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Bite Into Pittsburgh History: Isaly's Halloween Ice Cream

Posted on October 16, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Francesca Dabecco

Francesca Dabecco

Isaly’s pumpkin ice cream slices. (@historycenter)

Isaly’s pumpkin ice cream slices. (@historycenter)

Does anyone remember Isaly's party slices? Starting in the late 1950s, they came wrapped in foil — like a Klondike without the chocolate coating — and did away with the need to scoop ice cream at a party. The ice cream bricks came in standard flavors, but the most popular ones were slices that had shapes inside like pumpkins (pictured above), shamrocks, hearts, and trees. They were a staple of Isaly’s holiday treats until 1978.

🎧 Hear the Origin Story of the Klondike Bar in Pittsburgh
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