While Jacksonville’s children may be returning to school right now, it is still sizzling outside! It looks like hot summer temps may be with us for awhile yet… Let’s take a walk down Memory Lane and cool down as we think about the frozen treats of our childhood.
What were your favorite cool treats on a hot summer day? Did an ice cream truck visit your neighborhood? Did your family or girl scout/boy scout troop make homemade ice cream?
Your favorite treats growing up might have depended on the years.
If you were a child of the 1950s, you may have enjoyed:
- Ice Cream Floats: A classic favorite, ice cream floats were made by combining soda (often cola) with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, creating a fizzy and creamy treat.
- Rocket Pops: These colorful, rocket-shaped popsicles featured red, white, and blue layers, making them a patriotic and refreshing summer treat.
- Fudgsicles: Fudgsicles, with their rich chocolate flavor and creamy texture, were a go-to choice for kids seeking a delicious frozen dessert.
- Ice Cream Sundaes: Kids in the 1950s enjoyed creating their own ice cream sundaes, piling on toppings like hot fudge, whipped cream, nuts, and maraschino cherries.
- Soda Fountain Treats: Banana splits and milkshakes were classic treats enjoyed at soda fountains, where kids could customize their desserts with a variety of toppings and flavors.
Children from the 60s were likely to enjoy:
- Push-Up Pops: These cylindrical frozen treats were pushed up from the bottom as they were enjoyed, providing a mess-free way to savor flavors like orange, cherry, and lime.
- Jell-O Pops: Gelatin-based popsicles offered a unique twist on traditional frozen treats, coming in a variety of fruity flavors.
- Italian Ice: Refreshing and flavorful, Italian ice was a popular choice for cooling down on hot summer days, with options ranging from lemon to rainbow flavors.
- Freeze Pops: Freeze pops, also known as freeze popsicles, were plastic tubes filled with fruity liquid that kids would freeze at home to create their own icy delights.
- Ice Cream Sandwiches: The classic combination of cookies and ice cream made ice cream sandwiches a timeless treat enjoyed by kids in the 1960s.
Favorite treats from the 1970s included:
- Push-Up Sherbet: Building on the popularity of push-up pops, push-up sherbet offered a tangy and fruity alternative with flavors like orange, raspberry, and lime.
- Slush Puppies: Slush Puppies were flavored slushies that kids loved for their icy texture and vibrant colors, offering a fun and cooling experience.
- Pop Rocks: While not a traditional frozen treat, Pop Rocks candy provided a unique sensation as they popped and fizzed in kids’ mouths.
- Fruit Juice Bars: These frozen bars made from real fruit juice became a healthier option for kids seeking a cold and tasty treat. Who remembers freezing juice at home in ice cube trays?
- Ice Cream Cones: Classic ice cream cones, whether topped with scoops of favorite flavors from Baskin Robbins or soft-serve swirls from Dairy Queen, remained a timeless choice enjoyed by kids in the 1970s.
What did we miss? Feel free to share with us your favorites.
If this article has gotten you in the mood for something cold and creamy to eat, here is a good list of popular ice cream parlors here in the Jacksonville, Florida area.
Until our Florida Fall comes (and it will eventually, sigh…) Stay cool!
If you have old videotapes, films, slides, or photos sitting in an attic or closet (perhaps of your children, grandchildren, or yourself and siblings enjoying the summers of your youth)…
Now’s the time to convert them into a digital format before they’re damaged or lost.
Memory Lane has been transferring all types of media to digital formats
for over 30 years—safely and affordably. Contact us today!