75th anniversary of the first tiki bar - General Tiki

M martiki Official Mixologist http://www.smugglerscovesf.com Joined: Mar 29, 2002 Posts: 3059	M martiki Posted posted on Wed, Dec 3, 2008 2:18 PM The restaurant across the street opened in 1937. Here's what I got from Jeff Berry: In 1960 Donn told the Long Beach Press Telegram-- in an article I found posted on TC -- that he opened "a few minutes after prohibition was repealed," but he was given to embellishing the truth for the sake of a good quote. It is EXTREMELY unlikely that he could have opened that quickly, as he couldn't legally have stocked his bar beforehand. He couldn't even have developed his menu yet, as he would have had nothing to experiment with except whatever contraband he could obtain. I got my date from Donn's own menus, which variously state "Serving the South Pacific since 1934," or "The first Don The Beachcomber restaurant opened in 1934." I'm going with 1934, if only so that I can celebrate Repeal Day this year, and have a big party for Don at the bar next year.

The restaurant across the street opened in 1937.

Here's what I got from Jeff Berry:

In 1960 Donn told the Long Beach Press Telegram-- in an article I found posted on TC -- that he opened "a few minutes after prohibition was repealed," but he was given to embellishing the truth for the sake of a good quote. It is EXTREMELY unlikely that he could have opened that quickly, as he couldn't legally have stocked his bar beforehand. He couldn't even have developed his menu yet, as he would have had nothing to experiment with except whatever contraband he could obtain. I got my date from Donn's own menus, which variously state "Serving the South Pacific since 1934," or "The first Don The Beachcomber restaurant opened in 1934."

I'm going with 1934, if only so that I can celebrate Repeal Day this year, and have a big party for Don at the bar next year.

Post #422024 by martiki on Wed, Dec 3, 2008 2:18 PM