47 Comments:

• WAS IT EITHER FARRELS OR ANNIES?

  By  Anonymous, at June 14, 2005 11:23 AM  

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• I know it was Swanson's in 75. Am I wrong?

  By  Anonymous, at June 16, 2005 11:51 PM  

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• The ice cream parlor was called Will Wrights (think that's how it was spelled rather than Rights). It was a fixture and surprised everyone when it disappeared with the remodel of the intersection of Dover Drive and Pacific Coast Highway.

  By  Greg Lima, at June 20, 2005 8:48 PM  

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• I believe it was call Rinky Dinks, when we were at Newport Harbor H.S., we'd spend some time there.

  By  Mario, at June 22, 2005 8:42 PM  

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• It was Ferrells ice cream parlour ! and they had a pig trough if you ate the whole thing they would ring bells and sirens and say " So and So is a pig"

  By  Anonymous, at June 23, 2005 4:09 PM  

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• WilRights Ice Cream was a real treat at the time.
  Expensive it cost more than
  Baskin Robbins 31 flavors
  but percieved as the "best".
  This coming decades before Ben,Jerry,Hagen& others blew the upscale premium ice cream market
  wide open

  By  SirTweakAlot, at June 25, 2005 10:56 AM  

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• It's funny that Will Wrights is perceived as "the best" The manager of the will Wrights in Huntington Beach shared with my Mom in the late 60's that it came from the same supplier as Thrifty Drug Store ice cream (the hand scooped version, that is). Both were delicious to an 8 year old living just south of Beach Blvd.

  By  Anonymous, at June 30, 2005 9:37 PM  

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• heck ya i remember that place. my mom grew up in the trailer park behind it don't forget mione's pizza/fun zone/stuffed tshirt

  By  Anonymous, at July 01, 2005 9:59 PM  

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• This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

  By  marushing, at July 06, 2005 11:50 AM  

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• I remember Ferrells in the OC in the 60's. I was there visiting family during highschool when we went there. We did order the pig trough and I remember all the sirens, bells, and whistles! I guess because of all the noise I assumed their theme was a fire house style theme. I do have an original "KEEP COOL WITH COOLIDGE" sign from a Ferrells Ice Cream Parlour. It is huge, in its original frame and it's in great condition. It is signed on the bottom Ferrells Ice Cream Parlour and Restaurant. Can anyone tell me if this type of item has any value? Do people actually purchase or collect this type of item. Thanks for your help and the memories!

  By  marushing, at July 06, 2005 11:55 AM  

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• I remember Wilwrights, I grew up in the trailer park behind it, it had the best candy! Rod's Liquer store and Roy's bait and tackle were there too!

  By  Anonymous, at July 06, 2005 12:14 PM  

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• I live in Whittier, California. I remember Farrel's ice-cream parlor at the Whittwood mall. It was next to the Whittwood theatre. They had the best ice-cream and candy!!
  Tammy

  By  Anonymous, at August 17, 2005 12:38 PM  

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• It was definitely Wil Wrights.I dont think it was on Dover. I think It was near the bottom of the old superior hill. I remember the tall stools at the counter and the little table and chairs. I also remember the smell of a sugar cookie, I think. I think it was served with all the ice cream they served. Still living up the hill in costa mesa. Wil Wrights brings back fond memories and Im sorry they are gone.

  By  Anonymous, at August 22, 2005 10:46 AM  

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• We loved going to Wil Wright's Ice Cream Parlor in Newport Beach. We always ordered Nesselrode Bula Ice cream in a dish and with each serving, one received a small macaroon inside a little paper envelope with the outline of an angel's face in red ink on the outside.
  
  I believe a much larger ice cream parlor was located in San Francisco at the time.
  
  It was a family favorite and we always took guests from out of town there, we thought so highly of it.

  By  Anonymous, at September 04, 2005 10:35 PM  

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• 'STRIPS & HOT SAUCE'
  
  DOES ANYONE HAVE THE RECIPE FOR THE HOT SAUCE USED ON THE 'STRIPS'(TORTILLA STRIPS) YOU COULD GET AT THE FOOD STANDS ON THE BEACH IN THE '50'S & '60? WAS IT KETCHUP & TABASCO OR WHAT? IT WAS BEFORE CHIPS & SALSA OR NACHOS.
  
  THANKS!

  By  Anonymous, at September 12, 2005 7:15 PM  

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• i worked at will wrights 1959 to 1964 greg s a frind of mine john m worked from 19580to1963

  By  Anonymous, at October 13, 2005 11:54 AM  

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• hi folks... my name is Ron, I'm the plant manager of the Thrifty Ice Cream plant and have been for the last 25 years. Will Wrights Ice cream was made by us under his label for about 12 years but since the early 80's it was discontinued. You're absolutly correct. It is the same formula and in fact we co pack for many customers under private label with most being the same high quality products you've come to love.
  If you have any question please feel free to write me at RSIMMER@riteaid.com... will be happy to answer any trivia about our company..
  Regards
  Ron

  By  Anonymous, at November 07, 2005 1:07 PM  

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• Was thinking of childhood memories growing up in Orange in the '70's. Wanted to find out about Ferrels (sooo much fun!) but also wanted to know what ever came of Scotty's Fish and Chips on Newport Beach, it was the place to be when we went to the beach.

  By  Shana, at December 07, 2005 5:20 AM  

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• I wish I could find ice cream that tasted as good as Will Wrights. My husband use to drive all the way to Palm Springs on weekends just to get some. Does anyone know the recipe?

  By  Anonymous, at February 01, 2006 8:41 PM  

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• Re: WIL Wright's Ice Cream. Wilbur Wright privately owned several stores. AT the moment I can remember Palm Springs;Beverly Hills (corner of Beverly Dr and Charleville); Sunset Strip; Newport Beach;La Jolla;Crenshaw and West Hollywood at the corner of Santa Monica and Harper. THAT location was where the factory was and it was THERE that the ice cream was made as long as Wil (ONE "L") made it. I managed two stores for him and often went to see the ice cream being made. Mr. Write eventually sold his stores to Carnation which was later purchased by IHOP. Carnation used the same recipes for a while but then went totally commercial. It broke Mr. Wright's heart to see it all disappear. Sadly he was murdered in his Nichols Canyon home in Los Angeles and the murderer was never caught. I have many original pieces of Wil Wright memorabilia including one of the round marble tables and two wrought iron chairs from the B.H. store. Those were the days of the BEST and most fattening ice cream with a butterfat content of 33%. And that is the way it was.

  By  Anonymous, at February 05, 2006 7:59 PM  

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• Wil Wright's was amazing. The ice cream was the stuff of dreams. One bite and you had a coating of butterfat on the roof of your mouth! The hot fudge was, well...heavenly! I can still imagine the flavor. I would do just about anything to find the recipe for that hot fudge! Anyone with a secret?

  By  Anonymous, at March 01, 2006 10:43 PM  

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• There was a Will Wright's parlor in the San Fernando Valley too on Ventura Blvd. You're right about that hot fudge sauce -- it was great and I've never found anything else to compare to it. As I recall, they gave you a little pitcher to pour it on with.

  By  Anonymous, at March 16, 2006 7:16 PM  

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• One of my favorite childhood memories was of enjoying a Meringue Glace' at Wil Wright's on Sunset Blvd. It was vanilla ice cream served on top of a meringue shell, topped with whipped cream and served with hot fudge sauce. I haven't seen anything like it since those childhood days. If you know of a place where that same dish is served today, please post the details here. Thanks!

  By  MarshaBradyFan, at May 09, 2006 6:23 PM  

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• Just wanted to add that my childhood memories are of a Wil Wright's in Westwood Village at the intersection of Lindbrook (or perhaps Kinross) and Glendon Avenues. I have the same strong memories as you of just the best ice cream and hot fudge ever. They were particularly well known for their vanilla, with vanilla bean throughout -- a fancy rarety in those days.
  
  By the way, the brand has recently been revived as a line of "super-premium" pints for supermarkets (no parlors, alas). I haven't tried it, though -- anyone?

  By  Bolto, at May 20, 2006 8:46 PM  

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• Yes! There was the Wil Wrights Ice Cream Parlor in Westwood Village. I remember going there in the early 70's. What a treat! The best hot fudge sundae along with the cute little cookie macaroon in the small paper envelope with the angel outlined in red. It was indeed on the corner of Glendon/Lindbrook. Great fun!

  By  Anonymous, at August 02, 2006 9:55 PM  

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• About Wil Wrights: I remember the very first and at that time, (1947) the only Wil Wright's Ice Cream Parlor, up on the Sunset Strip, right bear La Rue's Restaurant.
  That ice cream was soooo rich and deliecious...as others have said, there would be a coating of better fat on the roof of your mouth.
  My family all loved this ice cream so much that we had them pack three quarts in Dry Ice so that we could fly back to New York with it on the plane with us! Never has been another ice cream quite like theirs. And they madfe some unusual flavors back in the day, way before that was a popular thing to do. That Original place on the strip was very ver small. A lovely old fashioned Ice Cream Parlor look and Hor Fudge Sauce to die for!

  By  OldOldLady Of The Hills, at August 20, 2006 1:44 AM  

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• My family had a small trailor behind Will Wright's on Dover and PCH. Is anyone out there??

  By  nancy, at August 30, 2006 3:23 PM  

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• Jose McCoy's on Warner Ave. E/O Bolsa Chica Road in Huntington Beach, still sells the old strips and sauce at a reasonable price.

  By  sal, at September 12, 2006 2:10 PM  

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• i remember the hangout!! this one was in "Downey california" next to the stonewood shopping center on fire stone blv all my brothers went to downey high school .. it was across the street and kitty corner to that was "licorice pizza" record store ...im 43 now i think i was about 11 no wait i was just getting into junior high schoolthat was east high

  By  jody leAir, at September 23, 2006 8:34 AM  

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• I seem to remember going to a Will Wright's in Pasadena. It may have been on a street like Green or Colorado. Does anyone recall this location?

  By  Anonymous, at November 30, 2006 7:17 PM  

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• The place you're refering to was definitely Will Wright's and it was located on the corner of PCH and Dover. Farrels was located on PCH and MacAurther. It frequently had someone standing out on the corner in a guerilla suit waving at cars.

  By  Anonymous, at December 10, 2006 5:30 PM  

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• I too remember Wil Wright's and espeically the wall of candies in jars! I had a love/ hate relationship with the too small round marble tables. I visited to the parlor at Ventura and Van Nuys in Sherman Oaks. I just found WilWrights.com, which mentions WW ice cream in your local grocery store.

  By  Anonymous, at December 17, 2006 8:21 AM  

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• Yes, it was Wil Wright's and I do remember that nice coating of butterfat on my mouth after eating. I did not need to worry about my weight back then.

  By  Anonymous, at July 01, 2007 12:56 PM  

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• Among others, until at least around 1970 there were Wil Wright's parlors located (1) on the northwest corner of Van Nuys and Ventura just west of the gas station, (2) on Sunset in Pacific Palisades near the fire station on the north side of the street, and (3) at the southeast corner of Beverly and Charleville in Beverly Hills. They pioneered their most famous flavor, "vanilla bean".

  By  Anonymous, at July 04, 2007 8:20 AM  

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• in 1968 i visited my grandparents in costa mesa.i would go to wil wrights for coffee ice cream the very very best in the world! i live in schenectady n.y. today and will never forget the delicious taste of that superb ice cream.,the bowls of fresh whipped cream and the bowls of fresh fruit. yes ,to all that knew it it was heavenly!!!!

  By  ann marie perrino, at July 06, 2007 6:48 PM  

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• I worked for Farrell's at 7 locations in SoCal. Our ice cream was originally made by Arden as the first franchises were owned by Arden-Mayfair Markets. When Mariott bought us we switched to Adohr ice cream (part of Southland/7-11), and later Thrifty.
  
  There was a Wil Wrights at Golden West and Edinger in Huntington Beach. It didn't last long.

  By  Anonymous, at August 03, 2007 3:23 PM  

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• I grew up in the trailer park behind Wil Wrights, I also worked there, landing a job when I was only 13! I loved wearing the candy striper uniform. The memories of Wil Wrights are by far my fondest childhood ones. I still have an old Heavenly Scoops tee shirt with the angel on front. I used to have a sign from the Dover side of the building but gave it back to the friend that gave it to me as it took up alot of room. Miss that place, any old trailer parkers out there?

  By  Anonymous, at August 17, 2007 3:38 PM  

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• There were two parlors...one in Newport, the other in Pasadena. They had the BEST hot fudge sundays! They served them with mini macaroons. I wish they were still around...nothing like them!

  By  Terri, at August 25, 2007 8:03 PM  

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• My friends and I used to get sundaes after football games-go CdMHS- beat Harbor! -around 1973=74
  They had the best baby almond sundae with hot fudge sauce!
  The place at MacArthur and Coast Hwy was A&W, then "The Zoo". I think I got a Christmas tree on that lot too. Newport was much more low key back then. Who remembers Mr. Flynn at Harbor View?

  By  cys, at September 15, 2007 8:49 PM  

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• I lived in Bayshores, right across the street from Will Wrights and used to take orders from my friends @ Harbor Day School for Jolly Rancher candy sticks. Then I would purchase the candy and bring it to school. I was sad to see it go :( That was in the lae 70's/early 1980's.

  By  Anonymous, at September 23, 2007 9:11 AM  

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• These posts are cracking me up! Everyones asking and replying about Wil Wrights and then sporatically there's the Strip sauce!
  Does anyone remember The Patio Pantry? One was on Edinger in Santa Ana and the other one was in Huntington Beach I believe? I worked at both as well as my good friend Julie Gaylord, now Galkin. Julies' step-mom, Jeanie ran the one in HB. That one burnt down. We worked at the P-Panty's from about 1966-1967
  Rose Tapp (Herring)

  By  Anonymous, at November 15, 2007 3:21 PM  

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• Stanley Marcus had Wil Wright's ice cream flown into Dallas where it was served at the Zodiac restaurtant in the original Neiman's downtown store. It was the first time I had ever had coconut ice cream, and it has been my favorite ever since though none comes close in flavor and quality to Wright's.

  By  Anonymous, at December 13, 2007 6:46 AM  

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• I just drove by the site of the Wil Wright's at PCH- Newport Beach-couldn't remember the name (though could never forget that creamy-smooth taste!). Wracked my head for a day-Then I passed the awnings at "Joes' Italian" ice (in Garden Grove) and the site triggered the name- amazing what images can do. I read these blogs, smiling at the comments...but really not buying the "Thrifty" ice cream. I've had plenty of that- not even close!!! Wil Wright's was one of those special treats we kids (in the late 50's) screamed for when we left the beaches on a hot summer day. Ah...thanks for the memories!

  By  Anonymous, at March 11, 2008 9:48 PM  

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• I went to Wil Wright's in Palm Springs in 1963 or '64. My older sister told me back then that the Hollywood starlets went to WW in Hollywood, so naturally we had to go-just in case we saw a starlet on vacation!! It was downtown, across the street from the museum & library. I remember the little tables & chairs and even at the age of 9 thought it was a very upscale place! LOL. I do remember the hot fudge being unbelievable, and WW may be the reason I love vanilla ice cream above all others-I wasn't aware they used the vanilla bean back then.

  By  Cindy, at March 17, 2008 10:14 AM  

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• I remember going to Patio Pantry on Edinger in Huntington Beach in 1966 with friends from 4th grade. Does anyone remember the little, tiny pizza/sub shop called Niberino's--behind the former His Nibs liquor near the NW corner of Edinger and Edwards. Great meatball sandwiches for 59 cents!

  By  Dean, at April 09, 2008 4:15 PM  

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• I remember looking forward to any family birthday. We would drive from Los Angeles (before the freeway), to Swanson's. I still can see the big proch and hear the music of the turn plate that they would put the birthday cake on. Anyone else remember that from the 50's? Where exactly was it? It is just a very fond memory from my childhood. Thankd so much.

  By  Anonymous, at April 15, 2008 3:21 PM  

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• I ran cross country and track at NHHS in the early 70's and we would stop in WilWrights and grab a drink of ice cold water in a glass, down it quickly and get back on the road before Bert would catch us. We even gave them a plaque for their wall thanking them for refueling us.

  By  Jack Minter, at June 21, 2008 8:13 PM  

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