Tiki heads report in

By Michael Fitzgerald | Published: March 1, 2010 | 0 Comments

Julie Morehouse writes:

“Loved the article about tiki stuff in Sunday’s paper. I have also become a bit of a tiki freak — not sure how it happened, its just fun. … For my 50th birthday a few years back we made a tiki bar out of an old garage cabinet and some old bamboo blinds. (well used!)

 

I also display outside and around the house some beautifully carved tiki masks, and a solar tiki head that were given to me as gifts …

“Although a Stockton native I unfortunately never got to The Islander. I remember my parents having those old tiki glasses in the cupboard, like the one David is holding in the picture. Long gone now.”

Thanks, Julie — but what’s a solar tiki head?

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Stockton tiki’s mythical past

By Michael Fitzgerald | Published: February 27, 2010 | 0 Comments

For David Foster, researching Stockton tiki includes combing old phone books and newspapers for ads such as this one for The Bali Hai. Note the name of You-Know-Who in the ad.

And here’s the big boy of Stockton tiki himself, the 2000-pound moai head that stands out front of the Bali Hai. He’s eroded a bit since the old days, like a lot of people.

Tahiti Iti (”Little Tahiti” in Tahitian) appointed its dining room with bamboo and straw mats, fish nets and a “flourescent paint mural of Tahiti.” Barrel tops served as tables. Owner Otto Allgoewer was born in Tahiti. He and his wife (pictured below) were entertainers.They performed a South Seas musical act.

After a remarkable journey recounted in the column, the Tahiti Iti building ended up as a rental home on Stockton’s southside. Its residents had no inkling their home had once been a tiki restaurant, let alone a strip club. One reason is the Spanish-style veranda added to the building.

Foster’s urban archeology includes visiting places that were built in tiki style but remodeled when tiki faded from fashion. Here, the seedy Bradford Apartments on Rosemarie Lane still show the A-Frame outlines of tiki architecture. To say nothing of surviving palms.

You can see what the place might once have looked like form this contemporary photo of the Outrigger Apartments on Pershing.

Some places have been virtually de-tikied. While researching, Foster stumbled onto an old ad for the Kona Apartments on Pershing Avenue. The address — 4215 Pershing Avenue — led to the site of Las Palmas Apartments. Sleuthing around the complex, Foster found vestiges of the building’s tiki origins, such as the lava rocks in the landscaping.

 

Other places remain only in old ads and newspaper articles.

But they were popular in their day. The Reef, in the site of the current Stockton Joe’s, featured a piano bar, a roaring fire grotto, Lanai and Luau rooms, and an exotic drink menu offering drinks such as the Devil’s Tail, ”For that devil-may-care feeling,” the drink menu says.

In 1957 or ‘58, the stars of “The Big Country,” a motion picture production filiming in the area, visited The Reef. Below, Chuck Connors looks like he’s had one too many Typhoons. Also pictured is Jean Simmons, Reef co-owner Pete Massei, and Charlton Heston.

–photo courtesy Bank of Stockton archives.

Below, The Castaway.

The drink menu at The Islander.

If you enjoyed this survey, check out Foster’s postings on Tiki Central. Go to “Locating Tiki.” Under the name ”abstractiki” he has posted much more information about Stockton’s tiki past. Aloha for now!

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The politics of public unions

By Michael Fitzgerald | Published: February 26, 2010 | 0 Comments

The Police Officer’s Association in Long Beach may be trying to get the city manager fired because, in the worst recession since the Great Depression, he felt it necessary to cut their pay.

“Here’s a preview of what Stockton’s next City Manager will face,” writes a correspondent, “since the Police and Fire are attempting to hold the City hostage to keep their obscene labor agreements.”

Sadly, it appears both Schwarzenegger and Republican gubernatorial candidates are chickening out from proposals to bring public employee pay back down to earth. The reasoning is political. Goring the unions’ ox will energize Democratic voters in the next election. Republicans would rather get themselves elected than do the fiscally responsible thing. And yet some people think poorly of politicians.

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Death comes to Alicia

By Michael Fitzgerald | Published: February 25, 2010 | 0 Comments

In the last year I’ve written about two people who needed a double lung transplant: Alicia Brogle, 33, of Lodi and Josh Mompean, 26, of Stockton.

Both suffered from cystic fibrosis. Both had to risk a double lung transplant – a terrifying, otherworldly experience, I am sure — or die. Both seemed like really cool people.

Brogle, who I wrote about last May, went on to get a double lung transplant last summer at Stanford Med. She survived, though she suffered a couple minor strokes, and came home to breathe easy for the first time in her life.

But complications set in. She died on Feb. 6.

It’s haunting, really, to talk to a cool young woman, to laugh with her, to get a feeling for who she is and what’s she’s about, to admire her spirit and her courage, and then to know she is no more.

“I like dancing,” she told me before the transplants. She could not go out dancing so, “I dance in my house a lot.”

A good thing she did. And you should, too.

Josh Mompean got the call to report for his transplants Sunday night. He went into surgery on Monday.

He survived. His grandmother, Joyce Mompean, who had sat in vigil at Stanford, went to his bedside.

“Lo and behold,” she said. “I went to say hi to hi and give him a kiss on his forehead. And he looks up at me and gets this twinkle in his eye. He grabbed my glasses and kind of put them under the sheets. I thought, ‘Oh, that’s my Josh! He’s so cute.’”

Mompean’s wife says he’s too weak to have many visitors. But his prognosis looks good – for now.

“He’s yammering ot go home, according to my understanding,” Mompean said.

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Shameless self-promotion

By Michael Fitzgerald | Published: February 25, 2010 | 0 Comments

Genvieve Beltran, herself an aspiring author, writes:

“It was great to see you write such a nice column (on the book “The Blue Mexican”) helping promote a local writer. High words of praise from you mean it really must be one heck of a novel. But I did discover some amusingly deceptive self-promotion on the place of the author on Amazon. When you go to the Amazon page for the novel written by Daniel Ruiz, a Danny Dunne (”strangeteacher” of Stockton, CA) gives a rave review for what, of course, is his own book.”

It’s true. Here’s Dunne’s rave reviewf: “Intriguing. Hard to put down. A Most interesting book. Covered the gamut of human emotion. Well told, old fashioned story telling with a contemporary theme.”

By definition, there is no shame in shameless self-promotion, eh?

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An opponent of fireworks?

By Michael Fitzgerald | Published: February 24, 2010 | 0 Comments

The resurrection of Stockton’s municipal fireworks celebration seems to be coming along. One influential person in City Hall who may oppose them, however, is Interim City Manager Kevin O’Rourke.

O’Rourke did not express opposition when I interviewed him for the column about Councillman Dale Fritchen’s proposal to restore them. Not exactly. What he did say is he had trouble with them while city manager of Buena Park in the ’90s. Buena Park is the location of Knott’s Berry Farm.

“We have a regional mall which sits within view of fireworks at Knott’s Berry Farm,” O’Rourke said in remarks I did not publish. The public gathered in its parking lot to watch the theme park’s fireworks show. “People brought them anyway,” O’Rourke said, “since you could buy these fireworks in Buena Park, Anaheim, Whittier, Cerritos, the Los Angeles cities nearest.

“We got several thousand people who would come with their famalies into the parking lot … sit there watching the fireworks, and set off all of the fireworks they brought in. There were qute a lot of problems — police, medical.”

If O’Rourke does oppose a municipal fireworks show based on his experience in Buena Park, then the data from that city’s July 3rd or 4th celebrations ought to be researched and not conveyed into the debate anecdotally. Get the numbers. That way the Council can dispassionately see how many problems ”quite a lot” is and whether the risks are outweighed by the benefits of a joyous, patriotic celebration that brings everyone together.

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What she “hates” about Stockton

By Michael Fitzgerald | Published: February 23, 2010 | 0 Comments

Reader Rhondda Nunes has penned a retort to Forbes. She calls it, “What I Hate About Stockton, California.” 

“I hate when my brother comes from Chicago  in the Winter and says”Mmmmm…t-shirt weather …above 50 Degrees.” I hate when atmospheric fog forms at 2:00am and I can remember London (England) coming out of a pub in the wee hours of the morning. I hate the sound of the fog horn when ships dock at the port. Ditto all those stupid trains.

“I hate that there’s a park a block from my house where a slough runs from the San Joaquin river and my lab can go swimming on a hot summer’s day.I hate those delta breezes that cool us off in the summer after a heat wave, unlike Fresno.I hate all the wildlife; and birds with no regards for city limits that hangout in my 60 year old zeclova tree that poop on cars; though not mine because that’s what driveways are for.Ditto the female hummingbird by the front porch, get outta my Fuji pear. I hate that Stockton is in zone 14 like Lodi and we have “occasional marine influences” and if I wanted to grow pinot noir I could.I hate all the farmer’s markets getting in the way of my car; especially at the mall.

“I hate being out on the delta on a 4th of July weekend watching the fireworks from a 1959 mahogany crisscraft; waking on the deck in sleeping bags covered in dew. I hate parties in  delta hangouts  with all those girls dancing on pool tables in bikinis, cigarettes in the waistband on their hipbone with mai-tais in their hands. Ditto crabfeeds, Californian cajun dishes and crayfish. Especially crayfish.

“I hate yacht club gigs and their taco Tuesdays and misters for your comfort. I hate that my favorite Chinese restaurant is within walking distance and that takeout taxi will deliver just about anything I could ever want.Ditto that local microbrewery, and all that I’m forgetting in the moment sipping last Summer’s Chardonnay with its notes of oak redolent of apricots.

“I hate  that the oldest Sikh temple west of the Mississippi is here with their festival so that people actually know the difference between the Muslim faith and the Sikh faith. Ditto all those other festivals. I hate that there are enough venues here that I can make a living as a musician in a small market. I hate that I’m so successful  as a musician that I have my own studio that I  commute to in my bedroom slippers.

“I hate that when I gig at Borra Winerey I get paid in old-vine zin. I hate that when I play with a band  voted best of San Joaquin  I not only get wine but I also get paid. I hate that the Empire theater; in its Deco glory, is within walking distance when I’m not gigging and I can cheer on my musical friends; and impromptu jam sessions in my midtown neighborhood.

“I hate that San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and the North coast are so accessible by car from here.I hate that I could drive to see the Sacramento Kings or the San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s , 49ers, the Warriors, and the Raiders if I choose; when ever I choose.

“I hate that the Stockton Thunder made the playoffs last year. I hate that Pacific Men’s basketball game is (my prediction) going to the big dance(Remember New York college hoops fans Pacific eliminating Syracuse first round?Slip your mind?). And I hate that I must regret that my UCLA Bruins, sadly will not punch a dance card.

.”… But what I really loathe , most especially, is that your standards of livability show no consideration for geography, cultural diversity and the ties of community that create a livable culture. And to think that you arrived by your opinions within the New York media market  is amazing. Truly amazing. In closing, I would say that there are cities not on your list that if your paid me a million I wouldn’t live in.

“Really… Fresno or Bakersfield over Stockton? Truly amazing… and rather sad.”

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Josh goes under the knife

By Michael Fitzgerald | Published: February 22, 2010 | 0 Comments

Joshua Mompean, the longtime Stockton resident dying from cystic fibrosis, has gone into surgery at Standord Med for a double lung transplant, his Facebook page says. 

As I wrote here, I reported on Josh when he was a little boy. Pray for him.

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McNerney to Feinstein: prove you care

By Michael Fitzgerald | Published: February 22, 2010 | 0 Comments

Congressman Jerry McNerney has written a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein questioning her dubious proposal to ship more Delta water south:

“I ask that you provide convincing evidence that your proposal would not cause harm to farmers, families, and businesses in the San Joaquin Delta region, and if such evidence is not available, I respectfully request that you withdraw your amendment.”

Feinstein defends her proposal here.

A retired biologist gives her what for here.

The L.A. Times debunks her job arguments here.

One good thing about the boundaries of the 11th congressional district: congressmen who serve in it are not impaled on the horns of a dilemma, torn between north-Valley urban constituents and south-Valley farmers, as are legislators such as Dennis Cardoza. I, too, will ask Feinstein’s office to prove her proposed transfers don’t hurt this region. Props to McNerney for holding Feinstein accountable to this region.

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Challenging Forbes

By Michael Fitzgerald | Published: February 22, 2010 | 0 Comments

The Scavenger published my heartfelt curse on Forbes, and says the magazine replaced the photo of Melissa Huckaby, who is Tracy’s problem, not Stockton’s. Of course, what they replaced it with is a photo of a foreclosed home, so it’s not a tremendous improvement.

Meanwhile, Chamber CEO Douglass Wilhoit forwards this, from Christopher  Lozano, Director of Student Recruitment, Eberhardt School of Business, University of the Pacific:

“A couple of our students will be doing something very interesting over their Spring Break. They plan to go to Forbes Offices in New York and interview the writers about their rankings and film their interview for youtube. The focus will be on challenging each of the writers’ conclusion and number rankings and then invite them to actually visit (which it is my understanding has never been done).

Go get ‘em, Tigers.

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