The Outrigger opened in 1960 at the Surf and Sand Hotel in Laguna Beach and part of its fame included the presence of the celebrity Tiki drinks master Popo behind the bar.

Popo Galsim was born in the Philippines and arrived in San Francisco in 1928. He moved to Brooklyn, New York, in the 30s and famously was able to marry two women in five months by changing his surname from Galsim to Galsini.

He came to California in the 40s and worked behind the bar at The Tropics in Hollywood and the Palm Springs Tennis Club.

Popo began entering cocktail competitions – he moved around and at one point also worked at Kelbo’s – and went on to win many national, regional and international competitions. Among the drinks he invented were the Saturn, the Blue Gardenia and the Queen’s Choice.

Many of his creations, and the awards they won, are noted on this Outrigger drinks list.

The Outrigger was established by Glenn Billingsley, whose uncle was Sherman Billingsley, founder of New York City’s famous Stork Club. He was also the first husband of Barbara Billingsley, who played the character June Cleaver in the TV show Leave It to Beaver(1957-63).

Glenn ran several Southern California restaurants including three Outriggers, seven locations of Billingsley’s Golden Bull, the Jamaica Inn at the Corona Del Mar and the Bocage nightclub in Hollywood. He also operated a Stork Club in Key West, Florida.

This Tiki bar and restaurant offered the usual mix of potent tropical drinks, Cantonese dishes and steaks for those who wanted plain old-fashioned food.

Decorated in Tiki style with blowfish lamps hanging from the ceiling, bamboo mats on the walls and fishermen’s nets, the Outrigger also offered Hawaiian-style entertainment.

We believe the Outrigger closed in the late 70s.