Baotou Jinyun: "Xiao Gui Tao" Yang Danqing and the Yellow River Film Theater

First, the growth process

Xiao Guitao (1917-1968) was originally named Yang Shengxiu, nicknamed Quanlan, and later changed his name to Yang Danqing. He is a native of Xuanhua City, Hebei Province. His father was a seamstress who earned his living as a family. Unfortunately, he lost his father at an early age, and the life of mother and daughter became increasingly difficult. Quanlan is talented, talented, studious, loves drama, and is immediately introduced to Li Zijian (磬), a famous corner of the Changsheng class who performed in the "Xinghua Tea Garden" on the west side of Zhengpailou South Road. At that time, Jeon-lan was only twelve years old, and she was accompanied by sisters such as Ji Fengzhen, Shinjinmei and Shinjinji. Studied art with Li for three years, specializing in knife and horse dan. Thanks to the strict teacher's teaching, I can study hard, not only has a solid foundation, but also sings and does quite moving. Zi Jian once lived in seclusion in Beijing, and QuanLan went to Taiyuan to worship Xiao Jixian (Zhang Baokui) as a teacher, thus broadening his horizons, studying with an open mind, absorbing the strengths of all, and changing the sword and horse to Qingyi. Due to Quanlan's strong acceptance ability and strict requirements for himself, he became famous at the age of seventeen and became a rookie in Jutan at that time.

2. Observation and further study

In 1933, he performed in Beijing and Tianjin with Ding Guoxian for the first time. There are also more than 80 people in total, including mao maodan (Wang Yunshan), san'ersheng (Meng Zhenqing), Gai Tianhong (Li Jingyun), Taigu Twelve Red, Zi Dusheng (Yang Dengke), Fu Yanting (Zhang Meiqin), Fu Yanfang, Ding Qiaoyun, Cheng Yuying, Jin Yanghong, Ji Meilian, Yuyin Hei, Nine-year-old Hong (Ren Ruimei), Xiao Guilin (Sun Wensheng), Fourteen Hong, Jin Jingkui, Yan Zhanghei, nan Dingying, etc. It has been performed in tianjin persuasion field Tianhuajing Theater and Beijing Qianmen Dashilar GuangdeLou Theater Park, which lasted for half a year; the major shops (money houses, ticket numbers, cloth shops, and warehouses) of the Mengsanjin villagers took turns to pack seats and held the venue, and they were once very popular in Beijing and Tianjin. At the same time, they observed each other with famous actors in Peking Opera, and they all benefited deeply. After this training, Quanlan learned many advantages of Peking Opera, made up for his shortcomings, and his skills were more fulfilling. After the expiration of the contract, the whole group returned with a full reputation. This time, the lineup of the performance was neat and tidy, and the essence of Jinzhong was a combination of pearls, which greatly reversed the incorrect view of the Art of Jin Opera in the past in the Peking Opera circle.

3. Invited to the Congregation

In 1935, when the Northwest Drama Club was completed and opened, the Jin opera name Jing Zhang Yuxi (Lion Black) invited From Taiyuan Xiao Guitao, Nine-year-old Hong, Liu Mingshan (May Fresh), Liu Baoshan (Twelve Red), Liu Yushan (June Fresh), Xiao Guilin, etc., as well as Zhang Qingyun (Little Lion Black), Gao Yuchun (Wusheng), Hao Shengkui (Wenwu Xiaosheng), And Northern Jin invited Wang Yushan (floating on the water), Flower Woman (Li Guilin), etc. Xiao Guitao's "Ming Gongjue", Nine-year-old Hong's "Great Revenge", Liu Mingshan's "Ertang Offering Cup", Liu Baoshan's "Dedication Map", Liu Yushan's "Ghost Array", Wang Yushan's "Red Lady", Hua Woman's "Nine Pieces of Clothing", Zhang Yuxi and Zhang Qingyun's "Dagger Sword", Gao Yuchun's "Yellow Crane Tower", Xiao Guilin's "Folding Gui Axe", Hao Shengkui's "Selling Water", the high level of skill is the best, and the audience is full of praise. In particular, Gui Tao's "Qin Xianglian" has a novel singing voice and a real expression, and the first time she came to Bao Lu to perform, it left an excellent impression on the audience and won praise.

In the summer of 1937, Liu Renshan, the former manager of Jinxing Qianzhuang, and the grain merchant Gao Chaoying (Trumpet Mingfei) took over Yan Xishan's capital and founded the "Heji Trading Company" in the compound of the Xiyuan Post Office on the south end of Heping Road in Baotou's Donghe District. At the opening of the business in order to create a great momentum, in order to widely attract, specially invited Jin opera celebrities from Taiyuan to sing on the stage in the courtyard, this time it was also Xiao Guitao, nine-year-old Red, Yan Zhanghei, Yi Lianchun, Gai Tianhong, Niu Guiying, Shushu Hong (Gao Wenhan), Xiao Guilin, Liu Junying, Gao Xiuying and other more than 60 people to pack the performance. The whole drama class stayed in the original Suiyuan West Hotel (now the backyard of the Shengli Restaurant on Shengli Road); the mother and daughter of Xiao Gui Tao lived in the main room of the courtyard at No. 1 Tonghedian Lane. The Seven Heavens will sensationalize the whole city, and the front and back doors will not be open, and the crowds will be crowded and bustling. Since then, Shinobu's reputation and prestige have been even greater. After the completion of the church meeting, it was transferred to the Northwest Drama Club and the Qingle Tea Garden on Dongqian Street. After the Japanese invaded Baotou, she continued to stay in the bag for a long time before she transferred to Zhangjiakou.

Fourth, exquisite skills

Xiao Guitao's exquisite skills are inseparable from the meticulous cultivation and strict teaching of Li Zijian and Zhang Baokui. In just a few years, there were many plays, and in the 1940s, it became popular in Jinzhong, Beijing and Tianjin, Zhangyuan, Suibao and other places. Her best plays include "Mulan", "Nine Pieces of Clothing", "Killing the Palace", "Hitting the Golden Branch", "Iron Bow Edge", "Bergamot Orange", "To the Golden Bottle", "Blood Handprint", "Qingfeng Pavilion", "Hundred Flowers and Points", "Counting Grain", "Ming Gongjue", "Luhua", "Fenhe Bay", "June Snow" and so on. Among them, there are folding dramas that focus on singing, and there are also sword and horse dan martial arts dramas that win with stature and skill. No matter what kind of play, it has its own uniqueness. For example, when performing "Hundred Flowers and Points", the body is backed by the tail of the flag pheasant, the outer cloak is covered with cranes, the inner is close, and the waist is wearing a sword, and when the point will be hung up, the body is graceful, the pheasant tail shakes naturally, the shoulders are shaken, the flag is rattled, the steps are steady and light, showing a mighty image of a heroine who is alive and free. Not only is her recitation clear and powerful, but her movements are very realistic. Similar to his master Li Zijian and Zhang Baokui's drama, he can really be described as a famous teacher and a high disciple. After performing Qingyi dramas such as Wang Baojun in "Counting Grain", Qin Xianglian in "Ming Gongjue", and Shen Hou in "Playing Golden Branches", he dressed handsomely and beautifully, sang in a lofty voice, euphemistically beautiful, clearly read white, particularly generous movements, and delicate expressions. In particular, the water sleeve skills are applied to the learning of Peking Opera dance moves to Jin opera. For example, in singing dramas such as "Playing Golden Branches" and "Qin Xianglian", water sleeves can be used according to the plot, which not only beautifies the stage body, but also increases the dramatic effect. One move and one style, all just right, indeed the skills are outstanding, not comparable to others, and are admired and imitated by Jinju Danjiao. Her hard work was really frozen three feet not a day's cold.

In addition, her biggest feature is that she has no old habits of pear orchards, and insiders and laymen can unite, insist on respecting teachers and loving apprentices, and never be proud of their high skills. For example, when performing in Beijing and Tianjin, whenever you have leisure, you will organize accomplices and local ticket holders (Jin opera lovers) to sing and celebrate together, so as to exchange skills, take advantage of the strengths of others, and make up for their own deficiencies. Beijing's former outer grinding factory Dadetong Silver is a place where she often moves, so the villagers all praise her in unison for being approachable and willing to associate with her.

Fifth, be good at responding to the world

During the Japanese and pseudo-Japanese periods, Most of the Shinobu peach lived in Baotou. At that time, the literary and artistic circles were in a period of doom. The military and police constitutions come and go all day long, waiting for a little slow, and at night, they are in groups, either at the front desk or backstage, so that the artists are always worried and afraid, and there is no peace. But Gui Tao is good at coping with this terrible situation, whether it is a big official or a pawn, coming to the home and going backstage, he is well received, easy to cope with, and does not dare to take it lightly, so there have been no problems in the past few years. Not only is there no one on and off the stage to set up obstacles, sometimes when mentioning Gui Tao's name, it can also start the maintenance role. In that kind of horrible environment, it is extremely difficult to get through safely. This fully shows that Gui Tao is not only versatile, but also alert and can cope with various environments.

Sixth, work hard to start a business

In 1946, she returned from performing in other places and married Jiang Zhongren, a shanxi timber merchant, in Taiyuan. With the help of Zhang Yutian (Yuciren, Shanxi), the former assistant of Jinxing Qianzhuang, he purchased a compound located at No. 7 Tongshun Street, Donghe District, Baotou, with 18 rooms, and a price of 1,000 lu and 1000 yuan. Soon, in view of the gradual increase in the population of Baotou and the lack of theaters, which could not meet the needs of the people's cultural and entertainment life, Xiao Guitao planned to set up a business in Baotou and planned to settle in Baotou for a long time. It was decided to raise funds for one hundred horses in the city, and on the foundation of the Seventh Compound, Jiang Zhongren and Lu Daosheng began to build a simple theater with a capacity of 800 seats. Buy materials cheaply. The source of funds is a joint venture of collective shares, with each piece of cloth made into one share. Unexpectedly, just after erecting the roof truss, it was blown down by a storm, and due to the huge loss of materials, it had to be re-called to gather shares, and after research, it collected one hundred horses, a total of two hundred horses. Xiao Guitao set Lu Shipi, Zhang Yutian set Lu Shipi, Zhang Yuji Picked Up, Hao Zhongzhang, Wang Dingguo, Zhang Renjun each picked up horses, and the rest of the small shares picked up three horses. After the shares were raised, they were not enough, and they adopted lending methods to make up for the deficiencies. Therefore, the main project was basically completed, and Kang Cuiling of the Hohhot Jin Opera Troupe was invited to package the performance and repair while performing. Due to Kang's appeal and neat lineup, there were no empty seats in the venue, and the entrance to the theater was bustling with traffic and excitement. The business was good, unexpected, only half a year to pay off the loan, withdraw from the small shares, except for a few shareholders, seventy-five percent of the funds belonged to Jiang Zhongren and Xiao Guitao.

In 1955, Xiao Guitao accepted the invitation of Liu Yucia (Liu Mingshan's daughter) of the Zhangjiakou Jin Opera Troupe to perform in Zhangjiakou. When he left the package, he entrusted Lu Daosheng to operate the Yellow River Film Theater on his behalf. In 1956, when it was a public-private partnership, it was under the management of the Theater Manager Department of the Municipal Bureau of Culture, and embarked on the socialist road. In 1962, the renovation and expansion was carried out with the approval of the Cultural Affairs Bureau. In the same year, Jiang Zhongren and Xiao Guitao took the initiative to propose to the Zhangjiakou Municipal Bureau of Culture to give up the fixed interest of the Baotou Theater and dedicate it all to the government. It has played an exemplary role in the literary and art circles of Zhangshi City and has a great influence.

7. Strict Master and Loving Mother

In May 1957, the Zhangjiakou Jin Opera Troupe went to Beijing to perform in the Auspicious Opera Garden and Guangde Building respectively. The famous actors who participated in the performance included Xiao Guitao, Wang Guilan, Jin Linghei (Guo Shoushan), Liu Baoshan, Liu Yucia, Ji Fengzhen, Nan Dingying, Zong Guizhi, Guo Ying, Zhang Shenglin, Xiao Guilin, etc., and the whole troupe was welcomed by more than 80 people in the troupe, which was well received by the literary and art circles and villagers in the capital. After more than three months of performance, there were many famous actors in the Peking Opera circle who observed each other and exchanged skills, which greatly promoted and encouraged Gui Tao's confidence in studying art.

In her lifelong artistic practice, she respected tradition, had the courage to innovate, always followed the purpose of serving the people, and was highly valued by the party and the people, and was elected as a member of the CPPCC Committee of Hebei Province and Zhangjiakou. In 1962, he was transferred to Hebei Provincial Art School as vice president. After teaching, he paid special attention to and cared about the cultivation of successors in the opera industry. She coached herself and was determined to pass on her art to the next generation without reservation. She is serious and meticulous in teaching work, modeled on the strict teacher's teaching for many years, teaching according to her aptitude, focusing on training, and often teaching students to pay attention to typhoons, advocating drama morality, she sacrifices herself everywhere for art, loves apprentices like children, under her leadership, the whole school teachers and students are intimate, that is, the elderly teachers also respect her, and the art school students call her "strict teacher and loving mother".

Viii. Persecution

During the ten years of turmoil in the Cultural Revolution, she was deeply persecuted by the extremely "Left" line, was accused of false accusations such as "black authority" and "big drama bully" in the literary and art circles, continuously carried out cruel criticism, was locked up in a "cowshed", left her teaching work, was isolated from teachers and students in the school for a long time, and could not discuss art work together. Due to long-term detention, he was devastated and resented, and later lay in bed, and died unjustly during the movement. He was fifty-one years old. It is a pity that a generation of artists, at the time of exerting their talents, have passed away for a long time!

P.S. When Yang Danqing first went to Beijing to star in 1933, the author and I met her in Dadetong, Beijing. In particular, she later stayed in Baotou for many years and often had contact, so she knew a little about the situation. In this introduction, I hope to ask those in the know to give corrections and supplements, with a view to summarizing Yang Danqing's life in more detail.

Source: Compilation of Baotou City Literature and Art History Materials (Volume 1), August 1985, author: Wang Shaoqing, original title: "Forty Years of Xiao Guitao's Dramatic Career". Huang Xiang (Yin Shan Worm) finished in December 2021