Searching for Don the Beachcomber Inventor of the Tiki Bar

Searching for Don the Beachcomber uncovers the extraordinary life of Donn Beach, the father of Tiki culture and creator of the world’s first Tiki bar. At a moment when America longed for escape, Beach transported patrons to an immersive tropical paradise of exotic cocktails, island decor, and escapist storytelling.

Far more than a bar owner, he was an inventive mixologist who crafted many of the classic cocktails still celebrated today, and a visionary whose embrace of global cultures and diversity was decades ahead of its time.

Drawing on extensive research, this biography traces Donn Beach’s remarkable adventures—from his larger-than-life persona to the innovations that shaped a uniquely American art form. Guided by his unforgettable motto, “If you can’t get to paradise, I’ll bring it to you,” Donn Beach left a legacy that continues to influence cocktail culture, hospitality, and the modern Tiki revival.

Tim “Swanky” Glazner is the co-founder and organizer of The Hukilau, the second-largest and second-oldest Tiki event in the world. A leading figure in Tiki culture, he is the associate producer of The Donn of Tiki (2024), the documentary about Donn Beach’s extraordinary life.

Glazner created the first Tiki carving seminar, “Coon Tiki,” held in the Smoky Mountains, and is widely recognized as an expert in Tiki cocktails. He is also the creator of The Grogalizer, a popular website and app that helps enthusiasts navigate and mix drinks from classic and contemporary recipe books.

As the official historian of the iconic Mai-Kai restaurant, he has produced a licensed line of Mai-Kai Tiki mugs and continues to preserve and share the legacy of Polynesian Pop through his writing, events, and historical work.

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.