Was St. Petersburg the largest Tiki mecca? - General Tiki

CAA Chip and Andy Member Corner table, Molokai Lounge, Mai-Kai. Joined: Jul 13, 2004 Posts: 2277	CAA Chip and Andy Posted posted on Mon, Dec 13, 2010 11:26 AM A consideration for you Urban Archeologists.... Florida has been around a good long while, but didn't really become the vacation land that we all now know it to be until after World War 2. To use a specific example, and my current city of residence, Hollywood. Hollywood was founded in 1925 and was not much more than a rail stop for the first bunch of years of its existence. The biggest hotel in the area was conscripted by the Navy as a barracks/training school during WWII and saw several hundred thousand military men and women move through our fair City during the war years. War ends, soldiers and sailors go back home to where its not 80 degrees and sunny in January, ".... hey Martha, lets move to Florida! I remember wearing shorts for Christmas when we were stationed there back in (fill in whatever year)" Smaller Florida cities become Larger Florida Cities. Tiki begins its diaspora across the nation. Several things unrelated except by the 'when they happened' all converge into the Perfect Tiki Storm. The Mai Kai, The Polynesian Room, Hawaiian Gardens, the Yankee Clipper, The Bamboo Room, Hawaiian Inn, Tiki Gardens, Hawaiian Village, and that is just the smallest tip of the 'Tiki' influence in Florida from the mid-50's onward. So, no, I doubt Florida could claim 'most' anything regarding things Tiki. We might be able to claim a few longest running titles (Mai Kai, Hawaiian Inn, etc), but beyond that we just have a whole bunch of businesses that were chasing the latest 'fad' when they were built. Florida is still the Land of Vacations even if these days more and more people are calling it 'God's Waiting Room.'

A consideration for you Urban Archeologists....

Florida has been around a good long while, but didn't really become the vacation land** that we all now know it to be until after World War 2. To use a specific example, and my current city of residence, Hollywood.

Hollywood was founded in 1925 and was not much more than a rail stop for the first bunch of years of its existence. The biggest hotel in the area was conscripted by the Navy as a barracks/training school during WWII and saw several hundred thousand military men and women move through our fair City during the war years.

War ends, soldiers and sailors go back home to where its not 80 degrees and sunny in January, ".... hey Martha, lets move to Florida! I remember wearing shorts for Christmas when we were stationed there back in (fill in whatever year)"

Smaller Florida cities become Larger Florida Cities. Tiki begins its diaspora across the nation. Several things unrelated except by the 'when they happened' all converge into the Perfect Tiki Storm.

The Mai Kai, The Polynesian Room, Hawaiian Gardens, the Yankee Clipper, The Bamboo Room, Hawaiian Inn, Tiki Gardens, Hawaiian Village, and that is just the smallest tip of the 'Tiki' influence in Florida from the mid-50's onward.

So, no, I doubt Florida could claim 'most' anything regarding things Tiki. We might be able to claim a few longest running titles (Mai Kai, Hawaiian Inn, etc), but beyond that we just have a whole bunch of businesses that were chasing the latest 'fad' when they were built.

** Florida is still the Land of Vacations even if these days more and more people are calling it 'God's Waiting Room.'

Post #568604 by Chip and Andy on Mon, Dec 13, 2010 11:26 AM