Mai Kai, Fort Lauderdale, FL (restaurant) - Locating Tiki

S Swanky Tiki Socialite Hapa Haole Hideaway, Knoxville, TN Joined: Apr 03, 2002 Posts: 5398	S Swanky Posted posted on Wed, Apr 21, 2010 2:04 PM Adding this info for the possibility of relatives out there searching. "J. Craig Hille, a portrait artist for MGM studios, immortalized the stars at the pinnacle of their careers. Stricken with throat cancer, the gifted painter, whose Polynesian nudes grace Fort Lauderdale's landmark Mai-Kai restaurant, took his own life in 1972." Also, Bert Sadkin did sketches of the Mai-Kai girls in the mid-sixties that eventually became a sort of mural at the Mai-Kai. It was apparently removed in the late 80s. He went on to run a gallery on the "SS Mardi Gras" which was the first Carnival Cruise ship. He did caricatures mostly I am told.

Adding this info for the possibility of relatives out there searching.

"J. Craig Hille, a portrait artist for MGM studios, immortalized the stars
at the pinnacle of their careers. Stricken with throat cancer, the gifted
painter, whose Polynesian nudes grace Fort Lauderdale's landmark Mai-Kai
restaurant, took his own life in 1972."

Also, Bert Sadkin did sketches of the Mai-Kai girls in the mid-sixties that eventually became a sort of mural at the Mai-Kai. It was apparently removed in the late 80s. He went on to run a gallery on the "SS Mardi Gras" which was the first Carnival Cruise ship. He did caricatures mostly I am told.

Post #525263 by Swanky on Wed, Apr 21, 2010 2:04 PM