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.
Pro-Filipino Business, But Donn Created The Drinks
This article is great. Long-simmered Filipino soup, charcoal-grilled pork and wild cocktails at re-imagined Auntie’s in Norfolk A nice in-depth write-up on the Filipino restaurant and bar. But this quote is just dead wrong: And then, of course, there will be the...
Early DtB Waikiki Aloha Hale
From the Phoebe Beach Archve Here it is under construction. from the Phoebe Beach Archive Donn's original Hawaii location was pure Polynesian fantasy. Thatch roof, lauhala, pandamas. From the Phoebe Beach Archive It was described to me as coming right up to the...
Waltah Clarke at the Beachcomber
From the Phoebe Beach Archive That's Waltah with the gourd. He’s the guy who “occupied the third umbrella from the left,” on the beach at Waikiki.Desert Sun 1955 Waltah was a beach boy at heart. Mike Skinner tells the tale in his presentation:...
Actress/Singer Janet Blair Visits Donn in Waikiki
From the Phoebe Beach Archive Actress and Big Band Singer Janet Blair visits Donn along with her second husband, tv producer Nick Mayo. they married in 1952, so this is 1952 or later. In 1950, Blair took the lead role of Nellie Forbush in the U.S touring production of...
Columnist Leonard Lyons Visits Donn in 1949
Noted for his syndicated column The Lyons Den in the New York Post, he was a world traveler. Wikipedia page: Leonard Lyons NEW YORK - 1954: Marilyn Monroe with newspaper columnist Leonard Lyons at Sardi's Restaurant in 1954 in New York, New York. (Photo by Sam...
Irving Berlin visits Waikiki Beachcomber
From the Phoebe Beach Archive Irving Berlin visits Don the Beachcomber's in Waikiki December 1950. Note everyone is drinking out of actual bamboo. Irving and Ellin Their marriage between a Jew and Catholic caused a stir. They were married 63 years. His Wiki entry:...
Bandleader Freddy Martin Visits DtB
From the Phoebe Beach Archive January 7th, 1951 bandleader Freddy Martin visits Don the Beachcomber on Waikiki. Donn and Freddy are about the same age. Note Freddy's drinking out of actual bamboo. "Martin's popularity as a bandleader led him to Hollywood in the 1940s...
1956 Cabaret Quarterly
Is that Jayne Mansfield? Looks like some fun times at the Cabaret... Really fun times... But we're here for their Hawaii travel section. Would love to be at this luau on Waikiki beach... Hanging out with Don the Beachcomber himself! And enjoying a few Zombies made by...
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