Good Humor is best known for their ice cream bars, such as the strawberry shortcake and toasted almond, but their story goes back nearly a century. Harry Burt created the ice cream after his daughter was complaining that one of his ice cream creations was delicious but too messy. In order to secure the patent, Burt went to the patent office with a bucket of Good Humor bars for officials to taste. He was granted the patent in 1923, and the first Good Humor plant was opened in 1929.
One of the most popular traditions of the early Good Humor days was the requirement of Good Humor men to salute men and tip their hats to women. In order to become a Good Humor man, it required three days of orientations and training. A comedic crime film, The Good Humor Man, brought more attention to the ice cream upon its release in 1950, centering on a Good Humor ice cream truck driver. Harry Burt initially chose the name Good Humor for the brand, as he felt that there was a correlation between someone’s “humor” and their sense of taste. In his mind, “Good Humor” meant great sense of taste and a tasty product.