Good Humor Ice Cream, ca. 1950, v1991.11.17.2; Harry Kalmus papers and photographs, ARC.046; Brooklyn Historical Society.

From the desk of BHS’s Photo Archivist, Julie May: I don’t have specific memories of the Good Humor Ice Cream truck coming to either the suburban neighborhood of my childhood in Pennsylvania or the urban neighborhood of my adulthood in Brooklyn.  However, it’s important to point out that Good Humor became very popular in the 1920s and hit its peak in the 1950s when this photograph was taken by Harry Kalmus. While this scene is likely somewhere in or near Kings County, it could have been taken anywhere as Good Humor trucks numbered in the thousands and were franchised from New York to California. And although some of us may not be able to associate green lawns, distant houses and huge dogs with our own summers, I think it’s fair to say a lot of us remember running up to the ice cream truck on a hot summer day and soon finding the drips of ice cream going down the arm holding the popsicle, fudgsicle, rocket popsicle, or chocolate éclair on a stick. On the other hand, perhaps we don’t need any reminder as many of us are trying desperately to cool ourselves in New York City right this very minute and finding a ton of ice cream, juice, and food trucks all over New York City. While I sit inside BHS’s air-conditioned library, I cling to an even more important memory this photograph calls up for me:  I shared the majority of my popsicles – delivered by the ice cream truck or my Mom’s station wagon — with my dog, Tobi, a stunning, svelte, and sweet Airedale Terrier who also suffered in the heat of the summer while waiting for the ice cream truck to drive by.