Tiki Central / General Tiki
Super Cool!!!! Talk Story with Bungy Hedley....
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RevBambooBen
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12/17/2005
My Aunt, Bungy Hedley, is just about to join TC. She worked with Eli the most and has many story to tell! Hope you all treat her with the most kindest respect. The story she'll talk will fill in many holes for the first tiki wave that washed up on our shore many moons ago. Aloha, Bamboo Ben. [ Edited by: RevBambooBen 2005-12-19 08:50 ] |
TM
Tiki Matt
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12/17/2005
Super cool! Can't wait... |
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ikitnrev
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12/17/2005
Fantastic! I look forward to hearing her tales and perspectives. At times it can be easy to think that the tiki community is made mainly of the people who register and post to Tiki Central, that we can forget that there is a whole elder, and probably wiser, generation who loved tiki as much in their time. Perhaps Ben's aunt will be the first of many who will come to share their tales with us who are eager to hear stories of tikis long ago. Perhaps there are others who might be willing, if invited, to share their stories with us? Vern |
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RevBambooBen
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12/17/2005
Total users: 3977 Total posts: 195630
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Unga Bunga
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12/17/2005
Welcome to Tiki Central Aunt Bungy! |
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freddiefreelance
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12/17/2005
Ooooh! I'm gettin' chills here, one by one we're getting the "Beachcombing Headleys" involved in TC! Yay! :D |
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freddiefreelance
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12/17/2005
Bunga welcomed Bungy! :) |
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Benzart
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12/17/2005
Big Welcome Aunt Bungy! Come on in and sit a spell and tell us a story or 2. we want to know all about Ben too. We want all his childhood, embarassing stories and how he became such a great artist. |
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Polynesiac
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12/18/2005
Welcome aboard Bungy! I was just down in your old stompin grounds the other day (royal palms/japs) and marveled at the fact that people used to LIVE down there. What a totally awesome spot. Thanks for joining and I'm looking forward to your posts! |
MP
mrs. pineapple
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12/18/2005
yeah, nobody else ever does that.... :wink: We want to hear about Ben's dorky childhood, hahahahaha! |
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RevBambooBen
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12/19/2005
I got an email from her this eve and she kinda doesn't know where to start. If any of you Tiki Central, Suave' People out there can e mail her and give her the low down ( the easy way) I'm sure she'd be posting story left and right. |
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Matt Reese
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12/19/2005
Really looking forward to the tales she can tell. Thanx for the heads up. |
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RevBambooBen
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12/19/2005
Bungy was looking around TC and really didn't know where to start so I'll throw out a question to get things rolling. Aloha Aunty Bungy. Do you remeber any cool stories about the Island Trade Store at Disneyland? (The story from my Mom I get all the time is that is was real hot there and you all used to put your feet in buckets of ice water to cool you down behind the counter. Classic!) Oh, and one more. Did you ever meet Don Beach?? |
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RevBambooBen
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12/19/2005
p.s. Here is a list that Bungy gave me that contains some of the press that they received a while back. Maybe some of you TC library lurkers can dig these up on the ol' microfilm.... Eli Hedley, Hedley Family. American Magazine, 8/41 Life Mag. 1/21/46 This Week, 11/45 Wall Street Journal, 4/46 Christian Science Monitor, 10/47, 5/49, 4/53 Coronet Mag. 3/48 Saint Louis Globe Democrat, 1/49 Seventeen Mag. 4/49 Mechanics Ill. 7/50 Orange County Register ( like grandson :) like grandad :) ) 1960 Herald Express " Books and Art" 1/13/58 Pasadena Star News " Virginia Kay Column" many times during 1960's-1970's Daily Breeze, 2/10/02 Tiki News, 04 Tiki Mag. 05 on film.... Movie tone news, 1944 Return to treasure Island( Tab Hunter), 1950 Trader Hall ( Johnny Weismuller Movies) 1949-1950 This should be a fun treasure hunt. I see Freddie Freelance Aloha and Mahalo! Bamboo Ben |
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bungy
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12/21/2005
Aloooooha!!! I laughed and laughed with all your NICE welcomes!! Yes! Bamboo Ben alias Benjie was quite a character.. and ALWAYS went his own way!! Which he is still doing!! he may say he is getting "mana" from Eli (his grand dad).. but he is clearly going his own way, too! I have seen pix of his jobs and WOW!! I am thrilled with his work! Am going to be able to actually see his Kona job in San Fran soon. Re Donn Beachcomber: Re: Disneyland: I learned to sail when I was 12 around the Los Angeles Harbor area (that was in 1946!)and started crewing on larger boats between CA , Hawaii, South Pacific, Mexico when I was 18. In 1955, I signed on the 134' sailing schooner, Te Vega, out of New port Beach on my way to nearly 3 months through-out the French Oceana. We had landed in Tahiti, and I received a letter, General Delivery, from my family.. telling me that they had started a brand new biz in a place called "Disneyland".. The descripttion was so weird that I just put the whole thing out of mind!! How could my family, especially my dad, who was so uncommercial.. get into a regular biz??? Well, we sailed on to Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora, and on up to Honolulu, where I got to sail my outrigger canoe that I had picked up in Bora Bora for $100. at Ala Wai Yacht Basin! I headed home and was whisked from LAX to Disneyland, thrown behind a counter, showed how to run the register, and started selling! You never had to actually sell during those first few years, you only had to put a Disneland decal on anyhting.. and they pushed it with $ into your face!! From sailing in the Pacific and riding on the main mast cross tree of Te Vega, at sunrise and sunset.... to 28,000 customers pushing and shoving was a great culture shock!!! Re Tikis at Island Trade Store in Bazaar in Adventurland: Hope I haven't bored you all with these memories!! It was fun for me to be able to think of them again! Thanks!! Bungy |
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bongofury
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12/21/2005
Great story! Welcome to Tiki Central. Hope we get to hear more. |
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pablus
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12/21/2005
Thank you for taking the time to type these out. Mahalo Nui Loa. |
TSW
The Sperm Whale
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12/21/2005
WOW You are definatly not boring me!! When you have time please share more with us!! Thanks again!!! |
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Chongolio
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12/21/2005
Aloha E Komo Mia Aunt Bungy! Hey Bamboo Benji thanks for sharin' your auntie with us. Chongolio
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bungy
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12/21/2005
You asked for it!!! We had a 99 year lease on an old 1920s Country Club, which was a part of the Land Grant from the King of Spain to the early Sepulvedas. Louis S. owned it at that time.. he ahs since sold it to the State of California and it is called "Royal Palms State Park" where the family gets together nearly each year and we have FUN! It is 2000 foot Cove right on the Pacific Ocean a couple of miles above the Lo s Angeles harbor. Anyway.. there was only a little shack on the property and we slept outside under the palm trees until we built our home.. So long for now! I am setting up a campfire Christmas Eve Party, complete with Texas chili, hot dogs, and somemores... anyone want to come!!! Rememember! Cowwa Bunga!!! |
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Humuhumu
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12/21/2005
I LOVE storytime with Aunt Bungy! Thank you so much for sharing these amazing tales with us, I'm very glad you've joined us here. |
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Tikiwmn
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12/21/2005
Aloha Bungy! Thank you so much for posting your stories. I am honored to read them. Mele Kalikimaka! Tikiwmn |
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kingtiki
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12/21/2005
Can Aunt Bungy have her own forum. This stuff is absolutely amazing! Please write as much and as often as you like...I'm all ears (or eyes). |
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puamana
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12/22/2005
Welcome, Bungy ! This is such a treat, thanks so much for joining TC and for sharing these wonderful stories. And many thanks to Bamboo Ben, too ! |
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Polynesiac
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12/22/2005
thank you for sharing such great stories!!! I love to read them. |
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RevBambooBen
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12/22/2005
Aloha Aunty Bungy, ( Lady Weldon) ( Doh!) Would this happen to be the place?? And,......what the heck are those Horses??? :) Also, is this the place where Sam Goldwynn shopped for all those cool custom gobblets?? Have fun at your Ho-Down! Is Ballan singing?? Does she play the uke too? (Ballan is my cousin/Bungy daughter. Google- Ballan Grant. She sings! :) sorry, so many questions....... |
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DawnTiki
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12/22/2005
This is more than great! I have a feeling this has opened up a great big ol' can of worms...cuz I want more Aunt Bungy stories! Mahalo Aunt Bungy for taking the time to share with this motley crew and welcome to Tiki Central :tiki: |
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Benzart
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12/22/2005
First, Benjy, we Owe you Big time for sharing your Aunt Bungy with us and setting up this Story time. |
TLT
Talla Luna Tikilassee
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12/22/2005
I have recently joined Tiki Central. I Have been a watcher, and a learner. I do, however, love stories. I was entranced by Aunt Bungy's stories. The Ocean has always been precious to me, to battle it and all of the elements for the sake of....Living, and enjoying life... Wow. Life is precious, and art is beautiful (to me). I have loved reading Bungy's posts. I am embarking on my love of Tiki, and the history behind it. I am IN LOVE with stories. I am especially in love with stories like this. Pure......Real....A true Birds eye view of life, in the Past/ Present time. I have enjoyed every minute of my reading of posts here on Tiki Central.Thank you all... |
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freddiefreelance
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12/22/2005
Yes, I really wish I could.
Ballan, like the town in Moorabool outside of Melbourne, Oz? Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Freelance, Ph.D., D.F.S [ Edited by: freddiefreelance 2005-12-22 06:47 ] |
UT
Urban Tiki
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12/22/2005
Thank you so much, Aunt Bungy, for sharing stories from your fascinating life- we have truly found a treasure for TC. Thanks also to Rev. Ben for bringing you here. |
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bungy
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12/22/2005
Oh! My Gosh!!!! Those are pix of famous shop!!! Yes! The goblets were dear ol' dad's creation! In fact he was the first one that started decorating with nets and driftwood (I had to explain what driftwood was to great-grandkids the other day!) His first big sale was to I magnin's for their summer windows!! Let me tell you about our dining room! Since daddy built the house hiself (with us!) his plans kept changing around.. and they would always change towards more beauty..like.. "If we put this over here we would be able to see the sunset over the ocean better! So the house was kind of odd! The dining room was built upstairs on a balcony which over looked the entry hall, which was supposed to be the kitchen.. but the kitchen was moved to the side where the laundry room was supposed to be. The laundry room was put out side.. a big tin tub over a fire!! That is until San Pedro got its first laundromat!! Heavenly Days! But daddy made everthing FUN.. so I really thought that gathering wood, building a fire, getting water into the big tin tub, getting the clothes into it and swishing them around with a big stick was FUN!! And then, I got to rinse them, and hang them up!! The living room was also upsatirs and had actual 1940's rattan Hawaiian print furniture.Like the ones that are so popular now!. also a couple of those palm/leather chairs from mexico, and a barrel desk.. we had 2, one with the full barrel, that opened and closed on hinges. The top had little shelves and cubbyholes, and the bottom opened up to store my school books.. these were working pieces of furniture! The half barrel had a desk on top of the half, and it opened for storage.. Whew! I'm long winded!!! See ya around again soon! |
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tikiskip
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12/22/2005
That was great! Your stories are wonderful! My parents were in the restaurant business,You can imagine the crazy stuff that went on. But my mom would not tell everyone her stories because people thought she made it up. My mother and father are gone now and so are some of thier stories. I miss hearing them, So your stories help fill that gap. Thank you very much! |
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virani
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12/22/2005
thanks a lot for your stories, aunty, I love it. I read the family book (yes, it came all across the ocean to France), and I loved it, really loved it. Welcome to tiki Central. |
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Benzart
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12/22/2005
Hi Again Aunt Bungy, Your atory time is a true journey to SWiss Family Robinson Adventureland. I am enjoying every page and every word. Your home must have been such a Fantastic place, full of adventure and excitement. How Fortunate you are to have such great memories to cherish and share. |
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Polynesiac
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12/22/2005
WOW how totally cool - the house you grew up in sounds like my dream house! Ben or Bungy - you wouldn't happen to have any pictures to share would you? That place sounds like HEAVEN |
BK
Basement Kahuna
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12/23/2005
Utterly wonderful; just remarkable to hear about life with Eli in detail, Bungee. Thank you.. More, More! Many of us have dreamed of a life such as the Hedleys really lived, breathed, and led...I wonder if there is a place, somewhere on Earth, where this is possible now? And I really can't think of a better steward of this legacy than Ben. Ben rewrites the book on hard work, love of the sea and mastery of the tiki aesthetic. Example. That's Ben in a nutshell.. |
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TikiJosh
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12/23/2005
Thanks so much for the stories Aunty Bungy! Keep them coming! Awesome! |
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tikitony
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12/23/2005
whoooaaa! This is the start to a great illustrated book! |
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mrs. pineapple
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12/23/2005
yeah!! I love these stories, Thanks Aunty Bungy! Please keep posting! |
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bungy
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12/24/2005
Aloha! wonderful ohana! alias Tiki Aficionadas! Right next door, Igor Stravinski's wife, Madame Stravenski, had a shop.. I think it was antiques.. and she would give us kids bon bons occasionally! Every once in a while, the maestro would appear, with his flying white hair,and waving, gesticulating arms. I would hide around a corner and peek out, he was so awsome! Right across the street, Elsa Lancaster, who was married to Charles Laughton, had a children's theater called "The Turn-a-bout Theater". She did Saturday afternoon puppet shows for children, and I got to go several times. You all sat looking at a large puppet stage at one end of room.. then, intermission, we all turned our chairs aorund and saw the 2nd half at the other end,, different set! Our shop, itself was 3 large rooms. The first entry room was all nautical, with ships wheels, ropes, oars, fish floats of all sizes, great ships paintings, etc. the third room was a huge work shop, where all the beauty was turned out. One time, we had an open house, and refreshments were served in the work shop.. naturally it had been decorated tropicl! Daddy had built this huge mound of crushed ice with melon balls, pineapple spears, etc. How did he become the "Tropical" Decorator he was , when he had never been to Hawaii!!! |
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Benzart
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12/24/2005
WOW, I have a huge shopping list after wandering through your shop! Do you take credit cards or Bank Cards? |
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RevBambooBen
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12/24/2005
Cool! :) I'll try to dig up some pics and post em in the next few daze. I have a one page copy of some sigs. that my Mom said was from the "Luau" guest book but maybe it was from the store instead?. The "Luau" gift shop came later right? My Mom doesn't remember a whole lot as she was down at the Cove playing with her pet pelican, Abraham and "sunning" in the giant mounds of fish netting.( she still does that today but without the net) My scanner has a mind of it's own so some of the pics might be taken from my camera so bear with me. p.s. Auntie Bungy, no more praises towards me. This is about you and your experiences. Sorry but I have to put my foot down. We want to hear about You! :wink: and Malcom, Eli, Flo, Mare and Ba (my mom, of course). I can't wait to hear story about all the cool Luaus that happened at the Cove and the people who came to them and the people who just came to get away from Hollywood. I have a great photo of Eli, Mare and my Mom at one luau that I'll try to post. You know what would be radically cool, if one day, you 3 sisters could meet at the Cove and kinda do a tour for these people here on TC. Just a thought. I'm sure a lot of them would dig it the most. |
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RevBambooBen
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12/26/2005
Here are a couple of pics (from the camera). I'll # them amd Auntie Bungy can describe them to us all. #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 ( must get new scanner!) |
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Polynesiac
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12/26/2005
Ben - those pictures are priceless on their own...but to think that that's your family! How cool!!!! I can't wait to hear the memories about those pictures... this thread rocks! |
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pablus
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12/26/2005
Scan the photos. ARRRRR! |
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bungy
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12/26/2005
I can't believe the pixs I am seeing. We lost everything in 1978, when a wall of water 57 feet high came down our river, here in Texas! So this is really fun to know that some of these still exist!! I have to go now! But will see you soon at pix #3!!! By the by.. I am working on my Book right now, too.. each one of us has different ideas on our lives! I started sailing when I was 12, and crewed on sailboats all up and down coast, Mexico, South Seas and abck and forth to hawaii for about 6 years. So this is all just jogging my memory, and I thank you all for being so nice to me!!! Maururu a vau! Auntie Bungy |
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Karbora
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12/27/2005
Thanks Auntie Bungy for the gift of these memories. I feel so privileged to be able to share in these accounts of your amazing and adventurous life. Thanks for joining TC and sharing the spirit of those times....... |