Sven Kirsten's book: Tiki Pop - General Tiki

M MaukaHale Tiki Socialite The base of the Volcano Joined: May 07, 2012 Posts: 968	M MaukaHale Posted posted on Tue, Sep 2, 2014 8:42 AM Sven, I haven't finished reading all the text but I have gone through most of the book. The initial opinion of this book is that it is a nice coffee table book but after reading it, the reader understands there is a story. I think you originally said that the book supports the exhibit. The reader is shown how the interest in the south seas developed through through early explorers, books and cinema. So far I found chapter 12 most interesting - Francis Langford: The Bamboo Blonde. I purchased the movie to see why the interest in her. There really isn't much tiki or south seas in the movie but it shows how bringing the tropics to a supper club was very popular. I may look more into her life. You did touch a little on her life. Overall this is an amazing book with a tremendous amount of research. I don't think anyone else could have created a book that explains the tiki pop culture of the 20th century as well as you have. Having lived through the 50's and 60's I was able to experience tiki culture as a child. I wasn't able to go to bars but I had my parents take me to the restaurants. With Hawaii becoming a state everyone was interested in "Paradise." I like that you put in a chapter on "Natural Materials of the Tropics. You also have a chapter on "Tiki at Home." To me I think the chapter on "Tiki at Home" could have used more. You were able to put in furniture, tiki torches and LP records but there really is a lot more. At age 13/14 I went to the store in Pasadena that sold the materials you talk about in chapter 8. I had my own room in the basement that I decorated. I even made a bar in wood shop in middle school. It had black walnut for the top with bamboo and lauhala matting. Through my parents I saw homes that were well decorated in the south seas mode. There was a demand for home decorations. I had an uncle that had a business that made tikis and masks out of Styrofoam. I know you had limited space but if there was more that could be added I would have liked to see more of the homes that lived the tiki experience. TC disclaimer: Before everyone comes down on me for criticizing I only did it for the purpose of discussion. I'm very happy to have this book in my library as well as gaining the knowledge that is in this book.

Sven,

I haven't finished reading all the text but I have gone through most of the book. The initial opinion of this book is that it is a nice coffee table book but after reading it, the reader understands there is a story. I think you originally said that the book supports the exhibit. The reader is shown how the interest in the south seas developed through through early explorers, books and cinema. So far I found chapter 12 most interesting - Francis Langford: The Bamboo Blonde. I purchased the movie to see why the interest in her. There really isn't much tiki or south seas in the movie but it shows how bringing the tropics to a supper club was very popular. I may look more into her life. You did touch a little on her life.

Overall this is an amazing book with a tremendous amount of research. I don't think anyone else could have created a book that explains the tiki pop culture of the 20th century as well as you have. Having lived through the 50's and 60's I was able to experience tiki culture as a child. I wasn't able to go to bars but I had my parents take me to the restaurants. With Hawaii becoming a state everyone was interested in "Paradise." I like that you put in a chapter on "Natural Materials of the Tropics. You also have a chapter on "Tiki at Home." To me I think the chapter on "Tiki at Home" could have used more. You were able to put in furniture, tiki torches and LP records but there really is a lot more. At age 13/14 I went to the store in Pasadena that sold the materials you talk about in chapter 8. I had my own room in the basement that I decorated. I even made a bar in wood shop in middle school. It had black walnut for the top with bamboo and lauhala matting. Through my parents I saw homes that were well decorated in the south seas mode. There was a demand for home decorations. I had an uncle that had a business that made tikis and masks out of Styrofoam.

I know you had limited space but if there was more that could be added I would have liked to see more of the homes that lived the tiki experience.

TC disclaimer: Before everyone comes down on me for criticizing I only did it for the purpose of discussion. I'm
very happy to have this book in my library as well as gaining the knowledge that is in this book.

Post #726721 by MaukaHale on Tue, Sep 2, 2014 8:42 AM