Don The Beachcomber - My Final(?) Farewell & The History of Sam's Seafood

Don the Beachcomber in Huntington beach is one of the greatest "Tiki Temples" ever constructed. One of the few remaining mid-century buildings of this scale, and now, with a move imminent, we're taking a closer look at this masterpiece. This building was the last in a string of buildings that originally housed a business called "Sam's Seafood" - According to local lore this business grew from a 1920s bait shop to a 1930s big-band swinging hot spot, and then in 1960 went full tiki with the Hawaiian Village (now hidden village,) an outdoor luau area, a massive polynesian and oceanic gift shop, and of course the "If it swims, we have it!" sea food. "Sam's Sea Food Spa," much like Mr's Knott's Chicken Dinner restaurant several miles to the northeast, was serving tens of thousands of people and grew from a restaurant destination to an entertainment destination. And for nearly 60 years in this location, Sam's Seafood (which became Don the Beachcomber in 2009 when it was rescued by Art and Delia Snyder) has survived as one of the oldest and finest examples of Mid-Century tiki architecture and style in the United States, and certainly the largest on the west coast. Now as Don's prepares to relocate and the landowner works toward redevelopment, we investigate the history and take in the scenery at Don's one last time on this channel***. From the Dagger Bar to the Dining room, from the Planter to the Pufferfish, we eventually make it inside thelongboard room and the High Talking Chief's room, and of course, the FANTASTIC jewel in the crown, the Hidden Village. More, we say our final farewell with the most appropriate band possible, the band who, for local music lovers, became absolutely synonymous with Don the Beachcomber's in sunset / Huntington Beach, the Hula Girls. We've had many adventures here, and it's taken me six days, a concussion, and a whole lot of sweaty eyes to make this video. I know that videos like this don't make money or get attention, but the history of postwar America is gradually fading and being paved over, and places like this were deeply needed by a generation who had been traumatized by war and needed an exotic fantasy to escape to. Often misunderstood by people today, these tiki temples were an escape for generations of ordinary people, and long before the internet were a gateway into encountering the world, and often, their own imagination. It's time for one last Randomland Adventure at Don the Beachcomber ! T-SHIRTS and HATS: http://livefastdiepoor.spreadshirt.com Contribute:   / justinscarred   Discuss: http://sometimesmob.com *****Edit: As I posted below, when this video was filmed I had it 100% that the doors were closing. Now it appears that at least the dagger bar will be open this week and possibly to the end of the month. This is great news - DEFINITELY GO AND SOAK IT IN - but from what I’m STILL told the move is still happening. If anything concrete changes I’ll let you all know. ♥️🤷‍♂️🌴