Good Humor(R) Celebrates 90 Years of Summer Fun

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- For 90 years, the familiar bell-ringing on any street in America signaled the coming of the Good Humor® man and his signature white truck full of delicious ice cream treats. Since revolutionizing the ice cream industry as the first ice-cream-on-a-stick, the Good Humor® ice cream brand has helped to create lasting memories for millions of Americans. This year, the iconic brand is celebrating its 90th anniversary and wants everyone to join in the fun creating new memories for generations to come.  

"Each time Americans enjoy a delicious Good Humor ice cream bar, it takes them back to their childhood and the first time their parents introduced them to the classic ice cream treats," said Andrea Lokshin, Brand Manager for Good Humor®. "As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, we're thrilled to be able to share this milestone with the many parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents who helped us make the brand what it is today. And we are excited to pass on the brand's rich history to a whole new generation of ice cream fans."  

Our History

The Good Humor® story began in 1920 when Ohio candy-maker Harry Burt created a smooth chocolate coating compatible with ice cream. His daughter was the first to try it, claiming it was delicious but too messy to eat. Burt's son suggested freezing wooden lollipop sticks – from an earlier invention – into the ice cream and the original Good Humor® bar was created.

To spread the word about his unique ice cream treats, Burt outfitted a fleet of twelve ice cream trucks with bobsled bells and hired the first white-uniform-clad Good Humor® men. The Good Humor® bar – named for the belief that one's "humor" was related to one's sense of taste – was an instant hit, and customers loved the clean, trustworthy image promoted by the Good Humor® men.

Good Humor® men soon became known for their charming and wholesome ways, like tipping their hats to ladies, saluting gentlemen and occasionally giving ice cream to kids who were short on money. The likeability and friendliness of the Good Humor® vendors helped create lasting relationships between the ice cream brand and its customers, and the popularity and availability of Good Humor® ice cream bars steadily began to grow.

The company went public in 1926 as the Good Humor® Corporation of America, acquiring patents, consolidating operations and expanding the product line. The company's first majority shareholder ran Good Humor® until a Unilever subsidiary purchased it in 1961. Several years later in 1976 the company's truck-based direct-selling business was disbanded in favor of grocery stores and free-standing freezer cabinets. The iconic Good Humor® trucks were parked for the last time and sold to ice cream distributors and private individuals.

"The Good Humor trucks are a true piece of Americana – and they revolutionized the world of ice cream vending," said Paul Dimarco, a modern-day Good Humor® man who recently purchased an original Good Humor® truck. "Even today, the truck's classic jingle and delightful ice cream treats evoke a feeling of nostalgia for adults and a whole new world of summertime excitement for kids."

Beat the Heat with a Cool Summer Sweet-Stakes

In addition to celebrating the 90th anniversary by indulging in Good Humor® classic ice cream treats this summer, ice cream lovers can also participate in the 10,000 Winners Sweet-Stakes. From May 1 to September 6, 2010, consumers can purchase specially marked 4 oz. single-serve Good Humor® Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Eclair, Toasted Almond and Candy Center Crunch bars for a chance to win one of 10,000 prizes. Or, for free instant-win game play, players can mail a 3x5 paper with their name, date of birth and full address to Good Humor®.* Bars are available by visiting convenience stores and ice cream trucks nationwide. Visit www.GoodHumor.com for store locations.

Players who find the instant-win message on the ice cream stick can visit www.GoodHumor.com to redeem one of several prizes, including Good Humor® 90th anniversary-edition T-shirts, hats and digital media gift cards. Instant winners are automatically entered for a chance to win the $10,000 grand prize drawing, but even ice cream fans with non-winning sticks can still enter for the chance to win the grand prize at the Good Humor® website. One grand prize winner will be selected via a random drawing and announced in September 2010.

For additional history, photos or information on the 10,000 Winners Sweet-Stakes, please visit www.GoodHumor.com or the Chasing the Good Humor® Truck Facebook page at www.facebook.com/chasingthegoodhumortruck.

About Good Humor® Products

Good Humor®'s line of classic ice cream sandwiches, bars and cones remain some of America's favorite novelty treats. Since the creation of the original chocolate coated ice cream on a stick, the Good Humor® line has expanded to include delicious variations of this classic such as the Chocolate Eclair, Strawberry Shortcake and Toasted Almond bars, each with a crunchy exterior and flavored center. Good Humor® ice cream cones and ice cream sandwiches are also regarded as classic summer favorites and are available in several varieties. Ice cream lovers of all ages can treat themselves to these classic novelties by purchasing single serve Good Humor® bars, sandwiches and cones at convenience stores and ice cream trucks nationwide, or by purchasing Good Humor® Frozen Multipacks at grocery stores nationwide. For more information on Good Humor® products and store locators, visit www.GoodHumor.com.

About Unilever North America

Unilever works to create a better future every day. We help people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others. Each day, around the world, we serve over two billion consumers. In the United States, Canada and the Greater Caribbean (Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico) the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Becel, Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Blue Band, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Klondike, Knorr, Lipton, Omo, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever employs more than 13,000 people across North America – generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2009. For more information, visit www.unileverusa.com, www.unilever.ca or www.unilevercaribbean.com.

*Sweepstakes Abbreviated Rules

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The 10,000 Winners Sweet-Stakes is sponsored by Conopco, Inc. d/b/a Unilever. Open to legal residents of 50 U.S. & DC, 13+ (for ME, 18+). For free game play send 3x5 paper with name, DOB & full address to: Good Humor® Request, P.O. Box 7999, Melville, NY 11775-7999, received by 9/14/10. Starts 12:00:01 a.m. PT on 5/01/10 and ends 11:59:59 p.m. PT on 9/6/10. For official rules, visit www.GoodHumor.com.

SOURCE Unilever Good Humor(R)