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FeedJan 3, 201309:09 PM
Mystery Photo: Where Was This Memphis Restaurant with the Strange Mural?
photo courtesy Bonnie Daws Kourvelas
My history-buff pal Bonnie Daws Kourvelas, who has been mentioned here before, is stumped. And so am I.
And considering that, between the two of us, we generate enough brainpower to light a small city the size of, oh, Forrest City, Arkansas, that doesn't happen very often.
But looking through some old family scrapbooks, she turned up this photo of a dinner gathering, and neither she nor I can determine the location.
The most obvious clue is the rather bizarre — if not downright appetite-killing — mural painted on the wall, showing some husky naked creature holding a large mug or beer stein, with his "naughty bits" covered by a fig leaf. Unfortunately, his head has been cropped off in the photo. Well, come to think of it, maybe that's a good thing.
Note also the large brass(?) urn in the window, topped with what appears to be a tiny bird. And are those open bottles of olive oil on the table?
So: Does anybody remember this place?
And if you do, don't just tell me the name. Tell me the significance of the unusual decor, please. And if you recognize any or all of the people in the photo, you might as well tell me their names. Don't just sit there.
Ask Vance is the blog of Vance Lauderdale, the award-winning columnist of Memphis magazine and MBQ: Inside Memphis Business. Vance is the author of two books: Ask Vance: The Best Questions and Answers from Memphis Magazine's History and Trivia Expert (2003), as well as Ask Vance: More Questions and Answers from Memphis Magazine's History Expert (2011). He is also the recipient of quite a few nice awards, the creator of several eye-catching wall calendars, and the only person we know with a vintage shock-treatment machine in his den. 
Are we allowed to guess? My guess is Coletta's on S. Parkway!
I thought Colleta's on Summer Ave - don't know the significance of the decor though!
There is a most definite Polynesian theme in this restaurant (note the mural and drapes). I would have said The Luau, but this establishment appears to be in an old house----notice that the electric wiring is pulled out of the wall. Maybe this restaurant did not last long.
Looks to be maybe Italian or Greek. Late 50's - 60's. The Grisanti families had several restaurants during that time. Mr Elfo had one my parents went to regularly. Not Coletta's back room that I remember.
That's my dad, Jerry Daws, at far right, and with him are fellow employees of First Tennessee (then called First National). He doesn't remember where this was taken, but he did say it was NOT the Luau.
SOMEWHERE I have seen another photo with Loincloth Guy in it, but I can't remember where. Wish I could!
I posted in on the Memphis site and so far...these are the answers I have been given:
Kon Tiki, Melos Taverna, Giovanni's, Chenaults, old Claybrook restaurant near Methodist, Coletta's at Lamar/Pkwy
Tammy
Maybe some kind of Adam and Eve-themed place? I have no idea. I was born in the 70s.
Greg Akers
It was Beretta's on Park and Highland.
Sarah Strong
It was Beretta's on Park and Highland.
Sarah Strong
It was not Beretta's, because they did not have bottles of oil on the table, or a big urn.