Post #528733 by bigbrotiki on Fri, May 7, 2010 6:32 PM

On 2010-05-07 14:16, John the Mainlander wrote:
Anyhow, I've done a lot of internet research on the Flamingo- but have come up pretty short. I know that it was in the 300 block of East State Street in Rockford. There is now a parking lot in the spot that it was located. Much of what I know about the bar/restaurant comes from asking people my parents age. (I grew up in Rockford) According to my folks they used to go there for dinner in the late 60's and early 70's. I believe it closed in the late 70's, much like everything else in downtown Rockford. It was a Polynesian themed restaurant. They remember the tikis. They said that they used to serve drinks in tiki mugs there. (I also picked up about 10 OMC / Orchids nugs in the deal that supposedly came from the auction of the business). The one thing that everyone, including the nice older gentleman that I bought them from remembers about the place is that there was a blind man who played lounge music on the piano in the bar. Everyone remembers that the guy was one hell of a lounge pianist. At any rate, I'm a lucky man.

Indeed, John, you are! Such rare Witco specimens, and all in one flock! Thank you for the info on the Flamingo, sounds fascinating. That one has probably flown by most of the paper ephemera collectors in the Tiki field, because of the un-Polynesian name... OR: Would anybody here have any match/menu/postcard imagery from it?