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Don the Beachcomber - The Locations (Updated 11-22-10) |
bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10600
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
|  Posted: 2008-10-28 8:55 pm Permalink
Very cool! That last photo was used for the menu illustration I used in the BOT page 165!
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3946
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2008-10-29 12:47 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-10-28 12:03, Bora Boris wrote:
Were there ever any stories in Architectural Digest or any magazine like that on any of his homes?
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Here are some photos of Donn's house in Encino.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10600
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-10-29 1:21 pm Permalink
Note that wherever he went, he had his Tahitian Cannibal Carvings with him.
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Bora Boris
Mr. Unreasonable
Joined: Mar 25, 2005
Posts: 2416
From: Boogie Wonderland
| Posted: 2008-10-29 1:26 pm Permalink
Wow! Definitely the home of a beachcomber.
We need a new thread before this one gets derailed beyond the point of no return.
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HOUSE OF KU
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 15, 2005
Posts: 537
From: TIKILAND, USA
| Posted: 2008-10-30 02:12 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-10-29 12:47, Dustycajun wrote:
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Is that a baboon skull?? 
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Sabu The Coconut Boy
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Aug 20, 2002
Posts: 2784
From: Carson, California
| Posted: 2008-12-05 8:30 pm Permalink
The Palm Springs location. From the Oct 1970 issue of Palm Springs Life magazine. For a re-model, this might have been an evolution instead of a de-evolution, given the 1970 date. Had we reached the zenith and started the decline of Tiki restaurants by 1970 yet, Bigbro?
I really like the tiki torches jutting above the roof in several places, on their long, bamboo-style poles.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10600
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-12-05 11:27 pm Permalink
The peak of Tiki style was between 1959 and 1964. I personally can tell the difference in some places by around 1968, but the dates of devolution vary with the places. I would say that in this case, if the decor was straight Beachcomber style before, they probably added some Tikis, so it must have been an upgrade, still.  They didn't start to "downplay" the Polynesian theme in existing places until the late 70s.
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3946
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2008-12-06 09:08 am Permalink
Sabu,
Thanks for the photos of the Don's in Palm Springs. First time I have ever seen a photo of the place.
Sven, as always thanks for the history lesson.
Here are a few more pics from the Chicago Don's from the Life Mag photos.
Still looking for these locations.
San Jose/Santa Clara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Malibu, California
Aurora, Colorado
Houston, Texas
Seattle, Washington
W. Lafayette, Louisiana
Indiana
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Tangaroa-Ru
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 04, 2006
Posts: 379
From: Surf's Up, Los Angeles!
| Posted: 2008-12-11 7:45 pm Permalink
I am beyond impressed with all the accumulated photos and info on Don the Beachcomber! I've always had a soft spot in my heart for this guy. I was born and brought up in Malibu (surf's up, dude!) and I do remember the Tonga Lei, though not very well, because I was just a child. (When it was torn down, I was in San Francisco, goofing off...uh, wait...going to film school, so I missed its sad demise.) For some reason, though, my parents were more fond of Kelbo's on Pico and The Luau, maybe because of their dating memories from those places. But if anyone has any menus or promo stuff from the Malibu Don's, please post them! All I've ever been able to find rarely) is Tonga Lei matchbooks and postcards -- although there is a guy on Ebay who is selling copies of vintage Tiki menus, including an old Tonga Lei one. I might cave and get it. And yes, the Tonga Lei was adjacent (on the left side) to the Malibu Pier. (Not to be confused with the Santa Monica Pier.) There is a parking lot now where it once stood. The most public Tiki atmosphere in Malibu now can be found at Duke's Restaurant. (PCH at Las Flores.) They have a nice collection of vintage Hawaiiana on display, some tropical drinks on the menu and the food is very good. However, Bamboo Ben has created an homage to the Tonga Lei inside one of the restaurants on the Malibu Pier. It's a private dining room within the restaurant, which, unfortunately can only be enjoyed if you pay a hefty price to reserve that special room for you and some of your friends. At least, that's the last word I heard on the place. Maybe that's changed by now.
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GatorRob
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2004
Posts: 1767
From: 3 hrs 33 mins to paradise
| Posted: 2008-12-12 3:46 pm Permalink
Geez, where was I when this thread was going on?? Dusty, thanks for all the wonderful Donn pictures. The ones of him behind the bar and mixing are just priceless, not to mention inspirational. Zombie anyone?
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3946
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2008-12-13 11:56 am Permalink
Your right GatorRob, Donn was "The Man" behind the bar back in the day. See the thread on the 75th anniversary and toast a Zombie to Donn.
Here are a couple of slides from Don the Beachcomber's in Hawaii circa 1955.
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RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7217
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2008-12-14 08:58 am Permalink
( Mrs Bamboo got a new scanner. There is a future! for old Eli photos... )
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Bamboo Ben
Custom Tropical Decor
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3946
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-01-05 10:08 pm Permalink
BambooBen,
Thanks for the post, the outside Don the Beachcombers bar sure looked a lot better than the restaurant inside the Sahara. Which ones Eli?
Here is another slide with Donn in rare form at his Waikiki Luau.
DC
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3946
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-01-13 6:34 pm Permalink
Added the defunct Don The Beachcombers at the Disneyland California Adventure from TikiKate's expedition.
DC
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bongofury
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Oct 15, 2002
Posts: 1487
From: Ventura County
| Posted: 2009-01-13 7:45 pm Permalink
Hey DC....check out this article from a while back in your local paper. I think the guy must have been bit high when he visited DTB....
http://www.independent.com/news/2008/jun/05/babes-clubland/
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