Screening and happy hour spotlights the man who created the Tiki Bar

ArtFood & Drink

Aug 21

Tiki culture enthusiasts and cocktail connoisseurs are invited to a special screening of The Donn of Tiki on September 8 at Celebration Cinema Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids. The event includes a post-screening Q&A with directors Alex Lamb and Max Well, along with themed happy hour specials at Max’s South Seas Hideaway before and after the film.

The Donn of Tiki explores the unbelievable life of Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt—better known as Don the Beachcomber—the enigmatic creator of the tiki bar. Through animation, archival footage, and interviews, the documentary paints a vivid portrait of a man who influenced the restaurant industry, Hawaiian tourism, and the craft cocktail movement.

“This is a film about a life well-lived. Donn Beach was a complicated person who dreamed big and wasn’t afraid to try new things. He had bold ideas that didn’t always work, but that never stopped him from trying,” said Well. “I hope people watch this film and think about their own lives- maybe there’s a project they’ve always wanted to start, a goal they’ve never set because it may seem unrealistic. I hope people watch this film and go do something they’ve never done before.”

Festivities begin at 4 p.m. at Max’s South Seas Hideaway, where guests can enjoy themed cocktail specials and browse official The Donn of Tiki merchandise. At 7 p.m., doors open at Celebration Cinema Studio Park for the screening. The film begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by a live Q&A with the directors. Afterward, attendees are invited back to Max’s to raise a glass in honor of Donn Beach, the legendary figure at the heart of the film.

“Personally, I’ve learned a lot from Donn. He never asked permission to chase his aspirations. In a way, I think the experience of making this film is something I don’t think I could have done without learning what I learned from Donn along the way,” said Lamb.

This event is open to the public. Tickets are available at https://www.thedonnoftiki.com/event-details/the-donn-of-tiki-grand-rapids-mi.

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