Tiki culture refers to a 20th-century theme used in
Polynesian-style restaurants and clubs originally in the United
States and then, to a lesser degree, around the world. Although
inspired in part by Tiki carvings and mythology, the connection is
loose and stylistic.
Tiki culture in the United States began in 1934 with the opening
of Don the Beachcomber, a Polynesian-themed bar and restaurant in
Hollywood. The proprietor was Ernest Raymond Beaumont-Gantt, a
young man from Louisiana who had sailed throughout the South
Pacific; later he legally changed his name to Donn Beach. His
restaurant featured Cantonese cuisine and exotic rum punches, with
a decor of flaming torches, rattan furniture, flower leis, and
brightly colored fabrics. Three years later, Victor Bergeron,
better known as Trader Vic, adopted a Tiki theme for his restaurant
in Oakland, which eventually grew to become a worldwide chain. The
theme took on a life during the restaurant's growth in the Bay
Area. The Trader Vic in Palo not only spawned architectural
choices, such as the architectural concept behind the odd looking
Tiki Inn Motel , which still exists as the Stanford Terrace Inn .
There also currently exists a modern sculpture garden from Papua
New Guinea that was made to celebrate the modern form of art that
was a large part of the original inspiration for tiki culture.
When American soldiers returned home from World War II, they
brought with them stories and souvenirs from the South Pacific.
James Michener won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for his collection of
short stories, Tales of the South Pacific, which in turn was the
basis for South Pacific, the 1949 musical by Rodgers and
Hammerstein, also a Pulitzer Prize winner. Hawaiian Statehood
further drove interest in the area and Americans fell in love with
their romanticized version of an exotic culture. A further factor
was the excitement surrounding the Kon-Tiki expedition. Polynesian
design began to infuse every aspect of the country's visual
aesthetic, from home accessories to architecture.
Congratulations to maweni for the FTF!!!