Exotica Socks
Description: Conceived as an animated character in the '40s, Madame Banana was instrumental in educating American consumers only recently introduced to bananas about their great nutritional value and how to ripen them. As the years progressed, she came into her own as an iconic figure, appearing in countless TV commercials, print ads, and even being portrayed by models on talk shows and events around the world.
Description: After Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the bootlegger known as 'Ernie' changed his name to Donn Beach and opened Don the Beachcomber, a small café and bar where he mixed exotic rum drinks for his customers. Inspired by his travels, Donn filled the new place with Polynesian flair, including a bamboo bar with matching barstools, fishing nets draped on the walls, large glass fishing weights in every shade of blue and green imaginable, and the now-ubiquitous cocktail umbrellas adorning his drinks. Thus, Donn Beach became the founding father of the Polynesian “tiki” bar.
Description: After returning to America in the 1950s from living abroad, Stephen Crane opened The Luau, a Polynesian-themed restaurant on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Quickly becoming a celebrity hotspot, the Luau was known for its innovative tiki decor and its high-profile customers. As the host and owner, Crane became a well-known name in the restaurant industry and tongue in cheek signed his menus as "STEFOOMA, High-Talking Chief of the Luau" in an attempt to keep up with the storied personas of Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic. Crane expanded his company, Stephen Crane Associates, which at one point included over a dozen different restaurants.
Description: Stephen Crane (a.k.a. Steve Crane, Steven Crane) started out as bit actor in Hollywood in the 30's and became better known for being one of Lana Turner's ex-husbands than for any of his roles. Realizing his limited acting skills, Steve Crane turned his charm and energies to the restaurant business and in 1953 bought out 'The Tropics' in Beverly Hills. Taking his cue from Trader Vic's and Don the Beachcomber, Steve created his own Polynesian themed restaurant 'The Luau'. The restaurant quickly became a hit and a 'must see' Hollywood celebrity hot spot. Eventually Steve Crane would be approached by Sheraton to create a Polynesian themed restaurant for the hotels to compete with Hilton and their association with Trader Vic's.
Description: The Zombie Hut was a Hawaiian/Polynesian-themed restaurant, nightclub and Tiki bar located on Freeport Blvd. between Florin Road and Sutterville Road in Sacramento, California that originally opened in 1945. Inspired by the 1930s Tiki craze, the night spot's quirky name came from the 1945 comedy, Zombies on Broadway, that featured a fictitious nightclub in New York City called the Zombie Hut. The restaurant drew large crowds for years with Polynesian dancers, Hawaiian singers and musicians, and of course, countless exotic cocktails. The '80s saw things slowing down, and new owners tried saving it with limited hours, a change in theme, and a new menu, but in 1990, Zombie Hut closed its doors for good.
Description: After returning to America in the 1950s from living abroad, Stephen Crane opened The Luau, a Polynesian-themed restaurant on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Quickly becoming a celebrity hotspot, the Luau was known for its innovative tiki decor and its high-profile customers. As the host and owner, Crane became a well-known name in the restaurant industry and tongue in cheek signed his menus as "STEFOOMA, High-Talking Chief of the Luau" in an attempt to keep up with the storied personas of Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic. Crane expanded his company, Stephen Crane Associates, which at one point included over a dozen different restaurants.
Description: If you were looking for a genuine Cuban nightlife experience in the '80s, La Habana Club Nocturno was the place to be. Located in Miami's Little Havana, they were the hot spot for live music including everything from Afro-Cuban jazz and traditional Conga to Mambo and Mozambique. They also offered a full kitchen with a comprehensive Cuban menu and regional cocktails for a fully immersive experience.
Description: From 1963 to 1987, Castaways Hotel and Casino operated on the Las Vegas Strip as the only Polynesian Islands/tiki style themed establishment in town. From the minute you walked in, you were immersed in tiki culture bar, from Polynesian waitresses and exotica music playing throughout to extensive tropical plants and South pacific decor. You truly felt like you were in a much more exotic locale when you were at Castaways, making them one of the original themed hotel and casino operations on the strip. Another first that Castaways was known for was their huge 1,500 gallon aquarium that made up the back wall of one of the main bars, where patrons could watch tropical fish as they enjoyed their cocktails – the patrons, not the fish.
Description: The practice of preparing shrunken heads originally had religious significance. Shrinking the head of an enemy was believed to harness the spirit of that enemy and compel him to serve the shrinker, and prevent the soul from avenging his death. Replica shrunken heads became popular with the rise of Tiki culture, making the ability to 'keep a cool head' a lot more realistic option for people wanting such things.
Description: Tiki Bob's Cantina was a ubiquitous college-style tiki bar located in Seattle's historic Pioneer Square. It was frequented by a younger crowd and had more of a Senor Frog's kind of vibe that that of a true tiki bar. truth be told, it was tiki in name only, but it was the kind of place you go for jello shots and cheap beer prior to a game or to watch college girls strip for tuition money. Whether you loved it or hated it, it was able to keep the lights on for a good ten years and was quite busy for most of them.
