific Overtures was recorded when the entire production was taped and broadcast on Japanese television in 1976 Yama was also friends with comedian Severn Darden and would appear in some of his late night comedy acts 4 Due to his resemblance to Mao Zedong Yama played Mao several times Yama originated the part of Chairman Mao in Edward Albee s Box Mao Box delivering authentic Mao quotations from the Little Red Book The role was played by Wyman Pendleton during its brief Broadway run in 1968 One of Yama s largest movie parts was playing the title role an unnamed Chairman Mao opposite Gregory Peck in The Chairman 1969 also known as The Most Dangerous Man in the World The New York Times review stated In the best scene of all as the story moves into Chinese headquarters Mr Peck has an ideological Ping Pong match swatting it out verbally over a table with an incisive actor named Conrad Yama 5 To prepare for this scene Peck and Yama received table tennis coaching by former British table tennis champion Johnny Leach 6 In a parody of this scene Yama appeared as a Mao like figure for a Van Heusen shirt commercial playing table tennis with a Van Heusen wearing American diplomat Yama had another role similar to Chairman Mao when he portrayed the Chinese Prime Minister in The Virgin President Yama s other onscreen acting included a number of small and supporting roles in film television and made for TV movies His highlights include The King of Marvin Gardens 1972 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three 1974 and Midway 1976 as Admiral Nobutake Kondō In The Godfather 1972 Yama played the fruit seller during the Don Corleone shooting scene 7 Yama s last onscreen role was a small part in See China and Die a made for TV movie starring Esther Rolle in 1981 Family editYama had three children His oldest child and only son is the prominent San Francisco cultural figure writer and musician V Vale citation needed His oldest daughter is the New York City musician singer Lionelle Hamanaka Yama s youngest daughter is the noted children s author and illustrator Sheila Hamanaka When Yama acted alongside his friend Severn Darden in The Virgin President his eldest daughter Lionelle Hamanaka also appeared with him onscreen in the part of the Prime Minister s daughter credited as L nelle Hamanaka Lionelle was born after Yama was released from the camps following World War II Because Yama withheld this from her she only found out about internment in school Lionelle wrote Rohwer a play based in part on her family s experiences which was presented as part of a series of plays about Japanese American internment by the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre 8 Yama was a fan of jazz and Lionelle performs professionally as a jazz singer 9 Yama died on March 10 2010 Several years after his death a picture of Yama among other photographs appeared on the cover of an academically published monograph collecting various profiles of Japanese Americans which has originally been featured in the Nichi Bei Times 10 His professional name Yama means mountain in Japanese Filmography editYear Title Role Notes 1969 The Chairman The Chairman 1969 The Virgin President Chinese Prime Minister 1972 The Godfather Fruit Vendor Uncredited 1972 The King of Marvin Gardens Fujito 1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Mr Tomashita 1976 Midway Admiral Nobutake KondōReferences edit Japanese American Internee Data File Kiyoshi Hamanaka National Archives and Records Administration Retrieved 2019 08 17 Robinson Greg May 29 2008 The Double Life of Journalist Turned Actor Conrad Yama Hamanaka Nichi Bei Times 3 DRAMAS ON JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT DAYS The New York Times 12 March 1982 Retrieved 5 February 2016 Coleman Janet The Compass The Improvisational Theatre that Revolutionized American Comedy University of Chicago Press ISBN 978 0 226 11345 6 Movie Reviews The New York Times 10 September 2021 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2017 06 18 Retrieved 2018 03 30 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Pacific Overtures Inside the Playbill on Broadway Information Cast Crew Synopsis and Photos Playbill Vault Archived from the original on 2014 07 28 Retrieved 2013 07 16 See page 6 STAGE ANGUISH OF INTERNMENT AMONG JAPANESE AMERICANS The New York Times 19 March 1982 Retrieved 5 February 2016 Lionelle Hamanaka bio Archived from the original on 7 February 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2016 Robinson Greg September 2016 The Great Unknown Japanese American Sketches University Press of Colorado ISBN 9781607324294 External links editConrad Yama at IMDb Conrad Yama at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Conrad Yama at the Internet Off Broadway Database Obituary World Vital Index Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Conrad Yama amp oldid 1221171917, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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