1,515
1,515
Lee Dai Sor (李大傻)
By Chia, Joshua Yeong Jia written on 2007-08-19
National Library Board Singapore
National Library Board Singapore
Lee Dai Sor (b. 1913 - d. 22 March 1989, Singapore), or Lee Dai Soh, or Li Da Sha, a renowned Cantonese storyteller. He was especially popular among radio listeners in the 1950s and '60s. Lee, together with Ng Yong Khern and Ong Toh, who performed in Teochew and Hokkien respectively, is regarded as one of Singapore's master storytellers.
Early Life
Lee was born Lee Fook Hong in Telok Blangah. In his first month, he was struck by a strange illness and lost his voice. Thinking that he was dying, his mother abandoned him at a rubbish dump, but he was discovered and returned by a beggar.
Subsequently he recovered from the illness and regained his voice. Lee had eight brothers and sisters; he was the third among the children. However, only Lee and four other brothers survived to adulthood.
Lee's father, a boilermaker with the Port of Singapore Authority, was financially well off and donated generously to Yeung Ching School where Lee and his brothers studied. Lee and his brothers led a comfortable life, but their fortune took a turn for the worse when their mother died of complications due to a stillbirth.
The shock made Lee's father mentally ill and he had to seek treatment in China. In his hometown, the senior Lee was killed by an angry crowd after he acted disrespectfully in a temple. As a result, Lee and his brothers were left to care for themselves.
Fortunately, the principal of Yeung Ching School took pity on the brothers and took them under his care. With the help of their school principal, the brothers managed to continue their education in school.
Accomplishments
In 1931, Lee began his working life at the age of 17.
He worked in various positions including draftsman, factory supervisor, factory worker, clerk, typesetter and reporter.
His career as a storyteller started in 1938 when he joined RTM and hosted a Cantonese programme, Tam Tin Shuit Tei, which ran for more than 30 years.
He went on to host other Cantonese programmes telling folktales, ghost stories, swordfighting stories, detective stories and Chinese classics.
Lee's career expanded when Rediffusion started in Singapore in 1949.
This provided him an additional platform for his storytelling. His storytelling struck a chord among the radio listeners and he became a household name among the listeners during the 1950s and '60s.
At the height of his career, in 1963, he was hosting up to 20 programmes weekly for Rediffusion as well as for local and Malaysian radio stations. In July 1958, Cathay signed a three-year acting contract with Lee, but no movies were made. In the early '60s, he was also invited to star in Hong Kong movies but he declined due to his busy schedule. However, he did oblige with guest appearances in a handful of movies.
The launch of the Speak Mandarin Campaign in 1979 marked the end of Lee's broadcasting career, as the local radio stations and Rediffusion were made to cease all dialect programmes by the end of 1982.
In 1982, amidst the discontinuation of dialect programmes, Lee recorded his debut album Ru chao san bu wen, which was well received by his fans. He went on to produce more albums and by end of 1983, he had 12 albums, and the last album consisting eight volumes. Rediffusion ceased its dialect programmes on 30 December 1982 and Lee left the broadcasting scene. However, his storytelling continued through performances at community centres and clan associations. Lee passed away on 22 March 1989 at the age of 76.
Family
Wives: Wong Chow Foon, Meng Yeow Hoh
Son: Lee Chee Leong Clement
Daughters: Lee Yun Han Molly, Lee Oi Lin
Author
Joshua Chia Yeong Jia
References
Li, D. S. (1984). Jiang gu de yi sheng: Li da sha zi zhuan. Singapore: Lian bang Chu ban she.
(Call no.: RSING 790.20924 LDS).
Lo-Ang, S. G. & Chua, C. H. (1992). Vanishing trades of Singapore (pp. 49-52). Singapore: Oral History Department.
(Call no.: RSING 338.642095957 VAN)
Mo, M. Y. (2003, June 9). Zui hou yi wei jiang gu da shi wang zheng jing zuo gu: Yi ge min su wen hua shi dai jie shu [Microfilm: NL 25040]. Lian He Zao Bao, p. 5
Tang, K. F. (1989, March 24). Storyteller Lee Dai Soh dies while waiting to see doctor [Microfilm: NL 16510]. The Straits Times, p.22.
Wang, Z. C. (2001, August 30). Li da sha shou j: Si mian ba fang [Microfilm: NL 23106]. Lian He Zao Bao, p. 2.
Wang, Z. C. (1982, March 31). Li da sha wei jiang gu shi mang: Xin ma ben bo shu shi nian ru yi ri [Microfilm: NL 11008]. . Shin Min Daily News, p. 16.
Obituaries [Microfilm: NL 16510]. . (1989, March 24). The Straits Times, p.38.
The information in this article is valid as at 2007 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
The shock made Lee's father mentally ill and he had to seek treatment in China. In his hometown, the senior Lee was killed by an angry crowd after he acted disrespectfully in a temple. As a result, Lee and his brothers were left to care for themselves.
Fortunately, the principal of Yeung Ching School took pity on the brothers and took them under his care. With the help of their school principal, the brothers managed to continue their education in school.
Accomplishments
In 1931, Lee began his working life at the age of 17.
He worked in various positions including draftsman, factory supervisor, factory worker, clerk, typesetter and reporter.
His career as a storyteller started in 1938 when he joined RTM and hosted a Cantonese programme, Tam Tin Shuit Tei, which ran for more than 30 years.
He went on to host other Cantonese programmes telling folktales, ghost stories, swordfighting stories, detective stories and Chinese classics.
Lee's career expanded when Rediffusion started in Singapore in 1949.
This provided him an additional platform for his storytelling. His storytelling struck a chord among the radio listeners and he became a household name among the listeners during the 1950s and '60s.
At the height of his career, in 1963, he was hosting up to 20 programmes weekly for Rediffusion as well as for local and Malaysian radio stations. In July 1958, Cathay signed a three-year acting contract with Lee, but no movies were made. In the early '60s, he was also invited to star in Hong Kong movies but he declined due to his busy schedule. However, he did oblige with guest appearances in a handful of movies.
The launch of the Speak Mandarin Campaign in 1979 marked the end of Lee's broadcasting career, as the local radio stations and Rediffusion were made to cease all dialect programmes by the end of 1982.
In 1982, amidst the discontinuation of dialect programmes, Lee recorded his debut album Ru chao san bu wen, which was well received by his fans. He went on to produce more albums and by end of 1983, he had 12 albums, and the last album consisting eight volumes. Rediffusion ceased its dialect programmes on 30 December 1982 and Lee left the broadcasting scene. However, his storytelling continued through performances at community centres and clan associations. Lee passed away on 22 March 1989 at the age of 76.
Family
Wives: Wong Chow Foon, Meng Yeow Hoh
Son: Lee Chee Leong Clement
Daughters: Lee Yun Han Molly, Lee Oi Lin
Author
Joshua Chia Yeong Jia
References
Li, D. S. (1984). Jiang gu de yi sheng: Li da sha zi zhuan. Singapore: Lian bang Chu ban she.
(Call no.: RSING 790.20924 LDS).
Lo-Ang, S. G. & Chua, C. H. (1992). Vanishing trades of Singapore (pp. 49-52). Singapore: Oral History Department.
(Call no.: RSING 338.642095957 VAN)
Mo, M. Y. (2003, June 9). Zui hou yi wei jiang gu da shi wang zheng jing zuo gu: Yi ge min su wen hua shi dai jie shu [Microfilm: NL 25040]. Lian He Zao Bao, p. 5
Tang, K. F. (1989, March 24). Storyteller Lee Dai Soh dies while waiting to see doctor [Microfilm: NL 16510]. The Straits Times, p.22.
Wang, Z. C. (2001, August 30). Li da sha shou j: Si mian ba fang [Microfilm: NL 23106]. Lian He Zao Bao, p. 2.
Wang, Z. C. (1982, March 31). Li da sha wei jiang gu shi mang: Xin ma ben bo shu shi nian ru yi ri [Microfilm: NL 11008]. . Shin Min Daily News, p. 16.
Obituaries [Microfilm: NL 16510]. . (1989, March 24). The Straits Times, p.38.
The information in this article is valid as at 2007 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
Subject
Personalities>>Biographies
Li, Da Sha
Storytellers--Singapore
Arts>>Popular culture
People and communities
Librarian Recommendations
>> Rediffusion
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