Fact Finder - Food and Drink

Fact
The Invention of the Ice Cream Truck
Category
Food and Drink
Subcategory
Everyday Foods
Country
United States
Description
The ice cream truck was pioneered by Harry Burt of Youngstown, Ohio. Burt, who created the Good Humor bar, outfitted a fleet of 12 refrigerated trucks with bells to attract customers. The iconic jingles played by everyday ice cream trucks were originally chosen because they were well-known, public-domain folk songs (like 'Turkey in the Straw') that could be easily played by simple mechanical music boxes. During the 1950s, the ice cream truck became a symbol of the American suburbs. Today, modern trucks use digital speakers, but many still play the same century-old melodies to evoke a sense of nostalgia.