From the news archives 71 years ago: Don the Beachcomber mad at being copied in New York - General Tiki

T TikiTomD Grand Member (6 years) Flagler Beach, FL Joined: Sep 20, 2009 Posts: 700	T TikiTomD Posted posted on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 11:01 AM Swanky, this web site (http://www.scandalpark.com/blog/americana/the-man-who-stole-the-zombie/) indicates Don was ill-advised to pursue legal actions against Monte Proser because of Monte’s connections to the New York mob. I assume that means the mob had financial interests in Monte’s Beachcomber clubs. Perhaps Don received an “offer that he could not refuse” and didn’t press his case beyond nominal settlements that prohibited Proser’s continued use of “Beachcomber” and “Zombie” nomenclature. DC, very astute observation on the Lanai and Hawaii Kai mug designs! Those are eye-catching! Sven, wonderful stuff you unearthed on old Monte. Notwithstanding Proser’s misappropriations of DtB, he’s a fascinating and colorful character in his own right. While he never seemed to find lasting personal wealth, Monte made things happen and helped the careers of others. Here he is, happily surrounded by shapely show girls (Google News http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8_tS2Vw13FcC&dat=19510325&printsec=frontpage&hl=en, page 73)... Toledo Blade March 25, 1951 In the following Monte article, you learn how Ethel Merman got her stage name (Google News http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=wZJMF1LD7PcC&dat=19651208&printsec=frontpage&hl=en, page 7)... The Milwaukee Sentinel December 8, 1965 More on Monte and his stars (Google News http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=VaBbNeojGYwC&dat=19410420&printsec=frontpage&hl=en, page 8)... The Sunday Morning Star April 20, 1941 How Monte won WWII (Google News http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=wZJMF1LD7PcC&dat=19531130&printsec=frontpage&hl=en, page 34)... The Milwaukee Sentinel November 30, 1953 And finally, here’s an article on Monte starting up the Lanai – love the Catalina Island anecdote (Google News http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=feST4K8J0scC&dat=19610323&printsec=frontpage&hl=en, page 23)... St. Petersburg Times March 23, 1961 -Tom

Swanky, this web site (http://www.scandalpark.com/blog/americana/the-man-who-stole-the-zombie/) indicates Don was ill-advised to pursue legal actions against Monte Proser because of Monte’s connections to the New York mob. I assume that means the mob had financial interests in Monte’s Beachcomber clubs. Perhaps Don received an “offer that he could not refuse” and didn’t press his case beyond nominal settlements that prohibited Proser’s continued use of “Beachcomber” and “Zombie” nomenclature.

DC, very astute observation on the Lanai and Hawaii Kai mug designs! Those are eye-catching!

Sven, wonderful stuff you unearthed on old Monte. Notwithstanding Proser’s misappropriations of DtB, he’s a fascinating and colorful character in his own right. While he never seemed to find lasting personal wealth, Monte made things happen and helped the careers of others. Here he is, happily surrounded by shapely show girls (Google News http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8_tS2Vw13FcC&dat=19510325&printsec=frontpage&hl=en, page 73)...

Toledo Blade March 25, 1951