A broken soda machine in a small Kansas town sparked an idea that would transform the frozen beverage industry and become a staple at movie theaters and convenience stores worldwide. An ICEE is a frozen carbonated beverage with a distinctive slushy consistency — part drink, part frozen treat. Today, it’s a global phenomenon, but it all started with an accident in 1958. In 1958, Omar Knedlik owned a Dairy Queen in Coffeyville when his soda machine malfunctioned. Rather than wait for repairs, Knedlik began freezing glass bottles to keep drinks cold. When customers opened the bottles, something unexpected occurred. “When he did, the drink would freeze almost instantaneously. And it kind of created this foamy consistency — and customers loved it,” said Wyatt Starnes, director of tourism for the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce. Recognizing the potential in this happy accident, Knedlik partnered with local engineers to convert an old soft serve machine into the first ICEE machine. He patented the invention in 1960, launching what would become a global phenomenon.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com
