Post #364001 by bigbrotiki on Thu, Feb 28, 2008 9:51 AM

I do believe that 2nd pic is from the Chicago location, yes. What is odd about it is that it looks like a snapshot, yet the sign seems to have been messed with professionally to increase clarity..(?). Here's a 1958 ad for it:

The Chicago location was the very first Beachcomber franchise, and it was Sunny's baby, all the way:

It was important because it inspired the creation of the Mai Kai:

"The inspiration for the Mai-Kai came from the (Thornton) brothers' favorite restaurant, Don the Beachcomber, an island-style eatery they visited with their father during their childhood in Chicago."

There are two rare interior postcards from it on e-bay right now, but kohalacharms is bidding, so I know that a.) I will be outbid, and b.) they will go into competent hands :D :

These photos further cement the fact that the 1940s, and the Don The Beachcomber look in general belong to the Pre-Tiki period.

Here is a nice interior of the Hollywood Beachcomber, shot in the 50s:

On 2007-08-14 11:42, TikiJosh wrote:
We need to post a picture from Sippin Safari of the parking lot sign. Or any other pictures. All I have is the empty parking lot now that the sign is gone.

How about a picture of the parking lot sign from the Book of Tiki? :D :