Episode 113: Embracing and Evolving the Tiki Style (Part 2)
Today, we’re continuing our series on tiki culture as we look at how professional designers embraced and evolved the island aesthetic. Was it low brow? High brow? A symbol of exotic adventure? A goofy gimmick? Regardless, the movement left a deep imprint on graphic, interior, fashion, product, and architectural design, in applications ranging from kitsch to high-concept.
We're gonna figure out the price of some amazing tiki drinks, get some quarters sticky with pineapple juice and throw some exotica on the jukebox. Join us as we sway our hips and hula back into the bar.
E X T R A S :
(Top to bottom): House Industries Tiki Type catalog, tiki illustrations that are sold with the typeface collection
(Top to bottom): Typical tiki design styles as seen in the movie poster for Waikiki Wedding, a matchbook from the Tahitian Village hotel, the menu from the Aku Aku
(Top to bottom): The exterior of Aku Aku in 1963; Artist Eli Hedley working on one of the statues at the Aku Aku. The two smaller statues were carved in Anaheim. The larger one in front of the Stardust was carved on the job site; Disney’s Polynesian Village
(Top to bottom): A typical tiki restaurant interior, The Jungle Room at Graceland
Additional Links
TikiCentral
Tiki Wikipedia article
Tiki Kon (now defunct)
Gabe Florian tiki mug
Palm Springs Tiki book
“A Swingin’ Trip Through America’s Polynesian Obsession” (YouTube video)
“Tiki Bars and Their Hollywood Origins” (YouTube video)
