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Searching for Don the Beachcomber

Inventor of the Tiki Bar

Searching for Don the Beachcomber

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Donn's History
donnbeach February 22, 2021February 22, 2021 1 Comment

Exciting Don the Beachcomber Announcements

Searching For Don the Beachcomber On the 114th anniversary of Donn’s birth, I wanted to share some exciting news with

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Uncategorized
donnbeach August 10, 2022August 10, 2022 0 Comments

New Donn of Tiki Trailer

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

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Ephemera
donnbeach June 24, 2022June 24, 2022 0 Comments

A Letter to Bob Van Dorpe – Aug 1974

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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ChicagoDonn's HistoryEphemeraTokensWWII
donnbeach April 11, 2022December 28, 2022 0 Comments Manila, Singapore, Tokens, WWII

Singapore Manila War Tokens

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

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Chicago
donnbeach April 6, 2022April 6, 2022 chicago mob, mob

Protected: Estelle Carey – The Gal Who Exposed the Mob

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

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Donn's History
donnbeach January 9, 2022January 9, 2022 0 Comments

Donn’s Notes on the 1930s

Here is another sample of Donn’s handwriting. I’m getting better at interpreting it mainly by virtue of knowing a lot

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CocktailsDonn's History
donnbeach November 24, 2021November 24, 2021

Protected: Secret Recipe for Colonel Beach’s Plantation Ambrosia

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

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Donn's HistoryLocationsWWII
donnbeach October 17, 2021October 18, 2021 1 Comment Italy, WWII

Donn’s Notes on the War Years

There are various pages, some hand written, some typed, of notes by Donn on his life. The hand written ones

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CelebritiesDonn's HistoryLocationsPeopleWaikiki Restaurant
donnbeach October 15, 2021October 15, 2021 0 Comments bob six, ethel merman

Ethel Merman and Bob Six at DtB Waikiki 1952

If the date is correct, this is before they were married. Box Six was the CEO of Continental Airlines and

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CelebritiesChicagoDonn's HistoryLocationsPeople
donnbeach July 18, 2021July 18, 2021 0 Comments radio show, rudy vallee, the drene show

Rudy Vallee’s “The Drene Show” 1946 Featuring Donn

Part of the archive was this script for Rudy Vallee‘s “The Drene Show” which was a 30 minute radio program

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Donn's HistoryPeople
donnbeach July 16, 2021July 16, 2021 0 Comments

Hawaii Tomorrow 1966 by Bob Van Dorpe and Herb Kane

This is one example from 1966 of the vision of Bob Van Dorpe and Herb Kane for the islands, in

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BLOG

Uncategorized

New Donn of Tiki Trailer

August 10, 2022August 10, 2022 donnbeach

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

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
  • Don the Beachcomber: The Legend Returns
  • The Grogalizer Tiki Drinks App
  • Mai-Kai History
  • Donn Beach Wiki

Books

Donn Beach

Donn Beach

The legend continues…

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