Foster’s Old Fashion Freeze #1
On October 30, 1946, George Foster kicked off the California soft-serve ice cream craze when he opened the first Foster’s Old Fashion Freeze in Inglewood. Foster had purchased the rights to the Dairy Queen brand in California, intending to help the chain expand in the west. However, state laws protecting the dairy industry at the time prevented the use of “dairy” in restaurant names. So instead, he named the restaurant after himself. The soft-serve ice cream was so popular that the chain had expanded to 360 locations by 1951 when Foster sold control of the franchises to the Meyenberg Milk Products Company for $1 million. As California grew, so did the concept, as made-to-order hamburgers, fries and other food items were added to the menu. But competition from other national and international fast food brands took its toll. As of January 2024, there are 62 locations in operation.
Inglewood, Los Angeles County
Photographer: Lonny Ross