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Rodger Young Auditorium Dinnerware

9/21/2020

Rodger Young Auditorium pattern, ca. 1970.

The establishment that ordered the customized "RY" Pyrex dinnerware pattern was recently discovered by an avid Pyrex dinnerware collector and fellow collectors in the Restaurant Ware Collectors Network. The pattern belongs to the Rodger Young Auditorium. The elaborate dark green design includes the initials "RY" on a shield. The pattern appeared in both the 1971 and 1973 Corning catalogs as an example of a custom-designed pattern.

The Rodger Young Auditorium was a banquet hall located at 936 West Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, that operated from 1946 through 1978. At its height of operation, the establishment had 22 banquet rooms and seating capacity for 2,500 people.

Items currently known to exist are listed below. Items are branded as "Decor" or "Pyrex Brand Tableware."

700 - Cup, 7 oz.
704 - Bread and Butter Plate, 6 3/4-inch
705 - Bowl, 15 oz., 5 3/4-inch
706 - Bowl, 10 oz., 4 7/8-inch
795 - Dinner Plate, 10 1/2-inch
798 - Narrow Rim Dinner Plate, 9 3/8-inch
799 - Oval Platter, 12 1/2-inch

MMG Customized Dinnerware Pattern: From McCrory's Lunch Counters

10/10/2018

For many years, the restaurant that ordered the customized opal dinnerware pattern "MMG" was unknown. Recently, however, an avid Pyrex dinnerware collector shared some information that helps solve the mystery. The dinnerware was used at McCrory's lunch counters.The legal entity that operated McCrory's was McCrory's, McLellan, and Green (hence MMG).

MMG was formed in 1961 through the merger of several five and dime stores: McCrory’s, McLellan, and H. L. Green. The MMG pattern includes a ribbon design around the perimeter, crested with the MMG logo. The pattern is shown as an example of a custom-designed pattern in both the 1971 and 1973 Corning dealer catalogs. Items known to exist include:
700 – Individual Casserole, 10 oz. (Does not include “MMG.”)
704 – Bread & Butter Plate, 6 3/4-inch
708 – Bowl, 10 oz., 4 7/8-inch
713 – Bread & Butter Plate, 5 ½-inch
794 – Oval Platter, 9 ½-inch

Examples of MMG opal Pyrex dinnerware.

PYREX Restaurantware Model Numbers

7/14/2013

Many opal PYREX collectors are familiar with the model numbering system used on kitchenware and bakeware. Mixing bowls, Cinderella bowls and many casserole sets used the 400-series numbering system. These sets were actively marketed to the public through Corning Glass Works’ Consumer Products Division, so a lot of information is available to collectors both online and in print.

Emerald Band (Green) Restaurantware (1953-1978).

However, opal PYREX Restaurantware / Tableware is a bit more of a mystery. Advertising for these items was limited to foodservice establishments and not much documentation remains. Recently, Jeffery Tevyaw, an avid restaurantware collector, graciously shared some research compiled from original documentation at the The Corning Archives.

Model numbers for restaurantware typically utilized the 700-series numbering system:

100 – Stacking Cup, 7 oz

101 – Stacking Saucer, 5 ½”

700 –Individual Casserole, 10 oz

701 – Cup, 7 oz.

702 – Saucer, 5 7/8”

703 – Dinner Plate, 9”

704 – Bread & Butter Plate, 6 ¾”

705 – Bowl, 15 oz, 5 ¾”

706 – Saucedish, 5 oz, 4 ¾”

707 – Fruit/Cereal Bowl, 8 oz, 6 ½”

708 – Bowl, 10 oz, 4 7/8”

709 – Mug, 7 oz

711 – Salad/Dessert Plate, 7 ¼”

712 – Dinner Plate, 9 3/8”

713 – Bread & Butter Plate, 5 ½”

714 – Sugar/Bouillon/Egg Cup, 7 oz

715 – Rim Soup Bowl, 14 oz, 9”

Lightweight Shapes

350 – 10” Plate

352 – 8 oz Cup

353 – 6 ¼” Saucer

354 – 6 ¾” Plate

356 – 5 ½” Saucedish, 7 oz

716 – Salad Bowl, 32 oz, 8 ¾”

718 – Can Cup, 7 oz

719 – Luncheon Plate, 8”

720 – Bread & Butter Plate, 6 ¾”

721 – Tall Cup, 7 oz

722 – Creamer, 6 oz

723 – Tall Drinking Cup, 10 oz

770 – Small Footed Bowl

790 – Salad Bowl, 16 oz, 7 ½”

791 – 3-Compartment Plate, 9 ½”

793 – Oval Platter, 11 ½”

794 – Platter, 9 ½”

795 – Dinner Plate, 10 ½”

796 – Saucer (stacking), 5 7/8”

797 – Narrow Rim Dinner Plate, 9”

798 – Narrow Rim Dinner Plate, 9 3/8”

799 – Narrow Rim Oval Platter, 12 ½”

362 – 9 3/8” Plate

363 – 7 ¼” Plate

364 – 5 ½” Plate

365 – 9” Plate

Rodger Young Auditorium Dinnerware

MMG Customized Dinnerware Pattern: From McCrory's Lunch Counters

PYREX Restaurantware Model Numbers

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