TV Rewind – Jackie’s Early TV Appearances
The Big Brawl Promotions – The Mike Douglas Show

In late 1980 Jackie made his first appearances on US television while promoting The Big Brawl aka Battle Creek Brawl. Interestingly, in his autobiography, Jackie tells about the bad experiences he had doing his first interviews in the US. To read it you’d think that no one really interviewed him, but only asked him to perform kung fu moves. While he does indeed do a few moves and demonstrations here on the Mike Douglas Show, he really holds his own and comes off as very humorous, energetic and intelligent, even if his English was somewhat limited (though, I found only one instance where he was truly confused by a word he did not understand).

The Mike Douglas Show ran from 1961 until 1982. I recall watching it quite often as a kid. Even though Mike Douglas and his music was more appealing to my father’s generation, his show highlighted a lot of great music. It was really more of a variety show than a talk show. His musical guests were as varied as you could find. Everything from Bob Hope and Paul Anka to Genesis and Kiss. Actors I remember seeing on his show included Sean Connery, Burt Reynolds and Kate Jackson.

The clip I have available to me has very poor picture quality. So much so that it’s nearly impossible to see the faces of the other guests on the show due to tape deterioration. It’s also so rare that even King World (the production company that keeps copies of his shows in its library) does not have a copy! When I contacted them to see if I could get a few clear screen caps, I got an e-mail asking if I could give them a copy of mine, regardless of the condition, as they didn’t have one!

Melissa Gilbert and her brother Jonathan (who both had roles in the TV series Little House on the Prairie) are among the guests. It starts with Mike Douglas speaking about Jackie and how he is there to promote his new film, The Big Brawl. Mike seemed to be a good judge of talent as you can see with his opening introduction.

Mike Douglas: It (Battle Creek Brawl) should earn him the kind of attention that he deserves, really. Here is young Jackie Chan. Welcome him!

Jackie runs out wearing a black, sleeveless track suit and a huge grin. He shakes hands with the host as well as the previous guests, including a young Melissa Gilbert. Jackie is seated between Melissa and Mike with Mike to the left of the screen and Melissa to the right.

MD: Are you excited about meeting him, Melissa? About meeting Jackie? Remember what you told me yesterday. (Directed at a male guest, off camera, to the left) She’s a flirt you know, and she admits it! (To Jackie) Welcome to the show!

Jackie Chan: Thank you! He grips the arms of the chair and raises himself up, fidgeting a little.

MD: You know who told me about you? My kids.

JC: Yeah?

MD: Yeah, they saw you and said you were wonderful…

Melissa: (interrupts) All my school friends just went crazy when I told them you’d be on the show! They said, (with excitement) ‘Who?! Jackie Chan’? I said, ‘Yeah’?

JC: (mockingly) ‘Who is Jackie Chan?’

Audience laughs

Melissa: No, They didn’t say that!

MD: No, they’re not saying that anymore! There was a fascinating article in the Los Angeles Times that Kevin Thomas wrote about you. Is that all true, what they wrote about you…?

JC: Yes, it’s true.

MD: …that you went to what they call a Chinese opera school, that’s not really like an opera but kinda… how would you describe a Chinese opera?

JC: Like a… We stay there, I signed a contract, ten years. We never…

MD: How old were you, Jackie?

JC: When I was seven.

MD: Seven!

JC: We never leave the house. Everyday, stay there.

MD: And just work?

JC: In the morning-five ‘clock, get up… until midnight, twelve ‘clock.

MD: Whoa! Good Night! (‘Good Night’ was a favorite expression of his to express something shocking) What…what did you do all that time? Rehearse?

JC: (laughs) Rehearse? No! I have a lot of teachers and, uh, five ‘clock, get up, teacher maybe teach you, (demonstrates vocal warm ups) ‘aaahhh-ooohh!’

MD: Oh, singing!

JC: Then another teacher come in with stick, teach you how to… stick fight. Another teacher, teach you how to kick.

MD: What were they preparing you for? A one man war?

JC: It’s just very tough… training.

MD: Is it true your parents left you there?

JC: Yes!

MD: For how long?

JC: For ten years.

by Lisa Clemens.

For the rest of the interview please see SCREEN POWER VOL. 8, ISSUE 1