When I had heard Atomicdust was partnering with Tim and Travis from Retreat Gastropub to create a brand identity for a new tiki bar and restaurant concept, I instantly thought of 1980s late-night TV commercials.
Growing up in St. Louis, when TVs had dials on them, St. Louis had some amazingly entertaining, yet very low-budget late-night TV commercials. One was for a Polynesian bar that my 8-year-old self always wanted to visit – Terry’s Polynesian Room on North Kingshighway.
The commercial featured the owner, Terry, sitting in a wicker high-back chair, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses and a fedora. If I remember right, a couple of his much younger female friends stood next to him, fanning him with palm branches.
I don’t remember everything Terry said during the 15-second commercial – but the tagline he used when the commercial ended will happily be burned into my brain forever. He would smile at the camera, hold up a two-finger peace sign, and say “Aloha – and we’ll see you on the island.”