Donn Blog

A deep dive into the history of Donn Beach, Don the Beachcomber restaurants, and all things related to that story. Never-before-seen items from Donn’s personal archives.

Upcoming Appearances 2026

Dec 20, 2025 | Uncategorized

Join me at Nor'easter Island February 5th weekend as I get into the history of Don the Beachcomber in LA in the 1930s and the mob, and then the next day I'll cover Donn's life in the 1940s. Donn Beach’s Wars at Home and Abroad: For Donn, the 1940s was a time of...

Don the Beachcomber Secret Ingredients Revealed After a Century

Jul 4, 2025 | Uncategorized

https://youtube.com/shorts/AIEts0sehMc?feature=share Donn's secret ingredients #2, #4, and #7 (also #8!) have been a secret for nearly a century. When he created the Zombie in 1934 (with the help of Cora "Sunny" Sund) he used #4. It was Bob Van Dorpe, first general...

Don the Beachcomber Secret Cocktail Mixers Coming

Jul 2, 2025 | Uncategorized

https://youtube.com/shorts/AIEts0sehMc?feature=share Swanky, in cooperation with BG Reynolds, is producing Don the Beachcomber's secret cocktail mixers. Coming in fall/winter of 2025, the secret ingredients for the Zombie, Nui Nui and others will be available to the...

Happy Birthday Don the Beachcomber – Godfather of Tiki

Aug 30, 2024 | Uncategorized

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYGFF2TrAU4&list=PLHyQ4MoyfQhmBalr1Ubq6Tyq7Zn4GYXhj&index=15 The man, the myth, the legend's story continues in 2024 with Swanky's biography, The Donn of Tiki film, and the new Don the Beachcomber restaurants, and much more!

1946 Party of Stars at Don the Beachcomber’s home in Encino

Aug 30, 2024 | Uncategorized

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruSUiX6AmiU&list=PLHyQ4MoyfQhmBalr1Ubq6Tyq7Zn4GYXhj&index=14 Alma Ross, Barbara Britton, Juna Haver, Bob Stack, photographer Paul Hesse, band leader Dave Rose and his girlfriend Betty Bartholomew, and a bit of Frank Morgan, the...