Big Fun Night

Storytellers: Steve Presser and Ted Frankel

 
 
 
 

Doors open at 5:00pm, with the storytelling beginning promptly at 7:00pm

• Weekly series combining great food with great stories about Cleveland’s past
• FREE ADMISSION – NO COVER CHARGE
• In addition to our regular menu, a Prix Fixe 3-course dinner special is available for just $25
• This week’s special
  • Big Greek Salad
  • Pulled Pork Baked Potato with Cheese Sauce and Green Onions
  • Strawberry Shortcake

Story topic this week…

Big Fun Night
Clevelanders of all ages will remember Big Fun, Steve Presser’s eclectic toy shop. But, did you know that it was based on a store in Chicago called Goodies run by Ted “Uncle Fun” Frankel? Ted and Steve became really good friends over the years. Big Fun closed in 2018, but it’s recent pop-up shop was a big hit. Uncle Fun closed in 2014 and now Frankel runs Sideshow at The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, which was described as “a jampacked, kaleidoscopic closet of curiosities divided into… novelties, books and original art.” by the Washington Post. Steve and Ted will share stories about the business of fun.
 

Steve Presser Bio

Steve Presser was the owner of the venerable Big Fun Toy Stores in Cleveland Heights, Cleveland and Columbus. Equal parts The Boy Who Never Grew Up and “Mr. Retro,” for more than 20 years Presser had been a human totem for geeks, nerds, anoraks, nostalgia freaks, and Peter Pans across the region. His award-winning stores call to like-minded “children” like snake charmers, helping connect them to vintage toys, gifts, collectibles, Cleveland memorabilia, tchotchkes and more from their youth. Voted one of the “20 Coolest Stores in America” by Playboy, Big Fun locations were packed to the rafters with the stuff of Saturday morning cartoons-and-cereal days of old—everything from Star Wars, Kiss, and Pac-Man, to Strawberry Shortcake, Transformers, and My Little Pony is represented. And then some.
 

Ted Frankel Bio

Ted Frankel left Shaker Heights, OH, to attend Washington University where he received a BFA in graphic communications. After college, he moved to Chicago, IL, and worked as a graphic designer for over 20 years. Some of his clients included Jerky Treats for dogs, Parkay margarine, and Morris the Cat. He also designed corporate logos and educational children’s books. When Ted opened his first store, Goodies, he soon realized it was easier pleasing customers than clients. After Goodies, Ted opened Fly Paper, Paper Boy, and the flagship, Uncle Fun. Uncle Fun became a Chicago legend. After 38 years, Ted closed Uncle Fun and opened Sideshow at The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, which sells toys, gifts and original art. Filmmaker and artist John Waters called the store “the best museum gift shop you’ve ever been to in your life.”

The goal of the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland’s past – from sports, to rock ‘n roll, to Millionaire’s Row, — the series will focus on tidbits from Cleveland’s past that will really thrill the audience. The Music Box is presenting this series in partnership with the Western Reserve Historical Society’s new Cleveland History Center. We think the Cleveland History Center is one of the most important museums in Cleveland. An unknown gem that Clevelanders should know more about, and support. It is the only museum in Cleveland dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of Cleveland. The Cleveland History Center includes two mansions, the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum, Chisholm Halle Costume Wing, Research Library, Kidzibits Hands-On Gallery, rotating exhibitions, and the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel.

See all Cleveland Stories dates here.