The Polynesian (1957–1965) - Pre-Latitude 20

The Polynesian – Walteria, California – Vintage Matchbook Tee

Before there was Latitude 20, there was The Polynesian.

Opened in 1957 on Pacific Coast Highway in Walteria, this South Bay landmark arrived during the first great wave of American tiki fever. Out front stood the giant sign. Inside were palms, bridges, tropical gardens, waterfalls, torches, and enough bamboo to convince your boss you had permanently relocated to the South Pacific. For a few hours, at least.

The building survived a devastating fire in 1959, reopened, and continued serving Polynesian dreams until the mid-1960s, when the location eventually evolved into the legendary Latitude 20. In a strange twist of tiki history, the room didn't die. It simply changed names and kept the rum flowing.

This design recreates one of the original matchbook graphics from that first chapter. The quirky geometric lettering, the little tiki figure, the rough stamp-like printing, and the wonderfully imperfect artwork all come straight from the era when roadside exotica was king and every highway promised a doorway to somewhere warmer.

A tiny matchbook from a vanished restaurant.
A surviving fragment from the tropical dream machine that came before Latitude 20.

Lost graphics reborn.
• 100% ring-spun cotton
• Fabric weight: 6.1 oz/yd² (206.8 g/m²)
• Garment-dyed
• Relaxed fit
• 7/8″ double-needle topstitched collar
• Twill-taped neck and shoulders for extra durability
• Double-needle armhole, sleeve, and bottom hems
• Blank product sourced from Honduras

Size guide