Donn Beach

American adventurer and businessman

Donn Beach (born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt; February 22, 1907 – June 7, 1989) was an American adventurer, businessman, and the founding father of the tiki bar culture. He is best known for opening the first tiki bar, Don the Beachcomber, in Hollywood, California, which became a popular destination for celebrities and helped popularize the tiki culture in the United States.

Early Life

Donn Beach was born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt in Limestone County, Texas. He grew up in a family with a rich history of adventurers and explorers, which influenced his later life. As a young man, he traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean and the South Pacific, where he developed a fascination with the exotic cultures and tropical lifestyle.

Career

Don the Beachcomber

In 1933, after the end of Prohibition, Beach opened a small bar in Hollywood called "Don the Beachcomber." The bar was decorated with items he had collected during his travels, including bamboo, palm fronds, and other tropical artifacts. It was here that Beach began experimenting with rum-based cocktails, creating drinks that would become staples of tiki culture, such as the Mai Tai and the Zombie.

Menu from Don the Beachcomber, Hollywood

Expansion and Influence

The success of Don the Beachcomber led to the opening of additional locations, including in Chicago, Palm Springs, and Hawaii. Beach's innovative cocktails and the exotic ambiance of his bars attracted a celebrity clientele, including Marlene Dietrich, Clark Gable, and Howard Hughes.

Beach's influence extended beyond his own establishments. The tiki bar concept he pioneered inspired a wave of similar venues across the United States, contributing to the mid-20th century tiki craze. His work also influenced the design of Polynesian-themed restaurants and hotels, such as the Trader Vic's chain and the Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.

Later Life

In the 1940s, Beach served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, where he was stationed in the South Pacific. After the war, he returned to the United States and continued to expand his business empire. In the 1950s, he moved to Hawaii, where he opened additional Don the Beachcomber locations and became involved in the local community.

Legacy

Donn Beach is remembered as a pioneer of tiki culture and a master of hospitality. His innovative approach to cocktails and bar design left a lasting impact on American culture, and his influence can still be seen in the resurgence of tiki bars and the continued popularity of tropical cocktails.

Related Pages

• Tiki culture
• Trader Vic's
• Mai Tai
• Zombie (cocktail)