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Club Obi Wan

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Club Obi Wan was a restaurant and nightclub in Shanghai, China in the 1930s. Housed in a multi-story building, the club featured fine dining and lavish entertainment productions for both Chinese and foreign patrons.

The business was controlled by Lao Che, a prominent local gangster and was where Indiana Jones met singer Willie Scott during the archaeologist's attempt trade Nurhachi's ashes for the Peacock's Eye diamond in 1935. However, Club Obi Wan was greatly damaged during the Battle of Shanghai two years later.

History[]

Club Obi Wan, the central headquarters of the underworld gang of Chinese crime lord Lao Che, was a combination of night club, brothel and gaming establishment,[3] serving as a hideaway for Shanghai's wealthiest. It was attended by elegantly and expensively-dressed patrons and had furnishings of the highest quality, such as its fine crystal and silver tables, both modern and ancient Chinese decoration and a large hardwood stage and dance floor flanked by hulking Chinese statues bearing swords.[4] Some of the things served at the club included caviar,[5] champagne and pigeon flambé.[2]

Controlled by Lao Che,[6] the noisy and smoke-filled[5] Club Obi Wan was located on 505-30 Honan Road[1] on the fifth floor with access from the third floor's double doors guarded by four goons[4] about two blocks north of Nanking Road, just a few blocks west of the Bund and a few blocks south of Soochow Creek. One of the most spectacular nightclubs in Shanghai's International Settlement, it featured fine dining, a full-scale Broadway-style floor show and a very private after-hours casino below. The club occupied the two top floors of a five-story building and its exterior was garishly decorated with brightly colored canvas balconies.[3]

Having some marginal success, Willie Scott caught the eye of one of Lao Che's enforcers and soon became the featured performer in Club Obi Wan's revue-as well as Lao Che's personal main squeeze. As such, a large billboard marquee advertised in both English and Chinese its popular floor show, starring "world famous songstress Willie Scott".[3]

By 1935, Willie Scott was a lead singer at the club, performing in a large cast of singers, showgirls, and dancers. The club was also a hangout for its owner, the crime lord Lao Che and his men. One evening at the club, Lao Che met with Indiana Jones to trade Nurhachi's ashes for a large diamond. Lao attempted to double cross Jones with poison, but Jones escaped, taking Scott with him. During the violent confrontation, Jones' friend Wu Han and Che's son Chen were both killed.[2]

In 1937, Club Obi Wan got heavily damaged by Japanese bomber planes during the Battle of Shanghai. Having been transported there from the Himalayas by one of the Great Circle's magical stones, Indiana Jones and Gina Lombardi flew through the club on November 1 and Indy, recognizing it, commented that its owner wouldn't be happy. Gina asked him about Lao Che so Indy told her he was an "old friend" of his that could invite them for tea.[7]

Behind the scenes[]

Club Obi Wan's name is a reference to Obi-Wan Kenobi, a character from George Lucas' film Star Wars. The Chinese characters used in its name, which can be seen on its marquee, phonetically spells out "Obi Wan" with the addition of the word "Nightclub". In early versions of the film's script, written by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, Club Obi Wan was originally called The Dragon.[8] Other versions had the club's name being Shanghai Paradise.[9]

The Star Wars influence was later given a nod in the Shanghai level of Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures with the appearance of C'boath Bar. While mispelled, it was named after Star Wars Legends character Joruus C'baoth from The Thrawn Trilogy novels,[10] who was originally conceived of as a clone of Obi-Wan Kenobi before author Timothy Zahn was asked to change it.[11]

When Indiana Jones runs out of the window with Willie Scott, the former can be seen running behind the gong and collecting Willie. However, in the next shot, it can be seen that Indiana is from behind the gong and Willie is now running ahead of him before they jump out of the club's window.[2]

A 2006 episode of MythBusters attempted to show the plausibility of surviving a multi-story fall by breaking through a series of awnings, similar to Indiana Jones' and Willie Scott's escape from Club Obi Wan. Ultimately, it was determined to be plausible to survive, but with a high likelihood of serious injury.[12]

Appearances[]

Non-canon appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures (Limited Edition Collector's Set)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Sourcebook
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (TSR)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Storybook
  6. ↑ Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide
  7. ↑ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
  8. ↑ Raiders of the Lost Drafts at TheRaider.net
  9. ↑ The Complete Making of Indiana Jones
  10. ↑ Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures
  11. ↑ "From Heir to Last Command" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 1
  12. ↑ MythBusters

External links[]

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