It’s the jingle heard in every neighborhood, and it hasn’t changed since the 1950’s.
I got stuck behind a Mister Softee ice cream truck on the way to a local park. I didn’t mind, I was smiling the whole time, mostly at the childhood memories.
In some neighborhoods that we’ve lived over the years, its popularity was in decline. Many homes have ice cream treats in their own freezer.
Vintage Truck. Pinterest.
But in the 1950’s, that soft ice cream was special. Everyone, and I mean everyone, ran to the street and got in line. I believe the cones were about 10 cents at the time.
It didn’t matter that they often came in the early evening on a hot summer night, sometimes during family dinner hour.
We all waited, we all begged. Parents fought the good fight, but we usually won.
Living 30 miles west of Philadelphia, we might have been some of the first suburban targets.
The first ice cream van with soft whip ice cream had emerged in 1956 around the streets of West Philadelphia. On St. Patrick’s Day, two Irish brothers named William & James Conway gave away free soft green ice cream from a Chevrolet panel van.
This “moveable feast”, made possible with a freezer powered by an electric generator, emerged as Mister Softee, spreading the joy to the rest of the nation.
And in case you want to torture your family, here is the jingle. In a 10 minute loop.
I apologize.
vanbytheriver 
I think I’d end up killing someone if I had to listen to that all day.
The Childcatcher round our way plays the chorus of Greensleeves to tempt them in. Only gets as far as “Greensleeves was all my joy…” before a horrible screetching noise erupts as he cuts it off… 😀
Childcatcher ? Please clarify, Elk…I hope it’s better than it sounds. ☺
Haha… yes. The Childcatcher is the scary man in the film “Chitty-chitty Bang Bang” who had to run about to find children to catch. I’ve often thought his job would be much easier if he just got an ice-cream van… 😀
Now that you mention it, though, it’s probably best I keep that to myself… lol xx
Thanks, I remember it now. And…your secret is safe with me. ☺
Phew! 😉
Funny you mention that, Jim. When I went looking for photos, there were some pics of crimes related to the ice cream vendors. Assaults on the competition, drug dealing, etc. Maybe it was the jingle ??? ☺
I just played it for the full ten minutes and got a dirty look from my husband 😄
Yep, I cut it off here after a few minutes. ☺
Mine said” you’ve been to a party already surely you haven’t room for an ice cream” *wink wink*
Yep…it’s never been about having room for Jello, has it ?? ☺
Who need room when there can be taste?
What a lovely memory! Mister Softee came by our house twice a day where we lived until I was six. The second time it came in the evening, and I would strain to stay awake to hear that music. If I was awake I could have one; if not, “better luck next time,” my Dad would say. I think it helped me be a better loser! (In a good way — not to sweat it if you don’t always get what you want. Not as in it made me a loser because we can all agree that would not be a good outcome!)
I understand, Elyse. Self-control issues. lol ☺
I heard the “ice cream man” in our neighborhood for the first time yesterday, as a matter of fact! It isn’t Mister Softee, though. You know, food trucks are so popular now, wouldn’t be surprised to see them start traveling more… who knows, maybe we will see them in the neighborhood eventually!
That was a very sweet memory, Van, told in your typical charming style. Have a lovely Tuesday! xo
The Good Humor man came along a bit later, was not quite the same attraction. ☺ Thanks, Kelly. And I do love a good food truck…so many in urban areas are fabulous.
I agree! I would go broke and gain a lot of weight if they came close to my door, that’s for sure!
We’d hear the truck coming down the road and it was always a scramble to find money and dash up out long driveway in time. Great memories, Van 🙂
There were always open windows in summer, no A/C, few video distractions indoors. Times were much different. Thanks, D. ☺
I passed the video
Very wise. ☺
I lived for Mr. Softy as a child. I would get FREE chocolate sprinkles on my chocolate cone if I did my Donald Duck impersonation. He would laugh each and every time. Great memories.
Good for you, Doc. Sharing your skills paid off at an early age. ☺
We don’t know this here in Europe. When we moved to the States and heard that jungle we saw the ice cream truck for the first time. My daughter was 3 and it was just amazing how excited we all got whenever we heard the truck coming around the corner. In the Buffalo area it is called Mr. Cool.
I’ve seen it called “Mr. Whip” in some parts of Europe. Not sure, maybe just in the U.K. ? ☺
I don’t know it from any country I have ever been except the US. It would be so cool to have it here too!
Up until we left Houston last year an ice-cream truck always drove into the neighbourhood in the evenings when children are back from school. I was tempted to tell him to stop driving by my house ‘cos I always ended up having ice-cream 😄😄
I was tempted this weekend, to park my car and get in line. 🍦🍦 🍦
I have fond memories of the ice cream van and of eating soft ice cream (with a Cadbury’s chocolate flake stuck into it to make it a 99 if I had been very good) but I have zero fondness for the horrible music I’m afraid, whatever the tune.
My kids had no regular access to an ice cream van back home in Scotland so here it is a particular treat for them. An ice cream van comes to the school daily at pick up time during the warm months and I treat them and the friends who walk home with us to an ice cream treat each Friday. It’s a fun tradition to be making with them and hopefully some fond memories in the making.
That’s really interesting. They are not allowed anywhere near the schools here. How nice is your tradition. Good for you, memories will be sweet. 🍦
Well it is not on school property. It pulls up on an adjacent street. It’s canny.
Pretty smart. ☺
We had Mr. Softee in Jackson Heights too! I miss that little tune.
I didn’t mention it, but the video includes scenes from NYC. ☺
There’s just something 1950’s B-movie sinister about Mr. Softee. But I’d probably run after the truck, if given the chance.
Ha ha. I’ve considered it so often, Julie. The kids in my neighborhood are not impressed, and they drive on by…sad.
The ice cream truck in our neighborhood always played “Pop Goes the Weasel.” I think it had a different name than Mr, Softee, but the memories are just as delicious.
Yep, that one would get a kid’s attention, for sure. 🎵 🎶
I used to love the ice cream truck, both as a child and as a mother. Such a treat. But times have changed – no more soft-serve on those trucks, now it’s the same frozen treats you can buy at your grocery store. These days, I wonder how the ice cream truck owners make any profit. The ones that come down my street hardly ever stop because no one is buying. Why pay $2 for a chocolate-covered ice cream bar when you can get a package of 8 at the store for $3?
We still have the cones here, CM. Those Good Humor type trucks don’t come around much, for pretty much the reason you mentioned. ☺
I’ve been thinking of comfort foods (that I no longer enjoy most because I know better now). Boy, were they good! You just took me back to my old stomping grounds in Queens, NYC. I taught in Phil but didn’t realize Mr. S ran the circuit there, too. I can taste the vanilla cone right now. Ha ha ha.
I was a chocolate fan, all the way, both hard and soft serve.🍨 We still have Dairy Queen, but they serve hot food now, and the cones are very small and $$$. ☺
DQ serves hOT food now? No, some things have to stay the same.
Burgers, sandwiches, etc. Like they really needed to enter that fast food race ??? ☺
Really. Ridiculous.
So many wonderful, warm memories! Thanks for sharing, Van. 😊
My pleasure, Tonya. Hearing that jingle again triggered a lot of memories for me. 💖
I don’t know what the ice cream truck is called around here, but it still makes the rounds. I’m usually the first in line. But what can a five year old do to me, right? Ah, the privileges of being an adult. Oh boy, that means I get the last Bomb Pop! 😀
Ha, ha. Your neighbors…may need to keep an eye on you, Paul. ☺
LOL 😀
Since I was the only house on a dirt road, I never knew what it was like to have the ice cream truck in my neighborhood. My wife gets all giddy when one rolls through ours but I simply have no childhood association with that ditty. My loss I suppose.
Share in your wife’s memory, Vic…giddy is good. ☺
Still have soft ice cream trucks everywhere here. Kids run up to them when they hear them coming.
Timeless. 🍦🎵 🎶 🍦
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so true that this has not changed – enjoyed the song tonight – do you play this in your van by the river?
jk
and thx for the history
Ha ha…I’ll be honest, I fast-forwarded through the video, just to see the images. A minute of that song was enough for me. Back in the day, we heard it for 20-30 minutes as the ice cream was dispensed on a busy street. ❤️ 💛 💙
wow – that is a long time to heart while in your neighborhood – and I had to stop the song from playing – but it really was a nice touch to have the song in this post – made it an experience.
and side note – i recall watching a show a while back and the bad guy was actually driving the ice cream truck and he had guns in the cooler – and well, I cannot seem to see an ice cream truck without thinking of that show… lol
What memories you draw from me with this post!
Love it when that happens. 💖 Thanks, DK.
I remember it well. Now, you won’t mind if I turn it off now, will you? 🙂
Not at all, Derrick, I’d recommend it. ☺
Couldn’t bring myself to listen! PTSD I think 😦 It used to be called Mr Whippy here in Australia. Haven’t seen a van for years now.
You’re not alone in the “not listening”. Thanks. ☺
We don’t have Mister Softee here. I had never heard of it, or heard the tune. Very plunky music boxish. It looks friendly and less creepy than our ice cream trucks. Ours sound more like a bad jack-in-the box from horror films. Still, people love ice cream. I can’t remember when we last purchased any, but when we did, it was more than $20 for all 4 kids, so we decided the mark-up was a bit crazy, but not quite Baskin-Robbins or Cold Stone crazy…Haha! Anyway, thanks for sharing 🙂
Cold Stone…good stuff, not worthy of a second mortgage. ☺ Thanks, Joey.
I love this Van! memories!
💖
🙂
I remember the Ice Cream van and the jingle it played. Here in the UK, it was called Tony Bell (in my time, anyway). Then came Mr. Whippy (which is still around) and is often seen in coastal seaside towns. We kids listened for that jingle and made an orderly queue. Great memories, Van.
Thanks for the info, Hugh. I knew there was whipped ice cream in the UK. 🍦
Yep, if it does have a little bit of a strange name. 😀
What cool memories! The ice cream man (now an Indian driver) swings by our delta windsurfing campground where us adults gleefully await with our wallets. You would think we were kids again, waiting for the ice cream treats!
You’re never too old to get excited about treats. ☺
Oh man …. I loved Mr. Softer. My father owned a small grocery store and we lived behind it and I still ran out to get it when it came around. If I were you following that truck I would have stopped and got one for old times sake. Love that jingle…it’s timeless.
I was tempted, George. For real. ☺
Lol
Ah, the days of 10 cent cones! Such a lovely memory. It brings back the guileless satisfaction of being a kid. 🙂
Guileless…great word for it. Thanks. 💖
Haha! I made it 18 seconds listening, Van, but I just had to for old time sake 😀 How I loved the ice-cream truck when I was a kid. The only time I got a Popsicle is when I’d found a nickle (or stole one!) That horrible music used to come through our neighborhood in recent years–always at nap time! Grrrr. Thanks for another great memory!
I forgot about the twin Popsicle, the one we had to break in half and share. ☺
Oh yes 😀
💕
We never had an ice cream truck in my town. Then I watched movies where they made the ice cream man a bad guy and the music was like an omen of things to come. I’m trying to turn all that thinking around when I hear a truck go through the neighborhood near us. Nah. Still keep those movies in mind. Sorry. I think I could swallow that negative thought and go buy a pushup.
Yep. Sadly, when I was looking for photos for this post, a few “Wanted” posters popped into the scene. So, it’s not so hard to see how it showed up in the movies. Creepy and sad.
Hi Van, i learned about your blog during your visit to Jacqueline’s party. It was so nice of you to bring the ice cream truck. Nice meeting you.
Thanks for the visit, and I adore your name, Peaceful Journey. 💕
My mouth watered at the tune, and memories of an Oyster came flooding back. An Oyster shaped shell joined with sticky marshmallow filled with soft whippy ice cream . Back to Jacqueline’s party as there are still leftovers…. yum!
It’s still breakfast hour here, so I’m able to restrain a bit…except for J’s pastries. ☺ Thanks, Ellen.
Time “pahh!” I downed the chocolate at Jacquelines party at eight this morning! Put your back in to it! *tut* “no stamina” 😊😂😃😅😆
Reblogged this on On the Road Cooking and commented:
We really did live for that sound on a hot summer’s day😄🍦
Thanks for the reblog. So glad you can relate. 🍦 🍦 🍦
Oh my, my sis and I grew up not far from you, what a small world.. We had Mr, Softee making the rounds too but we also had O’Boyles ice cream trucks, which was my favorite.. And the O’Boyles jingle wasn’t annoying 😋
Not familiar with O’Boyles…you must have been on another side of Philly ? ☺ North, maybe ?
The far northeast is what we called it then.. Bucks County 😊
We bought our first car together at Reedman’s, Langhorne. A VW bus. ☺
Hahahaha, then you remember
Flannery’s airplane 😄 I remember a tale that they were forced to turn off the landing light after a drunk wrecked because he thought the jet was crash landing..
Did you paint flowers on that vw bus ?
I wish. We drove it 2000 miles to Utah to our first home, one week after our wedding. It broke down in Wyoming.
The plane’s engine’s were propeller driven, I shouldn’t have referred to it as a jet.. But it sure was huge.. The plane made it to a museum somewhere in Delaware.. I haven’t been through Langhorne in a good long time but it sure must look starkly different now without the plane perpetually in midair anymore..
Awesome 👍
Wow, I never owned a vw bus but thought they ran pretty much forever.. You guys got a lemon I guess ?
And yes, in my mind a proper vw bus is covered in big and small, colorful flower power decals 😄