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Esquire November 1959 – Mai-Kai

Not much to add to this. Please click the article and read for the exact heaping praise this great magazine put upon the Mai-Kai. And try this very elusive recipe for the Moonkist Coconut. One of very...

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1964 Avion Camper – Our New Vacation Home!

We recently sold our 1968 Serro Scotty “canned ham” 15 foot camper for something with more room and amenities. We got a 1964 Avion 24 foot Holiday. Great vintage style. We look forward to making our...

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Hawaiian Village III – Myrtle Beach, NC

I just got this postcard of the Myrtle Beach Hawaiian Village. Great to see the exterior and another interior shot. The front is classic A-frame with Witco onthe doors. Another view of the Witco Tiki...

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Recent TC Threads

Or maybe this is the all Dusty Cajun hour! Try looking through these for some OG Tiki Central feelings: Mah Jong, Syosett, Long Island, NY The Tahitian, Pasadena, CA Ports O Call, Dallas Tropics Motor...

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Mai-Kai Calendar Girls

In an effort to turn blog posts to web pages, I have started with the Mai-Kai calendars. This also gives me a chance to share a bit of history along the way. If you are interested in helping with this...

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Swanky – Knoxville’s “Tiki King” in Metropulse

 We were a bit shocked to find that Knoxville weekly indepenant paper Metropulse had made me the cover story this week. And I was very pleasantly surprised to find they did a really great job on the...

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Swank Pad’s Mini Mai-Kai Mystery Bowls are here!

I am excited to announce what I hope is the first of my “Mai-Kai Memories Series”. This is an individual sized Mystery bowl designed after the 1950s original. They are on sale now at the Swank Pad...

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2013 is 1963 All Over Again…

  As a public service, let me bring to your attention the fact that the year 2013 is exactly the same as the year 1963. So you can re-use that 1963 calendar this year, and you can print out the 1963...

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Ridgeview Motel – Knoxville Then and Now

A New Year’s resolution was to add more to the Swank Pad, and so we have an addition to Knoxville Then and Now! This is the Ridgeview Motel in Clinton. See the place now at the site: Ridgeview Motel.

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Redmon Court – Knoxville Then and Now

Another addition to Knoxville Then and Now is the Redmon Court. Not exactly confident I found it. You decide. Redmon Court  

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Etiquette for Young Moderns

Gay Head. Just sayin’.

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Mai-Kai Calendar Girls – 1969

 Now online is the fantastic 1969 Mai-Kai calendar. This one features sisters Leila and Andree and their cousin Liva. HERE

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1972 Mai-Kai Calendar

The 1972 Mai-Kai calendar is now online.

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Mai-Kai Black Velvet Rescue

From the early days after we moved Hukilau to the Mai-Kai, I had heard about a black velvet painting of Mireille Thornton. The painting had been vandalized and the description of the damage made it...

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Crazy Al Creates New Mai-Kai Memories Series Molokai Maiden

 Only the mastery of Crazy Al could recreate this amazing carving from the Mai-Kai. The latest piece in the Mai-Kai Memories Series is the Molokai Maiden. An unreal smaller version of the iconic...

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Mai-Kai: Histor, Mystery and Adventure – The Book

 I have been researching the Mai-Kai in one form or another for over 12 years. I have been seriously looking into its history and people for a long time to document the past. I had thought I would do a...

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Knoxville Then and Now Mt. Vernon Motel

Known today as Futon World, it was the Mount Vernon Motel long before. Now it is wiped from the face of the earth. Wonder if it will still be known as the Mt. Vernon Plaza?

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Mai-Kai Sign 1961 in Color.

Rare color image the Mai-Kai “hut” sign designed and built by Dave Stevens. Chicagoans Dave and his brother made a wide variety of custom items for the Mai-Kai, from spotlight covers that looked like...

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Mai-Kai Book Available for Pre-Order

My Mai-Kai history book just appeared on the Barnes and Noble website for pre-order. Coming soon to Amazon. Please pre-order and make your voice heard with the publisher to give the book more...

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This Week Miami 1959

While collecting way too many things related to the Mai-Kai as part of my book research, I bought this great 1959 weekly tourist magazine for the Mai-Kai ad. I got a lot of other great stuff as well....

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