Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Table of Contents

Administrative Information

Summary Information

Biographical/Historical note

Scope and Contents note

Arrangement note

Related Materials

Controlled Access Headings

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note

Collection Inventory

Series 1, Sales and Business Materials

Series 2, Packaging

Series 3, Photographs

Series 4, Audiovisual

Administrative Information

Repository Information

Archives Center, National Museum of American History, March 1995

P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C., 20013-7012
Phone: 202-633-3270
archivescenter@si.edu

Revision Description

  May 2012

Conditions Governing Access note

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use note

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The collection was donated by Gold Bond-Good Humor Ice Cream, through Lawrence Link on June 18, 1992.

Processing Information note

Collection processed by Stacy Y. Coates, contractor, March 1995; supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist; revised Erin Molloy, volunteer and Alison Oswald, archivist, 2012.

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Summary Information

Repository

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Creator

Good Humor Corporation

Title

Gold Bond-Good Humor Collection

ID

NMAH.AC.0451

Date [inclusive]

1927-1991

Extent

2 Cubic feet, 4 boxes

Language

English

Language of Materials note

Some materials in Arabic.

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Biographical/Historical note

The candy maker Harry Burt invented “ice cream on a stick” in Youngstown, Ohio in 1920. His claim to fame was the Jolly Boy Sucker. Capitalizing on the philosophy that the “humor” or outlook of the mind was related to the humor of the palate, he changed the name to the Good Humor Sucker. Burt soon turned his attention to ice cream. While working in his ice cream parlor, he created his own recipe for a smooth chocolate coating that would be compatible with ice cream. With the help of his daughter, he performed his first taste test. Although it tasted good, it was too messy to eat. To solve this problem he drew on the advice of his son who suggested freezing the wooden sticks used for suckers into the ice cream as handles. Burt immediately sent the patent application to Washington, D.C. an Good Humor Bar was born.

Good Humor became an immediate success, expanding into other Midwest cities and across the country. Since most families didn’t have home freezers during that time, Burt decided to deliver his Good Humor Bars door-to-door via twelve trucks driven by chauffeurs. Good Humor men carried their products in shoulder bags, on carts, on trucks and even on boats. The company employed innovative techniques to sell Good Humor products during periods of struggle and prosperity. During the Great Depression, Good Humor lowered the price of one of its ice cream bars to five cents, making a cold treat available to more people. After World War II, Good Humor expanded its business into the suburbs to reach the new generation of “baby boomers,” who quickly became the company’s core constituency. The company reached its peak in the 1950s, with 2,000 vehicles delivering its products nationally, and by 1960 over eighty-five Good Humor products were sold from delivery trucks and in grocery stores.

In 1961, Thomas J. Lipton, a subsidiary of Unilever acquired Good Humor. Sales began to decline as the baby boomers aged, gasoline prices rose, and competition increased. By the mid-1970s, the company sold its fleet of delivery trucks and focused its efforts on selling its products in grocery stores. The company became profitable again during the 1980s, and in 1992 the “classic” ice cream flavors – Candy Crunch, Chocolate Éclair, Strawberry Shortcake, and Toasted Almond – were rereleased.

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Scope and Contents note

The collection consists of photographs related to the Good Humor Company and its products, game shows using Good Humor products, and celebrities (such as Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower) eating Good Humor products. There are also articles about Good Humor, product catalogs, training manuals, cartoons, brochures, decals, and samples of product packaging. Audiovisual materials include audio discs and videotapes.

Series 1, Sales and Business Materials, 1927-1991, includes articles about Good Humor, Incorporated, manuals for training and sales presentations, promotional literature and artwork, advertisements, advertising storyboards, product decals and ice cream sticks, cartoons, and the Little Golden Book  The Good Humor Man.

Series 2, Packaging, 1968-1981, consists of labels, wrappers and boxes for Good Humor products and some of its competitors.

Series 3, Photographs, 1931-1971 consists of images of Good Humor factories; salesmen; vehicles; employees; equipment; Good Humor products featured on "Wonderama," "The Alan Burke Show," and "To Tell the Truth;" and Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower eating Good Humor ice cream. Many of the photographs were taken by Tim Murtagh of New York City, International News Photos, N. Lazarnick, commercial photographer of New York City, Alex Siodmak of New York City, Standard Flashlight Company of New York City, Kaufman and Fabry Company Photographers, and Alexandre's Photo Studio.

Series 4, Audiovisual Materials is composed of two subseries. Subseries A, Audio Discs, undated contains two 78 R.P.M. discs titled  Gaytime Wild Cherry and  Gaytime Thunderball, and Subseries B, Videotape, undated, consists of two copies of public relations material about Good Humor.

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Arrangement note

The collection is divided into four series.

Series 1, Sales and Business Materials, 1927-1991

Series 2, Packaging, 1968-1981

Subseries 1, Labels, undated

Subseries 2, Wrappers, 1968-1981

Subseries 3, Boxes, undated

Series 3, Photographs, 1931-1971

Series 4, Audiovisual, undated

Subseries 1, Audio Discs, undated

Subseries 2, Videotape, undated

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Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note

Material at the National Museum of American History, Division of Work and Industry

The Division of Work and Industry holds related artifacts (push cart, a cap, a money bag, a hat, a belt, an apron, a coin, buttons, emblems, a tape measure, and a truck). See Accession numbers 1993.0075; 1994.0143; 2000.0264; and 2002.3025.

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Controlled Access Headings

Genre(s)

• Cartoons (humorous images)--1930-1960
• Catalogs--1930-1950
• Decalcomania--1930-1950
• Packaging materials--1930-1950
• Pamphlets--1930-1950
• Phonograph records
• Sales catalogs--1930-1950
• Sound recordings--1930-1950
• Training manuals--1930-1950
• Wrapping materials--1930-1950

Personal Name(s)

• Eisenhower, Dwight D., (Dwight David), 1890-1969
• Eisenhower, Mamie Doud, 1896-1979

Subject(s)

• Game shows--Television
• Ice cream industry
• Packaging--1930-1950
• Television broadcasting

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Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note

Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives. There are no reference copies of the audiovisual materials. Use of these materials requires special arrangement with the audiovisual archivist.

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Collection Inventory

Series 1, Sales and Business Materials, 1927-1991
Articles and clippings about Good Humor Corporation, 1927-1978     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 1
Storyboards, circa 1970s     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 2
Training manuals, 1956, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 3
Cartoons about Good Humor Corporation, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 4
Product line brochures, 1977-1991     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 5
Sales presentation--Good Humor No Drip, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 6
The Good Humor Man, 1964     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 7
Popsicle Industries promotional literature, 1979     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 8
Ice cream decals, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   4 2     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 9
Ice cream sticks     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 10
Advertisements, 1968-1976     Box Folder Mixed materials   4 3
Series 2, Packaging, 1968-1981
Labels, undated
Joe Lowe Corporation, Jo-Lo NYSICE, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   2 1 to 19
Joe Lowe Corporation, Big Twin Popsicle Syrup (labels), undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 1
Popsicle Industries, Inc., Bubble Delight Flavor Base (labels), undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 1
Popsicle Industries, Inc., Fudgsicle Pie, Flavor Base (labels), undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 1
Wrappers, 1968-1981
Good Humor, Humorette, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Kreme Stix Ice Cream, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Lollie Stix, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Vico, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Wahoo Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Dubl Stix, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Ice Cream Sandwich, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Orange Root-Beer Stix, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, White Lemon Fruit Ice, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Orange Fruit Ice, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Whammy Stix, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Fruiti-Frosti, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Cherry Orange, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, G.H. 5 Cherry, 1968     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Whammy Stix (lemon), [1968?]     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Cheerio Deluxe, 1968, 1975     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Ellsworth Ice Cream, Party Time Ice Cream Bar, 1978     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Biltmore Winky, ice cream sundae on a stick, 1978     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Flav-O-Rich Inc., Circle G Bar, 1977     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Maoloa Milk and Ice Cream Company, Mr. Mint, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Beatrice Foods Company, Meadow Gold Deluxe Ice Cream Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Popsicle Industries, Banana Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Joe Lowe Corporation, NYSICE, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Charlie's Dairy Maid Ice Cream Company, Kreami-Frost, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Florida Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Bomb Pop, Jr., undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Joe Lowe Corporation, Fudgy Wudgy, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
English Toffee, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Joe Lowe Corporation, Sidewalk Parfay ice cream with lemon-flavored syrup, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Joe Lowe Corporation, Sidewalk Parfay ice cream with cherry syrup, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Maola Milk and Ice Cream Company, Sidewalk Malted On-A-Stick, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Joe Lowe Corporation, Sidewalk Banana Spilt, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Joe Lowe Corporation, Mr. Krunch, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Maola Milk and Ice Cream Company, Dreamboat, a Tempting Fruit Sherbert Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Big Bullet, 1978, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
English Toffee, 1978     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Joe Lowe Corporation, Clark Peanut Candy Ice Milk Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Joe Lowe Corporation, Refresho, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Durocher's Ice Cream, Teddy Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Cabarrus Creamery Company, Inc., Almond Krunch Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Cabarrus Creamery Company, Inc., Pecan Krunch Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Joe Lowe Corporation, Twin Popsicle, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Popsicle Industries, Creamsicle, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Joe Lowe Corporation, Refresho, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Popsicle Inc., Gemini, a frozen confection, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Orange Italian Ice Cup (lid), undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Chocolate Burst Ice Cream (wrapper and lid), undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Charlie's Dairy-Maid Ice Cream Company, Fudgi Frost, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Charlie's Dairy-Maid Ice Cream Company, Fudgi Frost, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Wrappers in Arabic, 1978, undated
Good Humor, Chocolate Malt Ice Cream, 1968     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Deluxe Super Humor, Chocolate Chip Candy Ice Cream, 1968     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Super Humor, Peach Marble Melba Ice Cream, 1968     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Whammy Stix (orange), 1968     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Whammy Stix (cherry), 1968     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Cake Coated Baked Alaska, 1968     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Vanilla Ice Cream, 1968     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Chocolate Chip, [1968?]     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Chocolate Eclair, [1968?]     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Strawberry Shortcake, [1968?]     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Toasted Almond, [1968?]     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Frostee Humor, [1968?]     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Frostee, [1968?]     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Frostee, [1968?]     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Good Humor, Banana Oven Cake, 1968     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 2
Cheerio, chocolate covered ice cream, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Freezer Pleezer, lowfat yogurt bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Cherry Dazzle Ice Milk Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Cherry Dazzle Chocolate Eclair, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Dazzle, Strawberry Shortcake, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Moobar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Maoloa Milk and Ice Cream Company, Deluxe Creamsicle, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Hunkie On-A-Stick, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Jetsicle, 1978     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Popsicle, 1976     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Trisicile (lime), undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Popsicle (All Star), 1978     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Fudge and Ice Milk Sundae, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Sundaesicle Marshmallow and Chocolate Ice Milk, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Cherry Nut Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Popsicle, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Popsicle Twin, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle Industries, Popsicle, 1978     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Clair Ice Cream and Dairy Company (Toronto, Canada), Pysicle Deluxe, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle, Inc., a frozen confection, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Popsicle, Striper, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Sundaesicle, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Dreamsicle, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Deluxe Creamsicle, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Deluxe Creamsicle (cherry), undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Fudgesicle, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Fudgesicle (strawberry), undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Deluxe Fudgesicle, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Fudgesicle Pie, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Sicle (trading card), undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 4
Dream Bars (insulating bag), 1981     Box Folder Mixed materials   4 4
Artwork for Popsicle Ice Cream Bar wrappers, 1987     Box Folder Mixed materials   4 4
Boxes, undated
Good Humor, Strawberry Water Ice Finger Bars, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
Good Humor, Scribbler, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
Good Humor, Viennetta, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
Good Humor, Strawberry Shortcake, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
Good Humor, Lite, chocolate-covered vanilla dietary dessert, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
Good Humor, vanilla and chocolate dietary frozen dessert, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
Mayflower, Sidewalk Sundae, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
Frozen Confections Company, Snow Cone Jrs., undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
Thin and Creamie, Inc., Dream Licks dietary frozen dessert, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
Popsicle Industries, Inc., Sugar Lo Frozen Treats, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
Joe Lowe Company, Batman Crusader-Sundae, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 5
La Bon Products Company, Big Stick cherry pineapple, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 7
Pathmark, Dessert Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 7
Good Humor, Milk Magic, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 7
Gold Bond Ice Cream, Inc., Choc-O-Malt, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 8
Gold Bond Home Town Chocolate Ice Cream, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 8
Nestle Crunch Vanilla Ice Cream, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 8
Scooter Crunch Strawberry Ice Cream Sundae Bar, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 8
Scooter Crunch Chocolate Sundae Ice Cream 'N Cake Bars, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   3 8
Series 3, Photographs, 1931-1971
Good Humor, Inc. fountain in factory building, Los Angeles, California, undated     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 11
South Shore Good Humor, Chicago, Illinois, 1932     Box Folder Photos   1 11
Good Humor Ice Cream Company, Inc., Detroit, Michigan, undated     Box Folder Photos   1 11
To Tell the Truth with Garry Moore, undated     Box Folder Photos   1 12
Wonderama, 1969     Box Folder Photos   1 12
"The Alan Burke Show" with Good Humor Girl Valerie Lamp, 1969     Box Folder Photos   1 12
Salesmen, 1931-1932, 1961, 1968, 1971     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 13
Employees, 1932, undated     Box Folder Photos   4 1     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 14
Good Humor, Inc. vehicles, 1932, 1947, 1959     Box Folder Photos   4 1     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 15
Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, circa 1950s     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 16
Good Humor at the Brooklyn Strand, 1932 July 1     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 17
Good Humor ice cream bar in wrapper, 1962     Box Folder Mixed materials   1 17
Good Humor ice cream stand at Coney Island, New York, 1963 August 2     Box Folder Photos   1 17
Good Humor ice cream machine, undated     Box Folder Photos   4 1
Images of Good Humor (photocopies), 1966, undated     Box Folder Text   1 18
Series 4, Audiovisual, undated				Box 3
Subseries 3a, Audio Discs, undated
Gaytime Wild Cherry, General Foods, undated, 1 sound recording disc, 10" acetate, 78rpm     Box Folder Audio   3 9
Gaytime Thunderball, General Foods, undated, 1 sound recording disc, 10" acetate, 78 rpm
Subseries 3b, Videotape, undated
Good Humor P.R. (two copies), undated, 2 videocassettes, 3/4" Umatic     Box item Moving Images   3 1-2