TIKI CULTURE

Mod Movie Monday: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968

Hang on to your hats kids, we’re goin’ on a wild ride! It’s

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968

There are few movies that can compare in the combination of craziness, zaniness, modness and madness as this one. Between the comedy of Dick Van Dyke, the beauty of Sally Anne Howes and the original story by Ian Flemming (of James Bond fame) it’s no surprise this flick has remained a favorite for over 40 years.

But let’s not try to fool anyone…the real star of this movie was, of course, the car. A true-bred race car, born to win until a fatal accident retired him to a peaceful life slowly withering away in a field, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang would be rediscovered, and reborn - by Caractacus Potts, a somewhat oddball inventor who seemed to be able to make mechanical wonders out of bits of junk. The ultimate in recycling and restoration came when he brought Chitty back to life, using spare parts from toasters, boilers, and even a boat. And what an amazing cat Caractacus was - a mechanic, machinist, welder, brass-wright, boat-wright, carpenter and inventor all in one!

Of course we’re led to believe he didn’t actually build it all by himself…especially the wings and flotation built into the car…there’s a little bit of magic in that car, just a little.

Depending on where you look, you’ll find that there were anywhere from four to six full-size models of this car built for the movie, with at least one being fully-operational. There’s been a lot of conjecture over the years as to what happened to them all…lost, hiding in barns has always been a favorite of mine. But they all seem to be accounted for…apparently one lives somewhere down here in Florida, so I may even get to see it in person one day.

For someone who has had a hand in restoring (or at least fixing up) old cars since I was a kid, this movie really hits home. More than the fact that it’s a kool little car that can fly, more than the fact that it’s magical. There’s another story here, one that most people don’t care much about…it’s a story about taking something that was once magnificent, and that has since fallen from grace; about taking that wondrous piece of machinery and bringing it back to life, giving it a new chance to delight and be adored. I’ve had the good fortune to do that with a couple of cars, some vintage toys, and even an antique clarinet. I’m doing it now with my 1953 Chevy Belair, although not nearly as quickly (or with as much talent) as Caractacus Potts.

Since this is really a kid’s movie, I’d have to go with some sweet snacks and drinks to go along with it. For drinks, I’m thinking along the lines of chocolate milk…maybe a Nutty Irishman, or Chocolate Martini. For snacks, break out the hard candies, chocolates and cakes. Some good old-fashioned Hershey’s chocolate bars and Brach’s hard candies should do the trick. Oh, and don’t for get the Maloxx.

-Tiki Chris Pinto, Live from The Tiki Blog

Remembering The Warner Movie Palace on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City

The auditorium of the Warner Theater, c. 1930. Yes, this is the INSIDE.

Since moving pictures first made the scene in the early part of the 20th century, movie houses have enjoyed mega highs and way-down lows. From make-shift screens dropped in stage theaters, to magnificent movie palaces of the 1930’s, to crowded one-room joints to modern megaplexes, the architecture of the American movie theater has swung back and forth so many times it’s hard to tell what theaters were popular and when.

The Warner Palace Theater opened in 1929 on the world famous Atlantic City Boardwalk. Built as a movie house and showroom, it was giant, beautiful and elegant. But the timing was bad for such a remarkable showplace; Depression, World War II and that new-fangled thing called television proved too daunting. By the 1950’s it had been turned into a bowling alley, and by the 1980’s it was finished. Caesars Atlantic City bought the property, tore down the auditorium and turned it into a parking garage. Lights out.

But not entirely. Somehow, and no one seems to know the real reason why, Caesars didn’t demolish the building’s facade on the boardwalk. Through the ’80s and ’90s it remained, with a small building behind it that stayed open as a burger joint. This is how I remember the Warner, from the early 1990s, popping in now and then to grab a hot dog and listen to bad karaoke. I remember a friend of mine singing that bad karaoke there one night; she sang “Come Rain or Come Shine” to another friend of mine…they started dating after that, it ended badly, and that was that. Wouldn’t have expected anything different from Atlantic City.

The Warner Theater facade as I remember it in the 1990's

How was that for digression, huh? Now back to the theater. The front somehow survived until the late 1990’s-early OO’s, when Caesars and Bally’s decided to pour a few million bucks into their Atlantic City properties. They had plans to build between the two casinos, essentially tying them together. The old Warner was in the way.

There’s not much left of old Atlantic City. The Steel Pier was torn down in the 1980s (I watched them remove the last of it with a crane), the Steeplechase Pier burned down around the same time (I watched it burn), the glorious hotels from the Golden Era - Marlborough-Blenhiem, Traymore - were imploded to make room for ugly glass and steel casinos that have since been torn down, gutted or remodeled. The Atlantic City Historical Society was loosing every battle.

In walks a woman named Florence Miller. I never met Florence, but my parents knew her. All I remember them saying about her was that she was relentless. I don’t know the whole story, but somehow she, along with the ACH, talked or strong-armed Caesars into not destroying the facade. They even had plans to dismantle it and move it down the boardwalk to the old Garden Pier, the site of the Atlantic City Historical Museum. But the casinos caved in, and worked it into the architecture of the new boardwalk facade.

Today, the Warner Theater’s original facade stands proudly among the glitzy casinos, restored to perfect condition. Its doors no longer open on a grand palace, its windows no longer emit sparkling light; it just sits in quiet dignity, a reminder of the glory days of the movie palace – and  Atlantic City.

* * * * * * * * * *

Closeup of the Warner Theater today

Movie Palaces became obsolete when TV came on the scene. No longer did you need to be entertained in a giant, beautiful theater when you could see Uncle Milty for free at home. The Palaces slowly closed, one by one, giving way to smaller, one-room neighborhood theaters. By the 1970’s only a handful of these beautiful buildings remained; 50’s style single and twin theaters are all that held on. The 70’s also brought the Quardaplex, four screens in one building. This would set the stage (some pun intended) for the mega-plexes of the 80’s.

The Warner Theater facade at night, blending in with the Casino facades

I think you can thank Star Wars, Rocky and Jaws for the return of the big theaters. I remember people waiting in a two-block long line to see Rocky. There were lines for Star Wars 3 months after it hit the theaters. In our area, the Towne 4 movie theater became the Towne 12, then the Towne 16, then the Towne 24. The Tilton Twin became the Tilton 6. Then Loews moved in with like a 32-screen theater or something crazy like that.

Down here in Florida, a company by the name of Muvico took a chance that people would pay an extra buck or two to see movies like Jurassic Park in a 30’s style movie palace. It paid off. Muvico runs several vintage-themed megaplexes in South Florida, my favorite being the Muvico Palace in Boca Raton. This multi-plex beauty is as close as you can get to a deco-style movie palace. A grand entrance, giant lobby with marble floors and art deco styling, large auditoriums with giant screens, and the palm trees are real. If only they played Casablanca, it would be like going back in time.

The (new) Muvico Palace Theater in Boca Raton, Florida

OUR MAN FLINT - Mod Movie Mondays at the Tiki Blog, Baby!

Well, it’s called Mod Movie Mondays at the Tiki Bar, and it don’t get any more mod than this!

“Our Man Flint” 1966

Are you hip to the swingin’ scene I’m laying down before you? Are you ready to get in the groove, and swing with the koolest kats and kittens in the galaxy? Are you ready to leave Dullsville and climb aboard the Mod-A-Rama express? Pull up a bean bag and get ready to be experienced with the grooviest, the ker-raziest, the most swinginest spy to make the scene…Derek Flint, the United States of America’s answer to to the Queen’s James Bond.

James Coburn stars as Flint, the Renessance man/genius/karate expert/woman charmer spy who is, without doubt, the most unbelievable man in the world. He knows karate, designs and builds his own spy gadgets, and has a half a dozen groovy 60’s chick girlfriends living with him in his mod pad. He even speaks dolphin. And he always gets the bad guy. Or girl.

Not really sure why there were only two Flint movies, ‘Our Man Flint’ in ’66 and ‘In Like Flint’ in ’67. Maybe they were too Mod for the masses. Maybe they were too groovy to make the gravy. Maybe they were just a little too cornball, even for the ’60s. Whatever the case, After I first saw “Our Man Flint” years ago (by mistake, flipping through channels caught it on AMC back when they actually played old movies, without commercials) and fell in love with the whole idea. Apparently I wasn’t the only one…The Flint movies were to become the main fodder for Mike Meyers’ “Austin Powers” series. Hell, the cat even watches “In Like Flint” in one the AP movies! Watch the Flint Flicks, then watch the first two Austin Powers…you’ll see the inspiration, from the Fembots to the sound his two-way communicator makes. (Yes, ok, sure, Austin Powers movies’ plot lines are pretty much taken from 007 flicks and Matt Helm, but look for the details)

Watching this flick will really take you back to another time, a time lost in recent history, never to be seen again. The sets are so psychedelic you’ll think you’re on acid. The women are 1960’s sexpots galore. Even the restaurants are cool.

The best way to dig this movie is with all the lights off and a couple of sand candles glowing softly. Burn some incense and dine on Welsh Rarebit and toast point while sipping burgundy wine, or serve Seagram’s 7 Manhattans and Wild Turkey on the Rocks (Flint is All-American, so British Gin and Russian Vodka is strictly off the list for this gig!)

I hope this little rap has turned you on to some swingin’ fun. ZOWIE!

Mod Movie Mondays: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, 1964 (with commentary by MST3K)

Hold on to your wool caps kiddies, Santa Claus is here to save us from the evil Martians!

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, 1964

Ah, the Atomic Age, when spaceships were pie plates and anything with the word “Martian” in it would sell tickets.

I won’t even try to summarize any kind of plot with this flick. It’s something about Martians don’t have Christmas, but Martian kids can watch Earth Christmas shows on the tube, so they want a Santa, or a family with John Payne, or Zuzu’s petals, or a Red Ryder BB Gun or some jazz like that. I don’t know, I was on my third highball 15 minutes into this goop. BUT! There is an amazing version of this sci-fry reel…brought to you by those lovable robots at Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Yes, once again the gang at MST3K has turned a nonsense bunch of images into something very groovy. And of course, there are the cheap, early ’60s sci-fi sets, Martians with things on their heads, stock footage of rockets, and…uh…Santas. Plural.

And you can watch it all right now by clicking here, for free.

You’re going to want to pair this fine movie with an equally fine beverage. I think Maddog 20-20 will do. With great writing like, “One false move and your little ho-ho-ho man will be destroyed,” you can’t go wrong.

Thank you to my friend Cat for turning me on to this krazy flick!

Mod Movie Monday: Barbarella, 1968

I’ve decided to start something new here at the Tiki Bar. MOD MOVIE MONDAY is where all you hipsters can get hip to some crazy, far-out flicks from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Some you’ll know well, some you’ll never have heard of. I’ll post a new one every Monday, or every-other Monday, or at least when I remember to…and will have them all under the keywords “Mod Movie Mondays” so as time goes by you can just search that and get the whole list! Now, they won’t always be “Mod”, some might be “groovy” or just “cool”, but I needed a name for it and this is what stuck. So, without further ado…

Mod Movie Monday for November 30, 2009:

Barbarella (Queen of the Galaxy) 1968

I started with the most mod movie I could think of, the classic psychedelic space fantasy starring the beautiful Jane Fonda. The story is based on the comic book heroin who lives on a planet of peace and love, where war is non-existent. But not everything is rosy in this future world…the brilliant scientist Durand-Durand (yes, that’s where the band got their name) has gone missing, and this kat possesses the knowledge to create a great weapon, one that threatens the peaceful gig that Barbarella’s future Earth enjoys. She is chosen to find the scientist, destroy the machine, and bring him back to Earth. Along the way she discovers a lot of groovy things (especially about sex) that she didn’t know existed, and shows plenty of skin while doing it.

If you haven’t seen this flick, check it out. I give it a 10 on the Mod scale, for a plethora of reasons, including:

Barbarella

• Grooviest opening sequence ever, with Barbarella floating in zero gravity while stripping her space suit off. Not only is she a honey, her spaceship has shag carpeting. The titles arrange themselves to carefully hide most of her nakedness, an idea that Mike Meyers used in his Austin Powers movies. The title song is sooooo ’60s that 3 minutes into the film you’ll think you’ve gone back in time. The song is performed by the Bob Crew Generation, the same hipsters that gave us the quintessential version of “Music to Watch Girls By”.

• Barbarella’s Space Ship looks like a vintage card shoe.

• Very ’60s looking sets, including obviously hand-painted backdrops, vividly colored oil & water mixes as special effects, and far out costumes.

• Woman-eating dolls and attack parakeets.

• Barbarella’s on-board computer looks like a wall of post-it notes.

• An angel, ray guns, hollow leather men, creepy twins, Essence of Man, sex pills, fantasy dream chamber and the Excessive Machine.

• Groovy music throughout

• Great lines like, “I’ve got to get rid of this tail”.

Now remember kids, this movie was intentionally campy. There’s more cheese on this set than there is in Switzerland, but that’s the charm of it. It’s funny, silly, sexy and kool. I think a lot of people today just wouldn’t “get it”, but if you’re reading Tiki Lounge Talk, you definitely will. There was talk about a remake coming out, originally conceptualized with Rose McGowen in the lead with Robert Rodriguez directing. No offense to Rose, I think she’s a doll, but I don’t see her as the innocent girl-next-door type, and I think Rodriguez would have made it much too edgy and rough. And bloody. And he’d  probably throw in a couple of vampires. Apparently the studio thought so too, and the project’s on hold. Anyway it goes, if they do a remake it will never live up (or down) to the standards of the original: a krazy-art-and-drugs-inspired project that was born out of the psychedelic ’60s.

What to drink while digging this flick:
There’s actually a drink called the Barbarella: 2 oz. Sambuca, 1 oz. Cointreau, shake and pour over the rocks in an old fashioned glass. If that’s not your taste, I’d suggest a CC & Ginger on the rocks.

Combine all the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice, shake and strain into an old fashioned glass.

(Details & Trivia on IMDB Here)