Post #517408 by Baron von Tiki on Mon, Mar 15, 2010 1:33 AM

Greetings ! Baron von Tiki here -- a complete newbie to Tiki and Tiki Central. I'm a substitute teacher from Wichita KS currently looking for work in another field. We have one sorta-Tiki bar in Wichita. It's a no-mixed-drinks dive-bar for rednecks, bikers, and other beer-swillers who don't know the difference between Tiki and Margaritaville. So, it's not much to write about. I prefer a local coffee shop, Riverside Perk, (and its Jungle Room), because of its lack of intoxicated loudmouths and its compliance with the city's No Smoking ordinance. (Bars are exempt).

I came to Tiki rather indirectly. I'd been peripherally aware of it by a friend's Tiki hobby, by thumbing through a copy of "Tiki Modern" at the bookstore, and from some font packages by the graphic design firm House Industries. But, I didn't really delve into it until just recently.

I suppose three things started me down the path of discovering Tiki: the TV series "Mad Men," a gift of a complete set of "Twilight Zone" DVDs for Christmas (my favorite show!), and my enthusiasm for our local drive-in theater, the Starlite Drive-In.

Coupled with interest in the vintage graphics used by most drive-ins, "Mad Men"'s and "Twilight Zone"'s depictions of pre-psychedelic 60s life led me to the internet and the library for books on drive-ins. From there, I pursued Space Age graphics and also discovered Mid-Century Modern interior design and architecture (particularly that of John Lautner and the Googie architecture of Wayne McAllister.)

In turn, these pursuits led me to my library's collection of Capitol Records' Ultra-Lounge series CDs, which made me aware of Space Age Pop and Exotica, which then led me back around to Tiki. Finally, I've jumped in with both feet with the purchase of Sven Kirsten's books "Tiki Style" and "Tiki Modern." A Tiki Magazine subscription is in my near future.

Although it was an odd circuitous route, I'm glad it worked out that way. I probably wouldn't have acquired an interest in Tiki had it been any other way. You see, I tend to bristle against anything with a Tropical motif because I despise the low-rent rednecky beach-bum attitudes of Jimmy Buffett Parrotheads. (Apologies to any Parrotheads out there.) When I discovered that Tiki wasn't Margaritaville and was actually a product of mid-century urban lounge culture, my attitude started to change.

Of historical Tiki, it is the graphic design of restaurant/lounge paper ephemera (menus, matchbooks, advertising) that appeals to me most. My degree is in Graphic Design, so I really enjoy the vintage typography, layouts, and color schemes -- some because they're fantastic and some because they're truly awful.

As a living modern subculture, what makes Tiki appealing is that, like original Tiki, it is a pastiche of various elements that makes no effort at authenticity to any particular culture -- It's pure fantasy. So, I can keep whatever elements I like (certain graphics, Tak Shindo, cool home Tiki bars), discard what I don't like ("Tiki clutter," most of Witco's wall hangings), and not worry about getting things "right."

Considering what I've seen so far in modern Tiki Revival, I think that this is true for a lot of Tiki enthusiasts. Creative people are making Tiki their own by bringing in elements not in the original iteration -- Tikiyaki Orchestra's blend of rock and surf with Exotica; Tiki illustrators including floating islands, mythic animals, and even monsters like The Creature of The Black Lagoon in their images. I'm even seeing minor hybrids like Tiki Hot Rod art and Tiki Rockabilly clothing in certain outlets.

If my user name wasn't a giveaway, my favorite of these hybrids, because of my love for Halloween, comic books, and horror movies, is Goth Tiki. Although a niche-within-a-niche, it does exist on the periphery of both subcultures. You can find it described on pages 9-10 of the book "Paint It Black" by Voltaire (the modern Goth musician and artist; not the French writer.) Succinctly put, If Tiki is a Dorothy Lamour jungle movie, Goth Tiki is "The Island of Dr. Moreau."

Anyway, that's me. If you need me, I'll be in that castle perched at the lip of the volcano on the other side of the island. Ignore the bats. They're friendly.

Baron von Tiki