Hula Dancers & Tiki Gods (Hardcover)

by Chris Pfouts (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
If you thought that Hawaiian war gods and ukuleles were a thing of the past, think again. They're just as collectible as they were in the 1940s, when U.S. servicemen returned home from the South Pacific laden with treasures. Hawaiian shirts which have always retained a devoted following, as documented in The Aloha Shirt: Spirit of the Islands (LJ 12/00) were one of the most obvious symbols of the Islands, but knickknacks of all kinds were bought by this newfound "tourist" trade. The development of air travel created another source of souvenir hunters and thus continued the fascination with all things Polynesian. In the last few years, Schiffer, a firm specializing in guides to antiques and collectibles, has turned out several books on Hawaiiana, and these two are the latest to document this enduring craze. The title of Pfouts's book pretty much tells it all. Look here for images of grass-skirted hula girls (some more naughty than nice) and, in the last 15 pages or so, those stylized idols known as Tiki gods. The text throughout is breezy and perhaps a little flippant, and, characteristically, most of the objects shown are on the kitschy side. Nonetheless, there is no discounting their popularity. Items shown include everything from postcards, matchbooks, and album covers to furniture, lamps, mugs, jewelry, and tattoos. By contrast, Blackburn's book, written by a Hawaii-based antiques dealer, features items that are considerably more upscale, such as traditional native quilts, vintage travel brochures and posters, paintings, textiles, and, yes, even ukuleles. As in Pfouts's book, values are often included, but the text is much more informative, with historical data included in each chapter. For libraries with decorative arts collections, both come highly recommended. Margarete Gross, Chicago P.L.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
The dream of pure freedom in the South Pacific islands has never died on the mainland; sometimes its more of an ache than a dream. Over time and through the mill of popular culture, the dream has been distilled into two enduring images: the hula dancer and the tiki god. This book displays over 500 color images of collectible hula dancers and tiki gods with which readers can have a little exotic fun and maybe catch a tropical thrill along the way. The hula dance provided an escape in its original culture, and here the dancers are shown in sections devoted to flat images, three-dimensions, crank girls, and Hollywoods versions from the twentieth century. The tiki gods that 1960s surfers wore for luck around their necks may have deeper meanings as well, and became the most important symbol of cool adulthood that mainland youngsters could imagine. Here lamps, figures, posters, and souvenirs all come together for entertainment and enjoyment. All dreamers of tropical pleasures will covet copies of this book to linger over. And the values guide will bring them quickly and happily back to reality.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764312472
• ISBN-13: 978-0764312472
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #941,916 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hula Dancers and Tiki Gods, April 28, 2001

By	Sherri L Cullison (Indianpolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews

There's no way this book should be listed under Home and Garden. Someone tell me why it is. Hula Dancers and Tiki Gods boasts over 500 color images of Hawaiiana collectibles. Pfouts' purpose is clear: It's all about fun. He claims he's not out to teach anyone anything. And then he goes ahead and does it anyway. Hula Dancers offers a great store of information and photos. Pfouts gives a clear picture of how the hula dancer and the tiki god came to symbolize so much to so many. He covers a wide range of Hula collectibles through four sections: flat hula treasures that includes postcards, paintings, pulp art, cocktail napkins, carnival sideshow art, decals, playing cards, tattoos, etc; the three-dimensional section brings the lovely ladies to life as figurines, salt and pepper shakers, plaster sculptures, drinking vessels, killer lamps and more; the vintage crank girls in the third section offer the reader a rare chance to see dainty little ladies who shimmy with a quick twist and the Hollywood section show how movie posters, album covers, photos and sheet music brought the hula into greater public view. The tiki gods portion of the book offers up information and photos on everything tiki, including swizzel sticks, mugs, pendants, bookends and furniture to die for. Combined with his entertaining commentary and assessments on what some of these collectibles are worth today, Hula Dancers and Tiki Gods leaves a lasting impression of the depth and availability of Hawaiiana out there.