Description: Carroll’s Reef and Tiki Room in Kent, Washington, was a mid-century Polynesian-themed restaurant that offered locals a taste of island escapism just off East Valley Highway. Opening in the early 1960s, it featured banquet rooms, catering services, and ample free parking, but its true charm lay in the intimate stage where dancers like Tani—who performed comic hula in the Hilo Hattie style—first launched their careers. The venue embraced the tiki craze with tropical décor and live entertainment, though its run was relatively short-lived. Some accounts suggest it may have closed following a fire, adding a smoky epilogue to its brief but vibrant presence in Kent’s dining history.
Description: Club Tiki opened in January 1961 on Roscoe Boulevard in Canoga Park, California, as a vibrant Polynesian-themed restaurant and lounge during the height of the mid-century tiki craze. With bamboo-lined walls, cascading waterfalls, and a forest of carved tiki figures, it offered locals an exotic escape complete with tropical cocktails, island-inspired dishes, and live performances on its dance floor stage. The venue mirrored the era’s fascination with South Pacific fantasy, serving as both a social hub and a decorative landmark. By the late 1970s, Club Tiki had transitioned into Mancini’s, an Italian restaurant and nightclub, before closing in the late 1990s. Though the original décor has vanished, the memory of Club Tiki lingers on
Description: Club Tiki opened in January 1961 on Roscoe Boulevard in Canoga Park, California, as a vibrant Polynesian-themed restaurant and lounge during the height of the mid-century tiki craze. With bamboo-lined walls, cascading waterfalls, and a forest of carved tiki figures, it offered locals an exotic escape complete with tropical cocktails, island-inspired dishes, and live performances on its dance floor stage. The venue mirrored the era’s fascination with South Pacific fantasy, serving as both a social hub and a decorative landmark. By the late 1970s, Club Tiki had transitioned into Mancini’s, an Italian restaurant and nightclub, before closing in the late 1990s. Though the original décor has vanished, the memory of Club Tiki lingers on
Description: A coin-operated corn dog ride does exist at Pronto Pup in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, where a custom-built mechanical corn dog allows visitors to ride it for a fee. This unique attraction sits atop the original Pronto Pup restaurant, which also claims to be the birthplace of the corn dog itself.
Description: A coin-operated corn dog ride does exist at Pronto Pup in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, where a custom-built mechanical corn dog allows visitors to ride it for a fee. This unique attraction sits atop the original Pronto Pup restaurant, which also claims to be the birthplace of the corn dog itself.
Description: Blast off into kitsch heaven with a design that’s equal parts nostalgia and unapologetic flair. Whether it’s emblazoned on your favorite mug or worn proudly across your chest, this Tang grape tribute delivers three servings of retro delight: “Breakfast of Space-Age Champions” for the cosmic dreamers, “Artificially Flavored, Authentically Fabulous” for the irony connoisseurs, and “Grape Expectations, Powdered Realities” for anyone who knows that flavor is a state of mind. It’s not just a product—it’s a wearable wink to a time when powdered drinks promised the future, and we believed them. While the exact release date of the grape variant isn’t widely documented, it was available by the 1960s and certainly part of Tang’s flavor lineup
Description: Club Tiki opened in January 1961 on Roscoe Boulevard in Canoga Park, California, as a vibrant Polynesian-themed restaurant and lounge during the height of the mid-century tiki craze. With bamboo-lined walls, cascading waterfalls, and a forest of carved tiki figures, it offered locals an exotic escape complete with tropical cocktails, island-inspired dishes, and live performances on its dance floor stage. The venue mirrored the era’s fascination with South Pacific fantasy, serving as both a social hub and a decorative landmark. By the late 1970s, Club Tiki had transitioned into Mancini’s, an Italian restaurant and nightclub, before closing in the late 1990s. Though the original décor has vanished, the memory of Club Tiki lingers on
Description: Carroll’s Reef and Tiki Room in Kent, Washington, was a mid-century Polynesian-themed restaurant that offered locals a taste of island escapism just off East Valley Highway. Opening in the early 1960s, it featured banquet rooms, catering services, and ample free parking, but its true charm lay in the intimate stage where dancers like Tani—who performed comic hula in the Hilo Hattie style—first launched their careers. The venue embraced the tiki craze with tropical décor and live entertainment, though its run was relatively short-lived. Some accounts suggest it may have closed following a fire, adding a smoky epilogue to its brief but vibrant presence in Kent’s dining history.
Description: Budget Tapes & Records in Seattle was a fixture of the city’s vibrant music scene during the 1970s and ’80s, with a location on the upper Ave near the University District and another in Bellevue. Known for its eclectic inventory of vinyl, cassettes, posters, and counterculture ephemera, the store catered to students, collectors, and curious wanderers alike. It thrived during the heyday of analog media, offering a mix of mainstream and underground sounds that mirrored Seattle’s evolving musical identity. Though it eventually closed, Budget remains part of the city’s collective memory—a symbol of the era when record stores were temples of discovery and rebellion.
Description: The Islander Tiki Restaurant, opened in 1959 on La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles, was a flamboyant temple to Polynesian fantasy. Created by Bernard and Janet Tohl, it drew crowds with its immersive tropical décor—guests crossed a bridge over a lagoon to enter, passing tiki gods, palm trees, and shell-lined ramps. Inside, diners were treated to spare ribs, rumaki, and exotic cocktails, while fire dancers and artificial thunderstorms added theatrical flair. Rickshaws circled the block, capuchin monkeys and toucans lived in curated habitats, and the flaming torches out front became a beacon of mid-century escapism. Though the Islander was later replaced and demolished in 2012, its legacy lives on
Description: This image features a whimsical, cartoon-style s’mores sandwich brought to life with anthropomorphic charm. The marshmallow at its center wears a joyful expression—wide, sparkling eyes, a beaming smile, and rosy cheeks—giving it a playful, endearing personality. Melted chocolate drips generously from the top graham cracker, adding a delicious sense of gooey motion. Both crackers are lightly textured and angled to create a three-dimensional feel, framing the marshmallow like a cozy embrace. The overall design radiates warmth and sweetness, as if this s’more is ready to leap off the page and join a campfire singalong
Description: Coco's Calabash Bar was a tiki-style bar located in Waikiki, Hawaii, at the corner of Kalakaua and Kapiolani, opening in 1960 on the site of the former Kau Kau Korner. The bar was part of the well-known Spencecliff restaurant chain and was designed by architect Pete Wimberly, who also designed other locations for Coco's. The bar featured entertainment, Hawaiian-style cuisine, and an atmosphere that included novelty elements, such as a rainstorm with thunder and lightning.
Description: Maleville's Coral Reef Lodge was a Sacramento, California, lodge owned by the Maleville brothers (Elwood, Jack, and Buddy), located near their landmark Polynesian-themed restaurant, Coral Reef Restaurant, on Fulton Avenue. The lodge, which opened around 1961, served as a companion to the long-running Coral Reef Restaurant, which operated from 1949 until its closure and demolition in 1994.
Description: The Mayan Theater in downtown Los Angeles opened in 1927 as a dazzling showcase of Mayan Revival architecture, designed by Stiles O. Clements. Originally a venue for musical comedies and stage performances, it adapted over the decades to reflect the city’s shifting cultural tides—from hosting government-sponsored plays during the Depression to screening adult films in the 1970s. In the 1990s, it was reborn as a nightclub and concert venue, drawing eclectic crowds and serving as a backdrop for film shoots and music videos. After nearly a century of reinvention and artistic energy, the Mayan closed in September 2025.
Description: The Mayan Theater in downtown Los Angeles opened in 1927 as a dazzling showcase of Mayan Revival architecture, designed by Stiles O. Clements. Originally a venue for musical comedies and stage performances, it adapted over the decades to reflect the city’s shifting cultural tides—from hosting government-sponsored plays during the Depression to screening adult films in the 1970s. In the 1990s, it was reborn as a nightclub and concert venue, drawing eclectic crowds and serving as a backdrop for film shoots and music videos. After nearly a century of reinvention and artistic energy, the Mayan closed in September 2025.
Description: Poker Palace Casino in North Las Vegas began as the Jet Bar in 1951, later renamed Bunny’s Bar in honor of owner Bernard “Bunny” Karshen. Popular with Nellis Air Force Base personnel, the property was transformed into a casino in 1974 by Marvin and Laura Coleman, evolving from Bunny’s Casino to Mickey’s Casino before adopting the Poker Palace name in 1980. Over the decades, it became known for quirky innovations like in-house tax services and interactive betting systems, while also weathering regulatory scrutiny and a notable sportsbook scandal. Despite mixed reviews and a modest reputation as a locals-only joint, it celebrated milestones with community flair—including its 30th and 40th anniversaries—and maintained a loyal following.
Description: Opened Monday, November 6th, 1961. -This bar & restaurant ran throughout the 1960s. -There was a sister location in Boston as well.
Vintage South Seas Tiki Bar New Haven Connecticut distressed T-Shirt
$16 $24
Polynesian Restaurant Redondo Beach California Vintage Distressed T-Shirt
$16 $24
