Have you ever met someone whose story gave you goosebumps? Maybe someone who took a leap to land somewhere new, to engage with the community, and it led to a story they never imagined. Well, that’s how I felt when I recently chatted with Jason and David Annecy of Gay Fad Studios.
This couple landed in small-town Ohio to start the next chapter of their lives. As a graphic designer, Jason was approached to paint murals in the heart of the downtown. He drew his inspiration from the town’s history as a mecca for glass manufacturing. He had heard the town talk about the past a lot. But he was a bit bothered that the past was always treated as behind them, so far away. He dove further into the glass history and discovered what a presence one woman in particular had in the town. Her name was Fran Taylor, an entrepreneur who started hand-painting metal wastepaper baskets in the 1930s. Due to the scarcity of metals during WWII, she pivoted to designs on glass. And in 1945, she moved her business from Detroit to Lancaster, Ohio. Here she hired female artists whom she’d train to decorate glassware with her proprietary methods and would produce a full catalog including decanters, drinking glasses, bowls, platters, and more.
Throughout her company’s life, Fran produced over 1,000 different patterns. She created many successful collaborations in the glass industry and eventually opened a showroom in New York City. Until one year, things began to unravel. A series of unfortunate events would eventually devastate this business. Fran faced outsourcing issues and the theft of all of her 1963 (about to be launched) designs. Fran didn’t have the means to fight these battles and ended up closing her company in 1962.
Those of us who collect vintage glassware can usually recognize a piece by Gad Fad Studios. Yes, the company was named during a happy time, and Fran wanted to create a fad of whimsy and beauty to uplift the soul with her designs. She succeeded, as far as I’m concerned! And she was clearly an influence on other midcentury designers, such as Fred Press and Georges Briard.
Now, back to Jason and his mural. He, too, was moved by Fran’s work and used it as inspiration for his mural design. But he didn’t want the history to be lost again once the mural was washed away, so he dug further and found Fran Taylor’s daughter! She shared her mother’s archives with David and Jason, and there began a lovely relationship that led to Annecy’s revitalization of the Gay Fad Studios brand.
As Jason tells the story, he didn’t want to reproduce the studio’s previous designs. Instead, he again used these designs as inspiration and began to think about how Fran would interpret her designs and overall company ethos into current times. And now we have Gay Fad Studios once again, using the same methods and materials Fran established in the 1930s. Goosebumps?! Yes!
While I’d been following Gay Fad Studios on social media, I hadn’t taken the time to truly understand the back story until Jason and I spoke. And what led us to this conversation? Well, it just so happens that I’d posted one of my NA beverage reviews for The Sober Curator. As usual, my photos include some of my vintage barware. I had recently purchased a cocktail set but didn’t know the maker. So I used the post to see if anyone following might know more about the story. Sure enough, Jason wrote to me immediately, having recognized it as a Gay Fad Studios piece and even looked in the archives to tell me the pattern name and the years it was produced. Hello, new friend!
Jason also took the moment to remind me that their annual mid-century barware show was coming up at the end of June. Bottoms Up! Well, this is a mecca for a vintage barware lover like me. And while it was on my bucket list, I didn’t know when I’d venture to small-town Ohio from Seattle. As luck would have it, my husband and I were planning a trip to Wisconsin for a family get-together the weekend before. So we decided to add on a road trip to Lancaster!
As I shared a bit about my vintage travel bars and contributions to The Sober Curator, Jason and David invited me to do a presentation during Bottoms Up and asked if I’d create some signature NA cocktails for the event. I was in!
Jason and David have been very thoughtful in their approach to Bottoms Up. This was never going to be a conference in a stuffy ballroom. Instead, it’s a takeover of the town and includes many local businesses and others invited from around the region. The show includes cocktail parties (one of the venues is the Catholic school), presentations (held at the library), a classic car show, a vintage barware show by various vendors, and more.
While I won’t be a part of the vendor show, I decided to tell the story of my Happy Traveler vintage travel bars during one of their learning sessions. This will be a journey through the cocktail culture with my unexpected trip to a sober lifestyle. If you love mid-century barware or appreciate midcentury design, this is an event to put on your bucket list! If you can’t attend the event, check out the Gay Fad Studios website for purchasing glassware and many more stories and history.
Sober Curator Fun Facts! The Sober Curator will sponsor two cocktail parties and provide signature non-alcoholic cocktails. Stay tuned for more details on these recipes!
VIP Preview- Midcentury Vendor Show Marketplace, Friday, June 27th, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. TICKETS HERE
Retro Orbit: A Midcentury Space Affair, Saturday, June 28th, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. TICKETS HERE
Check out all of the events for this four-day festival! Bottoms Up! and their Facebook page
About the Event:
The Bottoms Up Midcentury Barware Show returns to Lancaster, Ohio, June 26–29! 
Attend the nation’s first event dedicated to the celebration of midcentury barware culture.
Enjoy expert presentations, mixologist classes, cocktail parties, a barware vendor show, antique car show, tiki bar and more! Plus, enjoy throwback cocktails, food and drink specials to top off the event.
To stay up to date on announcements, tickets, special guests, and more, follow our new dedicated Facebook page (in the comments) or sign up on our website.
Get ready for an extended weekend filled with vintage cocktail culture, stunning midcentury glassware, and a stylish celebration of all things barware.
Tell your friends and start planning now!
✈️ Sober Adventures Wanted!
Have you taken a trip without the booze but with all the epic vibes? Did you hike majestic trails, sip fancy mocktails poolside, or just find a quiet corner of the world where your soul could exhale? We want the juicy details (and the jaw-dropping pics)! The Sober Curator is putting together the ultimate sober travel guide—and your story could be the highlight.
Send us a postcard!
(And by that we mean… save the stamp and shoot us an email. We’re cool like that.) thesobercurator@gmail.com
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