Oceanside Tiki Tour
Outsiders might never discover this on their own, but Oceanside - the beach city just south of Camp Pendleton - has some serious tiki spirit.* If you're in town, try this self-guided Oceanside…Read more
Retro Destinations
Retro places that still exist today
Bali Ha’i: Going Strong since 1954
Once upon a time in 1935, a little film called "Mutiny on the Bounty" was made on Catalina Island, and a bar for the cast and crew was improvised. After…Read more
Shelter Island Tiki Tour
Much of the tiki-themed architecture of the 1950s and 1960s is gone. Some great tiki buildings, such as the Kahiki and the Trade Winds, were torn down. Many have been remodeled…Read more
Disneyland in 1964: I Can’t Believe This Stuff Survived
In a previous entry, I detailed how I came to be the lucky recipient of a family friend's small collection of vintage Disney ephemera. Most of her things were from…Read more
Retro Roundup, Volume 4
I've driven past the Western Dental building in Santa Monica many times, often wondering why there was a penguin on the sign. Turns out it was originally the Armet and…Read more
Walt Disney World: Ephemera from 1971
Recently, a family friend decided to downsize and cleared out her house. She found a shoebox full of Walt Disney World and Disneyland ephemera, most of it from a family trip…Read more
Retro Reads: Mai-Kai
In spite of having family in South Florida, I've yet to visit the fabled Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale. Established in 1959, the Mai-Kai is easily the last great tiki palace…Read more
The Miniature Dioramas of Clifton’s Cafeteria
I love tiny things. I also love Clifton's (who doesn't?). Some of these little dioramas are old, and may very well date to the 1930s. Others appear newer. Rather than analyze…Read more
Back in Time: Clifton’s Cafeteria, Los Angeles
Los Angeles has a long track record of eating its own history. But sometimes, great historic things survive against all odds. Take Clifton's Cafeteria, for example. It's old, it's in the…Read more
Hooray for Hollywood! A Day with Esotouric
I'd heard of Esotouric bus tours before, but didn't get around to joining in on the fun until this weekend.* Hollywood!, an all-new tour looking at the beautiful architecture, crazy stories, and…Read more