By Sharon Oliver
Contributing Writer
PEABODY – One of the most vivid memories from any child’s life, especially if you are of a particular age, is that of chasing down the neighborhood ice cream truck. Most notably, Good Humor trucks with their white-uniformed drivers selling Eskimo Pies, snow cones, and frozen sweet treats.
All that aside, there was one independent ice cream truck driver who has the distinct honor of holding the Guiness World Records for having the longest career as an ice-cream distributor (male). Prior to retiring, Allan Ganz worked as an ice cream man in Peabody for 67 years from 1947 to 2014.
Started at an early age
Ganz began scooping the frozen dessert alongside his father at age 10 in Everett and Malden. Following a 22-month break to serve in the U.S. military, he returned home to continue helping his father sell ice cream. He once told the Salem News that his fondest memory was “just being healthy enough to make kids happy and put a smile on their face.”
Customers behind those happy, smiling faces were appreciative enough to dedicate a Fans of Allan’s Ice Cream Facebook page for their local legend.
Patti Williams Bellville wrote:
“They are a part of Peabody history for sure! Great memories!!”
David Carne added:
“My kids loved asking what kind of slush flavors he had. He always had a great way of saying…Lemon lime, tutti fruity, blue raspberry and mixed! Allan rocks!!”
Patty Melanson-Brennan shared:
“The very best… he knew every kid’s name…”
Long days in summer
Ganz himself estimated he knew 90 percent of his customers by name. He even opened “credit” accounts for parents, allowing them to give him a certain amount of money and permitting their children repeat visits until that credit ran out.
The king of cool purchased his own truck in 1977, relocated to Peabody, stocked his truck with ice cream twice a week and sold it to students after they were dismissed for the day from school. His typical season ran from April to October. During the summers, he would hit the road at 11:00 a.m. and operate his route until 8:30 p.m., selling not only ice cream but gum balls and water pistols.
His own father, known as “The Jolly Man,” was a popular ice cream man who sold ice cream until the age of 86. According to an interview on North Country Public Radio, Ganz, aka ‘Jolly Jr.” said, “In those days, ice cream was a nickel and a dime, and the ice cream trucks were just pickup trucks, and they had chests built on the back kept cold by dry ice. I got my license three days after I was 16.” After receiving his driver’s license, his dad told him he was taking the day off and that he should take over the route.
He added that he met his wife Rosalyn while selling ice cream. Ganz recalled how she and her friends would flock to his truck while he would kibitz for a few minutes before moving on. As someone whose popularity landed him a place in Guiness World Records and numerous profiles in local media, Ganz also made appearances on The Food Network.
Not bothered by competition
At one point, there were about six other independent ice cream trucks working in Peabody. Ganz stressed at the time that the competition did not bother him. He stayed out of their hair, and they stayed out of his. However, on one particular day, he spotted two of those trucks on his route. So, Ganz asked his “spies” if they had seen the other trucks around to which the two kids replied, “no.”
Ganz told them if they did, tell the others they want Allan’s ice cream. Advice that was likely not necessary. As one customer proclaimed, Allan Ganz has been a part of their family for three generations and will forever be “The Ice Cream Man.”
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