This quirky retro 1960s stovetop has a devoted cult following, particularly within a burgeoning Facebook group—but why?
When Brian and David Whittington visited their grandmother in Houston as kids in the 1970s, they'd gaze, starstruck, at the machine sitting in her kitchen: a Frigidaire Flair electric stove. With polished chrome handles and stark block typography on its dials, it looked more like a car dashboard than an appliance. Most dazzling was its stovetop: four electric burners set into a"roll-to-you" drawer that slid seamlessly out of sight. In the boys' eyes, the Flair was a wonder.
The stove was designed by Jayne Van Alstyne, who joined General Motors in 1955 as a"Damsel of Design," one of a handful of women hired to make GM's products more"female-friendly." She was eventually promoted to the head of Frigidaire, GM's appliance division, and from there led Frigidaire's design of the 1956"Kitchen of Tomorrow," a display kitchen with the streamlined aesthetics of the Jet Age.
Samantha prepares to cook breakfast on her Frigidaire Flair .Van Alstyne’s model far outpaced competitors like the Roper Charm and the Tappan Fabulous 400 in sales and popularity. When the Flair first appeared on the television show “Bewitched,” Samantha Stephens relied on the stove in addition to her powers to prepare meals; Sam’s Flair became synonymous with modern culinary magic.
As some homeowners worry about the health risks and environmental inefficiency of gas stoves, the chance to buy something new-or old-in the electric category may be tempting. Frigidaire has not commented on the possibility of a relaunch. But would Flair fans want to see it revived as a 21st-century appliance? Brian put it this way:"That would be fun to see-but it wouldn't really be a Flair.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australia's secret history of Aboriginal population control in the 1960sAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article may contain images of deceased people. It contains mentions of the Stolen Generations, and policies using outdated and potentially offensive terminology when referring to First Nations people.
Read more »
Harry Potter In The 1960s Art Gives The Franchise An Early TV FeelRyan Northrup is a Senior Writer at Screen Rant who covers movies and TV, with a particular focus on action blockbusters.
Read more »
Palm Spring promises to 'right that wrong' for Black, Latino community destroyed in 1960sResidents of Section 14 who built their homes by hand watched as the city burned them to the ground to make way for luxury developments.
Read more »
Reckoning with long shadow of 1960s countercultureMax Ludington's 'Thorn Tree' suggests the divisions of the 1960s await a moment to reemerge. But strong writing is weighed down by tonal and structural problems.
Read more »
A Most Violent Year: A Gripping Crime Drama Set in 1960s New YorkA Most Violent Year, a crime drama set in 1960s New York, continues to captivate audiences nearly ten years after its release. The film follows the story of Abel Morales, an immigrant and trucking company boss, as he navigates the violent world of the New York oil industry. With outstanding performances by Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, the film offers a unique take on the gangster genre.
Read more »
Parisian Flea Market Yields Glorious 1960s Racing Movie PosterA lobby card movie poster for the 1967 film 'Les Aventuriers' featuring an Oldsmobile-powered slingshot dragster, found in a Paris flea market.
Read more »