Nesselrode Memories

Charles Perry’s “The Twilight of the Nesselrode” (Forklore, July 15) brought back memories for me, and I wanted to let you know that Nesselrode was alive and well here in Southern California during the 1940s and ‘50s. It was called Nesselrode Bula and was one of the most popular ice cream flavors (and the most expensive, since it also had rum added to it) in a chain of upscale ice cream parlors called Wil Wright’s. The ice cream was chock full of the candied fruits described in the piece; perhaps the rum was a Wil Wright addition (there actually was a Wilbur Wright).

In addition to serving thousands of Southern Californians, Nesselrode Bula was a favorite of many of the movie stars of the day, such as Clark Gable, Marlon Brando, Hopalong Cassidy, Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, Gary Cooper, Rosalind Russell and Kim Novak. Many times chauffeurs would drive up to the Sunset Boulevard store and come in for a few quarts (no gallons were sold). The common knowledge around the store was that they were for studio moguls.

No one ever commented on the “strange” name. When the Wil Wright stores started closing in the ‘60s, it was the Nesselrode Bula that people mentioned the most.

JUDY HIGA

Former Wil Wright’s waitress

via Internet