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Swanky’s Blather

If it’s Swank…

Vintage Places

Akaka Falls by Ray Kinney

Planning a first trip to Hawaii and seeing so many places on the maps that I know from songs. As I travel the islands, these are the songs I’ll hear in my head at different places.

West Coast Tour 2017

It’s happening again… I’ll be touring the west coast starting August 5th in Tacoma and ending August 13th in Palm Springs. Celebrating a year after the release of the Mai-Kai book, I and my editor Mrs. Swanky will be visiting…..

Hukilau Mai-Kai History Presentation

June 9th, in support of my recently released book on the history of the greatest Tiki bar on earth, the Mai-Kai, I will once again be giving a presentation at the largest Tiki event outside of California, The Hukilau. This…..

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 a lot of other great stuff as well. Gotta love…..

Explore the inside of the Mai-Kai in 3-D

Through Google maps you can now wander inside the Mai-Kai and the gardens in 3-D. Click here. 

Tennessee Tiki History Page

I started this page years ago and forgot about it. Just started fleshing it out further and published it this morning. A work in progress, but a start. Tennessee Tiki History

Mai-Kai Book Available for Pre-Order

My Mai-Kai history book just appeared on the Barnes and Noble website for pre-order. Coming soon to Amazon. Please pre-order and make your voice heard with the publisher to give the book more attention and better marketing. Spread the word!…..

Mai-Kai Sign 1961 in Color.

Rare color image the Mai-Kai “hut” sign designed and built by Dave Stevens. Chicagoans Dave and his brother made a wide variety of custom items for the Mai-Kai, from spotlight covers that looked like rocks for the exterior to fake…..

Knoxville Then and Now Mt. Vernon Motel

Known today as Futon World, it was the Mount Vernon Motel long before. Now it is wiped from the face of the earth. Wonder if it will still be known as the Mt. Vernon Plaza?

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 it today. A relic of the 50s that stands today,…..

Mai-Kai: History, Mystery and Adventure – The Book

 I have been researching the Mai-Kai in one form or another for over 12 years. I have been seriously looking into its history and people for a long time to document the past. I had thought I would do a…..

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 of the iconic masthead in the Molokai Bar. It takes…..

Hukilau 2003 Video

This goes back to when the Tiki scene was young. At the request of the Florida Ohana who came to Hukilau 2002 in Atlanta, and with the huge efforts of our event partners Tristan and Bre-Elle Ishtar, we moved to…..

Amazing Asian Themed Mid-Century Time Capsule in Iowa

  Sure, it’s a great Asian themed mid-century home, but, it is also over the top! The dimensions are huge. The flag stone walls, the huge open rooms with those amazing ceilings. It is so over the top! I am…..

1972 Mai-Kai Calendar

The 1972 Mai-Kai calendar is now online.