Tiki Central / General Tiki / Does anyone know anything about the Zamboanga?
Post #74648 by Sabu The Coconut Boy on 02/05/2004
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Sabu The Coconut Boy
Posted
posted
on
02/05/2004
Rattiki - That menu that was just auctioned off was definitely from the same place. Here's the picture: As early as 1935, there was a book entitled "The Monkeys Have No Tails in Zamboanga", by Capt. S.P. Meek. It was about American soldiers who were stationed in the Far-east at that time. The joke in the book was that if you cut off a monkey's tail, it could pass for a Filipino. (Remember, this was a very racially insensitive era). Either at that time, or even possibly during WWII, U.S. sailors stationed in the Phillipines made up this little ditty: "Oh, the monkeys have no tails in Zam-bo-an-ga I've heard John Wayne sing it in the movie, "Donovan's Reef". I've also heard the Beav' sing it in an episode of "Leave it to Beaver". Thus the name of the club and it's signature drink, "The Tailess Monkey". (or so I assume). Which probably meant the club was built during or just after the war. I have no idea how long it lasted - the fact that there seem to be no color images leads me to believe it either didn't last long, or became more of a dive-bar in the later years. Like I said, I'm interested in any history of this Hollywood club. Sabu |