The Labour Day Long Weekend is over, and that means we are leaving the summer season. So, how about one last bit of summer history? For decades, a great way to beat the heat in Canada was Dickie Dee. This is the story of that brand. 🧵 1/8
Replies
So sad sold out to good humor-breyers
sep 2, 2025, 2:10 pm • 3 0 • view
Always knew there would be at least one at the local baseball league games. Great memories.
sep 2, 2025, 10:30 pm • 1 0 • view
Earl Barish went on to own a semi pro basketball team in Winnipeg as well as the Salisbury House restaurant chain
sep 2, 2025, 10:26 pm • 1 0 • view
The story of Dickie Dee begins in Winnipeg in the early 1950s when Sid Glow started up the company. One person who worked for the company was 14-year-old Earl Barish. In 1959, Glow decided to sell his small company. 🧵 2/8
sep 2, 2025, 1:01 pm • 18 0 • view
Earl's family put together $2,000 and bought Dickie Dees, which included the entire fleeet of eight Dickie Dee tricycles. The Barish family built Dickie Dee to have operators across Canada and the Northern United States. 🧵 3/8
sep 2, 2025, 1:01 pm • 17 0 • view
In the late-1980s, the company introduced The Richard D's The Ultimate Ice Cream Bar. These were sold at gas stations and other outlets in freezers called Bubble Cabinets. The Richard D was the first gourmet ice cream bar packaged in its own box in Canada. 🧵 4/8
sep 2, 2025, 1:01 pm • 16 0 • view
Under the Barish family, Dickie Dee developed a network of distributors that operated their equipment. The distributors leased the equipment and bought supplies from company suppliers. This allowed some distributors to operate from their garages or homes. 🧵 5/8
sep 2, 2025, 1:01 pm • 16 0 • view
At the height of the company, it had 1,500 Dickie Dee tricycles riding through 300 cities and towns in Canada and the United States. The familiar sound of the bells helped make it a hallmark of summer, and a first summer job for many. 🧵 6/8
sep 2, 2025, 1:01 pm • 16 0 • view
In 1992, the Barish family sold the company to Unilever and it became a division of Good Humor-Breyers. The Dickie Dee brand, and its offices in Oakville, Ontario, remained until 2002. But even today, a few Dickie Dee vendors still ensure cool treats for Canadians. 🧵 7/8
sep 2, 2025, 1:01 pm • 19 0 • view
I hope you enjoyed that look at Dickie Dee. If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇 www.buymeacoffee.com/craigu *sources in next post* 🧵 8/8
sep 2, 2025, 1:01 pm • 15 0 • view
Sources: Viewpoint Vancouver: buff.ly/5PQTn8j Issuu: buff.ly/S3Oxxrv
sep 2, 2025, 1:01 pm • 11 0 • view
I had no idea Dickie Dee's had a presence outside of Winnipeg. Very cool!
sep 2, 2025, 1:06 pm • 0 0 • view
@stevedangle20.bsky.social Some history that's worth at least $1.50 in change!
sep 2, 2025, 1:39 pm • 1 0 • view