Old Time Soda Fountains

Illustration by Clarence Underwood (1912)

 

 

The old time soda fountain is one of the most iconic and beloved images of America in the early to mid 20th Century. The counter soda fountain was introduced in 1903 and it quickly became an important part of popular culture, reaching its heyday in the 1940s and 50s.

Soda Fountain Hess Brothers Department Store, Allentown, PA (1913) (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Drugstore and Soda Fountain (Between 1900-1910) (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

Soda fountains were commonly found in pharmacies, ice cream parlors, candy shops, department stores and train stations.

"Soda Jerker" Corpus Christi, TX (1939) Photo by Russell Lee (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

"Soda Jerks" mixed unflavored carbonated water with syrups to make colas and other sodas. They also made ice cream sodas, milk shakes, chocolate malts and egg creams.

"Soda Jerk" (1936) Photo by Alan Fisher (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

Collins Pharmacy, Islip, Long Island, NY (Circa 1915) (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

The classic soda fountain featured goose-neck soda spouts and a large mirror behind a long counter lined with round spinning stools. 

Drugstore Postcard (Circa 1948) (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

 

General View of Soda Fountain Area Zaharako's Ice Cream Parlor, Columbus, IN (1974) Photo by Jack E. Boucher (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

Soda fountains became places where tired shoppers and travelers could take a break, and friends and neighbors could meet and socialize, while drinking non-alcoholic beverages. 

Rushing's Drugstore, San Augustine, TX (1943) Photo by John Vachon (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

The cold sodas and other treats appealed to both children and adults, especially in the summertime, in an era before people had air conditioning at home.

Rushing's Drugstore, San Augustine, TX (1943) Photo by John Vachon (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

Many establishments expanded their menus to include meals. Often booths or tables were added. Some evolved into what became known as Soda Shops or Malt Shops, which often featured jukeboxes, and have been celebrated in comic strips, TV shows  and movies. These were popular teen hangouts of the 40's and 50's, where many young couples would go on dates.

Jim Tillma and Antonette Skoda at the Soda Fountain at the Student Union, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. They Will Be Married in June... (1942) Photo by John Vachon (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

Many people are nostalgic for soda fountains. Some have happy childhood memories of them; others long for a time that seems happier and more innocent. Today most drugstores no longer feature soda fountains, but there are a few still left that honor and celebrate the old traditions. And many retro themed diners, ice cream shops and candy shops are decorated to look and feel like old time soda shops, keeping the spirit of the past alive. 

A "soda jerk" serving an ice cream soda in a century-old diner in Bramwell, WV (2013) Photo by PumpkinSky (link) (CC by-SA 3.0)