Tiki Central / General Tiki
unkle Mike Roberts and his photographs
PR
Phillip Roberts
Posted
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07/25/2009
Aloha, OK, I have been holding out on you all. I'm sorry, but I was not ready to talk about this before. Unkle Mike was a very nice man. He treated me well and took me to Hawaii. He used to come back to California frequently. He lived in Berkeley and on his mainland visits, he took Grandma Minnie, Auntie Marilyn and me to Trader Vic's, The Tonga Room and many other Polynesian themed venues in California. This is one of his photos in 1968 at Trader Vic's in the International Market Place. Trader Vic's moved there from Ward Street after the Abbott family sold the franchise to the Spencecliff corporation in 1967. Please post Mike Roberts photographs to this thread and I will do [ Edited by: Phillip Roberts 2016-08-09 09:03 ] |
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bigbrotiki
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07/25/2009
That's great news. Looking forward to your book, and to images from your uncle's archive here on this thread. Now that I think about it, the name Mike Roberts rings a bell. Was he usually credited on his postcards? I am away from home, so I can't check what I have... NOW I remember that logo, of course! I am sure someone here has a cleaner version of it. Cool! Sorry for the quality, I have no scanner here, so I had to photograph it off the desk. |
BB
Bongo Bungalow
Posted
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07/25/2009
Interesting that you couldn't tell anyone about your connection until now... but MUCH MORE interesting that you've got stories and pictures and a book to share! I know I have the luau picture on an album cover. |
PR
Phillip Roberts
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07/25/2009
Aloha. More important "BIG STONE HEAD." I cannot wait to read JT's book. Period. |
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bigbrotiki
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07/27/2009
Hey, where are all the Mike Roberts postcards I wuz expecting to pop up here? I am away from my desk and still could come with one, sooo? |
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bongofury
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07/27/2009
Here are some of my favorites. Sorry for the crap-cam shots of some otherwise beautiful postcards. The Waikikian is my favorite. Looking forward to the book. Aloha.... |
PR
Phillip Roberts
Posted
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07/27/2009
Thanks Ron!
3-5) Market place from Kalakaua Avenue.
8 ) Coco Palms.
[ Edited by: Phillip Roberts 2009-07-27 00:31 ] |
JC
Jeff Central
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07/27/2009
Aloha and welcome to TC Phillip. Did Mike happen to know Werner Stoy? He was another famous photographer who worked for Camera Hawaii. Great pictures Phillip and Bigbro. Please post more if you can. I love that Canlis photo and would love to see more of that restaurant. Cheers and Mahalo, |
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TabooDan
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07/27/2009
Hey Phillip, Glad you finally decided to let us know about your interesting family! Always great to hear stories and see new pictures that have not been seen before. So you got any more secrets?? How about that you have another family member named.....Fred Roberts?? Hmmm?? All kidding aside, thanks again for the post and I will be sure to go through my items and see what I have. I know there are alot of cards out there with that logo. Mahalo, TabooDan [ Edited by: TabooDan 2009-07-27 07:19 ] |
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bongofury
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07/27/2009
#7 is The Lagoon Dining Room and Cocktail Terrace along the lagoon at the Coco Palms |
TG
The Gnomon
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07/27/2009
Besides postcards, the images have a similar look as some exotica album covers as well, particularly, that first one; maybe even the same model. Nice stuff. A great treat. Oops! Left off the "a" in exotica. [ Edited by: The Gnomon 2009-07-27 10:07 ] |
UB
Unga Bunga
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07/27/2009
Hey Phil, about time you came out of the Tiki hut.:) I look forward to more. |
BPB
Bay Park Buzzy
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07/27/2009
A few to add:
Buzzy Out! |
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bigbrotiki
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07/27/2009
Ouch Ron, did you photograph those with your cell phone? :roll: |
PR
Phillip Roberts
Posted
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07/27/2009
Patience jedi.
He was not a part of the family as far as I know.
Prolly. These guys all ran around in the same circles. They were pretty competitive too. I'd imagine he also knew Robert Wenkam, Billy Howell, Stewart Fern, and Irving Rosen... Here's an interesting thing. Werner Stoy photo of the Waimanalo Bay, large negative and the handwritten note with the caption to be used on the Nui Nui Postcard around 1947. [ Edited by: Phillip Roberts 2009-07-27 14:32 ] |
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Tiki-Kate
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07/27/2009
Just a few more. |
BB
Bongo Bungalow
Posted
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07/28/2009
oops [ Edited by: Bongo Bungalow 2009-07-27 18:47 ] |
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bongofury
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07/28/2009
Geez.....I was trying to help the post along. I have lots of important stuff of low quality that I will be sure not to post! Hot from my new scanner ...the same postcard....just for you Sven Hi Phil....hope to see you soon.... |
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hiltiki
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07/28/2009
Sorry, wrong place wrong time. [ Edited by: hiltiki 2009-07-27 21:05 ] |
LT
LOL Tiki
Posted
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07/28/2009
Here's a nice one I picked up recently - the Coco Palms Reception... |
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bigbrotiki
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07/28/2009
Ooooh, he did that one! Always loved that one and was gonna use it sometime. Bet it's gonna be in your book now. |
PR
Phillip Roberts
Posted
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07/28/2009
I didn't use it. My book is 99% Oahu photos. And I was very young. I musta been around 5 when this one at Coco Palms was probably taken. I simply didn't know what to ask him at that time. I'd usually only see him a few times a year, and much less as I got older and moved around. He was buzy hustling gigs, just like the other photographers working in the the islands. Don Ceppi, Murray Belfer and many others (mentioned before) were working Hawaii. Postcards have always been big biz. I'd say thats a lot less now due to the internet. But getting a postcard, was a big deal in the old days. I think the last time I sent postcards out was from Easter Island in 2001. Ron, that would be cool... be sure to let me know. [ Edited by: Phillip Roberts 2009-07-27 23:18 ] |
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bigbrotiki
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07/28/2009
Bongo, but you know me: As a cinematographer, out of focus images physically hurt my eyes, and as a German, and a Virgo, I demand nothing less than perfection! :D As a Tiki archeologist, though, ALL evidence of Tiki temples, in whatever quality, is important and appreciated! |
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TabooDan
Posted
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07/29/2009
These are the ones that I have from Mike Roberts. Looks like most of the tourist places were captured by him and also some great scenery shots. Here they are: "Pounding Poi at the Waikiki Hula Show" "Hibiscus Flowers - bloom all year round" Here is another card from The International Market Place: Here is a cool one of Don Ho at the Polynesian Palace, Cinerama Reef Towers in Waikiki, Hawaii: The following four are all from the Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, Oahu, Hawaii: Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/2187/4a70cf7e.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=47ba62641dd1891c537babdf549fdd24 Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/2187/4a70d492.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=1f55d5e022b201860246b81f2b5953e9 Same as first shot just different card. Says "Grand Finale" right on it. I thought some people might be interested in how the "Mike Roberts" logos on the back of the cards changed and the different ones used. Maybe not, but since this is turning into his own thread, might as well get them on here! The logo probably developed over the years or maybe changed when he dealt with different distributors. The ones I see most of are the last two styles. Here's probably one of the earlier ones, well, looks to be an older logo anyway: Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/2187/4a70d140.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=ca9bf5d273c3b68bd3b0c9755cbb8e75 Just a dark circle for a head and the body shape is a "R" for Roberts I do believe :wink: and a globe in the background. Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/2187/4a70d1fa.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=69f20ad7001dc5c2cae28626413f84d8 This one is a figure in the shape of a "R" with the camera and "Color Card" above and Mike Roberts Below. Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/2187/4a70d206.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=1a2f29ce45d914de97f514e0e8b2d885 Almost the same as before except it says "Hawaii Color Card" at top and also has a surf board shape beside the figure on the left. Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/2187/4a70d272.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=2b0c288e2ef7f80bc23916d798b8894d This is as before with the surfboard except it states "The Continental Card of Hawaii" at the top. Mahalo, TabooDan |
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Tikisgrl
Posted
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07/30/2009
I was able to find 7 different ones in my collection. Including one from Clifton's South Sea's in LA. I don't have a scanner so if you want to see them they will be blurry? |
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bigbrotiki
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07/30/2009
Love the different logos. And the Polynesian Cultural Center ones! |
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seasonzoe
Posted
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07/30/2009
[ Edited by: martiki 2009-08-03 09:19 ] |
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bigbrotiki
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07/30/2009
SPAM INTRUDER ALARM! Someone get seasonzoe and ann1985 OFF THIS BOARD pronto, please! |
MT
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Mai Tai
Posted
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07/30/2009
*Sigh. Why is it that the spammers seem to post on the nicer and up and coming threads around here? How do we get rid of knuckleheads like this more efficiently? |
K
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Kaiwaza
Posted
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07/30/2009
This is a great thread..I'm enjoying all these great images! |
P
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puamana
Posted
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07/31/2009
Great thread, and that's great news on the book ! Congrats! Looking forward to it. Here's a few, will add more soon: Tropics: Image Missing: http://www.arkivatropika.com/images/pictures/358_large.JPG Duke Kahanamoku's: Image Missing: http://www.arkivatropika.com/images/pictures/908_large.JPG Aloha Liqueur: Image Missing: http://www.arkivatropika.com/images/pictures/252_large.JPG |
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Tiki-Tim
Posted
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08/01/2009
Here's a few from my collection.... Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/659/4a73be7a.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=c59f67b6136c6534712258f48cdad9da |
OGR
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Or Got Rum?
Posted
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08/02/2009
Great thread and thanks to all for the images. It helped me figure out who this talented Mike Roberts was. I have about a dozen or so of his cards from CA/WA/TX/IA/IL and all the way to Philadelphia. His late 40's/early 50's street scenes are sweet...he even did a Howard Johnson's card. Thank you. |
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Tiki-Tim
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08/02/2009
Yes,I also love this thread.I went to a couple antique dealer shops yesterday and spent the day looking for as many Mike Robert postcards as I could find.I came up with 19 that I really liked.There are still about 40-70 more that I might pick up.These also vary State to State.Some are street scenes from California,the mountains in Utah,and one from Maine.I even found three from Jimmy Carter's hometown in Georgia.Here are ten postcards that I picked up yesterday.I post the rest in the next couple days. |
K
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Kailuageoff
Posted
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08/03/2009
These are some of the most iconic images of Hawaii in the tiki era. I never thought to connect the dots to a single photographer... amazing. Mahalo. |
T
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tokyobuzz
Posted
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08/03/2009
I found this thread while trying to date a Mike Roberts card from Guam. I know that this isn't Hawaii or Tiki-related, but thought it would be interesting to know about. Also, the logo is different from the other cards posted. There are a lot of Guam postcards by Mike Roberts, most of them apparently distributed by a now defunct department store called the "Town House." I'm guessing that this particular one of a southern Guam village was probably taken in the early 1960's. Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/11052/4a7677a8.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=c901ea4c949dfe833815b433eb056b9a Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/11052/4a7677c2.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=a9a9a78baa37af8ca1ea5cb9526f4375 [ Edited by: tokyobuzz 2009-08-02 22:48 ] |
PR
Phillip Roberts
Posted
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08/03/2009
Please don't get me wrong. Good eye, yet... That Kodachrome photo is by Art WISNER. Looks like unkle threw a bone around occasionally. I'd suspect they are around 1970-72. Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/11307/4cbb5b00.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=6effda651e8ba4af94bfdfb077407e3e Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/11307/4cbb5b05.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=646d2aeb294a205ab35f76160e611e95
[ Edited by: Phillip Roberts 2010-10-31 00:25 ] |
PR
Phillip Roberts
Posted
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08/03/2009
See now thats A weird one. It looks like the same model and background from the kau kau korner menu. |
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Tiki-Tim
Posted
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08/03/2009
Some more Postcards... |
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bigbrotiki
Posted
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08/04/2009
Nice collection, Tim. I hope Phil's book will be a bit more Tiki-centric, though. |
TL
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Tiki Lee's
Posted
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08/05/2009
I was putting a bunch of Hawaii LP's from the early 1960's up on eBay last night, all the while going "Man, some of these pictures look like something I've seen on T.C. lately..." Here are the one's that I think might be Mr. Roberts' pictures. There are no photographer's credits on the albums at all. Please let me know if I'm right or wrong, but they look like his "eye" to me. This first one has actually all ready been posted previously in it's postcard form, so I know it's his: I think these are his photos too... ...and maybe this one: Just for the record, this is not in any way, shape, or form a "Spammy" advert for the records. I just wanted to share the imagery in hopes that it is Mr. Roberts' gorgeous work. I'll gladly take down the ones that don't turn out to be his. Mahaloz! |
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bigbrotiki
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08/05/2009
We believe you, Lee. :) Great visuals, especially all those posed shots with those "natives of old Hawaii". |
PR
Phillip Roberts
Posted
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08/05/2009
Aloha, Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing, Lee. Pretty spot on. While often uncredited, you CAN see his composition in the "posed" shots... In the upper left of the "Instrumentally Your's" is the luau photo of Donn and party (previously posted somewhere here) 1)How prolific he was and hustled work... |
M
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Matterhorn1959
Posted
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08/07/2009
Hey Phil, Any Disneyland or other theme park images in the collection you have? Mike Roberst also took a lot of photographs and made postcards for many mainland tiki places. |
PR
Phillip Roberts
Posted
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08/07/2009
Aloha,
I haven't seen any Disney stuff yet in what I got... If I do find some, I promise to share... Here's some stuff that no one will find on a postcard... Model test shots circa 1962ish... I don't think she made the cut... Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/1320/4a7bc430.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=01f8097630a292ae80f3fbe512e9748d Yes the new scanner got in house today...but it doesn't have transparency mode so unitl I can figure out the Minolta slide scanner problems, no negatives or slides. Boo. [ Edited by: Phillip Roberts 2009-08-07 01:43 ] |
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Matterhorn1959
Posted
posted
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08/08/2009
Thanks Robb. I hope there are some Disneyland or other theme park images in there. |
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Tiki-Tim
Posted
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08/08/2009
Thanks for the compliment bigbrotiki...Here's a few more Mike Roberts Postcards..... These are my favorites... Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/659/4a7ce043.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=c6b77ce8874f8b74046f2f783460364e |
8T
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8FT Tiki
Posted
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08/11/2009
I found a few to add: FRONTS: (Gotta love that bed at the Coco Palms!) BACKS: These shots are from a souvenir fold out postcard packet: Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/1518/4a81bdc2.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=82bca9ad3487023c7b7b743c39a654cb |