Orange County Tiki

I hope you'll be able to join us for dinner with the Orange County Historical Society at Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach, June 10. I will be speaking at their dinner program about the history of the "Polynesian Pop" phenomenon of the 1950s and '60s in Orange County.
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From architecture, décor and music, to literature, theme parks and backyard luaus, the South Seas was a wildly popular theme throughout Mid-Century America. This was especially true in sunny Orange County, where primitive carved figures, grass huts, 'Aloha shirts,' and lush jungle landscaping seemed right at home.
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The location for this dinner event is doubly historic. Don the Beachcomber is a historically significant restaurant that recently took up residence in one of America’s few remaining authentic tiki establishments: The former Sam’s Seafood. The place has recently been lovingly restored and improved. We'll be dining in the "Hidden Village" room, with waterfalls, a tiki bar, grass huts, fishing float lamps, tikis galore, and everything else you'd expect.
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The event is open to everyone -- not just Society members. But please sign up soon before we run out of space. To register or for more information, download a PDF flier at: http://www.orangecountyhistory.org/tiki2010.pdf
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(Today's photos show the late Pitcairn Motel on Harbor Blvd. in Garden Grove.)