Of all the Hollywood restaurants I missed out on experiencing, one of the first I’d head into when I finally get my time machine is Don the Beachcomber which stood at 1727 North McCadden Place just of Hollywood Blvd from 1933 (after the repeal of Prohibition) to 1987. Inventor of the Mai Tai and the Zombie, it was one of the first places to introduce Angelenos to Polynesian culture, which back then was considered very exotic. I don’t have a date on this photo but from that car I guess 1970s? Whenever it was, that $4.95 price tag sounds like a good deal to me.
Susan Milner says: “They had great drinks. But food wise, I like The Seven Seas on Hollywood Blvd and The Tropics in the mid 30s and 40s. The original Tropics was in Beverly Hills and was opened by Harry “Sugie” Sugarman. In the early 50s, the Rodeo Drive location became The Luau. There was a second Tropics for some time on Vine Street as well. The Seven Seas was first in the area to have a tin roof in the bar with sprinklers on it to create rain sounds. Don t h e Beachcomber put one in soon after, due to the popularity of the one at the Seven Seas. Sugie, who owned The Tropics, was a friend of my dad’s. Sugie created a couple children’s drinks for me. One was served in a pineapple, I thought it was terrific. But the one served in a tall glass looked like a 60s Tequilla Sunrise. It was heavy on cherry syrup and was my fav. He called it a SuzieQ for a while. The Seven Seas had a popular dinner and late evening Polynesian floor show. It was a go-to place for lots of us in high school after big dances in the 40s.”
Don’t remember that blatant sign, but was taken there often as a kid. Lived a block or two away, on Cherokee. I was told the Maitais were potent.
I don’t recall that sign, either, but did get to go there 2-3 times. I was so surprised that it was going to close. I recall that one of the booths had a sign that Joan Crawford used to sit there when she’d come have lunch where she’d sign a stack of 8×10’s that she would mail out to fans. In the bar area they had photos of celebrities who’d been there and information that during WWII they’d invite soldiers and sailors to make up new drinks with them. One of them that they mentioned was Navy Grog.
The place was very atmospheric and since it was on a side street, off the beaten path, it had a nice leisurely feel to it.
Oh, I just noticed that Navy Grog is on the sign in the photograph!
My brother-in-.law was a frequent customer; he’d have one Navy Grog and fall to his knees before the meal came.
All condoland now.