So who else here loves and collects tiki stuff?

I got a very cool and very large amber glass tiki mug at the flea market today for $2. Ohio is rather lame in many aspects, but our thrift store and flea market possiblities are awfully pleasant at times.

Greetings LissaLush,
I have tried to resist the dreaded curse of the very swanky TIKI much to my surprise, I now find myself quite under their demonic power!
I think why Satanic people may like the TIKI is because the TIKI represents the taboo'd object of magic in the Hawaiian topics, (Can you say Greg Brady and surfing accident? Alice getting stuck in the hula? Bobby and the spider?) , sexy virgins getting naked and being thrown into volcanoes by their hunky priests , and the cursed lava rocks that seem to always find themselves getting mailed back to the island they where clipped from by a now ill fated tourist!

Magic is not their only power. They seem to also be the grinning tempters of an earlier day. A day when the worse consequence one would get from an evening of drinking and driving from your local Chinese cocktail lounge, was a ride home from the nice officer who was kind enough to stop you before you hit something.
This carved faced Spirit of stone, whose ridiculous rictus grin, still beckons us today to sip intoxicating elixirs from his hollow head. Still he teases us who crave the swanky, sultry, fun of the "Polynesian invasion" (The 50's to the 70's when Hawaii was new to us!) to drink up his offerings!
All magic; The TIKI'S primitive taboos yet retro-sophistication radiate from him. Suffering Bastards, Zombies, Love Potions, and many other names and images secret the TIKI into this New Millennium of crystallization! Who can resist these awesome stone critters!?
Infernally Yours,
Krow
"Singapore Slings anyone, my round, I'm buying?"

>>So who else here loves and collects tiki stuff?

I've got a number of mugs and I'm looking to see my collection grow. My favorite is a tall, black tiki mug that I actually got from a local Chinese/Polynesian restaurant.

I'm much more into the "tiki" music, though. You can find a thread in the music section that I started on 1950s Exotica. I have over a dozen albums from the genre that I listen to. I was very sad when I heard the news that Martin Denny, my favorite in this genre and one of my over-all favorites in any music, passed away at the beginning of March.

Oh boy, here's one of my obsessions.

I have Tiki's on my altar, bookshelves, masks on my walls--they're everywhere. I even own a pair of Tiki boxer shorts! (yeah, too much information)

I've been stuck on Tikis ever since I was a kid. Walking home one day with my mother when I was around 6 years old, we passed a scupltor's shop which was just about ready for their grand opening. I met the owner (he greeted me as we passed, noticing how I stared inside). We were invited in to look around and I got stuck on one of his small tiki sculptures. I couldn't take my eyes off it, so he said I could have it. You can imagine my excitement.

That was the beginning of the end for me.

My elementary school's mascot was a very similar tiki. I wore the school T-shirt proudly because of it.

>My elementary school's mascot was a very similar tiki. I wore the school T-shirt proudly because of it.

Now that certainly beats the symbol used by a Catholic grade school here in Hell's Kitchen: the Sacred Heart of Jesus!

As some of you know, having visited my Hell's Kitchen Tiki bar, my obsession with Tiki decor and cocktail culture is limited only by space. Volcano bowls were my last focus; having acquired a good specimen, now I'm looking for my next fixture.

It also helped that the shirt was black on red. I didn't care for the red on yellow version as much.

Believe it or not, tiki items aren't as easy to find in Honolulu as one might expect.

Oh, and to Bill: Higoat just sent me some great exotica tunes--Les Baxter, Yma Sumac and Martin Denny.

I wonder how I could possibly blend the influence into what I currently play.

>>Oh, and to Bill: Higoat just sent me some great exotica
>>tunes--Les Baxter, Yma Sumac and Martin Denny.

Ah yes, the unholy Tiki trio. Hope you're enjoying them.

>>I wonder how I could possibly blend the influence into
>>what I currently play.

Hmm. I suppose that trying to do a few covers is one way to get the influence "rubbing off" on one's playing. Most musicians seem to be primarily influenced with what they've sat down to play. Some of the more minor-key melodies might sound nice translated to guitar. I could definitely hear something like Denny's "Hong Kong Blues" as a sort of up-beat punk song. And aside from the instruments there are a few general elements that make these styles what they are. I've noticed Denny used a lot of staccato in his playing, Baxter seemed to go for a wall-of-sound approach, etc.

Special News Bulletin: TIKIS shanghai Salem Witch at Local Shopping Mall.

The dreaded curse of the TIKI has struck again! While innocently shopping in one of the upscale malls in the Northshore I was suddenly shanghaied by an onslaught of homeless TIKIS!
Needless to say, they now have a new home and Spencer Gifts is 579.83 richer!
This summer my whole back yard will be "TIKIFIED" complete with a TIKI BAR, TIKI TORCHES, and every guest leaves with a wearable ceramic TIKI shot glass.
Anyone want to put on some Ultra Lounge music, and bring out the blender and rum?!
Infernally Yours,
Krow :FIREdevil

Sounds like a party...
Always wanted to visit Salem.

>>Aye; my hubby and I have it on our list of places to go
>>visit to look @ the archetecture/historic areas,

My advice: come here anytime of the year EXCEPT around Halloween. So many people insist that they want to go there for Halloween, but that's what creates the problem. Waaaay to many people there at once. Most of the stuff to see there is open year round anyway.

Well, if you do come to Salem in October let me know in advance and if I can I will take you around Witch City. The art of navigating in October is to know all the "Squirrel paths" to get you from point a to point b quickly and get on the good side of the door people that organize crowd control. The trick is not when you go, but WHO you KNOW.
Ever watch Lemmings run? Well there you have it, a prime example of the herd!
If you want to enjoy the dark carnival known to take place every October in Salem all you have to do is make friends with the door people and follow the "Squirrel Paths" staying away from the infamous red line at all costs!
To those I chat with here, if you travel to Salem this summer let me know, I will torch up TIKI lamps, get the Martin Denny music going, and prepare a Blue Hawaii for you to enjoy by the pool with me.

We will have a wicked good time!
Infernally Yours,
Krow

Hmmm, Singapore Slings, Blue Hawaii? Salem is sounding better all the time Krowklaws! A friend of mine here in NY. loves tikis, and every year has a party with a tiki theme. One of his 'stipulations' though, is for everyone to dance shirtless with a tiki! Luckily I have been excused from the dance! Not much for public showing and sharing!

Hail Satan!