In the 1960s the city of Boston exploded with Tiki restaurants that featured a certain retro World War II vibe. A little piece of “Polynesia” and the Hilton Hawaiian Village of Waikiki Beach could best be found in The Lanai Room at Trader Vic’s at the Statler Hilton right in the center of the city.
The year was 1969, and I imagine the kitschy call of flamingo colored Mai Tais served in coconuts with bright paper parasols, and exotic flaming entrees and desserts called to chilly patrons like South Pacific’s Bali Hai.
This postcard, of the restaurant in all its Tiki resplendence, is one of the few cards I have that was written to me by my grandfather. I’m speculating here, but given the Franklin D. Roosevelt stamp, my guess is, the card was stamped and mailed by my less conservative grandmother.
Pappa was famous for his brevity, as well as his bad handwriting:
Why “fun with funny food?” Is there really any doubt that a Pu pu platter was involved?
Remember to please stop by sometime this weekend to check out or play, “What I’m Not Buying This Weekend” with me. I don’t know about you, but with all these car commercials out there recently, I’ve got an itch to NOT buy a new car! Maybe I can find one to match the pair of sunglasses I didn’t buy last week!
Happy Postcard Friendship Friday! Be sure to visit Marie’s Cpaphil Vintage Postcards for more! I can’t tell you how much fun this is every week, making new friends and seeing all the fascinating posts related to vintage postcards and other things mail related. Have a great weekend!
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{ 19 comments }
What a funny creative person you are! Thank you for sharing, and I LOVE the postcard! Happy PFF!
Man, I think I’ve gotten maybe three postcards in my entire life. And I’m sure they’re long gone. Should have saved them up for a blog feature. Even if it would only last three weeks.
I love your postcard posts! I’ve saved every one I’ve ever received – a lost art these days, unfortunately. Oh, and my mom saved all the ones I ever sent her from my travels – I found them all in a box after she passed.
Now, where do I find the nearest Tiki restaurant?
I could so go for a flamingo colored Mai Tai served in a coconut shell right now… ohhh pass the pupu platter Pappa!
Tiki bars serve funny food .. pupu platters are giggle worthy
Great postcard…
Even better that
“Pappa” wrote it!
~chuckles at pu pu platter~Thanks for sharing, and…
Happy May Day!
~blessings~
Pearl
That actually looks like a restaurant the publicist ate in on the big Island of Hawaii in Hawi. She misses Hawaii. It’s warm there. I would probably like it too.
Hi! I just wanted to stop over an introduce myself. I don’t meet very many other Margo’s. You’re the second one I’ve come across in my life. I saw your post over on How to Survive Life in the Suburbs, and I had to read your comment a few times. My initial thought was something along the lines of “huh? But I haven’t posted a comment yet. What the heck?” lol.
So, hello, other Margo.
Fun card!
Joyce
Love your post today.
Happy PFF and a very Happy May Day too!
Have a fantastic weekend.
Hey, in the early 1980’s there was still one tiki restaurant left near the Back Bay – Trader Vic’s? I remember being a college student and going there for brightly colored rum drinks with paper umbrellas in them.
I remember when all that fake Hawaii stuff was popular. It seems like it could be found everywhere in the 1960’s.
My father was ‘famous’ for his illegible handwriting and brevity.
I’ve have made it my life goal to be the exact opposite of him. I practice excellent penmanship and can be verbose. [giggle]
Have fun not buying anything this weekend! I think I won’t buy a new Jeep.
Very interesting card & history. How special that it came from your pappa. Oh, and I love the 6 cent stamp!
Beth, Thanks!
Shawn, I wish I kept a lot more stuff too. Would probably have ended up on Oprah as the featured horder, but would have constant stream of material and inspiration
moi, that is so great that you found the postcards your mom had kept! Thanks for stopping by!
Marie, It’s happy hour here right now and I want a mai tai and pu pu platter badly! Thanks for hosting this marvelous game
Daryl, I want funny food now! The real funny, not the kind of funny when my kids won’t eat my cooking. Thanks for visiting!
Pearl, Thank you so much!
Pricilla, I miss Hawaii too. And their funny food. I hear they have great grass
Margo, that feels so weird typing that! I haven’t met very many of us either, but it’s weird… in the past five years I’ve met 5 or 6. Very nice to meet you
Joyce, Thank you for visiting!
Terry, Thanks! I am so glad you stopped by!
Viridian, That’s interesting. I wonder when it closed at the Hilton. Thank you for visiting!
Sparky, Thanks! Remember all those cheesy United Airline commercials? When I flew to Hawaii ages ago it was on United flight #1 and I thought that was beyond cool. I did not buy the cutest little Mercedes this afternoon
Aimee, Thanks! That six cent stamp is hard to believe, huh?
OMG thanks for the reminder about what I’m not buying this weekend! I’ve been wanting to do this – can’t believe it is already friday!
Pu pu Platter — what a funny name for a food, indeed! I never ever received any postcards from my grandparents, I wish they did!
Happy May Day.
Postcards Crossing
Yes I remember the Tiki Restaurants – including the elegant Mona Loa in Detroit.
Great card….great posting….
It seams (from here) your grandfather was a lot like mine.
Hope your weekend is beautiful
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of a Tiki restaurant. The Kon Tiki expedition, yes, but it didn’t spawn any restaurants in my part of the world. What a boring life I lead.
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