Real-life Tiki Room - The wonders and history of Oceanic Arts, Polynesian Art Kings - Randomland

In the world of Tiki, one name has always stood out, Oceanic Arts. Founded in 1956 by Bob Van Oosting and LeRoy Schmaltz, the pair took a 37,000 mile trip throughout Polynesia and greater Oceania to bring an unparalleled level of authenticity to their work that led to their shop becoming the dominant force in mid-century Tiki pop. LeRoy Schmaltz is to this day considered the Godfather of modern Tiki carving, and coupled with Bob's business savvy, their business now supplies Tropical Decor to everything from backyard parties to films like Pirates of the Caribbean to resorts like Walt Disney World and, of course, Tiki bars and Polynesian restaurants the world over. Bamboo Poles, Thatching, Hand-Carved wooden Tikis, Tribal Masks, Bars, Decorative poles, light fixtures, Pufferfish lamps, Leis, sea-shells, Ceramic Tiki Mugs, Nautical Carving, Fishing Nets, Floats, even plastic turtles!
In fact, some of the largest Tikis in polynesia were carved right here in Whittier, California by LeRoy and Bob! Join us today as this incredible pair of visionaries invite us in to have a look around their treasure trove of all things nautical, tropical, and TIKI. Agreeing to sit down with us on their lunch, they also tell much of the history in their own words.
These two guys are a huge influence on the world of Tiki, but also a huge inspiration to us all, having founded their business on their passion and keeping their doors open for 58 years. As LeRoy said, "In the early days people would ask us, 'when are you going to get a real job?'" And they never did..
A very special Thank You to Oceanic Arts - www.oceanicarts...
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Most of the time Justin films Randomland alone and on the fly, no script or plan, but to cover this one Taylor Garcia and Tyler Evans volunteered to help with filming and conducting the interviews.
Visit Tyler's Channel at / tylerrockjournalist
Taylor's Channel at / taylortime13
Justin's other (forthcoming) channel / justinscarred

[@jensme1]

Bob Van Oosting is my dad. I forgot all about this video it was do nice to see this made me so happy. I pretty much grew up there.

[@jkgabes]

Can’t believe this was 7 years ago. Time really does just fly by.

[@ThatTikiKidOfficial]

This place was my personal Disney World about 10 times better than Disney world. It is sad now that they retired and closed and also I wasn’t able to make it to any of the closing sales or auctions. Leroy was a legend.

[@tarynwyss1635]

Omg this place looks like heaven! Ive always LOVED island art! I was at a walk and they were raffling off a flappy screen tv. The booth was decorated with leis and tikis. There was one tiki with take fire in its mouth and it was BEAUTIFUL. i begged my mom to buy as many raffle tickets as possible, but then when i realized the raffle was for the tv and not the tiki, i told her to forget it

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

That's awesome, and hilarious. They should have raffled the Tiki!

[@ChrisSlack]

I had dreams last night about Oceanic Arts. The news of them retiring is sad, but nothing lasts forever. I’m new to Tiki and just started my room January 1st, 2022.

[@Nickaroonii]

In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room, In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room Were the birds sing words and the flowers GROWWWWWW In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room!

[@bambooben2024]

Watching this now makes me feel like it’s still there! Classic Video Justin!

[@kristenjenkins2560]

Your love for history and Disney is fantastic! I feel that people that go to Disneyland now miss all the (for me) obvious history and detail that is around the park. And that you go other places to just show how cool history truly is is fantastic! Keep up the good work!

[@nathankicyla3070]

OMG! I've lived in Whittier my whole life and had no idea this place was right here. I must have driven by it hundreds of times. thank you Justin for showing this gem of a place to me. I love your channels

[@mellymuse1]

This was awesome! Looks like I'm taking a field trip soon. You are absolutely hilarious! I'm so glad I found your channel.

[@onlyjuliannaa]

I've been here many times and had no idea about the amazing history this place has!

[@kahalak8171]

Great video. Very informative but presented in such a light and fun way. Always a pleasure to watch. Son, you need to be on regular TV - you have the talent.

[@ckilby33]

Amazing video guys. Oceanic Arts rocks!!!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thanks Chris!!

[@deborahdunwell8318]

We just got back home from our field trip to California and your store. We love our purchases that will be the crowning jewel of our Tiki bar!

[@Windsorian125]

Excellent work! You are a very charming, charismatic & knowledgeable host that i could easily watch on mainstream tv! Your a natural! Keep up the films! Subscribed!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Wow, Thank you!

[@sunnygirlsense]

My grandma would love all that stuff. She would go gaga over everything.

[@pyrat_g5913]

Ive been to Oceanic Arts a few times, and it is an amazing place. Most of Adventureland and anything else "tropical" that is Disney came from there. Great Video!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thank you! Love that place too. It definitely is amazing!

[@tmajcan94]

What a cool video Justin! I love Tiki stuff. So to see where a lot of it comes from is super awesome. More people should take notice. And thanks to you, they can. One of the best videos of yours I've ever seen. Great job Justin!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Wow thanks Tim!

[@tmajcan94]

LiveFastDiePoor Anytime sir. You're one of the reasons I watch KZbin so much.

[@tikifire]

I LOVE Tikis! This was awesome!!!!!

[@Sekerak072305]

It is always a joy to watch your videos, you crack me up. I love the tropics and that decor would be awesome. LOL.

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

After doing this video I had to Tiki up my bathroom. It's addictive!

[@Sekerak072305]

lol.

[@penutbutterlove]

I absolutely love your videos! They are so interesting and entertaining!

[@erikjames8463]

That definitely was awesome. Thank you! Bob and Leroy must have been buds with Rolly Crump

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

I don't think they've ever met, actually. I don't think Disney really consulted them other than ordering their stock til WDW was being built and by then I think Rolly wasn't working on anything that would have brought them in contact. I'll definitely ask next time I go. I asked this time but I forget what the answer was

[@alskndlaskndal]

Amazing that so much tiki culture came from that one place. I've never heard of it before but now I wanna go!!! :-)

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

It's definitely a hidden gem!!

[@yorgle]

I really enjoy your videos, but i REALLY enjoyed this one. You did a great job of presenting the material, showing cool stuff, interviewing Bob and LeRoy... cheers. :D

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thank you Scott, this is still my favorite one!

[@danielcharlesthomas4603]

Good job. Great insight into 20th century culture and art. Now going 21st!!!!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Absolutely! :)

[@jeffbritton9567]

Another interesting and well put together video. Thanks.

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thank YOU for watching AND for the comment, Jeff!!!!!!

[@j0hnatlarge]

That is really cool! I've always liked Polynesian art and the Tiki Room. Those two guys have done a lot in their lives. Awesome video i'll definitely be checking this place out when i go back to CA!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Awesome! Make sure to tell em I sent ya! Haha

[@TheUltraViolets08]

My city! A Randomland in my city! I loves you Justin! We must hang out at Disneyland and be awesome! I have the So Cal Select pass so while I'm banned from Disneyland for awhile, I've been watching your vids to get my fix! Lol I already knew 90% of the facts you tell us so it's refreshing to know that if writing for Pixar fails, I could always be a Disney Historian lol.

[@jameshakes6842]

I respect these older gentleman

[@djacgators1]

Man I'm telling you what, this was awesome. A network channel needs to take notice to you. Disney needs to give you a job at least. I really think we will be seeing you on a bigger screen.

[@stevehoag232]

Amen!

[@toy_room_of_insanity]

This is a fantastic video!

[@cosmiccowboy92021]

Outstanding video. Well done & Tiki-On!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thank you & Will do!!

[@hermanaA]

I love the interview! What great men ands hat an even greater history. This is a gem of a video!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thank you!

[@cowboys12400]

LUV this place!!!

[@stevehoag232]

LiveFastDiePoor Justin, great to actually see all the cool stuff you described for us at Trader Sam's. Crank up the Martin Denny exotica playlist!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

YES! When I got back from OA and Trader Sam's I listened to "Quiet Village" all night haha

[@BertieFett]

Wow great video. I'm a big fan of all things tiki and Polynesian as well as Disney and this video was fascinating. Keep up the good work Justin!

[@WDWPRINCE]

I've always wanted to see this place. Thanks sooo much. Another great job!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thank you!

[@jenswestpfahl7108]

ITS Amazing Store and i am a real big Fan of oceanic art thank you for making this Film!! Sorry for my english i cam from Germany 😉👍 i make a little bit Tiki's but Not so high quality that Leroy make this both Man are my Heroes!! 😊

[@globaldenny]

Awesomeness

[@fatdude2468]

I've watched like every single randomland video you have! I love em bro!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Wow thanks man!!

[@KJeske8274]

This place looks AMAZING and what a contribution they have made. I loved everything in there. The Polynesian at WDW is our favorite resort so seeing that so much came from these guys is great. My husband is going to love this video as we are Parrotheads (Jimmy Buffett fans) through and through. LOL! Also, I agree with others here that you need your own travel show, your videos are fantastic. I look forward to new ones constantly. Keep it up!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thank you! Yeah I was just back in here two days ago and they had a huuuuuge order for WDW so it looks like the Polynesian is having some refreshing done :)

[@wyomom7260]

I foresee you having your own show on the Travel Channel!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Wouldn't that be nice, ha! Then I could afford the stuff inside this place! :D

[@shyviolin4877]

I'm gonna buy something from their just to say I got something from the makers of the tiki room! I could literally stop by because I live near it!

[@StaleMedia]

This video is such a cool find

[@Kodachrome40]

Awesome interview!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thank You! TylerRockJournalist helped conduct the interview so I could focus on filming.

[@jcost0099]

Mahalo! I want to go to this store and bring some of this fun stuff back to Texas!

[@Gemashke]

Great video, sir! I enjoy all of your videos...keep up the good work!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thank you! These guys are the real champs though, 58 years of Tiki, amazing!

[@moogwanmyrick7686]

Great video! So....what was wrong with the sign? I guess I didn't see it.

[@Rileyglasses]

You always make great quality entertaining videos. Keep up the good work!

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

:D Thank you!

[@BigDaddysBearCave]

Amazing 😎👍👍👍

[@nikushim666]

I am surprised you don't have a video about trader sams. Though there are a ton of traditional tiki bar's throughout socal. If you are ever in vegas i would suggest checking out frankies. the interior design was done the grandson of Eli Hedley, bamboo ben.

[@oldtimefreedom]

sign looks fine to me i'll take it! love your vids! just wish i new about this place the one time i was in Whittier 14 years ago

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

I asked how much they'd take for it and they said, "More than YOU could afford!" hahahaha

[@jerradshow7199]

Oh jeez, I'm gonna need you to send me one of those little puffer fish lamps now

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Haha! The little ones don't have lights in them but all you do is cut a hole and stick some xmas lights in

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

if you're serious I'll go find out how much they are for you and ship it to you

[@Lisa_Perl]

Cool, I wanna go there when I come to California.

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Definitely do! Tell them we sentcha! ;)

[@Lisa_Perl]

LiveFastDiePoor Will do :)

[@BearandCherokee]

That's epic dude, I wish I could go there I live to far away. My dad would flip. :)

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

I would live there if I could - I asked them if I could spend the night inside but I was shot down. Haha

[@ilovewaltdisney]

I need a drink :D...luv tiki tiki

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Excellent!!

[@captainakron27]

I'll take the mother in law size. What an awesome artist and collection! Thanks for sharing. Where is my Tardis. #LFDP

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Hahaha when you find it, just take us for a spin in it

[@captainakron27]

LiveFastDiePoor First stop...? Disney World in Florida, then Disneyland in Paris, then Hong Kong Disneyland, then Tokyo Disneyland. Maby check out Aulani. Then a have a cool drink at Club 33 with a quick stop at Spaceship Earth at EPCOT. Followed by a meet and greet with Walt in the castle suite. Peace #LFDP

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

captainakron27 I really wish this was facebook so I could "like" that comment. Thumbs up on YT is not enough.

[@monkiboyjerry]

Hello Bar ! you've just been raised. Nice job !

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

When you raise the bar it's easier to limbo under it!

[@rasberrycast]

Your documentary skills are outstanding. Keep up the good work. How about a video covering the ill-fated rocket rods?

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

:D Good idea

[@dolantrimp1691]

I live in whittier. I should visit this place.

[@HelloMyNameIsDreamer]

This was so fun and charming, and it really made me want to work on some tiki proyects. Awesome host and the owners were really great and passionate about their art :) wonder if they ship internationally.

[@gtviper1158]

NICE VIDEO

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thanks Jason!!

[@jennpereda6645]

This is a little less than 15 minutes away from the house I grew up in and I had no idea. I'll have to check it out the next time I go back home.

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Definitely do, it's amazing!

[@rdzandre8005]

I love for you to do a Anaheim Ducks episode talking about the original movies and while being at the game

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

That's an interesting idea!

[@stephanieconklin8025]

You need more subscribers your videos are awesome! I dont know why you wouldnt have more! :-)

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Wow thank you! :) Not sure, but I'm thankful for all of you guys that have come aboard so far! :D

[@erikjames8463]

LiveFastDiePoor Since I subscribed (almost 3 weeks ago), it's gone up by over 100 subscribers per day pretty consistently, it seems like. At that rate, this time next year, there will be over 40k subscribers. My girlfriend laughs at me because every time I watch a LFDP video, I give her an update on how many subscribers have added since the last time. I think I just enjoy showing her we're not the only ones who love Randomland videos! Also- we wish Justin, Tyler, and Byron Sinn much success.

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Erik James Wow thanks man! I really don't keep track; I'm too busy running around filming weird stuff and spending time with my family. I'm just happy ANYone is watching!! So thank you!!!

[@StarScreamReee]

Damn just found this video and checked their site and they shut down permanently back in November. End of an era, seems I’ve caught onto the tiki culture at the tail end, the tiki Kons have been cancelled the past two years. Maybe some day if I ever get a house I will be able to create a tiki room. I have a standup bar already that I can decorate around my bar with tiki decorations I already do Sri Lankan mask carvings which are similar but much more detailed than Polynesian masks.

[@lucmartin3895]

Great video thank you ! can you tell me the name of the music in background ? Great choice :)

[@timvogel68]

Awesome store! Inspiring warm decor for us Midwesterners buried in snow. So what did you buy?

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

timvogel68 nothing this time, although I'm going back tomorrow to get some puffer fish. Too poor for anything else!

[@kehaukahapea-zablan8600]

well we don't really have much tiki's .. but awesome to hear outsiders pov. :)

[@kehaukahapea-zablan8600]

** i should add here in hawaii .. maybe french Polynesia ..

[@ballerinagonewild]

Mahalo nui!

[@jamesmorton73]

That's awesome where is that place. I would love to go there

[@oliviagrace3081]

here because of the vlog

[@thefishkid4489]

Same

[@deloadgaming]

Hey do you think you will be in disneyland march 8-15?

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Not sure, always hard to tell, but probably!

[@maddercat]

cool

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

:D

[@salthevaultdweller]

Can you walk around and look? And perhaps purchase something ?

[@dolleyes5]

I reallly REALLY want something from oceanic arts but there are no prices on the website and that scares me....

[@pyrat_g5913]

If you want to check out a REAL cool Tiki Bar, go the Tiki Ti on Sunset in Hollywood. They make the most unique drinks in this tiny little bar. Its not cheap and the place is the size of a coat closet, but worth the experience. Im pretty sure all the decor came from Oceanic Arts. Its like stepping back in time to the Tiki Craze as spoken of in this video.

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

I STILL haven't been in there but now I really need to go!

[@barberjeff67]

Wow, tiki heaven! Do they have a print catalog?

[@disneygirl4130]

anything in NC like in raleigh nc

[@Nickaroonii]

In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room, In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room Were the birds sing words and the flowers GROWWWWWW In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room!

[@alabama3226]

what is Tiki ?

[@nathanielvarela5353]

I live in Whittier

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

You should definitely stop by their place! It's awesome!

[@drfalcon4102]

great video,, I have heard of this place years ago,, I was Raised in Jensen Beach Fl,, anyway,, there was a resturant there called the Outrigger, owned by a famious actress and her Husband ,, had a bunch of this stuff ,, very cool,, I wonder if Justin got a grass skirt for the little lady... great job guys

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Hahaha she wouldn't go in for that, no way

[@drfalcon4102]

dont know till you try

[@primusvsunicron1]

Origins of The Enchanted Tiki Room?

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Not quite, although they did supply all the original thatching and a lot of the materials the imagineers used to construct the Tiki Room. But since then that have done a LOT of work for Disney, all over the world

[@tikimeet]

This is an amazing tour. Thank you for capturing this in a time capsule for us that didn't get there. There's so many things that have come and gone that I wish I could see more video of. Even like Sears stores throughout the decades. Here's a recent time capsule I did of the iconic tiki bar Kowloon in Saugus, MA. There are many out there, but this one captures the Christmas decor, which adds an amazing amount of vibrance. Hope you enjoy, and thank you for your channel. I just found you and subscribed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmi0gIVpfpKYi5I

[@lady-hightower4698]

Good to know he aged well

[@Cunkey]

R.I.P. Bahooka resturant.

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

:( Indeed But all the Bahooka's stuff is going to Clifton's in DTLA at some point, although they're STILL looking for a home for the big fish from Bahooka's

[@Cunkey]

LiveFastDiePoor Believe it or not, my dad and I snatched up a menu and stuff before it closed when they were selling stuff. Im pretty sure Rufus is heading to damon's in glendale : www.latimes.com/local/la-me-c1-tiki-fish-retires-20140217-dto,0,6592769.htmlstory#tugs_story_display

[@old-manparker6153]

OK, kid, I saw a couple of yer' videos and thought… " Hmm, Disney, Don the Beach Comber, no too bad ...for a young know-nothing punk." But, now I'm starting to get impressed. You do know a "tad" of pop-cultural history. Doing yer' research. You got passion. N' yer' getting it "out there" for the rest to enjoy. You might even have the brains to try "Low-Brow Art" and it's birthplace; La Luz de Jesus Gallery… maybe. Hmmm… Well done youngster. It's not awful, it's not that bad, it's … impressive… kinda' darned impressive. But, you are not a Jedi yet!

[@ToXInOfYoureWorld]

interesting, tiki isn't really my thing though :p

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thanks for giving it a shot anyway! :)

[@ToXInOfYoureWorld]

you're welcome! :)

[@disneyparkjunkie]

Do you have a tumblr?

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Sadly not yet :(

[@pingucarlsson1822]

Tiki

[@josephguerena3602]

I was going to leave the video until I heard you were in the town I live! Sorry.

[@ashleejen10]

The tiki gods would always scare me...... The Walt Disney world tiki room had a fire up above the there tiki room..... They had to change it completely

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

They never changed it back? :O

[@ashleejen10]

Before the fire it had a twist with some bird from Aladdin. After the fire they changed it back to the original tiki room

[@chrisg.475]

Amazing footage of an insane, legendary business. But the he video would be a LOT better withOUT the cheesy embarrassing attempts to ham it up.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Ex. El. Ent.

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

Thank you!

[@megmo05]

This is a great conversation starter about the concept of cultural misappropriation. Many indigenous cultures have been exploited due to the commodification of their sacred cultural cultural/ancestral knowledge because there was no ideological concept of individualized ownership like we know in the western/modern sense. I'd love to know what folks think of these clash of ideologies... Shouldn't we take a more enlightened view of these cultures particularly because Indigenous people around the world are still fighting to reclaim land/resources that was taken and should they be able to live comfortably along side those in the western world? The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) recognized by many countries, recognizes this right. Just wanted to get peoples perspective on it... Carry on!

[@reikapxndosx]

I wanna live fast and fie poor

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

So do we, although I think we're more likely to live poor and die fast haha

[@gaetanochiurillo1380]

Bob & Leroy have a lot of similarities to Walt and Roy.

[@jamesmorton73]

That's awesome where is that place. I would love to go there

[@LiveFastDiePoor]

It's in Whitter, CA - just about 20-30 minutes or so from Disneyland

[@jamesmorton73]

Cool man thank you