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Pago Pago Lounge facts for kids

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Pago Pago
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
Pago Pago Restaurant and Lounge, Tucson, Arizona, 1945.jpg
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Location 2201 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, Arizona
Area 1.19 acres (0.48 ha)
Built 1947
Architect Blanton & Cole
Architectural style Tiki, Modernism, Exoticism
Part of Miracle Mile Historic District (ID100001208)
MPS Miracle Mile Historic District
Designated CP December 11, 2017

The Pago Pago Lounge was a very popular restaurant and bar. It opened in 1947 in Tucson, Arizona. This unique place was inspired by the capital city of Pago Pago in American Samoa. This island is located in the South Pacific Ocean.

The Pago Pago Lounge was the first restaurant in Tucson with a "Tiki" theme. Tiki culture is a fun style inspired by the islands of the Pacific. It often includes tropical decorations and special drinks. The lounge was part of the famous Miracle Mile Historic District.

History of the Lounge

In 1947, two business partners, Bob McAffee and Homer Moore, wanted to create a special nightclub. They hired an architecture firm called Blanton and Cole. This firm designed the exciting Pago Pago Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge. It was built at 2201 N. Oracle Road.

Building Design

The Pago Pago building was a simple, rectangular shape. It had a special entrance that looked like a Polynesian palapa. A palapa is a type of open-sided building with a thatched roof. The round walls at the entrance had cool murals. These murals looked like Polynesian art.

Large neon signs on the building spelled out "Pago Pago." Inside, the lounge had a long, curved bar. The ceiling above the bar was painted to look like a night sky. There were also many booths arranged in a unique way.

The Pago Pago Lounge was even featured in a movie! It appeared in the 1956 MGM film A Kiss Before Dying. The restaurant's catchy slogan was "It's Topical! It's Tropical, It's the Pago Pago."

Over the years, the building changed a lot. However, some of its original features, like the palm trees, are still there. People hope to restore the building to its original look.

Special Tiki Drinks

The Pago Pago Lounge was famous for its unique "Tiki" drinks. These drinks often had tropical fruit juices and special flavors.

The Pago Pago Cocktail

It is not known if the lounge created a drink named after itself right away. But around 1963, a recipe for the "Pago Pago" drink became known.

Here's what was in it:

  • 1 ounce dark Jamaican rum
  • 1 ounce orange juice
  • 3/4 ounce white grapefruit juice
  • 3/4 ounce lime juice
  • 3/4 ounce honey
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters

This drink was blended without ice. Then, it was poured into a tall glass filled with crushed ice.

Other Fun Drinks

Besides the Pago Pago cocktail, the lounge created many other exciting Tiki drinks. Some of these included:

  • Deep Purple
  • Dragonet
  • La Rhumba
  • Lupa-Lupa
  • Red Opu
  • Samoa of Samoa
  • Sarong
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