I’m currently reading the autobiography of Lana Turner’s daughter, Cheryl, who stabbed her mom’s gangster boyfriend Johnny Stompanato to death. Her book is called “Detour” because of the detour her life took from that night onwards. At any rate, she mentions her father Steve Crane and how he ran the successful Tiki bar on Rodeo Drive, called The Luau. I realized that I’d never seen what the interior of that rather legendary place looked like so I went a-Googling and found this photo. Oh my! It was certainly jam-packed with tchotchkes and doohickeys and all manner of Polynesian paraphernalia. It looks very atmospheric, but can you imagine all the dusting it took to keep all that stuff clean?
Hi Peter….My father Don Viray was the head Metradee for years at The Luau. I worked there as a teen and cleaned and vacuumed all the hanging decor scene in the pictures. Yes, the cleaning was a big job! I had fun going to work with my father and working with several of the other sons of the employees. We worked hard, but had a good time.
THE LUAU WAS MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL 1965. GREAT FOOD AND ATMOSPHERE. TOO BAD SOME LEBANESE GUY TURNED IT INTO A PARKING GARAGE. GREAT MEMORIES!
I just Googled where where The Luau was located. I was sitting here thinking about my childhood memories when my Daddy would take us all out to dinner. I was born in 1960. So I spent many Friday and Saturday evenings in this magical restaurant to a child of my age. I did not realize that it was in Beverly Hills. I grew up on Benedict Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills. A lot of other places we would go w e r e really hard for me to sit through dinner. But this place was like I said, was truly magical in my eyes. The food was amazing. I remember the inside of it like being in a totally different world. As well as the outside. It will always be magical to me. I used to love to suck the pineapple that was in my Daddys Mai Tai, lol! Now I am 60 years old, and I’ve been living in San Diego for most of my adult life but I will always have my memories of that magical time in my life. And sitting there eating dinner with my Daddy at The Luau.
Hi Kimberly, and thanks for stopping by. Lucky you got to experience The Luau, not just once but a whole bunch of times, leaving you with memories to last a lifetime.
The Luau was amazing! Great food, great memories. I’m 62 now, my parents went took me there often. My cousin and I used to argue over who sat in the big chair. The WonTon and Spare Ribs were my favorite food and as kids we loved the waterfall outside the restaurant. Pure magic!
The Luau was amazing! Great food, great memories. I’m 62 now, my parents took me there often. My cousin and I used to argue over who sat in the big chair. The WonTon and Spare Ribs were my favorite food and as kids we loved the waterfall outside the restaurant. Pure magic!
I’m 67 and remember the Luau with fond memories. How I loved that place. My dad would take the family there frequently. He had his medical practice down The street and we would meet him there. Steve Crane, the Luau creator was his patient. Ah memory lane.
I’m currently reading the autobiography of Lana Turner’s daughter, Cheryl, who stabbed her mom’s gangster boyfriend Johnny Stompanato to death. Her book is called “Detour” because of the detour her life took from that night onwards. At any rate, she mentions her father Steve Crane and how he ran the successful Tiki bar on Rodeo Drive, called The Luau. I realized that I’d never seen what the interior of that rather legendary place looked like so I went a-Googling and found this photo. Oh my! It was certainly jam-packed with tchotchkes and doohickeys and all manner of Polynesian paraphernalia. It looks very atmospheric, but can you imagine all the dusting it took to keep all that stuff clean?
The Luau looks like a fascinating place, but, yes the cleaning must have been a nightmare!
Hi Peter….My father Don Viray was the head Metradee for years at The Luau. I worked there as a teen and cleaned and vacuumed all the hanging decor scene in the pictures. Yes, the cleaning was a big job! I had fun going to work with my father and working with several of the other sons of the employees. We worked hard, but had a good time.
Whoa Don, you cleaned all that stuff? You must have been at it all night! Thanks for stopping by.
THE LUAU WAS MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL 1965. GREAT FOOD AND ATMOSPHERE. TOO BAD SOME LEBANESE GUY TURNED IT INTO A PARKING GARAGE. GREAT MEMORIES!
Hey Bill – I’m jealous that you got to experience The Luau in its prime!
Oh no, Bill. I did not realize that someone turned that beautiful place into a parking garage. That is so sad..But at least we have the memories.
I just Googled where where The Luau was located. I was sitting here thinking about my childhood memories when my Daddy would take us all out to dinner. I was born in 1960. So I spent many Friday and Saturday evenings in this magical restaurant to a child of my age. I did not realize that it was in Beverly Hills. I grew up on Benedict Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills. A lot of other places we would go w e r e really hard for me to sit through dinner. But this place was like I said, was truly magical in my eyes. The food was amazing. I remember the inside of it like being in a totally different world. As well as the outside. It will always be magical to me. I used to love to suck the pineapple that was in my Daddys Mai Tai, lol! Now I am 60 years old, and I’ve been living in San Diego for most of my adult life but I will always have my memories of that magical time in my life. And sitting there eating dinner with my Daddy at The Luau.
Hi Kimberly, and thanks for stopping by. Lucky you got to experience The Luau, not just once but a whole bunch of times, leaving you with memories to last a lifetime.
Drank jet piolets in 1954.18 years old.coat and tie worked
The Luau was amazing! Great food, great memories. I’m 62 now, my parents went took me there often. My cousin and I used to argue over who sat in the big chair. The WonTon and Spare Ribs were my favorite food and as kids we loved the waterfall outside the restaurant. Pure magic!
The Luau was amazing! Great food, great memories. I’m 62 now, my parents took me there often. My cousin and I used to argue over who sat in the big chair. The WonTon and Spare Ribs were my favorite food and as kids we loved the waterfall outside the restaurant. Pure magic!
Hi Terri – thanks for stopping me. Lucky you that you got to experience The Luau. Everybody remembers that place very fondly.
I’m 67 and remember the Luau with fond memories. How I loved that place. My dad would take the family there frequently. He had his medical practice down The street and we would meet him there. Steve Crane, the Luau creator was his patient. Ah memory lane.
Lucky you, Peter!
I pocketed a set of Salt and Pepper Shakers from the Luau about 50 years ago…I still have them.