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The unmistakable melody played by the ice creams trucks was an
announcement that ice cream was near. Yet – the iconic New York Ice
Cream truck has a rich – and at times problematic – history.

The History

of New York Ice Cream Tru c ks

T he heat of New York in summertime is, at times, unbearable. The

concrete jungle is stifling in 100-degree heat. Children roam barefoot
as they try to open an iconic New York fire hydrant. Passersby look
up to the skyscrapers, when they feel a drop of water spill onto their
faces from an air-conditioning unit that hangs precariously several floors above
them. Every year from June to August, many New Yorkers leave the city for The
Hamptons and other beachside towns to escape the sweltering heat. For those
who remain, public swimming pools, keeping cool and of course, ice creams are
summertime essentials. Do you hear the jingle jangle of the ubiquitous ice cream
truck music coming down the avenues? For many, hearing the noise waft into the
air is a charming memory of childhood. The unmistakable melody played by the
ice creams trucks was an announcement for children that ice cream was near.
Yet – the iconic New York Ice Cream truck has a rich – and at times problemat-
ic – history. Let’s dive in.

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