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Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 1564
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I've been doing some Internet research lately. I never find what I want but I often find stuff worth keeping. I found enough articles on past tiki heroes to flesh out a new topic. I hope you see where I'm going with this. Let's start with everyone's favorite relative of Bamboo Ben (right after the lovely Auntie Bungy) Eli Hedley! (From the Nevada State Journal 18 February 1973)
Around the Town
Many who have paid a visit to Trader Dick's new home an the casino addition to John Ascuaga's NUGGET have
been overwhelmed by the color and authenticity of the interior design and decor. The man responsible for
that design is ELI HEDLEY owner and operator of the Island Trade Store, of Midway City, California.
Eli is the man who did the original interior design of the "first" Traders of the NUGGET 13 years ago.
Stories of his work and way of life have appeared in many national publications, including the Wall Street
Journal, and a color picture story in LIFE magazine. Eli is not just an interior decorator and designer.
He is a fascinating man who has devoted his entire life to the collection of beautiful natural artifacts
for the purpose of enhancing man-made structures. Besides his work at the Nugget, he is responsible for the
interior design of Harvey's Top of the Wheel, the Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, and bars for Don the
Beachcomber. ELI can be called a beachcomber's beachcomber. He has traveled into some of the remote
corners of the world to find and bring back many of the gems he has incorporated into his designs. It is a
very different way of life he calls. . . fun! ELI began his life's work out of necessity. He was livin with
his family on a small island off the California coast. With very little money, he and his family combed the
beach for certain necessities. The driftwood they found became furniture. A fish net served as drapery,
and old bottles were cut to serve as liquid container. Soon, friends began to notice the beauty of the
necessities, and urged Eli to begin marketing his finds. He did, and that is the way it all began. His
design of the original Trader Dick's was the first full scale work of that sort he ever attempted. His
search for the artifacts that were to appear in Traders took him over much of the South Pacific. He
traveled extensively to find the pieces of authentic island art that now appear in the "new" Traders.
Several of the more unique items at Traders now include the very detailed model of a four masted schooner
that is housed in the glass window behind the bar. The rare New Guinea Tiki that stands at the far end of
the lounge. It is estimated to be more than 150 years old. A Taluma from the Trobrian Islands, and an
original hand-made Samoan outrigger. Eli is particularly proud of the large metal Chinese characters he
found and placed on the side of the smoke ovens in the center of the new restaurant. Literally translated
they say: Happiness, Prosperity and Good Health . . . for all. It was because of the work Eli executed on
the original Trader Dick's thirteen years ago that JOHN ASCUAGA was insistent that Eli return to do the
interior decoration on the new Traders. Most who have visited Traders new home have agreed
enthusiastically with ASCUAGA'S decision to retain Eli. It is that design that gives "new" Traders its good
feeling, color, and character and adds the important touch to dining delights. Trader Dick's at John
Ascuaga's NUGGET- Truly an important part of the Best of Everything.
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