Bali Hai, San Diego, CA (Restaurant) - Locating Tiki

F freddiefreelance Member San Diego, Ca. Joined: Feb 15, 2003 Posts: 3006	F freddiefreelance Posted posted on Mon, May 17, 2004 7:00 PM I found an article on the history of the Bali Hai, it's relation to Christian's Hut, & the Goof: http://www.thelognewspaper.com/special/specialview.asp?c=75572 ‘Goof’ On The Roof At Bali Hai Thursday, September 25, 2003 By Karen Scanlon - Shelter Island had taken shape like some odd elongated balloon. Palm trees begged for by Port Director John Bate lined the earthen roadway, and the landfill had settled so that construction of buildings could begin. On the east end of the “island,” the first restaurant was underway - known then as Christian’s Hut (the name taken from the mutineer Fletcher Christian of Her Majesty’s ship the Bounty), or simply, The Hut. Today, it is the Bali Hai. This Polynesian-style Tiki “temple” was built, owned, and operated in1953 by Alice Hudson. A hefty load of logs to raise the structure came from the nearby Julian mountains. “Tiki,” according to Polynesian mythology, refers to the first man, or his personification. He somehow evolved as the “god of artists” - thus the decorative architectural features infused by a cultural Tiki fever. At the time, San Diego’s Hut was the third such establishment sired by the first on Catalina Island in 1935 near the set of the movie “Mutiny on the Bounty.” The bar, favored by star Clark Gable, was moved to Newport Beach when filming finished. However, The Hut did not survive on Shelter Island. Hudson offered the place to neighbor Jack Davis for $60,000 cash. “But I couldn’t come up with that much cash at the time. Big mistake,” he admits. Purveyors were given shares of stock instead of payment. By 1955, accountant Tom Hamm of Los Angeles was sent by business mogul William Kirk to the ailing restaurant to “look at the books - and he never left,” says Hamm’s daughter Susie Baumann. Tom Hamm became manager and eventually bought out stockholders. By now, other business ventures and public amenities had appeared on the barren landfill and lured more visitors to Shelter Island - and to Bali Hai. The Tiki temple’s exotic birds, Polynesian floorshow, food-and-drink menu, its own dock, and flawless view of San Diego Harbor charmed the growing population. “All this local wood, from Julian - you couldn’t duplicate this building today,” Susie Baumann says. The restaurant has been owned and operated by Susie and Larry Baumann since 1975. A Polynesian concept for Shelter Island would help restore a playful spirit to San Diego, following the busy port activities of World War II. The South Pacific was out of reach for most mortals, so primitive effigies carved in wood, rum concoctions, and flowered shirts were emulated at home. As for that Tiki trickster and charmer, “Goof” on the roof - he remains a mystery. But that’s his real name. “The Goof” became a recognizable symbol for Tiki fun seekers. Shelter Island’s first establishment stands alone at the northeast edge (far left). Its Goof - the muse of restaurant builder and owner Alice Hudson - arrives by “woody” wagon at the construction site of Christian’s Hut (now Bali Hai), 1953. Photo by: Courtesy Larry and Suzy Bauumann Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Freelance, Ph.D., D.F.S [ Edited by: freddiefreelance on 2004-05-17 19:28 ]

I found an article on the history of the Bali Hai, it's relation to Christian's Hut, & the Goof:

http://www.thelognewspaper.com/special/specialview.asp?c=75572

‘Goof’ On The Roof At Bali Hai
Thursday, September 25, 2003
By Karen Scanlon -

Shelter Island had taken shape like some odd elongated balloon. Palm trees begged for by Port Director John Bate lined the earthen roadway, and the landfill had settled so that construction of buildings could begin.

On the east end of the “island,” the first restaurant was underway - known then as Christian’s Hut (the name taken from the mutineer Fletcher Christian of Her Majesty’s ship the Bounty), or simply, The Hut. Today, it is the Bali Hai.

This Polynesian-style Tiki “temple” was built, owned, and operated in1953 by Alice Hudson. A hefty load of logs to raise the structure came from the nearby Julian mountains. “Tiki,” according to Polynesian mythology, refers to the first man, or his personification. He somehow evolved as the “god of artists” - thus the decorative architectural features infused by a cultural Tiki fever.

At the time, San Diego’s Hut was the third such establishment sired by the first on Catalina Island in 1935 near the set of the movie “Mutiny on the Bounty.” The bar, favored by star Clark Gable, was moved to Newport Beach when filming finished.

However, The Hut did not survive on Shelter Island. Hudson offered the place to neighbor Jack Davis for $60,000 cash. “But I couldn’t come up with that much cash at the time. Big mistake,” he admits.

Purveyors were given shares of stock instead of payment. By 1955, accountant Tom Hamm of Los Angeles was sent by business mogul William Kirk to the ailing restaurant to “look at the books - and he never left,” says Hamm’s daughter Susie Baumann. Tom Hamm became manager and eventually bought out stockholders.

By now, other business ventures and public amenities had appeared on the barren landfill and lured more visitors to Shelter Island - and to Bali Hai. The Tiki temple’s exotic birds, Polynesian floorshow, food-and-drink menu, its own dock, and flawless view of San Diego Harbor charmed the growing population.

“All this local wood, from Julian - you couldn’t duplicate this building today,” Susie Baumann says. The restaurant has been owned and operated by Susie and Larry Baumann since 1975.

A Polynesian concept for Shelter Island would help restore a playful spirit to San Diego, following the busy port activities of World War II. The South Pacific was out of reach for most mortals, so primitive effigies carved in wood, rum concoctions, and flowered shirts were emulated at home.

As for that Tiki trickster and charmer, “Goof” on the roof - he remains a mystery. But that’s his real name. “The Goof” became a recognizable symbol for Tiki fun seekers.

Shelter Island’s first establishment stands alone at the northeast edge (far left). Its Goof - the muse of restaurant builder and owner Alice Hudson - arrives by “woody” wagon at the construction site of Christian’s Hut (now Bali Hai), 1953.
Photo by: Courtesy Larry and Suzy Bauumann

Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Freelance, Ph.D., D.F.S

[ Edited by: freddiefreelance on 2004-05-17 19:28 ]

Post #91632 by freddiefreelance on Mon, May 17, 2004 7:00 PM