Master Hou Baolin's Selected Crosstalk

Author: None
Publisher: Tengtu Electronic Publishing
Publishing Date: None
Features: This product includes the most representative programs created (or organized and refined) and performed by Master Hou Baolin in the 1950s and a slightly later period, to delight comic dialogue enthusiasts. Listen to the voice of the artistic master and experience the profoundness of life's history! More than half a century of artistic practice—humor, wit, social realities, and life—are all encompassed here! Hou Baolin (1917–1993), a native of Beijing, grew up in poverty. At the age of 12, he began learning Peking Opera, later switching to comic dialogue. He studied under masters Chang Baochen and Zhu Kuiquan. For a time, he performed in areas around Drum Tower and Tianqiao in Beijing. In 1940, he went to Tianjin for performances and gained fame. From 1940 onwards, he worked with Guo Qiru as a comedic dialogue partner, performing duet comic dialogues together. Their collaboration was harmonious, with Guo playing the straight man and Qiru the clown, and they worked together for over 20 years. In the history of comic dialogue art, Hou Baolin is one of the most renowned outstanding performing artists.
Hou Baolin's contributions to the art of comic dialogue are multifaceted. First, he led the effort to purify the language of comic dialogue performances, elevating its aesthetic appeal by discarding the vulgar and lowbrow non-artistic elements of the past. He adapted many traditional programs, transforming them into something magical and revitalizing their appearance. Second, while creating and performing, he emphasized the theoretical study of comic dialogue, made friends with scholars and intellectuals, and co-authored works such as "The Origin of Comic Dialogue" and "A Collection of Essays on Comic Dialogue Art," guiding the art toward greater self-awareness. Third, he created, organized, and performed over 30 classic comic dialogue programs that can be considered masterpieces. Representative examples include: "Marriage and Superstition," "A Masterpiece Becomes a Curse," "Kuan Gong Battles Qin Qiong," "Night Journey," "Talks on Drama," "Drama and Dialects," "Changing Professions," "Drunk," and "Theatre Enthusiasts."