New Documentary Explores Life of Tiki Bar Pioneer Donn Beach

The Donn of Tiki' screening in Santa Cruz to feature Q&A with filmmakers

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:43pm

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An extreme close-up of a shattered glass tumbler, its jagged edges and reflective surfaces capturing the vibrant, textural essence of Tiki bar culture.The shattered remnants of a Tiki cocktail glass reflect the colorful, enigmatic legacy of the man who pioneered the modern Tiki bar experience.Santa Cruz Today

A new documentary, 'The Donn of Tiki,' explores the colorful yet fanciful life of Tiki bar pioneer Donn Beach, the founder of the Don the Beachcomber restaurant chain. The film will be screened at the Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz on April 13, with a Q&A session featuring the directors, Alex Lamb and Max Well.

Why it matters

Donn Beach is considered the father of the modern Tiki bar, having introduced the Polynesian-inspired aesthetic and rum-based cocktails that have become staples of the genre. The documentary aims to sort fact from fiction in the life of this enigmatic figure who helped shape American pop culture.

The details

The documentary explores Beach's background, from his early days sailing the world as a deckhand to his time as a rum runner during Prohibition and his establishment of the first Tiki bar in Hollywood in 1937. The film also delves into Beach's involvement in Hawaii's tourism industry and his advocacy for Hawaiian culture. The directors faced challenges in verifying some of the more embellished details of Beach's life, but they were able to interview Tiki enthusiasts, modern bar owners, and Beach's own family members to piece together his story.

  • Beach opened the first Don the Beachcomber restaurant in Hollywood in 1937.
  • The documentary, 'The Donn of Tiki,' will be screened at the Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz on April 13, 2026.

The players

Donn Beach

Also known as Ernest Raymond Gantt, he is considered the father of the modern Tiki bar and founded the Don the Beachcomber restaurant chain.

Alex Lamb

The co-director of 'The Donn of Tiki,' Lamb is an editor who has worked on several TV shows and directed commercials and music videos.

Max Well

The co-director of 'The Donn of Tiki,' Well is a cinematographer who has worked on documentary projects for the Smithsonian and National Park Service, and also worked on Netflix's 'Ask the StoryBots.'

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What they’re saying

“We did our best to say, 'We're fairly certain he was born in Texas and some of the stuff of him growing up in New Orleans and Jamaica's just him exaggerating the tale,' but we don't really know for sure. Records back then weren't the same as they are now, so there wasn't a lot of stuff to use to verify this information.”

— Alex Lamb, Co-director, 'The Donn of Tiki'

“A lot of his youth up until his late teens and early 20s, it's just not very well-documented and he tells all these fantastic stories. We don't know if any of them are true, to be honest.”

— Max Well, Co-director, 'The Donn of Tiki'

What’s next

The documentary 'The Donn of Tiki' will have two screenings in Northern California next week. One is at AMC Bay Street in Emeryville on April 14, followed by a Q&A with the directors at the nearby Trader Vic's. The day before, it will be screened at the Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz with a Q&A with the directors, who will also be at Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf before and after the screening.

The takeaway

Despite the embellishments and hazy details in Donn Beach's life story, the directors of 'The Donn of Tiki' found him to be a fascinating figure who was able to shape American pop culture and the Tiki bar industry through his innovative spirit and ability to reinvent himself, even in the face of failures.