Bora Bora, San Francisco, CA (restaurant) - Locating Tiki

F flitewave Member Richard Synnestvedt Joined: Jun 24, 2012 Posts: 1	F flitewave Posted posted on Sun, Jun 24, 2012 8:49 PM On 2011-11-11 17:45, Trad'r Bill wrote: What great info has come out on this location - nice job connecting the dots with the logo tiki Bigbro. Still hoping we'll find the Robert Van Dorpe connection... I dove into the newspaper archives and found some great info... it involves socialites, murder, intrigue... and Don Ho :) In 1965, the Bora Bora Club was owned by SF nightclub tycoon George Lavery. After a night of hard drinking, a violent fight broke out between Laverly and his newlywed socialite wife, Gail Woodfield Lavery. The young wife shot and killed her husband during the altercation - the deceased had apparently threatened her with bolt cutters during the fight. My name Richard Synnestvedt, The Bora Bora club was a place I went to on every liberty I had. I knew all the intertainers personally. I used to sing with Marie Matitarangi from Tahiti in Quinns bar when the floor show wasn't playing. I have all there pictures in black and white. I was stationed on the USS. Ranger CVA 61 at that time, stationed at Hunters Point Naval ship yard. I was eighteen years old and never had to buy a drink in that place ever. I never had to pay for anything. This place was like heaven on earth to me. I will never forget it. Everyone connected to this restuarnt was so warm and beautiful. I only have the fondest memoriesa of it. I was the only sailor that went there. I had a whole box of their match books but was lost some where in time. I very ofton wish I knew what happened to all of them. I never had so much fun and laughter, never before or after. Tareva Matitarangi, Rava, Kuulay and Otilla. There was John and Emeil Itchner the drummers. Call me if you would to. I would like to hear from you. Richard Synnestvedt 918-688-2881 The Bora Bora club survived this incident long enough to host the one and only Don Ho in his first mainland appearance(!) in November of 1965. But the Bora Bora was closed by the time this article was written in January of '67 On a lighter note, the Bora Bora also held Karate lessons M-F from 6-8 PM and 12-2 on Saturdays :P Enjoy! -Trad'r Bill

On 2011-11-11 17:45, Trad'r Bill wrote:
What great info has come out on this location - nice job connecting the dots with the logo tiki Bigbro. Still hoping we'll find the Robert Van Dorpe connection...

I dove into the newspaper archives and found some great info... it involves socialites, murder, intrigue... and Don Ho :)

In 1965, the Bora Bora Club was owned by SF nightclub tycoon George Lavery. After a night of hard drinking, a violent fight broke out between Laverly and his newlywed socialite wife, Gail Woodfield Lavery. The young wife shot and killed her husband during the altercation - the deceased had apparently threatened her with bolt cutters during the fight.

My name Richard Synnestvedt, The Bora Bora club was a place I went to on every liberty
I had. I knew all the intertainers personally. I used to sing with Marie Matitarangi from Tahiti in Quinns bar when the floor show wasn't playing. I have all there pictures in black and white. I was stationed on the USS. Ranger CVA 61 at that time, stationed at Hunters Point Naval ship yard. I was eighteen years old and never had to buy a drink in that place ever. I never had to pay for anything. This place was like heaven on earth to me. I will never forget it. Everyone connected to this restuarnt was so warm and beautiful. I only have the fondest memoriesa of it. I was the only sailor that went there. I had a whole box of their match books but was lost some where in time. I very ofton wish I knew what happened to all of them. I never had so much fun and laughter, never before or after. Tareva Matitarangi, Rava, Kuulay and Otilla. There was John and Emeil Itchner the drummers. Call me if you would to. I would like to hear from you.
Richard Synnestvedt 918-688-2881

The Bora Bora club survived this incident long enough to host the one and only Don Ho in his first mainland appearance(!) in November of 1965.

But the Bora Bora was closed by the time this article was written in January of '67

On a lighter note, the Bora Bora also held Karate lessons M-F from 6-8 PM and 12-2 on Saturdays :P

Enjoy!
-Trad'r Bill

Post #641594 by flitewave on Sun, Jun 24, 2012 8:49 PM