Memphis Good Humor

I remember a sound that could instantly empty the yards, the playgrounds and the houses of our neighborhoods in Memphis, TN.

You remember, don't you, of course you do! Every kid I knew went into a trance like the Pied Piper was playing his flute. It would have been a bad day if you missed it for it only came by once a day. Have you guessed what it was yet? Ok, I will tell you. It was the MerryMobile, yes, that round little ice cream ah? Truck? that looked nothing like a truck. The merry-go-round looking vehicle was painted red, white and blue. It was round and had a cut out for the driver in the center and freezer

compartments beside him with three wheels underneath it. It had a metal circus tent for a roof supported by six steel poles. It played its bells like a siren call to the children to come and purchase the creamy delights. There were Dreamsicles, fudge bars, push ups, ice cream sandwiches, buried treasure  and,

my favorite, the drum stick. If you so desired, they also had all kinds of Popsicles. Everyone waited patiently as the driver filled the wants of each child. It was not an easy job. I did it one summer for a youth minister that was getting a group of kids together to go to Spain and minister and the money they made was to pay for it. That is what they call another story for another time.  Seems that it was the idea of Robert. Heffelfinger, a local ice cream vendor. Wow! It was a Memphis phenomenon. Other kids didn't see this marvelous ice cream delivery vehicle. I feel sorry for them. it was a unique sight
coming down the streets of our neighborhoods in Memphis.They were in use from 1954 to 1974 and like so many of the memories of our past, they went to the scrap yard. Later, at least one of these magnificent ice cream vehicles was restored to thrill the child in all of us again.