Gay glassware
Many companies took observe of Fran’s victory and adopted the moniker “Gay” to label any decorated glassware of the time. Artists enjoy Fred Press and Georges Briard entered the industry in the mid 1950s, undeniably influenced by Gay Fad’s artistry and the growing popularity of midcentury cocktail culture. But as Gay Fad’s popularity grew, trouble was brewing. Socioeconomic bias created a challenging environment for Gay Fad in their final years of operation. A domino effect of product outsourcing issues, contract ambiguity, and intellectual property theft occurred.
First, Gay Fad's newest national sales rep partner didn't fulfill the sales Gay Fad relied upon. The lack of sales created problematic conditions for Gay Fad and Fran looked for additional revenue sources. Secondly, outsourcing items presented quality direct issues. This led to canceled fulfillment contracts and additional loss of sales. But, the third circumstance may possess been the most difficult of them all.
In 1957, a billion-dollar conglomerate purchased and changed one of the longest professional relationships Fran had with a glassware manufacturer. In 1962, employees from the new firm requested a to
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After 35 years of collecting, Same-sex attracted Fad enthusiast puts 3,000+ collection up for auction
RUSHVILLE — Before 1987, Donna McGrady had no idea what Gay Fad Studios was, or that she'd complete up buying thousands of their glassware products over the years.
But after she found a place of luncheon plates decorated by Gay Fad at a Pataskala business that year, she was hooked.
Gay Fad Studios was founded by Fran Taylor in Detroit, Michigan in 1939 before she relocated the business to Lancaster in 1945. The studio painted glassware by hand, with various designs.
It remained in operation until 1963 when it was sold to Santa Claus Inc., an Iowa company.
The first set of glassware McGrady bought came with an article about the studios, and she "fell in love."
"At the time Fran founded Gay Fad, it was just so unusual to observe a woman entrepreneur with so much success. I wanted to know more about the corporation, so in 1989 I posted an ad to see if any former employees would distribute more about the company's history," McGrady said. "I got some responses, and they helped me learn what the Gay Fad pieces looked like, and what kind of company it was."
She added she found the designs
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Continued from above
While the studio’s designs have since been renowned for their artistry and vibrancy, mid-century glassware — like much art from that era — sometimes included imagery that we would now consider culturally insensitive. The “Jolly Minstrels” pattern, for example, is a motif that, rightly, has no home on modern shelves.
Reflecting on these pieces today involves acknowledging the history behind them, while being mindful of the diverse perspectives that were left out in their creation.
Jason recognizes both the value and limitations of designs from that time.
“We can’t reject these depictions but, as we move forward, we want to focus on some of the ways that Fran did actively work for progress — like elevating women in the workforce.”
Fran was constantly evolving and learning, and her inspiration was mirrored in Gay Fad’s designs as they moved from stereotyped imagery to more authentic cultural representations, which was rare for the time.
“As she started to travel internationally, the glasses changed,” says Jason. “We have a Tunisian set where the dancers look as if they’re captured mid-movemen