Description
American ice cream parlour soda fountains, popular from the late 19th to the early 20th century, were vibrant social hubs where people gathered to enjoy sweet treats and fizzy beverages. Customers would sit at the counter or in booths, ordering from a menu that included ice cream sundaes, milkshakes, malts, sodas, and phosphates. Skilled attendants, known as soda jerks, would prepare these items with a combination of syrups, carbonated water, and ice cream, often performing with flair. These parlours were iconic symbols of nostalgia and communal leisure, serving as places where friends and family could meet, celebrate, and relax in a cheerful atmosphere.