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Searching for Don the Beachcomber

Searching for Don the Beachcomber

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Ephemera

Bits of detritus from history

Ephemera 

A Letter to Bob Van Dorpe – Aug 1974

June 24, 2022June 24, 2022 donnbeach 0 Comments

When I found this letter in Bob Van Dorpe’s archive, it just made me happy. It still makes me happy.

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Chicago Donn's History Ephemera Tokens WWII 

Singapore Manila War Tokens

April 11, 2022December 28, 2022 donnbeach 0 Comments Manila, Singapore, Tokens, WWII

On July 22nd of 1942, Donn, on active military service, announced the opening of a Singapore and Manila Don the

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Donn's History Ephemera 

The Archive is (mostly) digitized

June 19, 2021June 19, 2021 donnbeach 0 Comments

150 pounds of documents. It may not look like much, but it took me four and a half months to

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Ads Donn's History Waikiki Restaurant 

Donn’s Car in 1948 Hawaii

June 12, 2021June 12, 2021 donnbeach 0 Comments 1947 Buick, 1947 Buick Roadmaster

1947 Buick Roadmaster convertible in Desert Tan. This is not Donn’s actual car.

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Donn's History Encino Home Ephemera Locations 

Donn’s Book and Record Shelf and Stuff

April 23, 2021August 13, 2022 donnbeach 6 Comments

I was scouring the background of images to see what was on the shelves of Donn’s home. This is just

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Chicago Donn's History Ephemera Locations Tokens 

Chicago Charity Tokens

March 24, 2021March 24, 2021 donnbeach 1 Comment

I had long heard that at the Chicago Don the Beachcomber the coat check didn’t take tips, but instead they

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Articles Cocktails Donn's History Ephemera Waikiki Restaurant 

1956 Cabaret Quarterly

February 12, 2021February 21, 2021 donnbeach 2 Comments

Is that Jayne Mansfield? Looks like some fun times at the Cabaret… Really fun times… But we’re here for their

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Uncategorized 

New Donn of Tiki Trailer

August 10, 2022August 10, 2022 donnbeach 0

I’ll be in Anaheim on September 17th for a fundraiser for the documentary. Details HERE.

A Letter to Bob Van Dorpe – Aug 1974
Ephemera 

A Letter to Bob Van Dorpe – Aug 1974

June 24, 2022June 24, 2022 donnbeach 0

About Us

Writing Tiki history books is a labor of love. Every trip to dig through a photo album or scrap book can cost thousands of dollars. Buying images on eBay, etc. is money spent for something that may never be used, but you have to get it or it's lost. I'm doing it when and how I can.

The history is slipping away. Friends and associates of Donn Beach are still out there. Those who lived it are passing from this earth and taking the incredible stories with them. Their photo albums are tossed. The time is now.

Links

  • The Donn of Tiki Documentary
  • The Grogalizer Tiki Drinks App
  • Mai-Kai History
  • Donn Beach Wiki

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Donn Beach

The legend continues…

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