Gallery: The Bizarre Rise and Fall of the Tiki Bar
Taschen01tiki-10
In the 1950s and 60s, an epidemic of island fever swept the United States and led to the construction of tiki bars from Redondo Beach, California to Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.
Taschen02tiki-09
While most of the Tiki culture has receded into niche subcultures, the Zombie, Mai-Tai and pu pu platter continue to be mainstays at American Chinese food restaurants.
Taschen03tiki-11
As an American design motif, Tiki stretched beyond wooden and stone figures to include anything that was vaguely Polynesian, nautical, and handcrafted.
Taschen04tiki-08
Sets from these movies were often installed in bars and restaurants kicking off a tiki craze that would spread from coast to coast.
Taschen05tiki-06
Tiki bar drink menus were chock-a-block with violations of modern political correctness. Structural racism? Try a mug literally shaped like a woman of color.
Taschen06tiki-01
Just so we're clear, tiki bars were places where your grandparents would burn a Saturday night drinking out of replica human skulls.
Taschen07tiki-14
Tiki was a Polynesian god/man that filled the role of the first man, like the Biblical Adam. Pacific islanders carved statues in his honor as a form of ancestor worship and eventually, all carvings of this type came to be called "tikis."
Taschen08tiki-17
Fascination with all things Pacific began when English explorer Captain James Cook made contact with islanders in the South Seas starting in 1769.
Taschen09tiki-18
Cook's tales of exotic people and places inspired writers like Herman Melville and Jack London to hop ships bound for Oceania and precipitated Gauguin's sojourns in Tahiti.
Taschen10tiki-19
"Don the Beachcomber" was a reformed bootlegger who kicked of the tiki bar movement, invented the mai-tai, was featured in *LIFE* magazine, and provided R&R as a decorated military officer in World War 2.
Taschen11tiki-13
Hollywood started cranking out island-focused features and by the 1920s a quarter of recorded music sales were Polynesian melodies.
Taschen12tiki-07
The tiki look was applied to apartment buildings, motels, bowling alleys, hair salons, restaurants, and bars.
The Best Ski Clothes for Staying Warm and Having Fun
From weatherproof jackets and pants to puffers, gloves, and socks, WIRED’s winter sports experts have you covered.
Chris Haslam
The Best Apple Watch Accessories
You finally caved and bought an Apple Watch. These are our favorite bands, screen protectors, and chargers to go with your new smartwatch.
Adrienne So
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
The Best Podcasts for Everyone
Get your fix of tech, true crime, pop culture, or comedy with these audio adventures.
Simon Hill
The Best Heart Rate Monitors Check Your Cardiac Health
These chest straps and watches will help you keep your finger on your pulse—and many other heart-related metrics.
Michael Sawh
Death to Dry Skin. These Humidifiers Are Better Than Chapstick
From models for traveling to humidifiers that double as planters or air purifiers, we've tested a dozen of them.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best Android Phones, Tested and Reviewed
Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find the ones worth your money.
Julian Chokkattu
The Best Kids' Bikes for Every Age and Size
The WIRED Reviews team has kids, and we tested all types of kids’ bikes. Here are our top picks.
Adrienne So
The Best Game Controller for Every Kind of Player
A great gamepad instantly levels up your play. These are our top picks for Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
Brad Bourque
The 11 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride
I tested the best electric bikes in every category, from commuters and mountain bikes to foldables and cruisers.
Adrienne So
Which Samsung Galaxy Phone Should You Buy?
From flagship and budget to flipping and folding, Samsung’s Galaxy range spans the breadth of the smartphone cosmos. WIRED’s here to help you make your choice.
Julian Chokkattu