Massachusetts Ice Cream Man Sets Guinness World Record

Rosemarie DiMare has seen “The Ice Cream Man” every summer night for 38 years.

“That’s when we moved to Peabody, (Mass.),” DiMare said. “My kids, and now my grandkids, enjoy ice cream from Al.”

Al is Allan Ganz, is the city’s beloved ice cream man for nearly 70 years. He is recognized by Guinness World Records as having the record for the longest career as an ice cream man. They awarded him the official title of “Longest Career as an Ice Cream Man.”

His family began offering Ice Cream Man t-shirts this summer, “Allan’s Ice Cream, Peabody, MA., Guinness Book 2016 World Record Holder.”

Ganz joined his father’s ice cream truck and starting selling with his dad at the age of 10 in 1947, according to Guinness World Records. Then, they sold ice cream Everett and Malden, Massachusetts, cities outside Boston. Ganz, 77, continued working with his dad until he was 19. After a 22-month stint in the armed forces, he returned to selling with his dad and has not stopped serving since. His father sold ice cream until he turned 86.

In 1977, Allan bought his own truck and moved to Peabody, about 20 miles northeast of Boston.

The typical ice cream selling season for Ganz runs from April to October. He sells ice cream treats from about 11 on summer mornings, until 8:30 at night.

He has generations of fans. There is even a fan-created Facebook group page called Fans of Allan the Ice Cream Man, which boasts more than 1,200 members.

Fan JoAnne Vitiello said, “Alan has made such an impact on all of the families in Peabody. He brought smiles to children and adults alike. Such an inspiration. The Vitiello Family will always be Fans!”

Ganz told Guinness World records that in the past that he knew up to 90 percent of his customers by name.

“My father would take me by the hand to see the ice cream man,” Peabody resident Amy Lyn Blake shared with Guinness World Records.. “My son is now a teenager and when he hears that song, he grabs his allowance and heads out to see Allan. ...Allan Ganz has been a part of my family for three generations. He will forever be ‘The Ice Cream Man!”

Photo Credit: Guinness World Records