Tiki culture
Tiki culture refers to a mid twentieth century theme used in
Polynesian-style restaurants in the United States.
[The connection of Tiki culture to Tiki (mythology), a character in the mythology of portions of the South Pacific, is tenuous, at best.] |
The front cover from a Beachcomber menu circa. 1959 |
Tiki culture in the United States began in 1934, when Donn Beach, a.k.a.
Don the Beachcomber, opened a Polynesian-themed eatery in Hollywood that served Cantonese cuisine and exotic rum punches with decor featuring flaming torches, rattan furniture, flower leis and brightly colored fabrics. Three years later[
1], Victor Bergeron, better known as
Trader Vic, adopted a Tiki theme for his restaurant in
Oakland, which grew to become a worldwide chain.
Several years later American soldiers returned home from
World War II, bringing with them stories and souvenirs from the
South Pacific. Americans fell in love with their romanticized version of an exotic culture, and Polynesian design began to infuse every aspect of the country's visual aesthetic, from home accessories to architecture. Soon came integration of the idea into music by artists like
Les Baxter,
Arthur Lyman, and
Martin Denny, who blended the Tiki idea through
jazz augmented with Polynesian, Asian and Latin instruments and "tropical" themes creating the
Exotica genre. This music blended the elements of Afro-Cuban rhythms, unusual instrumentations, environmental sounds, and lush romantic themes from
Hollywood movies, topped off with evocative titles like "Jaguar God", into a cultural hybrid native to nowhere.
There were two primary strains of this kind of
exotica: Jungle and Tiki. Jungle exotica was definitely a Hollywood creation, with its roots in
Tarzan movies and further back, to
William Henry Hudson's novel
Green Mansions. Les Baxter was the king of jungle exotica, and spawned a host of imitators while opening the doors for a few more genuine articles such as Chaino, Thurston Knudson, and Guy Warren.
Tiki exotica was introduced with Martin Denny's Waikiki nightclub combo cum jungle noises cover of Baxter's
Quiet Village. Tiki rode a wave of popularity in the late 1950s and early 1960s marked by the entrance of
Hawaii as the 50th state in 1959 and the introduction of Tiki hut cocktail bars and restaurants around the continental United States.
Tiki exotica is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, and
Tiki mugs and torches that once collected dust in thrift stores are now hot items, largely because of their
camp value.
*
Enchanted Tiki Room*
Tiki Ti*
Tiki mugs*
Richard Kuefler*Sven A. Kirsten:
The Book of Tiki. Taschen 2003, ISBN 3-8228-2433-X.
Book Homepage*Duke Carter:
Tiki Quest. Pegboard Press (August 2003), ISBN 0-9743283-0-8.
Book Homepage*James Teitelbaum:
Tiki Road Trip. Santa Monica Press (May 1, 2003), ISBN 1891661302.
Book Homepage*Otto Von Stroheim, Robert Williams:
Tiki Art Now! A Volcanic Eruption of Art. Last Gasp (November 10, 2004), ISBN 0867196270.
Book Homepage*Thor Heyerdahl: "Kon Tiki". Pocket 1990, ISBN 0671726528.
Polynesian Arts and History
*
Hawaiian History*
Maori History & Culture*
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Oceanic Arts Exhibit*
Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives*
"Wayfinders: Polynesian History & Origin"Vintage & Modern Tiki Culture
*
Tiki News*
Kona Kai! your guide to Everything Tiki on the Web*
Tiki Central Forums, a place to discuss all that is Tiki*
Critiki, the Worldwide Guide to Tiki Bars & Polynesian Restaurants*
Ooga-Mooga, Tiki Mug Collections*
Tikiroom.net's Tiki Mugs & more Gallery*
Cabanilla Makau, Hawaiian Fishhooks and carving
