70-740: Getai ( simplified Chinese : 歌台 ; traditional Chinese : 歌臺 ; pinyin : gē tái ; lit. 'song stage') refers to boisterous live stage performances typically held during the Ghost Festival in the seventh lunar month and on the birthdays of Chinese deities. These shows typically last from 7.30pm to after 10pm and are commonly organised in Singapore, Malaysia and some parts of Indonesia (mainly in Riau , Riau Islands and North Sumatra ). Additionally, stage setups are usually composed of temporary structures like tents situated in
140-462: A Japanese audience, namely, senior officers from the Japanese army who brought music scores of songs they wanted to hear to getai artists and musicians to perform. Performance areas were usually marked out by a short fence and would vary from show to show, and from venue to venue. Sometimes they took place under shelters and at other times, both audience and performers were subject to the elements of
210-434: A conversion table. While exercising such derivation, the following rules should be observed: Sample Derivations : The Series One List of Variant Characters reduces the number of total standard characters. First, amongst each set of variant characters sharing identical pronunciation and meaning, one character (usually the simplest in form) is elevated to the standard character set, and the rest are made obsolete. Then amongst
280-476: A majority of which were created and managed by LEX(S) Entertainment Productions. The digitisation of getai performances has broadened the reach of these live shows. Previously, performances were only available to audience members physically at the event but with the advent of live streaming, viewers are still able to witness religious events such as the possession of spirit mediums by deities, songs and other entertainment acts even if they are unable to be present for
350-443: A negative light. These performances also attracted criticism from Chinese newspapers such as Nanfang Wanbao and XinLi Bao whose writers condemned striptease for threatening public morality. The colonial police began to exert control over such erotic entertainment under the 1895 Theatres Ordinance which allowed the authorities to revoke show-runners' location permits if performances were perceived as obscene and only return them when
420-610: A newly coined phono-semantic compound : Removing radicals Only retaining single radicals Replacing with ancient forms or variants : Adopting ancient vulgar variants : Readopting abandoned phonetic-loan characters : Copying and modifying another traditional character : Based on 132 characters and 14 components listed in Chart 2 of the Complete List , the 1,753 derived characters found in Chart 3 can be created by systematically simplifying components using Chart 2 as
490-469: A practice which has always been present as a part of the Chinese writing system. The official name tends to refer to the specific, systematic set published by the Chinese government, which includes not only simplifications of individual characters, but also a substantial reduction in the total number of characters through the merger of formerly distinct forms. According to Chinese palaeographer Qiu Xigui ,
560-752: A presence in Shanghai by the late 1930s It established operations in Hong Kong in 1950 (by K.C. Leong, in a partnership with Vitasoy ), Singapore in 1952, Thailand in 1954 (by banker Chin Sophonpanich ), Sarawak in 1957, as well as the Philippines and Indonesia, among others. The soft drink was sold in the Netherlands as well. In 1962, the Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers emptied a bottle in
630-404: A single standardized character, usually the simplest among all variants in form. Finally, many characters were left untouched by simplification and are thus identical between the traditional and simplified Chinese orthographies. The Chinese government has never officially announced the completion of the simplification process after the bulk of characters were introduced by the 1960s. In the wake of
700-511: A threat to the nation building project. A groundbreaking getai performance was organised by getai veteran Peter Low in 2006. The act showcased a twelve-hour program featuring many famous performers gracing the stage and bringing the crowd to their feet. In keeping up with trends and technology, stage design has shown major changes throughout the years, including upgrading sound systems and adding LED Panels. On 31 July 2011, getai performances were also held at Orchard Road Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza for
770-440: Is actually more complex than eliminated ones. An example is the character 搾 which is eliminated in favor of the variant form 榨 . The 扌 'HAND' with three strokes on the left of the eliminated 搾 is now seen as more complex, appearing as the ⽊ 'TREE' radical 木 , with four strokes, in the chosen variant 榨 . Not all characters standardised in the simplified set consist of fewer strokes. For instance,
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#1732772180796840-786: Is based on a pair of getai singers. The Straits Times's social networking and citizen journalism portal STOMP holds the Getai Awards annually to honour popular getai artists. These artists are selected via voting by the general public. First streamed on the RINGS.TV mobile phone application available on android and Apple iOS, getai performances were increasingly broadcast on Facebook Live as early as 2013. This practice became more established in 2016. Such forms of content are typically uploaded by Chinese temples, entertainment organisations such as LEX(S) Entertainment (Lixing Entertainment 麗聲娛樂製作), photojournalists, videographers, getai fans and members of
910-454: Is derived. Merging homophonous characters: Adapting cursive shapes ( 草書楷化 ): Replacing a component with a simple arbitrary symbol (such as 又 and 乂 ): Omitting entire components : Omitting components, then applying further alterations : Structural changes that preserve the basic shape Replacing the phonetic component of phono-semantic compounds : Replacing an uncommon phonetic component : Replacing entirely with
980-813: Is now discouraged. A State Language Commission official cited "oversimplification" as the reason for restoring some characters. The language authority declared an open comment period until 31 August 2009, for feedback from the public. In 2013, the List of Commonly Used Standard Chinese Characters was published as a revision of the 1988 lists; it included a total of 8105 characters. It included 45 newly recognized standard characters that were previously considered variant forms, as well as official approval of 226 characters that had been simplified by analogy and had seen wide use but were not explicitly given in previous lists or documents. Singapore underwent three successive rounds of character simplification , eventually arriving at
1050-547: Is used instead of 叠 in regions using traditional characters. The Chinese government stated that it wished to keep Chinese orthography stable. The Chart of Generally Utilized Characters of Modern Chinese was published in 1988 and included 7000 simplified and unsimplified characters. Of these, half were also included in the revised List of Commonly Used Characters in Modern Chinese , which specified 2500 common characters and 1000 less common characters. In 2009,
1120-473: The ⼓ ' WRAP ' radical used in the traditional character 沒 is simplified to ⼏ ' TABLE ' to form the simplified character 没 . By systematically simplifying radicals, large swaths of the character set are altered. Some simplifications were based on popular cursive forms that embody graphic or phonetic simplifications of the traditional forms. In addition, variant characters with identical pronunciation and meaning were reduced to
1190-860: The Bible , and a getai performer named Bai Yan even wrote and acted out a satirical skit about Adolf Hitler , which he titled The Great Dictator. After these segments came the highlight of the show, a spoken or dance drama before a final act which incorporated striptease. These performances were usually frequented by Chinese youth as well as journalists, students, housewives teachers and writers. Besides permanent acts in amusement parks, there were also travelling getai troupes known by various names such as yanwutuan (艳舞团 translated to "exotic dance troupe"), gewujutuan (歌舞剧团 translated to "dance drama troupe") and gejutuan (歌剧团 translated to "song-and-drama troupe"). These performing groups travelled around and performed in various venues, including permanent getai stages such as those at
1260-499: The Cultural Revolution , a second round of simplified characters was promulgated in 1977—largely composed of entirely new variants intended to artificially lower the stroke count, in contrast to the first round—but was massively unpopular and never saw consistent use. The second round of simplifications was ultimately retracted officially in 1986, well after they had largely ceased to be used due to their unpopularity and
1330-554: The Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) the character meaning 'bright' was written as either 明 or 朙 —with either 日 'Sun' or 囧 'window' on the left, with the 月 'Moon' component on the right. Li Si ( d. 208 BC ), the Chancellor of Qin, attempted to universalize the Qin small seal script across China following the wars that had politically unified the country for
1400-540: The coronavirus outbreak in Singapore . Simplified Chinese characters Simplified Chinese characters are one of two standardized character sets widely used to write the Chinese language , with the other being traditional characters . Their mass standardization during the 20th century was part of an initiative by the People's Republic of China (PRC) to promote literacy, and their use in ordinary circumstances on
1470-531: The states of ancient China , with his chief chronicler having "[written] fifteen chapters describing" what is referred to as the " big seal script ". The traditional narrative, as also attested in the Shuowen Jiezi dictionary ( c. 100 AD ), is that the Qin small seal script that would later be imposed across China was originally derived from the Zhou big seal script with few modifications. However,
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#17327721807961540-651: The "Dot" stroke : The traditional components ⺥ and 爫 become ⺈ : The traditional component 奐 becomes 奂 : Green Spot (soft drink) Green Spot is a brand of non- carbonated , non- caffeinated orange -based soft drink originating in the United States but today produced in Thailand and Venezuela . Green Spot was established in the United States in 1934, based in Claremont, California . The brand soon expanded internationally, and had
1610-469: The 1919 May Fourth Movement —many anti-imperialist intellectuals throughout China began to see the country's writing system as a serious impediment to its modernization. In 1916, a multi-part English-language article entitled "The Problem of the Chinese Language" co-authored by the Chinese linguist Yuen Ren Chao (1892–1982) and poet Hu Shih (1891–1962) has been identified as a turning point in
1680-400: The 1940s. Subsequently, performers previously in the gewutuan business moved over to getai and brought dancing, drama, magic tricks and acrobatic acts to getai shows. Hence, leading to getai program lineups with a variety of acts reminiscent of gewutuan performances. Getai emerged in Singapore in the years of Japanese occupation in the 1940s. The first getai performance, known as Dayehui (大夜会),
1750-463: The 1950s, getai performances began to incorporate more risqué elements and striptease due to the popularisation of erotic entertainment in Singaporean society. This trend began as early as the 1930s and 1940s when Western trends and images of the sexualised female body began to permeate Singaporean society in public media. Performers and show-runners in the getai business then began to capitalise on
1820-578: The 1950s, traditional folk songs and popular Mandarin songs from Mainland China were commonly sung, danced to, and enjoyed by the local crowd during getai performances. However, dancing and singing simultaneously during a live performance was not commonplace for getai singers at this point and artistes typically sang while reading lyrics off a music stand. At the mid-point of the lineup, performers would then put on comedy skits before more supporting acts followed. Sometimes, getai acts drew from Western influences and adapted stories such as Samson and Delilah from
1890-482: The 1986 General List of Simplified Chinese Characters , hereafter the General List . All characters simplified this way are enumerated in Chart 1 and Chart 2 in the 1986 Complete List . Characters in both charts are structurally simplified based on similar set of principles. They are separated into two charts to clearly mark those in Chart 2 as 'usable as simplified character components', based on which Chart 3
1960-520: The 1986 mainland China revisions. Unlike in mainland China, Singapore parents have the option of registering their children's names in traditional characters. Malaysia also promulgated a set of simplified characters in 1981, though completely identical to the mainland Chinese set. They are used in Chinese-language schools. All characters simplified this way are enumerated in Charts 1 and 2 of
2030-411: The 21st century, the getai industry continues to be subject to restrictions imposed by Singapore's authorities such as being censored for sexually provocative content like revealing costumes, risqué dances and drag performances. Additionally, as more residences are being built in housing estates for Singapore's population, the number of performance sites such as open fields in these areas have dwindled over
2100-470: The Chinese government published a major revision to the list which included a total of 8300 characters. No new simplifications were introduced. In addition, slight modifications to the orthography of 44 characters to fit traditional calligraphic rules were initially proposed, but were not implemented due to negative public response. Also, the practice of unrestricted simplification of rare and archaic characters by analogy using simplified radicals or components
2170-726: The English newspapers in Singapore during the 1950s. During its early days, getai performances were permanently held in the Worlds Amusement Parks: Great World, Happy World and New World. One of such getai stages was the Weiyang Gong ("Palace of Day and Night") in the New World Amusement Park . However, it was bombed by the Japanese and a new stage Gongkai Tai ("Public Stage") was built. Nonetheless, getai performances also attracted
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2240-598: The People's Republic, the idea of a mass simplification of character forms first gained traction in China during the early 20th century. In 1909, the educator and linguist Lufei Kui formally proposed the use of simplified characters in education for the first time. Over the following years—marked by the 1911 Xinhai Revolution that toppled the Qing dynasty , followed by growing social and political discontent that further erupted into
2310-603: The River"), Xianle ("Heavenly Joy") and Fenghuang ("Phoenix"). During this period, performers earned wages that could go up to SGD$ 1,200. In the 1950s, prominent business owners operating in the getai industry included the Shaw Brothers who owned amusement parks and cinemas which gave them the power to invite performers to various locations under their name. The Cathay also rose as a competitor and invited many getai troupes to perform in their cinemas but were unable to overtake
2380-545: The Shaw Brothers. From the mid-1940s to the early 1960s, at least 50 getai shows were hosted in Singapore. However , getai in amusement parks declined in popularity in the late 1950s and stages began close down in the 1960s. It had however become established by the 1970s as popular entertainment on makeshift stages set-up along streets and in other public spaces during the Hungry Ghost Festival . In
2450-687: The Taoist community such as Victor Yue. Yue is well-known amongst individuals who consume online content on Taoism and Chinese Temples in Singapore and he is the founder of the Facebook group, "Taoism Singapore", where various photographs, videos and live streams of getai performances are shared both by himself and other individuals in the group. Other groups where getai content is shared and circulated include "Singapore Getai Supporter", "Singapore Getai Fans Page", "Lixin Fan Page" and "LEX-S Watch Live Channel"-
2520-444: The body of epigraphic evidence comparing the character forms used by scribes gives no indication of any real consolidation in character forms prior to the founding of the Qin. The Han dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) that inherited the Qin administration coincided with the perfection of clerical script through the process of libian . Eastward spread of Western learning Though most closely associated with
2590-651: The body which was also replicated by other getai programs. Pressured by religious organisations such as the Malayan Christian Council, Singapore Buddhist Federation and Chinese Young Men Christians’ Association (YMCA), the colonial police clamped down harder on striptease acts by suspending entertainment licences, increasing the frequency of checks on program content and imposing rules which prohibited getai performers from performing risqué programs amongst other criteria. Performers and show-runners who were affected by these laws then either chose to move into
2660-447: The broadest trend in the evolution of Chinese characters over their history has been simplification, both in graphical shape ( 字形 ; zìxíng ), the "external appearances of individual graphs", and in graphical form ( 字体 ; 字體 ; zìtǐ ), "overall changes in the distinguishing features of graphic[al] shape and calligraphic style, [...] in most cases refer[ring] to rather obvious and rather substantial changes". The initiatives following
2730-407: The chosen variants, those that appear in the "Complete List of Simplified Characters" are also simplified in character structure accordingly. Some examples follow: Sample reduction of equivalent variants : Ancient variants with simple structure are preferred : Simpler vulgar forms are also chosen : The chosen variant was already simplified in Chart 1 : In some instances, the chosen variant
2800-534: The colonial period, Chinese operas and puppet shows were popular in Singapore. However, getai eventually began to overshadow these traditional forms of entertainment with its shorter and upbeat music performed by singers and live bands. Initially a popular form of entertainment found in amusement parks and theatres, getai eventually evolved into performances meant for wandering spirits during the Lunar Seventh Month's Hungry Ghost Festival and audiences in
2870-595: The confusion they caused. In August 2009, China began collecting public comments for a revised list of simplified characters; the resulting List of Commonly Used Standard Chinese Characters lists 8,105 characters, including a few revised forms, and was implemented for official use by China's State Council on 5 June 2013. In Chinese, simplified characters are referred to by their official name 简化字 ; jiǎnhuàzì , or colloquially as 简体字 ; jiǎntǐzì . The latter term refers broadly to all character variants featuring simplifications of character form or structure,
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2940-656: The country. In 1935, the first official list of simplified forms was published, consisting of 324 characters collated by Peking University professor Qian Xuantong . However, fierce opposition within the KMT resulted in the list being rescinded in 1936. Work throughout the 1950s resulted in the 1956 promulgation of the Chinese Character Simplification Scheme , a draft of 515 simplified characters and 54 simplified components, whose simplifications would be present in most compound characters. Over
3010-533: The demand for entertainment such as getai performances. Furthermore, the dissemination of Chinese mosquito newspapers, the main paper that contained information and articles about getai, also aided in increasing show publicity. Getai became increasing popular, and by the 1950s, there were many getai stages established at the three "Worlds" Amusement Parks such as the Bailemen ("Paramount"), Xianggelila ("Shangri-La"), Yehuayuan ("Night Garden"), Menjianghong ("Red Filling
3080-447: The economic problems in China during that time. Lu Xun , one of the most prominent Chinese authors of the 20th century, stated that "if Chinese characters are not destroyed, then China will die" ( 漢字不滅，中國必亡 ). During the 1930s and 1940s, discussions regarding simplification took place within the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party. Many members of the Chinese intelligentsia maintained that simplification would increase literacy rates throughout
3150-692: The first time with these new sound and light systems. As it was the first getai show to be held in the shopping strip in front of a wider audience, including tourists, instead of the usual open fields in neighbourhood areas, the show did not feature any crude humour and scantily clad dancers or singers. Getai has also been organised for other Chinese festivals, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival . Resorts World Sentosa 's casino included getai in its 2010 Chinese New Year celebrations. Additionally, Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple arranged getai performances for their 2010 Mid-Autumn celebrations. Nonetheless, in
3220-512: The first time. Li prescribed the 朙 form of the word for 'bright', but some scribes ignored this and continued to write the character as 明 . However, the increased usage of 朙 was followed by proliferation of a third variant: 眀 , with 目 'eye' on the left—likely derived as a contraction of 朙 . Ultimately, 明 became the character's standard form. The Book of Han (111 AD) describes an earlier attempt made by King Xuan of Zhou ( d. 782 BC ) to unify character forms across
3290-475: The following decade, the Script Reform Committee deliberated on characters in the 1956 scheme, collecting public input regarding the recognizability of variants, and often approving forms in small batches. Parallel to simplification, there were also initiatives aimed at eliminating the use of characters entirely and replacing them with pinyin as an official Chinese alphabet, but this possibility
3360-430: The founding of the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) to universalize the use of their small seal script across the recently conquered parts of the empire is generally seen as being the first real attempt at script reform in Chinese history. Before the 20th century, variation in character shape on the part of scribes, which would continue with the later invention of woodblock printing , was ubiquitous. For example, prior to
3430-799: The growing market for such forms of entertainment and came up with programs which appealed to the public in a sexually provocative manner. Additionally, the erotic genre appealed even more to individuals and artistes in the getai industry as it brought in more revenue compared to regular programs. In particular, strippers could earn up to SGD$ 1,500 a month which even surpassed the salary of cream-of-the-crop getai artists at that time. Getai performances began to incorporate sexual elements such as songs which contained alluring or flirtatious lyrics known as "tofu songs [豆腐歌曲] ". However, other shows such as Fong Fong cafe's "Model" program performed in 1951 and 1953 included striptease as well as interactive segments where artistes would kiss audience members. Fong Fong cafe's "Model"
3500-556: The history of the Chinese script—as it was one of the first clear calls for China to move away from the use of characters entirely. Instead, Chao proposed that the language be written with an alphabet, which he saw as more logical and efficient. The alphabetization and simplification campaigns would exist alongside one another among the Republican intelligentsia for the next several decades. Recent commentators have echoed some contemporary claims that Chinese characters were blamed for
3570-533: The mainland has been encouraged by the Chinese government since the 1950s. They are the official forms used in mainland China and Singapore , while traditional characters are officially used in Hong Kong , Macau , and Taiwan . Simplification of a component—either a character or a sub-component called a radical —usually involves either a reduction in its total number of strokes , or an apparent streamlining of which strokes are chosen in what places—for example,
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#17327721807963640-506: The mid-1950s, the term roudan (肉弹), or "bombshell" was increasingly used in Chinese communities to refer to strippers who performed erotic acts at shows which mirrored the ways in which Western strippers were represented as "bombs". Additionally, Mosquito newspapers which advertised getai acts began to use the term "bomb" (弹) when advertising getai performances incorporating striptease. However, this term also had derogatory undertones to it which painted female strippers performing in Singapore in
3710-527: The performance. Seated patrons would then be served refreshments which could cost from 80 cents to a dollar. These included bottled soft drinks such as Greenspot , which was an orange drink. Getai shows usually began with an opening song, some examples being marches like Qiancheng Wanli ("A Bright Future") and Boaige ("Song of Universal Love"), by all of the performers who would line up on stage. The opening act would be followed by magic tricks, acrobatics, songs and dancing- which could be solos or duets. During
3780-430: The public and quickly fell out of official use. It was ultimately formally rescinded in 1986. The second-round simplifications were unpopular in large part because most of the forms were completely new, in contrast to the familiar variants comprising the majority of the first round. With the rescission of the second round, work toward further character simplification largely came to an end. In 1986, authorities retracted
3850-636: The public as they are reserved for spirits and deities whom Chinese communities believe will return to the world of the living during the Hungry Ghost Festival. In Singapore's contemporary getai scene, performances feature local artistes such as the Baobei ("Darling" in Mandarin) Sisters and even international singers such as Hao Hao and Ya Ya from Taiwan, Bai Hui Mei from Hong Kong and Malaysia's "Little Princess", Li Bao En. During
3920-481: The same set of simplified characters as mainland China. The first round was promulgated by the Ministry of Education in 1969, consisting of 498 simplified characters derived from 502 traditional characters. A second round of 2287 simplified characters was promulgated in 1974. The second set contained 49 differences from the mainland China system; these were removed in the final round in 1976. In 1993, Singapore adopted
3990-471: The sea near Petten . He managed to make it an international news item. Green Spot disappeared from the market in the United States around the 1960s and in most other countries thereafter. Its original company, Green Spot USA , now produces flavorings for beverages, ice-creams, and other food products. The beverage continues to be produced and sold in Thailand by Green Spot Co., Ltd. (which also produces
4060-467: The second round completely, though they had been largely fallen out of use within a year of their initial introduction. That year, the authorities also promulgated a final version of the General List of Simplified Chinese Characters . It was identical to the 1964 list save for 6 changes—including the restoration of 3 characters that had been simplified in the first round: 叠 , 覆 , 像 ; the form 疊
4130-498: The show. Additionally, this can be done at any point in time after the live show as well as performances which were broadcast would be archived and saved on Facebook, enabling online audiences to re-watch or catch up on getai shows they may have missed even after it has ended. In 2020, getai performances were held digitally via YouTube and Facebook to entertain the elderly. This transition to an online format also ensured jobs for crew and performers as getai shows were not available during
4200-545: The striptease acts were removed from the program. However, at this time, what was considered obscene and what was not had not yet been defined in local legislations in Singapore and Malaya, which allowed getai program planners and artistes to reinterpret and restructure erotic forms of entertainment to avoid getting caught. This manifested in the form of a new program by Fong Fong cafe, titled "Night Butterfly (夜蝴蝶)" where artistes wore gauze butterfly wings and sheer, nude-coloured undergarments with gold stars placed on certain parts of
4270-941: The suburbs of the city- namely, in empty fields, parking spaces or housing estates. Stage backdrops are usually made of cardboard and cloths painted in bright colours, vibrantly illuminated by coloured spotlights. The performers normally don loud and glittery clothing. Some getai hosts indulge in crude humour; others maintain quick-witted dialogue, joking about local and current affairs, sometimes switching between Mandarin, local Chinese dialects, and even English and Indian languages. Younger people in Singapore may relate to Getai as kitsch , while older people enjoy dancing and singing along to familiar songs, often in Hokkien . Traditional singers such as Liu Lingling tend to dress conservatively, while young performers drawn to getai may choose more revealing outfits. The first row of seats at getai performances are also typically left empty and blocked off from
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#17327721807964340-532: The three World Amusement Parks. After World War II, the subsequent Korean War led to a flourishing economy in Malaya. This was due to an increase in demand for rubber and tin, the two main commodities traded in the Malayan economy, by parties involved in the subsequent Korean War who were in need of military materials. The bourgeoning economy then led to an increased desire for leisure on the local scene which fuelled
4410-833: The traditional character 強 , with 11 strokes is standardised as 强 , with 12 strokes, which is a variant character. Such characters do not constitute simplified characters. The new standardized character forms shown in the Characters for Publishing and revised through the Common Modern Characters list tend to adopt vulgar variant character forms. Since the new forms take vulgar variants, many characters now appear slightly simpler compared to old forms, and as such are often mistaken as structurally simplified characters. Some examples follow: The traditional component 釆 becomes 米 : The traditional component 囚 becomes 日 : The traditional "Break" stroke becomes
4480-421: The travelling entertainment business by forming yanwutuan or limited sexual content from programs in order to continue performing in Singapore. In 1959, the Singaporean government launched an anti-yellow movement which aimed to eradicate all forms of immoral or decadent behaviour, including erotic forms of entertainment like striptease present in getai shows. Such risqué elements were banned as they were perceived as
4550-518: The weather. Additionally, acts would be performed on a proscenium stage, complete with a cloth backdrop designed according to the theme of the show. Shows typically began at 8 pm and ended at 11 pm daily at areas delineated by a short fence. Tables covered with white tablecloths which were set up in the vicinity of the performance could seat up to 4 people and some would be reserved for regulars. Unreserved seats were first-come-first serve and those who arrived after all tables were occupied had to stand during
4620-460: The world of the living. Early getai acts during the mid-20th century have origins in Shanghainese culture and tradition- namely in its format, which incorporates a variety of acts into a single show. This style was characteristic of gewutuan (歌舞团), which translates to "song and dance troupe", a popular form of entertainment which first arrived on Singapore's shores in the 1930s but declined in
4690-436: The years, making it challenging for getai show-runners to secure locations for events. In 2015 & 2018, Singapore Mediacorp Channel 8 held a competition for getai singers named GeTai Challenge (歌台星力量). The show run for two seasons with the most recent season premiered on 20 April 2018 and ended on 10 August 2018. Getai has been increasingly accepted and celebrated by the mainstream media. Royston Tan's 2007 movie 881
4760-464: Was abandoned, confirmed by a speech given by Zhou Enlai in 1958. In 1965, the PRC published the List of Commonly Used Characters for Printing [ zh ] (hereafter Characters for Printing ), which included standard printed forms for 6196 characters, including all of the forms from the 1956 scheme. A second round of simplified characters was promulgated in 1977, but was poorly received by
4830-414: Was later replicated by other getai stages as well which featured female performers dressed in sheer, nude-coloured underwear made to appear fully unclothed with stage lighting. These getai shows also began to attract multi-ethnic audiences beyond the Chinese community which led to a variety of languages being used during shows such as Chinese dialects, Malay, English and Mandarin. As the trend persisted into
4900-516: Was organised by a business owner at the New World Amusement Park in hopes of attracting more customers to his drinks store. In particular, patrons could enjoy live music and singing for three hours if they purchased a drink. This sale of refreshments contributed to the wages earned by getai troupes, which could also be the reason why the locale of such live shows were referred to as "evening cafes", "night cafes" or "singing cafes" by
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