Snow Cap Ice Creams – Part 2

Snow Cap Ice Cream continued to aggressive advertise in the Lorain Journal with innovative ideas during the latter part of the 1950s. This ad from Feb. 22, 1957 promoted the Snow Cap Birthday Party Special – whereas the company would provide ice cream, spoons, napkins, chocolate wafers, punch syrup to make 6 quarts, and drinking cups, making it easy for mothers.

This July 12, 1957 ad listed all the Snow Cap products, as well as suggesting using Snow Cap dry ice for keeping things cool on picnics.

This ad from May 28, 1958 noted that Snow Cap Ice Creams was "Lorain County's only manufacturer of frozen novelty stick confections." The ad also suggest listening for the bells of the Snow Cap ice cream trucks, and their products were "served at your door or favorite corner store."

Snow Cap continued to promote the use of dry ice, as seen in this pair of ads.

June 14, 1958

July 17, 1959

Snow Cap even utilized coupons, as seen in this ad from August 28, 1959.

It seems that things began to wind down at Snow Cap at the end of the 1950s, with little to no advertising in the newspaper. This May 14, 1960 report of a break-in is one of the few times the company was mentioned in the Lorain Journal during that era.

Despite the unique product offering and marketing ideas, it was the end of the line for Snow Cap with this announcement from April 3, 1961.

The winding down of the Snow Cap business seems to coincide with Mr. Gantose taking over the concession at Lakeview Park. This March 17, 1972 Journal article notes that he had operated the concession there for about 15 years – or roughly since around 1957.

Mr. Gantose continued to operate the concession there right into the 1980s. He became embroiled in a controversy when the city of Lorain attempted to evict him so that renovations could be done at the bath house to attract a Wendy's Restaurant. But in the end, the city's plans to put a fast food restaurant were scuttled; in December 1985, Lorain County Judge Joseph Cirigliano ordered the city to allow Gantose to use the concession area through Jan. 30, 1990, when his lease expired. He went to a month-to-month contract during the summer of 1990.

He passed away in 1994.

As his brother noted in his obituary, "He enjoyed people. He did what he enjoyed doing."

And he enjoyed making people happy with ice cream.