Hm, how to explain the experience of a child’s birthday at Farrell's Ice Cream. Well, imagine if an old-fashioned soda fountain got on I-10 and collided head-on with an entire circus. And a zoo. And several hundred gallons of hot fudge. Complete with lots of screaming. Plus sirens. No, seriously, actual sirens. And, probably, pre-diabetes. 

Opened during America's nostalgia craze of the late 1960s, Farrell's became famous not only for towering sundaes and candy-striped décor, but for its employees. The chain was actually founded in Portland, Oregon. But they were big in the 1970s and 1980s in Houston, with the Galleria location probably the most prominent—conveniently located across from the ice-skating rink in the peak Big Mall Era years. 

Farrel’s didn't just scoop ice cream. They put on a show. Birthdays were announced with drums, whistles, sirens and enough organized chaos to wake people in the suburbs. Employees marched enormous sundaes through the restaurant while singing at full volume, encouraging every customer to clap along whether they wanted to or not. I understand player pianos were also somehow involved. Plus balloons.

It was loud. It was ridiculous. Children absolutely loved it. I’m not saying 100 percent that parents had a drink before coming in with a birthday party, but I am saying that one would understand if that were the case. And I can only imagine what it was like to work there. Which is where this original white lapel pin comes in. 

You had to think employee turnover would be high in a place like that. This bit of Office Space flare was an attempt to help with recruiting at a job where you probably had to clean so much melted ice cream off the floor on Saturdays that you’d develop Karate Kid-like Miyagi-Do skills after just a month.  

"It's Fun to Work at Farrell's." I mean, maybe it was. You had access to tons of delicious ice cream and probably comped your friends. The Galleria was a cool place to work for a young man or woman. They probably paid well for someone in that age range. And if you liked kids you probably thought the chaos kind of cool. A lot of cute girls worked at Farrell’s. Too nobody was carjacking people at the Galleria yet so there’s that.  

Plus, Farrell's hired people with personality. The restaurant rewarded enthusiasm, showmanship and a willingness to turn serving dessert into live entertainment. Pins like this identified staff members who helped create the wonderfully chaotic atmosphere that made Farrell's unlike anywhere else.

Employees came and went at places like this, as even the best employees likely went on to college or grown-up jobs. Uniforms got thrown away. Name tags vanished. Pins were dropped into desk drawers or coffee cans in the garage before eventually disappearing altogether. Which makes a very clean survivor like this somewhat surprising.

This original employee pin remains in very good overall condition. The white background has stayed bright while the bold red lettering remains crisp and easy to read. The back looks as though it’s beginning to oxidize slightly, and so could use a coat of protective oil.

It's a fun little conversation piece from one of America's most memorable family entertainment chins—especially here in Houston.

Details

• Original Farrell's employee lapel pin

• White pin-back button

• Red "It's Fun to Work at Farrell's" graphics

• Good overall condition

• Authentic employee memorabilia

• Ice cream headache not included

Farrell's wasn't simply about ice cream. It was about celebration. About birthdays that embarrassed you in the best possible way. And this little pin celebrates the people who made all that happen—one scoop at a time. We salute you, former Farrell’s employee, and all of the magic you created wherever you worked. It might have been a part-time job for you, but it was a source of priceless childhood memories for the rest of us.