Ah, the memories...

[Pah]

The History of the Soda Fountain http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsodafountain.htm?terms=soda

Until the 1960s, both small town and big city dwellers enjoyed carbonated beverages at the local soda fountain or ice cream saloon. Often housed in the drug store, the soda fountain counter served as a meeting place for people of all ages. Often combined with lunch counters, the soda fountain declined in popularity as commercial ice cream, bottled soft drinks, and fast food restaurants came to the fore.

It was 1962 when I last worked at a soda fountain in my corner drug store. It disappeared with remodeling a few years later. It's a wonder I didn't gain 50 pounds in my 2 years there. Those were the days when we wrapped femine hygene products in brown paper and dispensed a milk shake for the waiting lady (milk shakes have no ice cream in New England)

Facts for the Trival Pursuit fan can be found at the link