“The Tropics” Rodeo Drive – Beverly Hills, CA
I would almost say this isn’t quite a tiki bar, but just tropical, but there are all of Don the Beachcomber’s recipes on the menu, so it must be part of the “family”. This site says it opened on November 27th 1935.
This is a pretty impressive menu. More of an advertizing mailer really. Sugie really seemed to have a way with the celebrities. Beachbum Berry talks a little about this place in his discussion of Ray Buhen, the famed bartender of the Tiki Ti. Ray worked at the Tropics and probably brought those recipes with him.
I was surprised to find nothing on Tiki Central about the place. Tiki Road Trip says that it later became The Luau, Steven Crane’s first tiki bar.
The menu is impressive when fully folded out. It has “quotes” from various celebrities about the drinks, including: Bob Hope, Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, Mickey Rooney, Lucille Ball and Bette Davis, among others.
Apparently many people blatantly ripped off Sugie’s Tropics. There are at least three places who use his images and phrases, in Denver, Dayton and Hollywood.
3D breasts on this matchbook too, a Sugie “signature” idea.
Also has raised boobs on the match cover
Dayton Ohio Tropics
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I don’t see how the matchbook fits, other than a coincidental name similarity. Morrison Road in Denver is pretty far from BH. It’s close to where I grew up. I don’t remember a place like that, though, so it must have closed before ’70 or so.
Comment left on December 17, 2006 @ 11:16 am
Duh, I goofed. Wrong matchbook!
Comment left on December 17, 2006 @ 11:54 am
Those celebrity cocktails are priceless! I’m fascinated by the pre-war tropical nightclub scene.
Comment left on December 17, 2006 @ 1:26 pm
I added all the “Tropics” matchbooks I could find. They all feature (Hah! A matchbook collector pun! Priceless!) 3D boobs on them. It looks like the Hollywood location is nearly as old as Sugie’s place.
Comment left on December 18, 2006 @ 4:14 pm
Man! I wish we had the recipes for all of those cocktails (I think that everytime I see a new menu, of course). I could really use a Lana Turner’s “Untamed” right now…
Comment left on December 27, 2006 @ 1:33 am
Great matchbook covers!
Comment left on February 2, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
I saw ur posting here of Surgies The Tropics
in Beverly Hills I wondered if u have come
across a Surgies The Tropics good luck charm’s?
If not I have one…..so if u’d like to see it
just let me no n I’ll send u pics so u can
post them here. I just wish I knew
if anyone else has them out there?
Comment left on February 4, 2007 @ 3:15 am
Hello
Was doing a little looking on the net The Tropicas was my dad’s place -had lots of head liners there.
Regards Diane St.Thomas
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Comment left on May 18, 2007 @ 4:44 am
Business I have started with a business partner.We are pet Lovers…a bit more relaxed than the night club but fun..!
stardogsdaycare.com
Comment left on May 18, 2007 @ 4:59 am
P.S. What a Trip I ran across this page…I miss him Daddy-O (Warrren St.Thomas) as I called him.Big Play Boy in the day- but my Dad too.
Diane
Comment left on May 18, 2007 @ 5:18 am
My Dad’s sister (Eva) was married to one of the Sugarman’s (Harry’s brother) and during WWII she showed him the place. Dad was sure impressed. Saw John Wayne and met Susan Hayword there. Eva died in the early 60′s and for some reason Dad ended up with one of the monkey shaped table lamps from the place. Someone out there sent it to him I guess. My sister has it now, Along with a menu much like the one listed. Dad always said it was quite a place. I guess he was right.
Comment left on January 6, 2009 @ 9:06 pm
Seriously– the ladies in all these ads are too cute! I love how plump they are!
-Sylvia
Comment left on December 29, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
I have a menu I might sell
Comment left on May 14, 2012 @ 7:26 pm