Ports O' Call, Dallas, TX (restaurant)

I just scored the whole shebang of paper ephemera from the Ports o Call, with the great suitcase menu, 4 postcards, and brochure. A bucket list item for me after seeing the display at Tiki Pop.

Also spotted the renderings of the four different rooms that Kenike had posted pictures of before.

DC

Very nice DC. I'm glad I didn't bid against you. :wink: I have two incomplete sets of that one. :(

Swizzle sticks in multiple colors.

Not sure what location this came from so I'll post it in all three

Got an email from Howard Dunn

"My late ex wife worked at Dallas’ Ports from about 1/1975 through 1978 or 79. Ex knew I had a crush on Shirley MacLaine. A fond memory was ex commanding me there one evening where I spent a fun evening sharing more than a few adult beverages with MacLaine

And a ps: I have often wondered about the veracity of the report Ports ‘O Call, Luau, and Kon Tiki were owned by The Luau Group, which was owned by Lana Turner. A good personal friend Edwin F. (Frank) Ko, was a training chef, and traveled to various locations, and ex said Turner was there several times, and was “bossy”. Just askin."

He also sent me some scans from the Ports o' Call menu

Aloha MDM! Great story. I really like your late ex-wife's line of thinkin....sounds like something I would do.

:tiki: :music: :wink:

On 2020-02-20 22:02, MadDogMike wrote:

And a ps: I have often wondered about the veracity of the report Ports ‘O Call, Luau, and Kon Tiki were owned by The Luau Group, which was owned by Lana Turner. A good personal friend Edwin F. (Frank) Ko, was a training chef, and traveled to various locations, and ex said Turner was there several times, and was “bossy”. Just askin."

Well Lana Turner was of course married briefly (twice) to Steven Crane, the principal owner of Ports o Call, the Kon Tiki restaurants and the Beverly Hills Luau, and thus had somewhat of a right to be a little "bossy".

They divorced for the second time in 1944 but she continued going to the Luau into the late 1960's

DC

On 2020-02-21 10:41, Mele_Ipo wrote:
Aloha MDM! Great story. I really like your late ex-wife's line of thinkin....sounds like something I would do.

:tiki: :music: :wink:

Just to be clear, that was Howard's quote not mine :D

ok i'm a dork! :D

I worked in the Southland Life building from 1977 until 1979. We used to go up to Ports O Call in the afternoons after work for happy hour. It was a hoot back then even if the food was bad. Drinks were fantastic and the atmosphere quite campy. I so miss those days and now wish I had kept some of my memorabilia from there. Used to visit Trader Vic’s as well.

Thats extremely cool Id love to pick your brain sometime I currently am researching all the DFW tiki bars as I hope to Write a book on the subject.

hi Robbe I live in Fort worth and Im currently collection everything Dallas tiki I would love to talk to you about your experience!

What would you like to know? I worked in the Southland Life Building from 1978-1980. At least once a week friends I worked with in the building and I would go to Ports 'O Call for happy hour. I was young and not making much money so they had free appetizers at the bar so that was dinner. The place definitely was kitchy and probably beginning to look a bit dated. They had a piano or organ player every afternoon who also sang some. The decore was as you'll see it in photos and much as I remember. Not sure how much more I can tell you. And some memories might be mixed up with another restaurant atop Southland Tower called The Chapparel Club.