{"product_id":"the-traders-palmer-house-hotel-chicago-1960s","title":"The Traders, Palmer House Hotel Chicago, 1960s","description":"\u003cp\u003eTiki culture was all the rage in the US when the historic Palmer House hotel in Chicago opened its Traders restaurant and bar in 1957. And, lest anyone think this was an unauthorized copycat – it was made clear that the location was ‘created and personally supervised by Trader Vic – Victor Jules Bergeron jnr who founded the Polynesian-themed restaurant chain in Oakland, CA.\u003cbr\u003eFrom old photographs, it must have been fun to walk off the chilly streets of Chicago and enter a South Seas paradise on the lower level of the hotel, owned by Hilton.\u003cbr\u003eTikis guarded the thatched entrance to Traders and once down the stairs, customers found themselves amid a castaway vibe with ornate wicker chairs, tapa cloth wall hangings, fish floats and fishing nets hanging from the ceiling and puffer fish lamps on wooden tables. There were tikis galore including a huge tiki carved by Barney West (1919-1981) the talented tiki wood carver from Seattle, whose work was in huge demand during the midcentury era of Polynesian pop. Drinks were highly decorated and heavy on the rum, and the food included barbecued meats, Chinese dishes and curries.\u003cbr\u003eAt some point, The Traders renamed Trader Vic’s and endured until 2005 at Palmer House, which is now owned by Hilton. The hotel, established in East Monroe Street in 1873 after the original burnt down, has other claims to fame. It was the first hotel to incorporate the lightbulb, the telephone and the vertical steam lift (elevator.)  Its kitchens also claim to have invented the brownie.\u003cbr\u003eTrader Vic’s currently has 25 restaurants operating in 11 countries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCourtesy Eric Lynxwiler Collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGallery quality Giclée print on natural white, matte, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using Epson archival inks. Custom printed with border for matting and framing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb style=\"line-height: 1.2;\"\u003eEach order includes a print of the interior menu.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb style=\"line-height: 1.2;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAll printed in USA.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Vintage Menu Art","offers":[{"title":"8.5x11\" Archival Print (Unframed) $25.00","offer_id":57491823722662,"sku":"vrh1790052542730","price":19.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"11x14 Archival Print (Unframed) $30.00","offer_id":57491823755430,"sku":"shs1790052542731","price":21.6,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"13x19 Archival Print (Unframed) $40.00","offer_id":57491823788198,"sku":"bdr1790052542732","price":30.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20 Archival Print (Unframed) $55.00","offer_id":57491823820966,"sku":"ssd1790052542733","price":35.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x24 Archival Print (Unframed) $85.00","offer_id":57491823853734,"sku":"cna1790052542734","price":59.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36 Archival Print (Unframed) $135.00","offer_id":57491823886502,"sku":"pwg1790052542735","price":87.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/9133\/8662\/files\/the-traders-palmer-house-hotel-chicago-1960s_1.webp?v=1790052547","url":"https:\/\/coffeetamper.shop\/products\/the-traders-palmer-house-hotel-chicago-1960s","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}