Soda jerk facts for kids
A soda jerk was a person, usually a young man, who worked at a soda fountain inside a drugstore. Their job was to mix and serve popular drinks like sodas and ice cream sodas. They made these drinks by mixing flavored syrup, carbonated water, and sometimes malt powder with ice or ice cream. Drinks were served in tall glasses with a special long spoon, called a "soda spoon", and drinking straws.
Soda jerks were very common in the United States from the 1920s to the late 1950s. Today, this job mostly no longer exists because times and tastes have changed.
What Does "Soda Jerk" Mean?
The name soda jerk was a playful twist on the official job title, soda clerk. It came from the quick "jerking" motion the server made when pulling the handle of the soda fountain back and forth. This action added carbonated water to the drinks. The soda fountain spigot was a strong, shiny part that stuck out over the counter. Its large handle was built for lots of use, as most drinks needed fizzy water.
A Look Back at Soda Fountains
Operating a soda fountain in a drugstore was most popular in the 1940s. However, it was a big part of American life from the 1920s through the 1950s. Getting a job as a soda jerk was special. Young men often had to do other small jobs in the store first before they could work at the fountain.
Soda jerks were usually popular young men with fun personalities. They were expected to serve drinks and also chat with and entertain the customers. Michael Karl Witzel, a writer, described a soda jerk as a "showman" and a "pop culture star" of their time.
Over time, ice cream parlors became less common. This happened as drive-ins and fast food places grew in popularity. Cooks who made burgers and fries started to replace soda jerks. Today, some theme diners are designed to look like 1950s places. They might even have a soda jerk, along with retro jukeboxes and booth seating. Also, mixed soda drinks, like "dirty soda", have become popular again since the mid-2010s.
Soda jerks usually wore a special uniform. This included a white paper or cloth cap, called a "soda jerk cap", a button-up shirt with a bow tie, and an apron.
Soda Jerk Secret Language
Soda jerks were famous for having their own special language. They used nicknames for different drinks. For example, a glass of milk was called "baby". A strawberry milkshake was known as "in the hay". If you ordered a Coca-Cola with ice, they might call it "scratch one". They also had terms for how drinks should be made. If you wanted strong Coffee, or "draw one", you would ask for "draw one from the south". If a drink needed extra ice, it was "heavy on the hail".
Some of these old terms are still used today. For example, "Egg creams" are chocolate sodas with some milk. They are very well-known in New York, where they first started. Another term still used is "concrete". This name describes a very thick milkshake or custard. For example, the restaurant Culver's still serves its famous Concrete Mixers.
