What inspired you? - Home Tiki Bars

T TikiG Tiki Socialite Riverside, California Joined: Jun 17, 2008 Posts: 1560	T TikiG Posted posted on Thu, May 6, 2010 2:55 PM My inspiration was growing up in suburban Orange County, California during the mid-60s and experiencing numerous backyard Polynesian-paradises (home-made). Indeed IT WAS EVERYWHERE although I barely caught the tail end of that populuxe decor style. Styles changed weekly back then. I remember my mother's 45rpm record collection. 1950s rock and roll. But lurking in that stack of vinyl there were a few Martin Denny singles - my first taste of musical exotica although I would use the term psychedelia today because that suits my mind well. Equally important to my developing psyche was So Cal's big four attractions at that time: Long Beach Nu-Pike, Pacific Ocean Park, Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm. I don't recall exactly when I saw my first tiki carving - they were everywhere, omnipresent. I do recall watching the movie Its A Mad Mad Mad Mad World as a kid and thinking "when I'm old enough to have my own telephone, I'm going to have a tiki god as my phone stand". I don't recall exactly my first Polynesian Restaurant - but I do remember Kono Hawaii in Santa Ana, Sams Seafood in Huntington Beach, the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach, Polynesian Terrace at Disneyland etc. This type of restaurant was everywhere too. My influence for all this was my father, Tanner. He was literally born on a pineapple field on Hawaii in the 1920s. Hawaiian history, culture and style was embraced in my house growing up. As a pre-teen and teenager much of that was forgotten and dismissed as "old-fogy" shit due to the kitsch factor of do-it-your-self Poly-Pop and seemingly un-hip, old-fashioned and out-of-place with those "mod" times. Looking back on it all today, I embrace my formative inspirations. It was my father Tanner (and in a lesser sense my mother) who took me around to those special places (most gone now) at a young age while I formed my own sense of place and being. Orange County was fantastic back then. Today I must Thank a close friend for bringing all this full circle in my life. Cheers!

My inspiration was growing up in suburban Orange County, California during the mid-60s and experiencing numerous backyard Polynesian-paradises (home-made). Indeed IT WAS EVERYWHERE although I barely caught the tail end of that populuxe decor style. Styles changed weekly back then.

I remember my mother's 45rpm record collection. 1950s rock and roll. But lurking in that stack of vinyl there were a few Martin Denny singles - my first taste of musical exotica although I would use the term psychedelia today because that suits my mind well.

Equally important to my developing psyche was So Cal's big four attractions at that time: Long Beach Nu-Pike, Pacific Ocean Park, Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm.

I don't recall exactly when I saw my first tiki carving - they were everywhere, omnipresent. I do recall watching the movie Its A Mad Mad Mad Mad World as a kid and thinking "when I'm old enough to have my own telephone, I'm going to have a tiki god as my phone stand".

I don't recall exactly my first Polynesian Restaurant - but I do remember Kono Hawaii in Santa Ana, Sams Seafood in Huntington Beach, the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach, Polynesian Terrace at Disneyland etc. This type of restaurant was everywhere too.

My influence for all this was my father, Tanner. He was literally born on a pineapple field on Hawaii in the 1920s. Hawaiian history, culture and style was embraced in my house growing up. As a pre-teen and teenager much of that was forgotten and dismissed as "old-fogy" shit due to the kitsch factor of do-it-your-self Poly-Pop and seemingly un-hip, old-fashioned and out-of-place with those "mod" times. Looking back on it all today, I embrace my formative inspirations. It was my father Tanner (and in a lesser sense my mother) who took me around to those special places (most gone now) at a young age while I formed my own sense of place and being. Orange County was fantastic back then.

Today I must Thank a close friend for bringing all this full circle in my life.

Cheers!

Post #528409 by TikiG on Thu, May 6, 2010 2:55 PM