What I always wanted to ask Sven Kirsten... - General Tiki

B bigbrotiki Tiki Socialite Tiki Island, above the Silverlake Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 11621	B bigbrotiki Posted posted on Mon, Oct 4, 2004 12:09 AM Allrighty then, brethren, I will try to answer these questions in good faith...Tiki faith, that is (Joe actually posed quite a few of them yesterday): Sven, what is your favorite tropical/tiki drink? That depends on the bar I am at, or on the mixologist. Here in Berlin at the Rum Trader it is the Elephant Hunter, a very rich full experience. At Madame Wu's in Santa Monica it used to be the Fogcutter that Tony Ramos made, never had one like it since. At the Tiki Ti, for a long time I preferred the Navy Grog, then I switched to the Great White as mixed by Mike senior. A very potent hallucinogenic. Unfortunately, as Jeff Berry fondly recalls, I once came home from Germany going pretty much straight to the Ti, but was so jetlagged that I overdosed on the G W, conked out at the ElChavo's restroom and threw up out of Jeff's truck window. Nothing like one to many to get you of a drink for a while. I currently prefer the dainty Hawaiian Twist at the Ti. Generally I have to admit that after years of enjoying tart and sour concoctions, lately I have been partial to the girly drinks, the ones that have (oh no!) coconut in it. Here at the Tabou Tiki, April mixes a Guava Colada that is absolutely addictive. Last not least my friend Ted Haigh mixed me one of his vintage discoveries, the Monkey Gland, and it is delicious, the only cocktail I know of that uses Absinth and fruit juices and works (No, I don't like the Dr. Funk). You can find the recipe in "Vintage Cocktails and Spirits", just out from Apple Press. I consider it the BOT of cocktail archeology. Is there anything that if you could do it differently now that you would change, add or take out from the BOT to make it better? There was the initial idea of having an Exotica CD in the back, but that got nixed due to cost. It would have been nice to be able to consume the imagery while listening to the appropriate Jungle Jazz, but when faced with the choice of getting more pages or the CD, I opted for increased volume, to make it a BOOK book, and I am happy with that: My publisher let me increase my initial page limit from 179 pages twice, to the current 287. I regret having to lop off the Tiki TV and Exotica chapters at the end, but in the last stages of editing it became apparent that the page count for the translations had been underestimated, and something had to give, fast. Off with chapters 24 and 25. The trilingual format was essential to the book's low price. When is that book on Witco coming out? What? Que? Was bitte? Sigh...next spring. Why did you spell my Grandfather's name wrong? Actually, I didn't. It's your family who had it wrong all along, Ben! Where's the beef? Right here, Big Boy! Sven -- do you listen to Vegas Vic's Tiki Lounge? Unfortunately, I am not a radio listener. But I hear it is quite good. Must be, if they play a lot of Paul Page. Do you think the U.S. monetary system should return to the gold standard? Yes, and I think they should do it with a Tiki coin! Did you ever dream that Tiki/Polynesia would come back around so strong again after so many years? I never would have imagined that when in the 90s I was having my Tiki symposiums and editing Tiki News I would one day have my own Tiki mug. That is making it to the Tiki Olymp. Or that my contribution would inspire so many new restaurants, carvers, mug makers, painters and artists to recreate the image of Tiki. It's a kick every day. At one point in Episode 29 of the original series, your character states that it's impossible to charge the phaser banks because the atmosphere of the planet is too dense...are you aware that there was a similar situation in episode 50 during which the phasers were successfully fired? Was this ever a matter of concern for the script person or whoever wrote that one? I personally found this to be a serious discrepancy (adjusts glasses on nose). I am glad you brought that to my attention, I was never precisely aware of that problem, but always had an uneasy feeling... What direction would you like to see TIKI go in the next few years? Bigger and better. True to Tiki. Anything that livens up the dreary urban landscape of today must be good, let it be Tiki. Do you think that the commercialization(sp) of TIKI has ruined it or helped bring it to light. As above. I think it is ironic to lament current Tiki commercialization, since it initially was a pop culture, and that's what we love about. There will be some good, some good bad, and some bad bad. It is for everyone to pick what they like, and I hope the BOT will be your guide. The more choice the better, the name of Tiki shall never be forgotten again! When can we expect to see BOT II Not really the BOT 2, but maybe the Son of BOT, a book of all the products that used imagery from it? There can't be a BOT 2, that story has already been told, but there are many more books where, by exploring a specific Tiki phenomenon (Witco, Spanish Tiki, Tiki Shirts) I will recap on the larger world of Tiki, with new images, to put things into context. Does Hanes really have no tag? THAT was the toughest question, sorry, I opt out. How many Tongans does it take to screw in a light bulb? In light of their recent financial crisis I think you should be more sensitive, they might take that personal. What ancient TIKI style is your favorite? Marquesan: Modern, Primitive, Tiki. Could you live the old TIKI lifestyle on your own Island? For how long? I don't think so. Although I appreciate country living, as a visual junky I need a constant influx of eye candy, and being in a remote place, I would go on cold turkey pretty soon. Maybe a continuous supply of female beauties would help...but that's just a myth anyway. Two months max. Should we legally change the W to a V? Vi yes! I think Vitco sounds better. Does the love from the people of Tiki Central keep you going? Ab-so-lute-ly! Will you ever stop taking work in Germany so we can have you home all the time? I am working on it. Maybe you guys can start a trust fund for me, that would help. Do people as stupid as Bong and myself stand in your way? Only when I've had too many Mai Tais and have to go to the restroom. If Arnold ever changes the way we can pick a President will you run? If Arnold ever gets that powerful, yes, I will run...away that is. Then again, that could only be an improvement to the current state. Also, will the Witco book illustrate all known Witcos from catalogs, etc.? A lot, but not all. I will concentrate on Tiki, Exotic and Modern. Let's save Conquistador and Viking for later generations. Will it illustrate any Witco "spin-offs" - works of people that used to work for Witco, then went out on their own? If not, we'd better be researching these on our own, while (if) people are still alive. We've already named a couple of these people on TC, but don't have anything like catalogs for them. I definetly will show Witco copies, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I welcome any information on the makers. When did BOT start and when was it first finished? I attended an LA Cacaphony Society Tiki evening at Bahooka's in 1992 and decided after that I had to make the book. My first proposal, which had all the basic concepts of the BOT in it, was rejected by Chronicle a couple of months later. So it took 8 years to come out. The actual writing and making of it, after I got the green light from Benedikt Taschen in 1999, took only a year. It was already all in my head. Imagine how things might have changed had it been out 10 years earlier! We might still have the Kahiki I doubt it, after all it comes down to money, financial feasability. Realistically, to protect culturally important structures, the key is to offer financial solutions for them. I am glad the BOT saved the Tiki theme at the Tropics Motel, but that kind of insight is rare. Sven, what inspires you to keep the tiki flame burning? It is still the best game to play. The toys are the coolest, and I have found playmates all over the states, and all over the world! Who does your hair!! The cheapest neighbourhood barber of wherever I am, currently the one at the Friedrichstrasse train station. All silliness aside, actually, ever since I read "The Book of Tiki" I haven't HAD any questions to ask. That is a seriously researched piece of work! Any apologies within about a "lack of thoroughness" are just formalities, I think. Why thank you. Actually, I tried to make the BOT not too academically complete, leaving out some stuff, so that the mystery that inspired me could remain and inspire future urban archeologists.

Allrighty then, brethren, I will try to answer these questions in good faith...Tiki faith, that is (Joe actually posed quite a few of them yesterday):

Sven, what is your favorite tropical/tiki
drink?

That depends on the bar I am at, or on the mixologist. Here in Berlin at the Rum Trader it is the Elephant Hunter, a very rich full experience.
At Madame Wu's in Santa Monica it used to be the Fogcutter that Tony Ramos made, never had one like it since.
At the Tiki Ti, for a long time I preferred the Navy Grog, then I switched to the Great White as mixed by Mike senior. A very potent hallucinogenic. Unfortunately, as Jeff Berry fondly recalls, I once came home from Germany going pretty much straight to the Ti, but was so jetlagged that I overdosed on the G W, conked out at the ElChavo's restroom and threw up out of Jeff's truck window. Nothing like one to many to get you of a drink for a while. I currently prefer the dainty Hawaiian Twist at the Ti.
Generally I have to admit that after years of enjoying tart and sour concoctions, lately I have been partial to the girly drinks, the ones that have (oh no!) coconut in it. Here at the Tabou Tiki, April mixes a Guava Colada that is absolutely addictive.
Last not least my friend Ted Haigh mixed me one of his vintage discoveries, the Monkey Gland, and it is delicious, the only cocktail I know of that uses Absinth and fruit juices and works (No, I don't like the Dr. Funk). You can find the recipe in "Vintage Cocktails and Spirits", just out from Apple Press. I consider it the BOT of cocktail archeology.

Is there anything that if you could do it differently now that you would change, add or take out from the BOT to make it better?

There was the initial idea of having an Exotica CD in the back, but that got nixed due to cost. It would have been nice to be able to consume the imagery while listening to the appropriate Jungle Jazz, but when faced with the choice of getting more pages or the CD, I opted for increased volume, to make it a BOOK book, and I am happy with that: My publisher let me increase my initial page limit from 179 pages twice, to the current 287.
I regret having to lop off the Tiki TV and Exotica chapters at the end, but in the last stages of editing it became apparent that the page count for the translations had been underestimated, and something had to give, fast. Off with chapters 24 and 25. The trilingual format was essential to the book's low price.

When is that book on Witco coming out?

What? Que? Was bitte? Sigh...next spring.

Why did you spell my Grandfather's name wrong?

Actually, I didn't. It's your family who had it wrong all along, Ben!

Where's the beef?

Right here, Big Boy!

Sven -- do you listen to Vegas Vic's Tiki Lounge?

Unfortunately, I am not a radio listener. But I hear it is quite good. Must be, if they play a lot of Paul Page.

Do you think the U.S. monetary system should return to the gold standard?

Yes, and I think they should do it with a Tiki coin!

Did you ever dream that Tiki/Polynesia would come back around so strong again after so many years?

I never would have imagined that when in the 90s I was having my Tiki symposiums and editing Tiki News I would one day have my own Tiki mug. That is making it to the Tiki Olymp. Or that my contribution would inspire so many new restaurants, carvers, mug makers, painters and artists to recreate the image of Tiki. It's a kick every day.

At one point in Episode 29 of the original series, your character states that it's impossible to charge the phaser banks because the atmosphere of the planet is too dense...are you aware that there was a similar situation in episode 50 during which the phasers were successfully fired? Was this ever a matter of concern for the script person or whoever wrote that one? I personally found this to be a serious discrepancy (adjusts glasses on nose).

I am glad you brought that to my attention, I was never precisely aware of that problem, but always had an uneasy feeling...

What direction would you like to see TIKI go in the next few years?

Bigger and better. True to Tiki. Anything that livens up the dreary urban landscape of today must be good, let it be Tiki.

Do you think that the commercialization(sp) of TIKI has ruined it or helped bring it to light.

As above. I think it is ironic to lament current Tiki commercialization, since it initially was a pop culture, and that's what we love about. There will be some good, some good bad, and some bad bad. It is for everyone to pick what they like, and I hope the BOT will be your guide. The more choice the better, the name of Tiki shall never be forgotten again!

When can we expect to see BOT II

Not really the BOT 2, but maybe the Son of BOT, a book of all the products that used imagery from it?
There can't be a BOT 2, that story has already been told, but there are many more books where, by exploring a specific Tiki phenomenon (Witco, Spanish Tiki, Tiki Shirts) I will recap on the larger world of Tiki, with new images, to put things into context.

Does Hanes really have no tag?

THAT was the toughest question, sorry, I opt out.

How many Tongans does it take to screw in a light bulb?

In light of their recent financial crisis I think you should be more sensitive, they might take that personal.

What ancient TIKI style is your favorite?

Marquesan: Modern, Primitive, Tiki.

Could you live the old TIKI lifestyle on your own Island? For how long?

I don't think so. Although I appreciate country living, as a visual junky I need a constant influx of eye candy, and being in a remote place, I would go on cold turkey pretty soon. Maybe a continuous supply of female beauties would help...but that's just a myth anyway. Two months max.

Should we legally change the W to a V?

Vi yes! I think Vitco sounds better.

Does the love from the people of Tiki Central keep you going?

Ab-so-lute-ly!

Will you ever stop taking work in Germany so we can have you home all the time?

I am working on it. Maybe you guys can start a trust fund for me, that would help.

Do people as stupid as Bong and myself stand in your way?

Only when I've had too many Mai Tais and have to go to the restroom.

If Arnold ever changes the way we can pick a President will you run?

If Arnold ever gets that powerful, yes, I will run...away that is. Then again, that could only be an improvement to the current state.

Also, will the Witco book illustrate all known Witcos from catalogs, etc.?

A lot, but not all. I will concentrate on Tiki, Exotic and Modern. Let's save Conquistador and Viking for later generations.

Will it illustrate any Witco "spin-offs" - works of people that used to work for Witco, then went out on their own? If not, we'd better be researching these on our own, while (if) people are still alive. We've already named a couple of these people on TC, but don't have anything like catalogs for them.

I definetly will show Witco copies, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I welcome any information on the makers.

When did BOT start and when was it first finished?

I attended an LA Cacaphony Society Tiki evening at Bahooka's in 1992 and decided after that I had to make the book. My first proposal, which had all the basic concepts of the BOT in it, was rejected by Chronicle a couple of months later. So it took 8 years to come out. The actual writing and making of it, after I got the green light from Benedikt Taschen in 1999, took only a year. It was already all in my head.

Imagine how things might have changed had it been out 10 years earlier! We might still have the Kahiki

I doubt it, after all it comes down to money, financial feasability. Realistically, to protect culturally important structures, the key is to offer financial solutions for them.
I am glad the BOT saved the Tiki theme at the Tropics Motel, but that kind of insight is rare.

Sven, what inspires you to keep the tiki flame burning?

It is still the best game to play. The toys are the coolest, and I have found playmates all over the states, and all over the world!

Who does your hair!!

The cheapest neighbourhood barber of wherever I am, currently the one at the Friedrichstrasse train station.

All silliness aside, actually, ever since I read "The Book of Tiki" I haven't HAD any questions to ask. That is a seriously researched piece of work! Any apologies within about a "lack of thoroughness" are just formalities, I think.

Why thank you. Actually, I tried to make the BOT not too academically complete, leaving out some stuff, so that the mystery that inspired me could remain and inspire future urban archeologists.

Post #117857 by bigbrotiki on Mon, Oct 4, 2004 12:09 AM