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Pago Pago - all locations under one roof |
sputnikmoss
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 04, 2007
Posts: 275
From: Portland OR
|  Posted: 2009-05-04 09:19 am Permalink
The Pago Pago in Portland was a notorious Mob hangout. The second floor was a full on gambling establishment with a race wire called the Turf Club. Hot spot in the 1940s, closed in 1951.
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3935
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-05-07 11:14 am Permalink
Just got this postcard from the Pago Pago in Tuscon.
For such a swinging place, the owners Bob and Homer sure look frumpy.
Close up of the building
Close up of the interior.
DC
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10566
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2009-05-07 12:10 pm Permalink
Wow, that must be the earliest one! Almost looks more 1930s than early 40s...anyone can tell?
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tikibars
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 11, 2002
Posts: 2014
From: Aku Hall, Chicago
| Posted: 2009-05-07 4:48 pm Permalink
Very timely topic.
There will be a short article about the beloved Chicago Pago Pago mural in next Thursday's Time Out Chicago (May 14).
The author of the article, John Greenfield, wrote to me that:
"...the mural is probably coming down during the demolition of the 421 S. Wabash building for a new Roosevelt University high-rise. They're saving the history facade (west wall.) Maybe you can use your tiki lobbying skills to convince them to salvage the north wall, where the mural is?"
OK, Tonga Room/Kahiki/Vic's Beverly Hills crew(s), here's another Sisyphean task for us!
I am surprised that no one has posted a pic of the Chicago Pago Pago mural yet, so I will!
_________________
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congawa
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 11, 2008
Posts: 340
From: Long Beach, CA
| Posted: 2009-05-08 12:50 pm Permalink
&forumQuote:
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On 2009-04-17 16:39, bigbrotiki wrote:
I have always been fascinated by the name of PAGO PAGO (pronounced Pungo Pungo) for Pre-Tiki Polynesian bars and supper clubs in the 1940s. Pago Pago is the main port in American Samoa, and was featured early on in literature:
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I'll repost the link to my screen captures from the 1956 film CRIME AGAINST JOE with shots of the Tucson Pago Pago:
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=302=1&vpost=409830&hilite=john%20bromfield
Every time John Bromfield says the name of the place in the film, he says "Pango Pango." That's just one of those American/English idiosyncrasies about pronouncing the names of places the way we want them pronounced (or spelled). i.e.: Hey Germany, you say "Munchen" but we think it should be spelled "Munich." Italy, cut a syllable out of "Roma" and call it "Rome," and why that unnecessary "o" at the end of "Torino"?--chop it off and make it "Turin." And Beijing and Mumbai? -- I'm gonna go eat some Beijing Duck and wash it down with Mumbai Gin.
Brent
Quote:
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Now here is the place to post swizzle sticks, more matchbooks, postcards and other paper ephemera from all the various Pago Pagos in Chicago, Tuscon, Portland, Long Beach and so on.
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I'll repost the link to my screen captures from the 1956 film CRIME AGAINST JOE with shots of the Tucson Pago Pago:
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=302&forum=1&vpost=409830&hilite=john%20bromfield
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pappythesailor
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 1563
From: Mass.
| Posted: 2009-05-08 1:02 pm Permalink
I had a long interview with Paul Soohoo who opened the Pago Pago in Milford, MA. If I ever break my leg or something and can't leave the house, I need to copy it out of my little notebook.
P.S. He used to work at Trader Vic's Boston.
[ This Message was edited by: pappythesailor 2009-05-08 13:03 ]
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10566
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2009-05-08 6:40 pm Permalink
In the Samoan language, the "G" is pronounced very guttural and soft, so it sounds more like "ng" than "g". Because the name was much more in use in the 40s and 50s, the majority of times it is heard in songs and movies from that time is used in its correct, Samoan pronunciation. When spoken correctly, the "N" in Pango Pango should not be fully pronounced, as in "BANG!", more like a soft "G" --but in American songs from that time it often is. 
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MadDogMike
Grand Member (3 years) 
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 6412
From: The Anvil of the Sun
| Posted: 2009-05-08 9:38 pm Permalink
Is this the kind of Pago Pago you were looking for? Rev BooBen has the matching "man-skirt" but I don't know if it was made in Pago Pago Samoa or not 
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Pirate Ship Tree House
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3935
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-05-18 3:56 pm Permalink
Matchbook listing the three Pago Pago locations in Illinois.
Sure hope they can save the old Pago Pago wall mural posted by Tikibars.
DC
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Sabu The Coconut Boy
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Aug 20, 2002
Posts: 2784
From: Carson, California
| Posted: 2009-06-12 10:43 pm Permalink
The Pago (singular) in San Francisco - "House of Zombie"
_________________
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3935
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-07-02 2:06 pm Permalink
Sabu,
Nice card, that's an oldie. Picked one up on ebay.
Another matchbook from the Pago Pago in Long Beach.
DC
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puamana
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 02, 2002
Posts: 291
From: Seattle, WA
| Posted: 2009-07-05 6:10 pm Permalink
Here's a matchcover from the Pago Pago in Long Beach, with mention of another location in Palm Springs:
[ This Message was edited by: puamana 2009-07-05 18:14 ]
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3935
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-07-05 6:30 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-07-05 18:10, puamana wrote:
Here's a matchcover from the Pago Pago in Long Beach, with mention of another location in Palm Springs:
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A Palm Springs location, never heard of that before.
Nice find on the matchbook Puamana.
DC
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Tipsy McStagger
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 21, 2004
Posts: 3388
From: HELL
| Posted: 2009-07-05 8:05 pm Permalink
as of this weekend , the pago pago mural is still there.
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lucas vigor
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 12, 2004
Posts: 3453
From: "I've chopped my way through real jungle
| Posted: 2009-07-06 07:11 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-05-08 12:50, congawa wrote:
&forumQuote:
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On 2009-04-17 16:39, bigbrotiki wrote:
I have always been fascinated by the name of PAGO PAGO (pronounced Pungo Pungo) for Pre-Tiki Polynesian bars and supper clubs in the 1940s. Pago Pago is the main port in American Samoa, and was featured early on in literature:
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|
I'll repost the link to my screen captures from the 1956 film CRIME AGAINST JOE with shots of the Tucson Pago Pago:
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=302=1&vpost=409830&hilite=john%20bromfield
Every time John Bromfield says the name of the place in the film, he says "Pango Pango." That's just one of those American/English idiosyncrasies about pronouncing the names of places the way we want them pronounced (or spelled). i.e.: Hey Germany, you say "Munchen" but we think it should be spelled "Munich." Italy, cut a syllable out of "Roma" and call it "Rome," and why that unnecessary "o" at the end of "Torino"?--chop it off and make it "Turin." And Beijing and Mumbai? -- I'm gonna go eat some Beijing Duck and wash it down with Mumbai Gin.
Brent
Quote:
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Now here is the place to post swizzle sticks, more matchbooks, postcards and other paper ephemera from all the various Pago Pagos in Chicago, Tuscon, Portland, Long Beach and so on.
|
|
I'll repost the link to my screen captures from the 1956 film CRIME AGAINST JOE with shots of the Tucson Pago Pago:
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=302&forum=1&vpost=409830&hilite=john%20bromfield
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Fantastic!!!!!!!
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