Book Review: The Pad Series

Aren't we the literate ones?  "A wacky tacky book review," you ask, "just who are you trying to kid?"  Inspiration for wacky tacky takes many forms.  Sometimes it even comes from books - forcing us to read and thereby forcing us into the only room in the house where one can read in the luxury of total privacy.

This dynamic duo, Pad: The Guide to Ultra-Living & Pad Parties: The Guide to Ultra-Entertaining, is a compendium of living and partying in an "ultra" fashion.   Ultra, in this case, can be defined as an extreme combination of lounge, exotica, kitsch and an overall sense of bad taste.  Essentially, these are DIY instruction books that include tips, tricks, projects, case studies and even recipes for achieving that sometimes elusive quality for which all the world strives - wacky tacky!  Among our favorite projects were the Illuminated Punch Bowl and the Art Connoiseur Liquor Larder (a homemade shelving unit that works like a medicine cabinet in which the doors are pieces of mid-century art). These books earned our immediate favor by highlighting and recommending the musical stylings of Janet Klein (already mentioned in this blog as our favorite chanteuse) & Her Parlor Boys as the perfect party music.  We were further enchanted by the liberal use of animal prints, bamboo, fur and glitter.  However, all that glitters in these books need not necessarily be considered gold.  While interesting, most of Pad's projects are labor intensive, time consuming and require a skill set beyond the basic operation of a hammer and nail.  They are also expensive!* The case study homes included also veer towards the excessive (even by wacky tacky standards).

Nevertheless, we decided to tackle one of the simpler and more effective projects offered in Pad Parties - the Goldfish Globule Candlelight Lantern.  Second cousin to the hanging, macrame plant holder, we found this idea to be truly inspired.  Having said that, the notes for this particular project warn that the candle burning in the middle of the fish bowl can heat the water to unsafe levels for the fish.  Therefore, we nixed the interior candleholder and decided to focus the hanging fish bowl itself, making cleaning and maintenance less of a chore.  Also, we didn't want to get involved with animal-safe, clear-silicone, glass sealant - too messy.  Forgive us for dumbing this one down!

We hope we won't get in trouble for copyright infringement, 

but we had to show you the the goal for which we aimed.

The instructions are relatively simple: connect three equal lengths of chain to an ordinary key ring, attach them again to another key ring, attach all three strands to yet another key ring  and hang from a ceiling hook, insert ceiling light-turned-fish bowl and done!  Having been exposed to unhealthy doses of retail merchandising, our natural inclination was to make a trio of these to hang at staggered lengths in the corner but we resisted the urge until we could make one successfully.

Here is what we came up with...

We toyed  with the idea of a sea horse...

We decided on a Western theme because that is what we had around the house.

Did you know that plastic, fish bowl plants are $5.99??!!! Too rich for our blood.

Roy & Dale - Gene is hiding.

My underestimation of the degree of difficulty with this project may have been a little premature.  Truth be told, I wrote most of this before tackling this project and even before I went hunting for materials.  Issues: the recommended chain is about the most expensive miniature chain that you can get, nobody sells clear-glass globes for ceiling-mounted light fixtures (I went to four thrift stores, two hardware stores and a lighting "super center" before I settled on a regular old fish bowl), fewer and fewer pet stores carry fish supplies.  I must reiterate that these projects are expensive!*

Maybe we should have been a little less ambitious and stuck to the dictates of our skill level.

Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People

* All told this one hanging fish bowl cost upwards of $40.  Which in wacky tacky currency is the equivalent of $3,724.96 - boing!!!!


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

A Night at the Movies!

I go to church.  I also go to the movies.  Is it so terrible that I want to keep these two activities relegated to separate buildings?  Yea, I rejoice in the fact that so many faithful worshippers are attending church in downtown Los Angeles.  Why, though, do these beautiful, old movie theaters have to be forsaken in the exchange?  It is probably more than a sacrilege to say that these theaters are being "desecrated," but I must admit that my sensibilities are offended when I see perfectly good theaters occupied by churches.  Even in Old Town Orange, CA, where buildings are held to a strict standard of period correctness, what was once the Orange Theater built in 1929 is now a church.  Wouldn't it be wild to see a movie there, to watch Paul Henreid light Bette Davis' cigarette as the light of the projector flickered above?  I know, I should be glad that the churches are maintaining these structures and not allowing them to fall into total rack and ruin.  I should be glad that parishioners have found a place in which to study and pray.  Furthermore, I should not complain because I have been known to grab The Bible and go to Bible study at these places just so I could see the inside of the theater and how it is being maintained.  In fact, I should be glad that many of these cinema/churches can really be considered an example of modern wacky tacky in and of themselves.  I am glad, however, that there are still a few historic theaters in Southern California that are being maintained as such.  These relics of wacky tacky are thankfully run by good-hearted people who honor the dignity of these theaters and appreciate the fun of seeing a movie in a movie house that isn't fitted out with the latest in reclining seats and ergonomic cup holders.

Bay Theater (est. 1947)

340 Main St.

Seal Beach, CA

Built in 1947, The Bay Theater in Seal Beach, CA is as unprepossessing as the movie palaces of Broadway in downtown Los Angeles are grand.  In fact, this place is as far from grand as a humble movie theater can get.  Its original box office is gone; the ceiling tiles are crumbling; the paint is chipping and the overall affect is well-loved.  However, the beauty of this theater comes from the very same qualities.  The smell is slightly musty and, in the same way as grandma's attic, rather comforting.  The clatter of the projector reminds you that you are watching a film.  The programming schedule always includes screenings of vintage films and the staff is very friendly.  It is very much a neighborhood theater; the kind of theater where one would go for a Saturday afternoon full of cartoons, newsreels, a double feature and the chance of winning a few pieces of block optic for mom's collection.

A view of the Bay Theater as it was in 1947

Many of the theater's fixtures are original and most beautifully designed - even the ladies' lounge!

Inside the box office - the original ticket machine        Cher - the concessionaire extroadinaire

The original theater seats                           Oversized, brass sconces light the theater

Regency Lido Theater (est. 1938)

3459 Via Lido

Newport Beach, CA

The Lido theater in Newport Beach is, in my mind at least, the little sister to Catalina's famous Avalon Theater on the ground floor of the Casino.  Immediately across the channel from Avalon, the Lido is a true beauty.  The terrazzo entry and front-and-center box office let you know that you are in for a treat; murals line the walls of both the lobby and theater and lead upstairs to the best part of the whole building - the balcony!  Is sitting in the balcony of an historic theater often better than the movie itself?  I think so.  This theater shows mainly art-house/indie films and has played host to screenings included in the Newport Beach Film Festival.  The theater has been refurbished.  So, if the comfort of modern theaters is important to you, you'll be glad to know that new, reclining seats with retractable arm rests/cup holders are part of this movie-going experience.  When you are in the area, be sure to check out Swellegant Vintage right across the street; it is a treasure trove of wacky tacky goodness.  I've been told to keep an eye out for a vintage toilet radio!

The Lido Theater

The original box office and a detail of the nautical-themed terrazzo floor

The functioning velvet curtain

A modern addition to the theater is the series of undersea murals that line the walls.  Incidentally, they glow in the black light when the house lights go down.

The mural in the balcony foyer by day and by "night".

A nod to the Avalon Theater - an undersea mural in tile.

More beautiful Southern California theaters deserving of your patronage:

The Old Town Music Hall: Home of the Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ (originally The El Segundo State Theater est. 1921) - El Segundo, CA

http://oldtownmusichall.wordpress.com

The Vista Theater (est. 1923) - Los Angeles, CA

The Fox Theater (est. 1925) - Fullerton, CA

http://www.foxfullerton.org

The Fox Theater (est. 1927) - Redlands, CA

http://www.foxeventcenter.com

(When you're in the area be sure to check out Hobo's Vintage - it's in the same building!!)

Avalon Theater (est. 1929) - Avalon, CA
http://www.ecatalina.com/about-movie-theatre.html

Let us know of cool theaters in your home town!!!


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Sew What?! Going Yo-Yo!

I am on the verge of being a fully-fledged hoarder.  As someone who sews and is constantly working on a project, I find myself drawn to remnants – and better still, yardage - of vintage and vintage-reproduction fabric.  Anytime I see a piece of material that looks a little “old timey,” I squirrel it away for some future design project.  Some might call that a collection…but it gets worse.  Having borderline, pre-hoarding tendencies, I have a very difficult (read impossible) time letting go of even the little scraps that are left behind from cutting out a pattern.  You might ask, “What are you going to use them for?”  Serious hoarders will give you some vague response about the Halloween costumes they intend to make for their cats.  They will mumble about the various fabric techniques one can implement for bundling that mountain of National Geographic back issues that is taking over the living room.  They will eagerly explain their ambition to train the cockroaches but insist that they need the fabric for the leashes.  With only a toe dipped into the abyss of “hoarderdom,” I have found a project that can turn the bits and pieces of my mania into something both functional and endlessly time consuming – yo-yos!!

Fabric yo-yos

According to the Alaska State Museum website, www.museum.state.ak.us, fabric yo-yos are thought to be a creation of Filipino fabric artists who developed the technique at least 100 years ago when inspired by the primitive (and not yet trademarked) yo-yo toy.  Since then, yo-yos have become a staple of American textile design, reaching their peak of popularity during the 1920’ – 1940’s.  These were the early days of wacky tacky when women found yo-yos easy to make in mass quantities and even easier to take with them as an alternative to knitting and crochet.  Moreover, during The Depression and in wartime, thrifty women found it wasteful to discard anything that might be useful.  They, I will remind you, were not slandered by the term “hoarder,” rather they were bestowed with the honors of  “frugal” and “patriot!”

 A vintage yo-yo clown toy dating from the 1930's-1940's

Initially, I failed to think much beyond the exercise of turning the scrap fabric into yo-yos.  After making so many, however, I realized that instead of flat scraps of fabric, I was now the proud owner of hundreds of these crazy rosettes that were begging to be turned into something bigger, something better.  Not having done much research on the subject, and pretty certain of my genius, I set out to create the world’s first yo-yo quilt!  Little did I know that yo-yo quilts are probably the most ubiquitous of all yo-yo projects.  Nevertheless, the yo-yo quilt project has begun!  Too deep into it to give up now, I recently calculated that based on the size of the finished yo-yos, I will need approximately 2595 to reach my goal – WINNING A BLUE RIBBON AT THE COUNTY FAIR! (not really)  I have been making these things for a while now and I am currently at 523.  I have decided that instead of a completely random assembly of the yo-yos, I would make 3x3 squares in a checkerboard pattern with a border of black in between - similar to a granny afghan.  

If you squint you can see Big Sandy, Jeff & Ashley.

Most of the yo-yos are made of cotton prints that I've used to make dresses.

Never having been the brightest bulb, Mary tries to tap into the brilliance of electric light.

A30's style ensemble made with a crazy fabric I found in the dollar section at the local fabric store.

Am I more like your grandma than you may have previously thought?  Probably.  Have I entered into the early stages of dementia?  More than likely.  Will you come running to me when you are in desperate need of a wacky tacky blanket that provides little-to-no warmth?  You betcha!  I’ll see you in 2019 when the quilt is done.

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

wacky tacky in Tiki Time

The legendary Kona Lanes - Costa Mesa, CA

No discussion of wacky tacky would be complete without acknowledging the profound impact of tiki culture.  The influence of the tropics by way of music, style, food and fantasy began as soon as explorers started charting the globe and discovering the beauty and richness of the island lifestyle.  The general prosperity of the 20th Century combined with major advancements in both technology and travel allowed regular folks to start exploring places about which they had only ever heard or dreamed.  Given its predilection for Hollywood spectacle and its proximity to the South Pacific, the "tikification" of Southern California was inevitable.  From the earliest part of the last century until the present day, America's fascination with and glorious bastardization of Polynesian culture has never waned.

Fortunate enough to have been born and raised in a veritable hot bed of Polynesian Pop, Mr. Tiny grew up around the now demolished, but still world-famous, Kona Lanes and other South Seas inspired landmarks like the Ala Moana apartments.

Ala Moana Apartments - Costa Mesa, CA

In the quest to bring wacky tacky to the world, we decided to explore but a few of the many tiki-inspired watering holes around Southern California.  This is in no wise a complete examination or definitive list of the all that is tiki in our area; it is simply a jaunt to a few fun places that had us longing to watch the sun slowly sink into the Pacific while palm trees sway and tropical breezes carry the lilting melody of ukuleles.  Interestingly enough, of the three places we document here, the closest to the ocean is Don the Beachcomber, yet even there we had no view of the ocean.  Perhaps, that is the fundamental thing that made tiki culture so popular - a desire to embrace the tropics wherever one happens to be!

Damon's Steakhouse (est. 1937)

317 N. Brand Blvd.

Glendale, CA

(818)507-1510

damonsglendale.com

Our first stop was Damon's Steakhouse.  Set on bustling Brand Blvd., Damon's first opened its doors on Central Ave in 1937.  The 1980 move to its current location allowed for both expansion and a renewed zeal in a beautiful island-inspired atmosphere.  Gorgeous murals line the walls of the foyer and dining rooms and the most amazing tiki lamps hang from the ceiling.  Damon's is a real treasure because of its longevity, its gracious service and its facade which stands out on a street lined with dreary, uninspired, downtown storefronts.  

Damon's current location opened in 1980. 

Beautiful examples of the hand-painted murals that line the walls

A thatched roof extends over vinyl booths 

lined with woven seagrass walls

 Damon's wins hands down where lighting is concerned

Detail of a carved tiki mask and the Ladies' room!!

Reasons to go to Damon's - the light fixtures & it's proximity to Porto's Bakery (enough said)

Critiki rating: 7.4

wacky tacky rating: 9.5 - what it lacks in delicious food (none of us ate steak), it makes up for in 

lighting, decor and island-style hospitality

Don the Beachcomber (est. 2009 - originally est. 1933)

16278 S. Pacific Coast Hwy

Huntington Beach, CA

(562)592-1321

donthebeachcomber.com

Donn Beach, of Don the Beachcomber fame, was actually Ernest Gantt, equal parts rover and Renaissance man.  He came to California from Louisiana in 1931 and worked in Hollywood before combining his love of the drink with his love of the islands.  In 1933 he took his collection of South Seas souvenirs and established his first, and probably the first, tiki bar - Don the Beachcomber.  While deployed in WWII, Beach's wife opened a chain of 16 Don the Beachcomber bars that spanned the continent.  After many years, the bars closed and the trademark on the name lapsed.  New owners are giving new life to the brand by recreating Beach's entire collection of signature tiki cocktails and serving island-inspired menu selections.  The current location is in the old Sam's Seafood restaurant with its very recognizable swordfish sign.

The facade of Don's is tiki heaven

We're glad they kept the landmark fish sign!

Mary gets in touch with the tiki spirirt

The Dagger Bar - where all 84 of Don Beach's signature tiki cocktails are 

still made to his specifications (aaah, if only I were a drinking man) 

A small part of the tiki mug collection at Don's 

Reasons to go to Don the Beachcomber - charming ownership & 

regularly-featured Polynesian entertainment

Critiki rating: 8.9

wacky tacky rating: 9 - good grub, super-friendly & attentive staff, incredible facade, 

                                    a lot to see and many rooms to explore

Tonga Hut (est. 1958)
12808 Victory Blvd
North Hollywood, CA
(818)769-0708
tongahut.com

Touting itself as the oldest, continuously-operating tiki bar in Los Angeles, the Tonga Hut opened in 1958 and has weathered many changes in decor and ownership but under current management maintains its tiki heritage and is a great place to have a birthday party.

Lovely wahines on black velvet

 While well-designed, the light fixtures were so few that my

 obsession with them was left with a little something to be desired.

"The Drooling Bastard"

Interior stone water feature

Another amazing, tiered water feature behind the bar

 A trio of tikis at the Tonga Hut

A smattering of tiki-inspired collectibles

Hand-carved outrigger wall art

                             Ashley, Cary, Christina & Rob                 The SideWynders 

Reasons to go to the Tonga Hut - great friends & great music.

Critiki rating: 7.4
wacky tacky rating: 8 - mellow vibe, great water features, friendly staff


Let us know what you think of these titans of tiki and share some of your favorites as well!

Also, check out Critiki for a very thorough listing of worldwide pockets of Polynesian culture.
critiki.com

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny