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 Read More …
Category: Ephemera
Knoxville Then & Now – Westwood Motel Kingston Pike
I have been meaning to add this motel on Kingston Pike for a long time. We dropped in to try Archer’s BBQ and so I took some pictures and added Read More …
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 Read More …
1968 Mai-Kai Calendar
1968 Mai-Kai Calendar Just added, thanks to a loan from a fan of the site, the 1968 Mai-Kai calendar!
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 Read More …
1972 Mai-Kai Calendar
The 1972 Mai-Kai calendar is now online.
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
Etiquette for Young Moderns
Gay Head. Just sayin’.
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
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. Read More …
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 Read More …
DYI Ice Volcano for your Mini Mystery Bowl
If you don’t yet own the Mini Mai-Kai Mystery Bowl, well, go get one HERE. Follow along regardless. To make the ice volcano that goes in the center of the Read More …
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 Read More …
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 Read More …
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 Read More …