Prompt Cast
The Rise and Fall of Soda Fountains: From Purifying Water to Carbonated Drinks
TLDR Soda fountains, initially used to purify water and create alcoholic drinks, became a popular business tied to pharmacies. However, the decline of soda fountains can be attributed to factors such as the rise of car culture and the convenience of bottle caps.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Soda fountains have a rich history that goes beyond the 50s and 70s nostalgia, and their impact on American culture and dominance is significant.
04:45
Soda fountains were already on their way out by the 50s, and the heyday of soda fountains was actually much older than that, dating back to Europe where people wanted to replicate the naturally carbonated mineral water.
09:20
In 1767, Joseph Priestly fermented yeast and water to create a decent approximation of semi-carbonated water, and 16 years later, Johann Jacob Schwepp invented a hand crank compression pump and realized that cold temperatures and pressure were necessary to carbonate water.
14:22
Schweppes was already creating CO2 before Matthews, but Matthews invented a self-contained apparatus that allowed for mass production of carbonated drinks, leading to the creation of soda fountains.
19:34
Soda fountains became a legit business tied to pharmacies because it took skill to properly create carbon dioxide and pharmacists already had the technical expertise to mix the drinks.
24:05
Soda fountains were initially used to purify water by fermenting it and making alcoholic drinks, which were then mixed with sparkling water from a tap at the fountain, and pharmacists at the time also added drugs like heroin, morphine, opium, and cannabis to the drinks.
28:40
In the late 1800s, cocaine was considered a wonder drug and was found in varying amounts in drinks, including Coca-Cola, although the official stance of Coca-Cola is that there was no cocaine in their product.
33:41
Coca-Cola was originally made with still water but then switched to carbonated water, and it was first sold at Jacobs Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia for a nickel.
38:24
Soda fountains and bars were similar establishments and competed with each other, but soda fountains became popular during the temperance movement and saw a rise in customers, including women and children, leading to a boom in sugar consumption and the popularity of soda floats with ice cream.
43:20
The decline of soda fountains can be attributed to factors such as the rise of car culture and the convenience of bottle caps, which allowed people to enjoy soda at home or on the go.
Categories:
Society & Culture
