"AYZKREM" (ICE CREAM)
LARRY KING KNOWS THE SCOOP
by
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe

Syosset, New York

In an interview with Jeri Quinzio, author of the cookbook, "Ice Cream:  the Ultimate Cold Comfort," Devra First asked her the following questions:

Q.  How has ice cream's place in society changed?

A.  For a very long time it was food for the
     rich ("raykh").  You didn't have ice cream,
     or if you did it was a very rare ("zeltn") treat.

     Now ice cream is seen as a very
     affordable, casual thing.  It's changed
     from something nobles ate to something
     kids strolling in the street (di gas) eat.
     (Note:  The Yiddish has been added by the writer.)

Q.  Did Prohibition and the Depression
      ("di depresye") affect the ice cream business?

A.  Prohibition was great for ice cream.  Dad
     stopped on the way  home and picked up
     ice cream for the family instead of
     stopping at a local tavern and drinking
     with pals.  Even Anheuser-Busch started
     producing ice cream instead of beer.
     Then the Depression hit and Prohibition
     was repealed.  Ice cream got a double
     whammy.  People could now spend what
     little money they had on beer or whiskey ("bronfn"/"shnaps").

I recently had the pleasure of reading a wonderful book:  "Larry King - A Remarkable Journey" (Weinstein Books).

Larry King writes about going to New Haven with his friends Herbie, Hoo-ha, and Howie.  When he runs into the Mayor, the Mayor asks:

"Where you guys from?"
"Brooklyn.'
"Brooklyn?  You have relatives here?"
"No."
"You go to Yale?"
Ha!  Ha!
"No," we said, "we don't go to Yale."

The mayor says, "What brings you here?"

And Herbie said, "Mayor, Howie said that there was a Carvel in New Haven that served three scoops for fifteen cents."

And Mayor Lee said, "That's impossible! They can't serve three scoops for fifteen cents."

So we told the Mayor where the Carvel was; we said goodbye, and we left.  We drove back to Brooklyn.  We were driving down Hoo-ha's street.  Hoo-ha never called home.

It was now snowing in Brooklyn. Standing in front of the apartment were Hoo-ha's mother and father.  This was Jewish masochism.

  Our son has not come home.
  He will stand out here in the snow.
  He will get pneumonia.  We will suffer.
  We will die.  And he will feel it for the
  rest of his life.

We got out of the car.  The snow was coming down.  (Hoo-ha's mother said to Hoo-ha, "Don't lie to me!  Don't lie!  I'm going to ask you a question!  Just answer. Answer!  Vhere vere you tonight?"

Hoo-ha said, "Carvel."

"Don't lie.  Don't lie.  Don't lie!  I made your father put on his galoshes.  I made him go to Carvel.  The owner said that my Bernie vasn't there.  So, vhere vere you?  Vhere?
What Carvel were you at?"

"New Haven, Connecticut."

She said, "I'm gonna die!  I'm gonna die!"

People were opening their windows and looking down.

Mr. Horowitz came forward, grabbed Herbie, pulled him next to him, and said, "Vhat the hell did you go to New Haven for?  Vhat da hell?  You're a bum!  You're a bum!  You're a bum!  Bum!  Bum!  Bum!  Bum!  Vhy did you go?"

Herbie said, "Well, Howie said that there was a Carvel in New Haven that served three scoops for fifteen cents."

And as God is my witness, Mr. Howoritz said, "That's impossible!"

______________________________________
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe once completed
the New York Times crossword puzzle with
"mode mode," meaning two scoops of ice
cream with pie or cake.

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___________________________________________
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe is the author of
two books:

"Yiddish for Dog & Cat Lovers" and
"Are Yentas, Kibitzers, & Tummlers Weapons of Mass Instruction?  Yiddish
Trivia."  To order a copy, go to her
website: MarjorieGottliebWolfe.com

NU, what are you waiting for?  Order the book!