Lanai San Mateo Torch Tiki

We were at the San Mateo County Fair this weekend which was having a tropical theme this year. In one of the buildings we saw an old 7 foot tall tiki with a gold plaque on it. Turns out it's the rooftop tiki from the Lanai! It used to have a torch coming out of his head and was removed after it started a small fire. It now belongs to the niece of one of the women who works at the fairgrounds. Unfortunately she wasn't there, but it sure was an unexpected surprise! (BTW, the original Village People put on an awesome show there Friday night) :D

The plaque reads "Torch Tiki, Old Lanai Rooftop 1952, Donated by Lar Caughlan, 6-4-92"

Here's a photo of the tiki and the plaque:
http://www.tikiroom.net/gallery/misc/agi
http://www.tikiroom.net/gallery/misc/agj

On 2004-08-23 13:15, TikiHula wrote:
BTW, the original Village People put on an awesome show there Friday night...

Not to intentionally take this off-track, but what defines an "awesome Village People show"?

Just curious... :P

Oh, if tikis could talk. Just think of the stories this guy could tell.
What an amazing find, when you least expect it.

Sorry, no comment on the Village People.

Thanks for showing Tikihula!

(BTW, the original Village People put on an awesome show there Friday night)

At least Crouton Boy still has his pride.

Macho Macho Man, I gotta be a macho man... :D
What's with you guys? The Village People are 70s icons :wink:

"Tastes like alcoholic Kool-Aid"

The Tiki Gallery at:
http://www.tradervic.com
http://www.tikiroom.net
http://www.tikimug.net
http://www.tikimugs.net

[ Edited by: TikiHula on 2004-08-23 16:10 ]

This is infuriating. You mean there was actually something interesting in San Mateo. I had to live in San Mateo during my high school years (the 70's), hated every minute of it, and I never knew about this place. Where was it?

Hey Hula,
Thanks for the Lanai update. Sorry I didn't make it to the fair this year and see it. Having a "Hawaiian" theme, I suppose we should have put together some kind of TC outing... maybe next year.
Did the people you talk to give any idication where the Tiki now lives and if it has any other artifacts to keep it company?
Aloha,
:tiki:

Oh, Spy-Tiki the Lanai was at 41st ave. and El Camino.

The woman who owns it wasn't there, and I was told all this by a volunteer working in the building- but I think a trip to the offices might be in order. It would be great to talk to the owner and see if they have any other Lanai stuff.

Right on, Hula! Thanks for posting that, and please let us know if you uncover more to the story. Always interesting to learn about the Lanai!

-Randy