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Searching for Don the Beachcomber

Searching for Don the Beachcomber

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People in Donn’s life

Celebrities Donn's History People 

Jean Wallace and Franchot Tone Visit Encino

February 28, 2021March 28, 2021 donnbeach 3 Comments barbara payton, franchot tone

UPDATE March 28, 2021: Thanks to commenter JC, it turns out the notes on the back of these images is

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Celebrities Donn's History People 

Phil Harris Visits Donn’s Encino Home 1946

February 24, 2021February 24, 2021 donnbeach 0 Comments phil harris, the aristocats, the jungle book

Phil really went all out on the wardrobe! He and his wife Alice Faye were regulars and I have lots

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Donn's History Entertainers People Waikiki Restaurant 

Rosalie Stevenson

February 23, 2021February 21, 2021 donnbeach 0 Comments mel peterson, rosalie stevenson

Here with a nice fernwood tiki. Mel Peterson to her right. This article mentions her as being active in hula

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Entertainers People Waikiki Restaurant 

Great Band at Don the Beachcomber

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021 donnbeach 1 Comment don the beachcomber, eddie spencer, entertainers, joe custino, lani custino, mel peterson, simeon bright, waikiki

Left to right is Joe Custino on steel, Simeon Bright on guitar, Mel Peterson on uke, and Eddie Spencer on

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Donn's History Entertainers People 

Roiti Tahauri Sylva at Don the Beachcomber Waikiki

February 21, 2021February 20, 2021 donnbeach 0 Comments

She is center above performing at Don the Beachcomber circa 1950.

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Donn's History People Waikiki Restaurant 

Virg Davidson-Chudacoff Co.

February 20, 2021December 5, 2022 donnbeach 2 Comments Corn-fed beef, Harvey Brinn, Virg Davidson-Chudacoff

I started with this photo and the scribbling on the back: This photo was taken at about the opening on

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Celebrities Donn's History People Waikiki Restaurant 

Waltah Clarke at the Beachcomber

February 14, 2021February 21, 2021 donnbeach 0 Comments waltah clarke

That’s Waltah with the gourd. He’s the guy who “occupied the third umbrella from the left,” on the beach at

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Celebrities Donn's History People Waikiki Restaurant 

Actress/Singer Janet Blair Visits Donn in Waikiki

February 13, 2021February 13, 2021 donnbeach 0 Comments janet blair, nick mayo

Actress and Big Band Singer Janet Blair visits Donn along with her second husband, tv producer Nick Mayo. they married

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Celebrities Donn's History People Waikiki Restaurant 

Columnist Leonard Lyons Visits Donn in 1949

February 13, 2021February 13, 2021 donnbeach 0 Comments leonard lyons, new your post, the lyons den

Noted for his syndicated column The Lyons Den in the New York Post, he was a world traveler. Wikipedia page:

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Celebrities Donn's History People Waikiki Restaurant 

Irving Berlin visits Waikiki Beachcomber

February 12, 2021February 13, 2021 donnbeach 0 Comments irving berlin

Irving Berlin visits Don the Beachcomber’s in Waikiki December 1950. Note everyone is drinking out of actual bamboo. Their marriage

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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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The legend continues…

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