In 1960, Coby Yee – already a star performer at Charlie Low’s Forbidden City – opened the Dragon Lady nightclub on the eastern border of San Francisco’s Chinatown. In addition to being part-owner, Coby was the hostess and public face of the business. Soon, she also opened a studio and costume shop, and eventually took over the Forbidden City as well. Performer, costumer, teacher, nightclub operator – Coby Yee truly was, as one contemporary described her, “the hardest-working woman in Chinatown!”
See our new exhibition featuring costumes, photos, and more from Coby Yee’s amazing career! Coby Yee: The Hardest-Working Woman in Chinatown will run from May 28 through October 22, 2021 in our temporary exhibition space and is included with all admissions to the museum.