In 1935, the movie “The Bounty” was filmed on Catalina Island starring none other than Clark Gable himself. An entire Tahitian village was built on Catalina for the film, and in order to support the cast and crew, a bar was located just below Gable’s sleeping quarters and became known as Christian’s Hut, named after the character Gable played, Fletcher Christian. When the shooting finished the bar was moved to Newport Beach, and was a major power spot for locals and celebrities alike. It spawned other franchises, but none of them survived, including Newport Beach (burned down in 1963), except for San Diego, which was renamed some years later.
Built in 1953 and originally one of several Christian’s Hut locations, the iconic Bali Hai Restaurant on San Diego’s Shelter Island is one of the oldest classic mid-century Tiki establishments still thriving. It became Bali Hai in 1954, with owner Tom Ham eventually gaining total control of the operations, then passing it along to his family after his death in 1973.
A graduate of UCLA, Tom Ham came to San Diego leaving everything he knew to rescue The Hut (restaurant) on Shelter Island from bankruptcy. His professional experience was that of a tax accountant. He knew little of the restaurant business, but had that invaluable quality - an intuitive, dramatic flair that would lead him to success. He renamed the bankrupt restaurant the Bali Hai, which means, “Your own special island”. He was known for his colorful Hawaiian shirts which became an emblem of his informality and friendliness. The Bali Hai became famous for the Polynesian Floor show which performed two shows a night, six nights a week. Within the first year, the restaurant was packed and Tom Ham started paying back creditors. He would eventually pay off all creditors and be accepted in the tight knit San Diego community.
The success of the Bali Hai provided him with an opportunity to pursue his lifelong interest: the study of California history, avid involvement in many community affairs, and the athletic and scholastic advancement of Californians. One bayside restaurant wasn’t enough though. In 1971, Tom Ham's Lighthouse on Harbor Island opened for business. A fully functioning lighthouse - Beacon #9 on USCG Nautical Maps was incorporated into the design. Tom’s new restaurant combined the business that he had grown to love with a passion for California history. Today, both Bali Hai and Tom Ham’s Lighthouse are world famous San Diego landmarks.
