Collectibles -> Memorabilia -> Movie Memorabilia

Bruce Lee is a revered name in the martial arts community, and Bruce Lee movies are classics among action and martial arts fans. Lee was more than actor, he actually developed a martial art form called Jeet Kune Do, and popularized the sport in various films and television appearances in the 1960s and 1970s. Born in California in 1940 in both the Year of the Dragon and the hour of the dragon, according the Chinese Zodiac, Lee ended up being raised in Hong Kong when the family moved back to China when Lee was 3 months old. But Bruce was sent back to the United States when he was 18 because he’d recently been in trouble after getting into a fight. He held two small boxing championships at the time. He met his wife at the University of Washington and married her in 1964.

They had two children, Brandon born in 1965 and Shannon born in 1969. Both became actors like their father. Shannon retired from acting after some low-budget film appearances in the mid 90s, and Brandon Lee, perhaps at the peak of his popularity, died during the filming of his film The Crow at the age of only 28. The parallels between his death and his father were a source of interest and speculation at the time, because Bruce Lee died young as well, at age 33. And of all the Bruce Lee movies, the final one was completed after his death, just as Brandon’s movie, The Crow, had to be finished.

The first Bruce Lee movies were actually black-and-white short films he appeared in while very young. By age 18, he’d appeared in 20 films. His early introduction to the world of acting and films was thanks to his father, Hoi-Cheun, who was a famous opera star in China.

After a demonstration in a Karate Tournament in 1964, he impressed the other martial artists and ended up landing small roles on television in shows like Batman. He went on to appear in films and television shows, even pitching his own show called The Warrior which many, including Lee, believed was later changed to become the popular series Kung Fu with David Carradine. Lee even auditioned for the lead role, but the studios didn’t believe that the viewing public would be won over by a Chinese lead actor. Upset at his treatment in the US, the first Bruce Lee movies were made in Hong Kong.

Bruce Lee went back to Hong Kong and became a box office sensation, going on to write, direct and choreograph. He gave Chuck Norris his start in films by casting him in Way of the Dragon and fighting him a legendary martial arts sequence. Bruce Lee movies and his martial arts philosophies went on to change the way Kung Fu and all of China were viewed in the west. His movies are available on DVD and still enjoyed today, and he is still seen as one of the most amazing martial artists that ever lived.

Originally posted 2008-11-16 05:00:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Music Memorabilia Memorabilia -> Music Memorabilia -> Rock, Pop Music memorabilia has always been popular, and although we associate it primarily with today’s rock and pop musicians, the practice of collecting items for musicians and groups dates back many hundred years. In fact, in Japan, before mass printing was used on a......
• John Wayne Movies Memorabilia -> Movie Memorabilia John Wayne movies have been a favorite of movie buffs, Western fans and those who like “tough guys” in their films, for many years. Though John Wayne has been gone for almost 30 years, his presence is still such a part of American culture that almost......
• Grace Kelly Memorabilia -> Celebrity Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco, is a film legend and one of the most recognizable names the world over. Her life seemed to be rather like a fairy tale, at least once she began acting. A leading lady who starred opposite huge stars like......
• Movie Props Memorabilia -> Movie Memorabilia -> Movie Props : Originals, Reproductions If you have a favorite movie that you will never forget, or if you are a collector of memorabilia, finding movie props can be an amazing experience. There are numerous studios that release special movie props after filming and you......
• Roy Rogers Toys Memorabilia -> United States -> 1940-49 Roy Rogers toys weren't just the popular playthings of a generation who viewed Roy as an authentic cowboy and a real American hero, they're a representation of an entire generation. They stand today as an example of mid-20th century culture and one of the......

• Lou Gehrig Sports Memorabilia -> Fan Apparel & Souvenirs -> New York Yankees Lou Gehrig, whose full name was actually Henry Louis Gehrig, is one of the most well-known names, not just in the history of baseball, but in the history of sports. He's distinguished because of his remarkable career as......
• Mono Lake, Lee Vining, CA Mono Lake is located near Lee Vining, CA Phone: (760) 647-6629 About the Lake: This lake stretches out over 695 square miles and is considered to be one of the oldest lakes in the western hemisphere. It's rare to find a body of water in this part of California that......
• Rafael Nadal Wins the Monte Carlo Masters Rafael Nadal hasn’t been a winner for almost a year. But he won the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday and become the only player to win a single event 6 times in a row since tennis became a professional sport over 40 years ago in 1968. That’s quite a comeback......
• Sony Ericsson Open 2011 This week in tennis featured one major tournament for all players, the Sony Ericsson open. This is a premier event that lasts for more than one week, once again pitting the best players in the world up against each other. The men’s tournament featured big name players like Rafael Nadal,......
• Scott Wins Texas Open Adam Scott earned his first PGA Tour Victory in 2 years on at the Texas Open on Sunday, ending with a 14-under 274 and taking home the $1,098,000 prize pot. He defeated runner-up Fredrik Jacobson by one stroke. Texas is apparently a great place for Scott, as it's the only......

• Hwa Rang Do Books & Video Martial Arts Exercise & Fitness
• Jiu Jitsu Sticks & Swords Martial Arts Exercise & Fitness
• Dumbo Disney Characters, Movies Pins, Buttons Contemporary (1968-Now) Disneyana Collectibles
• Iaido Footwear Clothing, Shoes & Accessories Martial Arts Exercise & Fitness
• Bando Thaing Footwear Clothing, Shoes & Accessories Martial Arts Exercise & Fitness