Presented by Brian Chidester

Dive into the work of Don Blanding, one of Tiki culture's most enigmatic and alluring figures. His poetry collection "Vagabond's House" became a cornerstone of the Tiki aesthetic in the post-WW2 era, influencing such luminaries as Eden Ahbez, Donn Beach, Victor "Trader Vic" Bergeron, and Paul Page. Blanding's brand of escapist poetry and images also influenced the Pop-Art and Art Nouveau revivals of the psychedelic '60s.

Brian Chidester is a creative historian with a focus on California subculture. He is co-director of documentary films about Eden Ahbez and Don Blanding, co-author of the book "Pop Surf Culture," and curator of the art exhibitions "Beyond the Pleasuredome: The Occult Works of Burt Shonberg" and "Para-Moderne: Life Reform Movements from 1900 Onwards." He resides in Brooklyn, NY and the Western Catskills.