Vintage Matchbook Covers Posters and Art Prints

Trader Vic's is a restaurant and tiki bar chain headquartered in Emeryville, California, United States. Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr. (December 10, 1902 in San Francisco – October 11, 1984 in Hillsborough, California) founded a chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants that bore his nickname, "Trader Vic". He was one of two people who claimed to have invented the Mai Tai. The other was his amicable competitor for many years, Donn Beach of the "Don the Beachcomber" restaurants.

Shakey's Pizza is a pizza restaurant chain based in the United States. Founded in 1954, it was the first franchise pizza chain in the United States. In 1968, the chain had 342 locations. The chain had about 500 stores globally, and 58 in the United States, as of July 2019. Currently, the stores can be found in the states of California and Washington, as well as in the Philippines and Japan.

Built in 1961, this is one of five Polynesian-themed Tropics motels once owned by Ken Kimes. The most elaborate of the chain was in Palm Springs, now called the Caliente Tropics Resort. This motel was previously connected to the next door Tiki Cocktail Lounge. Further down was a Sambo's restaurant (which now houses Modesto Car Toys). Most recently, the Tropics Motel has been renamed the Tiki Lodge. The pool area is fenced off and is opened seasonally only. The four tikis carved by Ed Crissman around the parking lot now have lighting on their chests/foreheads and solar powered batteries on their heads.

Mel's Drive-In is a term referring to two American restaurant chains, successors of a restaurant founded in 1947 by Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs in San Francisco, California. It is closely associated with the film American Graffiti. There are a number of Mel's in Northern California that share the same general American Graffiti nostalgia theme and the similarly styled Mel's logo. These restaurants are called “Original Mels”. Their locations are not listed on the official Mel's Drive-In website but they have their own website, although an article from the Sacramento Business Journal shows that they're related.

The Gator Bar and Lounge

The wagon-esque theme caught on big during the 1950s, inspired partly by TV westerns and partly by the fame of Las Vegas chuck wagon buffets which provided grub for gamblers from midnight ‘til dawn. If not for Vegas envy, why else would there have been one in Miami Beach in 1955? Apparently seeing no local cuisine worth merchandising, restaurateurs there chose from a grab bag of themes such as Smorgs, Polynesian, and Ken’s Pancake Parade.

Buck's

California Tiki Hut

Tucson's Most Modern Motor Hotel

Baron's, The Bar on Powell, San Francisco, California, circa 1958

World Famous Sam's Sea Food and Hawaiian Village Family Restaurant.

In 1925, Howard Deering Johnson borrowed $2,000 to buy and operate a small corner pharmacy in Wollaston, a neighborhood in Quincy, Massachusetts. Throughout the summers of the late 1920s, Johnson opened concession stands on the beachfront property along the coast of Massachusetts. The stands sold soft drinks, hot dogs, and ice cream. Each stand was successful. With his success becoming more noticeable every year, Johnson convinced local bankers to lend him funds to operate a family-style restaurant. Negotiations were made and, toward the end of the decade, the first Howard Johnson's restaurant opened in Quincy. It featured fried clams, baked beans, chicken pot pies, frankfurters, ice cream, and soft drinks.

The Makai Room, 12125 Venice Blvd. Mar Vista, California.

The Neptune Grill was opened by George Ganas on Capitol Hill in 1938.

Oasis Motel, 2200 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, California.

Queen's, also called Queen's Surf, is one of the best waves in Waikiki. Straight off the beach from the east end of Kuhio Beach Park, before the lagoon, it's best for longboarding. Professional and amateur contests are often held here.

Leilani Hut was in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach. Open at least as early as 1938 and as late as 1959. At one point it was owned by Don May. The interior had some large Hawaiian scene murals. It is now a Legends sports bar.

Revival Cafe. In honor of the Speed Dogma. Motorbar and Speedshop. Ave de la Victoria 7. Madrid Spain.

roda rosen

Hernandoz Hideaway

There was a time when smoking was allowed in public venues, and every restaurant provided matchbooks to customers as built in advertising. Thank Goodness that changed! However, looking at the matchbook art on this collection may bring back some fond memories of good meals and fun times with friends in some old Toronto restaurants.

Take a trip down memory lane with the inside of the matchbook cover from one of Toronto's best known Delicatessens. Back in the day, they offered Free Delivery.

La Cardo's Club Stadium, Sacramento California

Tiki-Jo

This pre-tiki establishment was open at least as early as 1945. Before this, in 1943, it was home to the Rose Bowl. Hy Ginnis, the original host, died in 1955. Art Adler took over soon after. It was located on Chicago's Rush Street which was quite notorious at the time for gambling, prostitution, and all sorts of debauchery. The exterior was marked by huge neon vertical letters spelling out "TRADE WINDS". By the 1960s, this location housed the Whiskey A Go Go.