Ice Cream! I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. And through the years there has been a plethora of creative ice cream offerings for children and adults across Southern California.
As kids we awaited the tinkling sound of the Good Humor truck driving up our street, stopping as boys and girls poured from their houses, nickels in tow, our mothers screaming at us to look out for cars. But it was those special times when we climbed into the family sedan and set out for a more unique experience.
CURRIE’s Mile-High Ice Cream – On Beverly Blvd., east of Fairfax, the outline of a huge ice cream cone still stands. It was across from the now gone Pan Pacific Auditorium where the minor league L.A. Kings played hockey, and a luscious movie theatre all part of a huge modern proscenium arch built in 1935.
C.C. Brown’s was a single ice cream parlor just west of the Graumann’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. They either invented the Hot Fudge Sundae or convinced their customers, including Clark Gable and Marlon Brando, that they had. Judy Garland once worked there as a waitress. You could wait an hour for a table on a Saturday evening.
PUNCH & JUDY’S Ice Cream Parlors – Using the unique round buildings vacated by the Chili Bowl restaurants, during the 1940’s Punch & Judy’s offered The Moron’s Ecstasy, a full quart of your favorite flavors, or a more modest Idiot’s Delight…only a pint. If you ate one Moron’s Ecstasy, the 2d one was free.
Blum’s was both an ice cream delight but an elaborate stop for an upscale lunch or afternoon tea. It began in San Francisco but met with equal success in Los Angeles through the ‘70’s. As late as 1984 at a Blum’s in the I. Magnin’s on Wilshire Blvd., patrons could indulge themselves with a Giant Banana Bonanza for $3.95.
Will Wright’s brought a French café look, with red and white décor to Southern California introduced distinctive flavors, such as Nesselrode Buda and Peppermint stick attracted celebrities for more than two decades.
Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor began in Portland but in the 1970’s was purchased by Marriott and spread across the country. Its 19th century theme and free sundaes on your birthday made it a popular family outing.
Our taste for frozen delights hasn’t ebbed. We’ve evolved to Praline’s n Cream, Cherry Garcia, and a variety of yogurt parlors.
Now that I think of it…I’m craving something cold and yummy. I think I’ll go get me some!