When the weather is warm and the sun is shining there is no better beverage to refresh and bring smiles than a root beer float. The recipe was concocted in the late 19th century, and along with the rise of the soda fountain and the drive-in, became one of the most popular refreshments for Americans young and old.
The rise of the automobile in the 1920’s also gave rise to the roadside drive-in and diner. Thousands of stands, drive-ins, and diners that catered to motorists popped up all over the country, reaching its zenith in the 1950’s and continuing strong through the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. The drive-in became a place to meet, to be seen, and to show-off your wheels.
Back in 1954, Mr. T.W. Ganus, a Frostop franchisee, had a crazy idea. He decided to produce a giant (14 feet high) Frostop mug at his Jefferson, Louisiana Frostop Drive-In, on the outskirts of New Orleans.