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MadDogMike
Grand Member (8 years)
The Anvil of the Sun
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 10866
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Found a couple of old newspaper articles, this one from about March 1962
Decorate His Restaurant
Former School Teacher Carves Tikis for Hobby
WILSON'S CORNER
Ben Wilson is a hard working young man with an unusual knack
Four months ago Ben, a 33 year old former school teacher and college track and wrestling star, quit teaching to open a restaurant here.
Because Wilson's Corner, at Highway 111 three miles east of Imperial, has many Spanish speaking people living nearby, Ben decided on Mexican food for the mwenu.
Then he decided to use his unusual knack - carving Tiki gods - to decorate the restaurant. The result is El Tiki, a Mexican restaurant with Hawaiian atmosphere.
16 Hour Work Day
Wilson, who grew up in the Valley, has been working alone 16 hours a day to redecorate the restaurant. He opened half of it, the cafe part, Nov. 15. "I hope to open the dining room dining room soon" Wilson said "It all depends on money, I'm running short". The theme of Tiki gods and Mexican food is carried throughout El Tiki. The restaurant's trademark, which Wilson plans to have on the menu, is a Tiki god wearing a Mexican sombrero.
Taught School
Wilson said he started carving Tiki gods in Anaheim, where he taught elementary school for three years before moving back to the Valley. He taught at Ben Hulse Elementary School before he moved to Anaheim.
"I saw someone carving a Tiki and decided I would like to try it" Wilson said "So I just started carving"
He said he uses a hammer, axe, chisel, and draw knife to carve the images, some of which he has sold for $50. They are about 5 feet tall
Wilson says he uses fan palm for the figures. He uses date palm to carve Tiki faces which also adorn the restaurant
Wilson's father, Gilbert, operated a grocery store and service station near the restaurant for 21 years.
Ran Variety Show
Ben graduated from San Diego State College in 1953, where he starred in track and wrestling, and served 2 years in the Army. While in the Army, he pursued his hobby - music and drama - by operating a variety show. He also ran track and wrestled in the Army
Ben is married and he and his wife, Mary Lou, have a baby daughter.
The wife and daughter haven't seen much of Ben lately, however, he's been too busy working on what will probably turn out to be the most unusual restaurant in the Valley.
"I want you to shake the freak tree and invite anyone that drops to the ground. Dwarfs and giants, magicians, Zulu tribesmen, contortionists, fire eaters... and priests. We're going to need to confess" Freddy Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody
[ Edited by: MadDogMike 2020-01-16 14:00 ]
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