In 2008, I
posted the above photo, asking if anyone could identify this tiki-themed
Orange County apartment complex. All I knew was that the photo was taken by folks from the
Orange County Planning Dept in November 1961.
Finally, four years after my post, we have an answer.
Mike Skinner of the excellent
Tiki Architecture blog wrote that it was probably the
Hana Kiki Garden Apartments at 1147 W. Memory Lane, in
Santa Ana (just east of Bristol Ave.).
I've been to the Hana Kiki before, and I took photos (which I'll share below). The complex is even featured in my
Orange County Tiki presentation. But I never made a connection between the complex and our mystery photo. So I went back today, on my lunch break to prove it to myself and to take an "after" photo.
Sure enough. It's the right place. The tikis are gone from the landscaping and everything looks like a jungle now. It's actually quite an attractive place, but you can see how the buildings are obscured by the foliage.
The only tiki still to be found in the complex is the pole holding up the A-frame pool house. And even that is showing a lot of damage from either termites or wood rot. A detail is supplied below. (Also note the thatch on the rear wall.)
Mike writes that the complex was "constructed in 1960 and began renting apartments (adults only) in November 1960." In the newspapers of the day, ads for the Hana Kiki read, "New, deluxe,... bungalow apartments near
Fashion Square in a big avocado grove with lush landscaping, private patios,
Gold Medallion kitchens, real fireplaces, 1 1/2 bath, color plumbing fixtures, carpet, drapes, large recreation lanai and pool. 1 and 2 bedrooms, unfurnished."
Man, that sounds great! And a later ad pointed out that this "ultra modern" complex had its own private street, which "assures quiet seclusion." I'd move there myself, except that avocado grove is gone -- and in its place is,... well,...
Santa Ana.
Additional Mid-Century, Polynesian-Pop remnants from 1960 include the Asian/Modern motif iron fencing, the textile cement block wall around the "lanai," the lava rock chimneys on each unit, and of course the 51-year-old subtropical plants.
Anyway, my thanks to Mike for finally solving this mystery. We "urban archaeologist" types make a lot more progress when we can work together on this stuff.
P.S.- Also be sure to see my post on the
Islander Apartments -- another tiki paradise that's just about a block away from the Hana Kiki.
