Ebony Test Kitchen Features

1972

Johnson Publishing Company (JPC) has had at least three test kitchens since its founding. Each was known for its ultramodern features and functionality. The Ebony Test Kitchen above was designed by Palm Springs-based interior designers William Raiser and Arthur Elrod and built as part of JPC’s headquarters on 820 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The kitchen included a sitting area, wine rack, and storage cabinets. General Electric, an advertising client of JPC, supplied the appliances which included a trash compactor, a can opener built into the wall, a dishwasher, a microwave, and a grill. Though such amenities are commonplace now, in 1972 the Ebony Test Kitchen would have been considered technologically advanced.