This artists appreciation for a mid-century era helped him find his niche.

Send us Fan MailPete Klockau is a cartoonist, illustrator, and life long collector. He loves vintage toys, classic horror movies, and vinyl records. Several years ago Pete and his wife developed a fondness for tiki bars. The ambience and aesthetic of these establishments captivated both of them.  Tiki bars offered an experience that transported them to a different world and a different time.Together they started collecting tiki mugs and tiki decor with the goal of opening their own bar. The timing of the endeavor did not pan out. This was in late 2019 just before the coronavirus pandemic. They never opened that bar but it was not all for nothing. For the grand opening of the bygone bar, Pete used his illustrations skills to design a signature tiki mug to raise funds for the opening. Even though their business plans didn't come to fruition, Pete's tiki mug was a huge success.Demand soared for Pete's mug, The Creature From The Crab Rangoon, a delightful little one-eyed, tentacled monster in a Chinese takeout box. "My brain works in puns." Pete says. Pete has gone on to create several different mugs usually with a classic horror movie slant but always with a fun-filled title. The Black Lagoon Room is the name of Pete's studio and it's where vintage inspiration meets modern execution. The Black Lagoon Room has developed a strong following. Pete and his wife travel to over 15 tiki and horror conventions a year and return each time with very little merchandise. Pete says, "To know that it resonates so much with people makes me feel so GOOD. I couldn't do it without their support."Find more programs at https://www.milwaukeepbs.org/stream