Post #676147 by TikiVato on Tue, Apr 30, 2013 5:05 PM

My wife and I just returned from a short visit to Catalina. We spent our honeymoon there in January 1970 when the Waikiki and Hurricane Cove was still in business.

On this trip, we met with her cousin, Manuel at the Marlin Club, a nautical bar in operation since 1946. Manuel has been living on the Island for twenty seven years. His wife, Karen was born on the Island. While we were having a Bloody Mary I asked Manuel if he had any information on past owners of the Hurricane Cove or Waikiki. Manuel smiled and said, Karen's Grandfather, Oscar Griffith was the original owner of Hurricane Cove.

I later spoke to Karen. She said she does not have exact dates but would attempt to get them for me.

David Renton was the architect for the Wrigley Family and designed the structures on the Island per the Wrigley request,(including the Casino). The Wrigley family did not want any tropical themed structures but Oscar and the owners of the Waikiki were able to prevail and had their businesses constructed the way they wanted.

Oscar had the place built per his vision which included a bamboo bar in 1938. He had lights, fans and audio to simulate a hurricane which were activated every hour. Oscar imported an expert in bamboo construction from California. Karen did not know the name of this builder.

Oscar had a band, Jimmy Lowe and the Sons of Hawaii played regularly at his place. Oscar had after hours for top named entertainers that played at the Avalon Casino Ballroom including Benny Goodman. Karen's mother at one time had a photograph of Benny Goodman and his band partying at the Hurricane. Unfortunately that photograph cannot be located. Karen said that her mother was a very tidy person and would toss items that she no longer had use for.

Karen does not have any memorabilia from the Hurricane but she may have a few pictures in a shoe box someplace. Karen will try to locate these pictures and scan and send them to me so I can post these pictures on this post.

I asked about Don Lake and Karen told me that Lake was a prominent Attorney in Los Angeles that did a lot of work for Oscar. Lake subsequently purchased Hurricane Cove from Oscar and had the place remodeled. Karen said that the Hurricane did very well and made her grandfather a very wealthy man.

Karen appreciates the research that Dusty Cajun and the other TC'ers have posted on this tread.

Mahalo,

TikiVato

[ Edited by: TikiVato 2013-04-30 17:06 ]

[ Edited by: TikiVato 2013-05-01 21:03 ]