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Awful Awful | A Classic Recipe, A Modern Favorite
Looking for a unique and delicious milkshake with a New England history? Look no further than the Awful Awful – it’s “awful big and awful good!”
Awful Awful | A Classic Recipe, A Modern Favorite
Photo Credit : Bethany BourgaultFor too many years, I lived under the impression that what the rest of the world called a “milkshake” was actually supposed to be called a “Fribble.” My childhood self liked the way the word sounded, and decided that my local Friendly’s had demonstrated enough expertise in all matters of ice cream that everybody else just simply must be wrong. It took a little real-world exposure (i.e., a failed attempt at ordering a “Fribble” elsewhere) for me to realize this wasn’t the case.
Turns out, the “Fribble,” at one time, wasn’t called a “Fribble” either. It went by another name, one more aligned with how I felt about using the boring word “milkshake” than with the actual drink itself.
It was called the “Awful Awful.”
Really, though, the Awful Awful is anything but.
Back in the late 1940s, a popular New Jersey chain by the name of Bond’s concocted the recipe for a unique, delicious, drinkable treat. Unlike other milkshakes that were made with hard ice cream, the Awful Awful was made with ice milk and syrup. A satisfied customer announced that it was “awful big and awful good,” and the name stuck.
Photo Credit : Bethany Bourgault
Soon after, a successful business deal with two growing eateries — Friendly (at that time, sans “‘s”) and Newport Creamery — spread the Awful Awful throughout New England. There was a catch, though. If either entity took its business into New Jersey, the drink’s name would have to be changed. New Jersey was Bond’s territory, after all. The three chains coexisted peaceably until the 1960s.
Friendly (still sans “‘s”) had grown so much by then that ignoring the entire state of New Jersey just wasn’t practical. Rather than miss out on a whole new market, they chose to forgo the “Awful Awful.” Company executives conducted a naming contest to re-brand the classic treat, and the three people who suggested “Fribble” each won $100. Several years later, Bond’s went bankrupt, allowing Newport Creamery to snatch up the Awful Awful trademark for just $1,000.
Photo Credit : Bethany Bourgault
The Fribble would eventually undergo several makeovers, straying farther from its original twin and closer to a normal milkshake. In the 1990s, it traded in its ice milk for soft-serve, and more recently, traded in the soft-serve for hard ice cream. After all, a Fribble made with hard ice cream can be made with any of Friendly’s 60+ flavors.
The best news for the old-fashioned Fribble lovers, though, is that the original recipe lives on. All of Newport Creamery’s 12 locations still make Awful Awfuls the way they were meant to be — with ice milk, syrup, and just enough ice cream to make them thick.
Photo Credit : Bethany Bourgault
Next time you’re in the area, be sure to give this frozen treat a try. You’ll be “awful” glad you did!
Have you ever had an Awful Awful?
This post was first published in 2016 and has been updated.
SEE MORE:
75 Classic New England Foods
Friendly’s Jubilee Roll | A New England Holiday Tradition
Friendly’s Cone Head Sundae
Bethany Bourgault
Bethany Bourgault interned with Yankee Magazine and New England.com during the summers of 2015 and 2016. She recently graduated from Syracuse University, majoring in magazine journalism with minors in writing and religion. She loves reading, exploring the outdoors, ballroom dancing, and trying new recipes. Keep up with her adventures at bethanybourgault.com.
More by Bethany Bourgault
Bonds next door to Johnnys where I got my first hair cut!
The Awful Awful at Bonds along with their hotdog on a hamburger bun was truly the best! Bowling at Rizzuto Berra licorice at Rowe Manse!
Great times
I actually have an Awful Awful glass that I make
with Chocolate Ice cream in…cannot remember where or when I got the glass but it was a lot of years ago.
I remember as a child having an awful awful. We usually went to Bonds in Clifton. (We lived in Nutley). While visiting Newport we stopped in at the Creamery, when I saw the AA I was thrilled. Every time we go to Newport, there’s at least 2 stops for my Awful Awful.
On my way back to NYC from the Newport Folk Festival in 1968, I followed a friend’s suggestion and stopped off at the Newport Creamery and asked for a chocolate Awful Awful. My memory is that a glass was filled to the top with hard ice cream, and then topped with a squirt of syrup. Nothing else. The glass was then put on a shake mixing machine. For the first minute or two, the contents did not move; then, it started to rotate very slowly, eventually speeding up as the ice cream softened. The whold process took at least 5 minutes. I was impatient, but when I drank the resulting drink, it was spectacular! The closest I can think of to this drink is the Dairy Queen Blizzard, but the Awful Awful was the best! Funny to read that it’s made with “ice milk” because I don’t remember it being that way. Is it possible that I actually was at Friendly’s and had a Fribble? Too long ago to remember.
I just discovered this article – a true trip down memory lane! I grew up in Upper Montclair and going to Bonds was so much fun. The hamburgers, the little cup of sherbet (the best!) and of course, the Awful Awful. Our Dad also grew up in Montclair and his name was on the plaque on the wall for drinking three Awful Awfuls. I never tried, I’m not sorry to say! I still have an Awful Awful glass. Wonderful memories.
I too grew up in Upper Montclair, as did my dad, and we would periodically go to Bonds for an Awful Awful. 35 cents in the 1950s. The deal they had was that if you drank 3 Awful Awfuls in one sitting, you could have the 4th one for free; but they took pity and if you asked they’d give you a certificate to come back later for that 4th one. The plaque on the wall listed the people who had drunk 3 in one sitting multiple times, and I remember one guy did it 34 times in one month, which means he did it twice in one day a few times. Awesome.
I to grew up in Upper Montclair and frequently went to Bonds for an awlful-awful and burger. I remember the little of sherbut and the reasonable prices. Never did the 3 challenge, but my friends did
(bob von zumbusch for one) Very excited to know that a plaque has been erected on the bonds spot on valley road. Good to hear that Buzz Aldren also visited Bond;s
I grew up in Newport, R.I. and the Newport Creamery on West Main Road was the place to go for teen-age males in the 1940’s to see the best looking girls working behind the counter. I always got a vanilla Awful Awful and never had difficulty finishing one and to this day I still want another.
I’ve been around a long time so a awful awful was at Newport creamery and a fribble was at friendly’s, end of story, as it still is today. 2022
My first “real” job after baby-sitting was working as a waitress at one of the many Friendly locations in Glastonbury and East Hartford CT while I was in HS. I still remember the menu offering Big Beef sandwiches, Fribbles, and the Jim Dandy. It sure was different making the desserts compared to just eating and enjoying them! I still remember my uniform of a grey shift dress and the adorable white ruffled apron that had to be washed due to the hot fudge stains all over the crisp white apron. I never had an Awful Awful but was intrigued by the Fribble. Delicious! Many Friendly restaurants have closed since but it’s still my favorite go-to for a simple meal and ice cream dessert with my mom. I still haven’t been able to finish a Jim Dandy by myself. I will be on the lookout for the iconic Awful Awful as we continue to travel throughout beautiful New England.
Back in the 1970’s I worked at an ice cream parlor on the river in Old Saybrook, CT.
We called those delicious drinks milk shakes and they were always made with hard ice cream, milk and syrup. The chocolate shake and coffee shake were the most popular. I brought two sundaes to a table once and placed one in front of a customer and misjudged the weight on the tray of the other. If fell off the tray right into the ladies open pocketbook. I grabbed as much as I could as quickly as I could but I could not get it all. I apologized profusely and the customer was so incredibly understanding. Needless to say she got another sundae and the entire bill comped.
I lived in Passaic and we would go the Bonds in CLifton by Rizzuto-Berra bowling alley and Rowe-Manse store was in front. i Met my husband in 1961, married him 2 years later and stayed married 56 yrs. till he passed away. We had our Awful Awfuls in the car and talked to many friends who still talk about the fun we had at Bonds..
I was born and raised in Passaic, too, but travelled to Clifton for Bonds (and Rutt’s Hutt, too) for those really THICK Awful Awfuls. Still looking to get the recipe (with malt powder??) Great memories!!!!
I grew up in the late 60’s, early 70’s, and Upper Montclair, my Home Town in New Jersey, had a Bonds on the street that I lived! My family, especially my brother and Father and I used to frequently TRY to finish the DELICIOUS AWFUL AWFUL! Ours were always Coffee!
Grew up in Auburn, ME and went to Goodwin’s for Awful Awful’s and assorted plate meals. They were true to their name and I especially liked the coffee flavored ones. My wife of 52 years and counting and I would go there when we were out on a date. Goodwin’s is long since gone but the memories are still great!
I grew up in Worcester Mass. And worked at Friendlys in the late 60’s…the Priest at our church would give a free trip to anyone who could drink 3 AwfulAwfuls in one sitting…but he needed to witness the challenge! And off to Hampton Beach with the CYC they could go ! And ice milk is not soft serve…ice milk that we used at Friendlys was without color and anything but creamy ! I just loved those days…
In my teen years I consumed Awful Awfuls and square hamburgers on toast at the White City Friendly in Shrewsbury, Mass. – which I miss terribly. The closest duplication I’ve come to match the AA’s thickness has been The Frosty at Wendy’s which I eat with a spoon – no Hugh straws available there! Great memories!
Newport Creamery, East Providence in the 50’s. Wonderful memories.
The church was St Joan of Arc on Lincoln Street and Friendlys was on Lincoln Street, as well…our manager was Hank and the asst manager, Richard…great guys.
I’m surprised they weren’t called Wicked-Wicked
Yes!!
I grew up in Bloomfield so I had the choice between Bonds in Montclair or the one in Clifton by the Rizzuto/Berra bowling alley. Even took my kids when they were small. Don’t think I could finish one now but I’d sure like to try.
My husband and I met in the Clifton Bonds in 1961 and were married 2 yrs later and had 56 years together before he passed away.
2 Big Beefs & an Awful Awful, my usual order at Friendly’s, Coltsville MA, when I was a kid. I can’t imagine eating that much in one sitting now. “Awful big, Awful good.”
I lived in Cheshire and Friendly’s in Coatsville was the closest. My friends would go to McDonalds across the street but I would head for Friendly’s for an Awful Awful!!
in Newtonville, MA there was an ice cream parlor that served an Awful Awful. can’t remember the name of the store but it was back in the “50’s when I was in H.S. (that’s why I can’t remember the name) But to me, they were the 1st!!!
Possibly your ice cream parlor was Brigham’s…my aunt and great aunt lived in Newtonville and when we’d visit every year from Nebraska my father would drive there to pick up a quart each of chocolate, coffee, and chocolate chip-evertime. Still a core memory from 65 plus years ago
These are SO good. I liked having a little malt put into mine. On a hot day, I can just picture the frothy top still bubbling when they put it down on the counter in front of you. I have a question. How far south do you have to go before people can’t figure out what a
‘frappe’ is?
When I moved to NY in 1959 they never heard of a frappe. They still call it a milkshake…..but it’s not.
Well I recall a family trip to Tennessee where we stood in a McDonalds after ordering frappes and watched the employees all surround us in awe, as if we were aliens. My dad had to translate for us and finally they nodded in understanding and made us our “milkshakes.”
And then they said, “Sorry–the shake machine’s broken.”
Saw these great comments. I grew up in Cedar Grove in the sixties and then North Caldwell in the 70’s. In elementary school at Leonard R. Parks we used to go to the Bonds across the street on Pompton Ave. I wasn’t old enough so I had to go with my older brother. A hamburger was 85 cents and a cheeseburger deluxe was $1.25, but included coleslaw and a drink (usually a Coke). When we moved to North Caldwell, we went to the Friendly’s in Caldwell where I was treated to a Jim Dandy in sixth grade for being best student. We also used to go to the Grunings on Bloomfield Ave. where my father always took us for the hand-packed pistachio or coffee ice cream.
Your memories are mine! I grew up in Montclair, NJ during the 50s and early 60s. Do you remember the little dixie cup of sherbert (or was it called ice) that Bonds served with the hamburgers? I also remember Grunings as well as Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionary, both on Bloomfield Ave; Applegate Farm on Watchung Ave was a frequent destination for homemade ice cream on a summer evening.
love the comments grew up in west orange ’36-55 grad varsity football wife from Bloomfield ,varsity cheerleader, we both have wonderful memories of the many trips to bonds trips to bonds with friends. my name was on the wall for the 3 awful awful but I never finished a “pigs dinner” ( a giant banana split) great memories
If you wanted to be a real he-man you would mix in a raw egg into your cabinet.
I’m94; and you have no idea how refreshing it is to see the comments of so many who enjoyed the Awful Awful’s – as did my hubby and I – in the 50’s.
I worked at Newport Creamery in mid 80’s. I did the books in AM, was Hostess during lunch
A mixture of ice cream, milk, and syrup is/was called a cabinet in Rhode Island and a frappe in Massachusetts.
I grew up in MA, close to the RI line. As a young kid I was told a milkshake had no ice cream, and a frappe had ice cream. Imagine my dilemma when as a 5 year old, I went to Woonsocket, RI and asked for a frappe, and was asked, “Do you mean a cabinet”? I was thinking do you mean the thing in the kitchen. Love the different terminology of the East Coast. Sorry I don’t live there any more, sure miss it.
WHO REMEMBERS WHAT A CABINET WAS ?
I used to get my coffee cabinet at Darlcrest Pharmacy in Pawtucket, RI. Now a cabinet, unfortunately now called a frappe, is made with hard ice cream, milk, and syrup. A milkshake is just that, milk and syrup whipped like a cabinet but not with ice cream. Let’s bring back the name cabinet! There was no reason to change it in the first place!
I do; and had a Cabinet often at Murphy’s Drugstore on Pine Street in Pawtucket. Yum!
Is there some recipe we can try at home? Sounding “awful” good…
I worked at a Friendly’s in the early 70’s. We did NOT use soft-serve ice cream for the Fribble (we didn’t even carry soft-serve) – we used ice-milk and syrup. Many happy memories of using syrups that weren’t available on the menu as Fribble flavors (i.e orange and root beer) for my own consumption. ????
I actually used to work at a Newport Creamery in High School for 2 years. I don’t recall ever putting icecream in it…. It was always ice milk, syrup and milk, period. Those were fun days! I wish the Brockton, Massachusetts store never closed. We had a lot of regulars who were real characters!
I worked in a Newport Creamery in Pawtucket, RI in 1958 and 1959 and made many Awful Awfuls – always with 3 large scoops of frozen milk plus milk and syrup to provide flavor. We also made cabinets using the traditional RI recipe of icecream syrup and milk.
I grew up in Montclair in a family of 10 kids. The last day of school in June was the day we’d squeeze into the Chevy Greenbrier van for the trip to Bond’s. Everything before that was history when the top of your mouth froze your brain into submission.
I grew up in north Caldwell in the 50’s. Mom n dad introduced us to the Awful Awfuls. Sooooo delicious !!!! Our gang also hung out at Grunings in Caldwell.
I remember on my way to our vacation home in Woodford vt I would at the Friendly in Bennington vt great service good food awesome fribbles
We had the first Friendlys in Longmeadow, Mass, where the Blake brothers, the owners, lived. One of their daughters was in my sisters class and the Blakes would treat them to ice cream quite often. Peppermint stick milkshakes were my favorite back in the 50’s.
Loved going to the Friendly in Longmeadow. Do you remember when it had two sections? One served dinner-type meals, the other side was a regular Friendly shop. This was in the 1970’s
I remember Friendly in Longmeadow. Also remember field trips to the plant. That is one of my favorite memories.
How about the Friendly’s shrub on the east bound side of the “Green Stamp” aka Mass Pike? Could not miss seeing (during day) when driving in the west bound lane
I made the list of people who finished 3 awful awfuls in one sitting. Montclair, NJ circa 1953.
Congrats to making the awful awful “3” list !! Montclair 1953 !!!
I grew up in Vermont and they served AwfulAwfuls in a restaurant in Brattleboro. I could never finish it,but it was sooooo good
Well, I grew up in Springfield, MA, and remember the Awful Awful at Friendly, before the name change. Because the AA was made with syrup (same syrup they used to make their sodas), my favorite was a root beer Awful Awful!! Delicious! My gosh! Those were wonderful days!
Going to summer camp in Pittsfield Mass area mid/late 60s, the counselors would make a run to friendlys a few times a week for awful awful…..
Can still recall the freezing euphoria in my mouth as I tried to suck the blissfully thick liquid from the cardboard cup or better yet feel the ribs on the plastic in store container! Chocolate was the BEST‼️
When we first got married my wife and I used to walk to Bond’s in the back of the Styertowne Shopping Center In Clifton, NJ, back in the early 70’s. Awful awful‘S we’re the best! Of course the walk was necessary, not to burn off the calories. That wasn’t on our minds back then. It just gave us time to enjoy, AND FINISH, those one of a kind treats. I miss those days… and Bond’s.
Our hearts broke in Upper Montclair, NJ, the day Bonds closed.
Forty years later I found myself visiting my niece in Newport, RI. I had just visited the Tennis Hall of Fame and needed to eat something. I was stunned when I came upon the Creamery and saw the Awful Awful glass. Not knowing the history of the Awful Awful, I got angry and went right into the Creamery and talked to the manager. Even though I understand how the Awful Awful made it to Rhode Island, for many of us, the AA will forever be an Upper Montclair, NJ, native drink!
I am so happy to be able to have this drink once again, though!
As a former Upper Montclair resident, Bonds not only had the best Aweful Awefuls, but also great burgers, etc! Bonds was also a hs hangout with a parade of classic cars every Friday & Saturday night. No fast food for miles, so eating & drinking good food was the only choice ???? YUM!
the awful awful I grew up with was made at a restaurant in South Paris and Auburn Maine. It was named Goodwin’s. I’ve been trying to find a place ever since.
Little did we know back then but I remember when a future Astronaut , Buzz Aldrin, went to Bonds. We were both students at the Mt. Hebron Middle School (now the Buzz Aldrin Middle School) and Montclair High School in the mid-40’s. We used to play touch football at Edgmont Park and go to Bonds after. He became the center on the high school state champion team. In those days, attending “Miss Wilson Dancing Class” at the Commonwealth Club was the “in thing”. (Buzz did not attend). A trip to Bond’s across the street at the end of the classes was part of the evening. Don’t forget the small cup of sherbert that came with the juicy hamburger. Friendly’s Fribble is not quite the same.
Saw Buzz in DC in about 2005. He reminded my husband, a childhood Nutley resident, that his football team beat them too! What a fun nice guy! My step dad always used to talk about an “Awful Awful” and I never really knew what he was referring to. I wish I could have enjoyed one with him. I miss him, yet another great Jersey guy.
WOW !!!!!
We hung out at Bonds in the late 60’s. Buzz Aldren gave are MHS football team a go, fight, win half time talk during our Annual Turkey Day game vs Bloomfield in 69 & 70. He went to the moon & back! Great guy! Go Mounties!
I remember making (7 drinking) Awful Awfuls when I worked at the Newport Creamery in Newton Upper Falls, MA. in the early 1980’s.
Upper Newton Falls, I spent first few years in Lower Newton Falls on Ashville Rd. What a great memory. The meat market had saw dust on the floors and the shoe store had a huge tennis shoe from a famous basketball player over the door.
I moved to Wayland, Mass and graduated from hs in the class of 1961. Went to Friendly’s off route 9 in Framingham. Went back and it was no longer the same. Loved awful awfuls!
Bee Bee Dairy. Buy 3 get the fourth one free! We had one next to our High School and would go there all the time
One of my best early childhood memories growing up in New England! Now living in the Middle-West, and I miss the treat!
Grew up in North Jersey, just a few miles away from Upper Montclair, and remember the Awful Awful at Bond’s. When the Willowbrook Mall opened in nearby Wayne in 1968 or 69, I was introduced to my first Friendly’s…and the Awful Awful’s twin, the Fribble.
I didn’t know the connection until I accidentally discovered that the Newport Creamery was selling Awful Awfuls.
Loved Bonds in Montclair. Coffee Awful Awful was my required drink, hamburger was optional. Drink THREE and get the forth one free is correct, never did myself. If you accomplished this superhuman feat your name was placed on the board on the wall. Fribbles are ok but are ice milk, Awful Awful was ice cream and yes your cheeks would hurt from the vacuum needed to get it all up the straw. So happy that Newport Creamery has continued to serve them. I made a pilgrimage there (Providence) a few years back to have one and purchase some Awful Awful plastic cups that were sent to family and friends (I think they thought I had a loose screw when I asked if I could buy six Awful Awful glasses.
AWFUL BIG, AWFUL GOOD.
I grew up in Upper Montclair, NJ. Susan Bond and I were friends from kindergarten until her family moved in 1965. The AwfulAwful was Bonds treat until the mid 60’s so it was not part of New EnglAnd until later in the 60’s. Every Sunday night we order hamburgers and Awful Awfuls and my dad would go and pick them up. Yummy. Bonds was such a part of my childhood that it should never be forgotten, so in front of the building that is currently ( Bank of America) the class of 1966 of Montclair High had a beautiful mounted bronze plaque commemorating Bonds and all the wonderful memories we have hanging out there. Thanks for the memories!!!
I get it Kate !!! How cool !! Is the plaque still there ? What a great tribute !!!! I was from Caldwell n we there a lot !!!! Yummo!!!!!
This is a bit confused. Always proofread before you post.
We used to go to the Bond’s @ Steyertowne Clifton NJ (now a D&D/Baskin Robbins) in the late 1960s. Walked the RR tracks from Nutley to bowl at Rizzuto/Berrra Bowling Lanes and then get Awful/Awfuls at Bonds across the parking lot. First experience with brain freeze and sore cheeks from sucking on over-sized plastic straw. Vanilla and root beer are my flavor memories. I think they had a board for your name if you could drink one in allotted time and maybe got a free one as a prize. To be able to burn those calories so easily again and enjoy that cold, thick, flavorful summer delight!
I too grew up in Upper Montclair, NJ. The local Bonds is now a Bank of America and so much was lost when they closed. At 10 years old, I took my first girlfriend on our first date to Bonds, even crossing the railroad tracks behind the building. Guess I was a bad influence even way back then!
Bonds was the place to on the weekends. Yes Awful Awfuls were the thing. Met my future wife there 52 yrs ago. Had my name on the wall after 3 and the free one.
My Grandmother lived in Providence, RI and was a regular at Newport Creamery and always ordered the Awful Awful. Glad the Awful Awful lives on as it is a classic, just like my grandmother was!
Summers in the 1950s my family would leave our home in suburban Boston to visit my grandfather in Poquonick CT. While in Poquonock we would get excited when my family would drive just over the Massachusetts line to get an Awful Awful at the Friendly’s. We were very disappointed one night when we were told it was now a Fribble. What a disappointment when soon after it came pre made instead of scoops of ice cream and mild blended together. Long live the Awful Awful.
I drank so many coffee AwfulAwfuls. Loved them. After working at a luncheonette I would walk to Friendlys for a rare big beef and an Awful Awful. So delicious.
I grew up in Springfield, MA and Friendly’s was a staple. My friends and I walked to Classical High School on State Street, which was a little over a mile each way. On the way home on warm days we stopped at the State St. Friendly’s and got Awful Awfuls. My favorite was the chocolate. Fond memories from 60 years ago.
Whatever happened to instant coffee pudding?
I also grew up in Newport,RI and am proud to say that I tried the drink two – get one free challenge on a number of occasions AND eventually won, but that was it for me. We always went to the Newport Creamery which still exists on Bellevue Avenue.
When I was young my parents enrolled me in a local dance school to learn the waltz, foxtrot etc etc. i was aghast and very resistant. The only way they got me to attend was by promising to take me and the other children out for ice cream after the lesson was over. I remember the Awful Awful fondly from those days. I never finished one. (And I never really learned to waltz or do the foxtrot either).
I remember the Friendly Awful Awful in western Massachusetts – I believe in Stockbridge or Lee. A favourite of my school mates at a girls’ boarding school in Lenox. One of the teachers – every year – would entice the decadent beverage to the Varsity softball team if we made a triple play!!!
I returned to the area abt. 5 yrs. ago and my taste buds reminiced with glee!!
This is a frappe, not a milkshake.
That’s what I was thinking, a fribble is a frappe and ice milk is an old fashioned name for soft-serve ice cream. In New England, a milkshake is just blended syrup and milk, which makes it frothy. While, a frappe is either hard or soft ice cream blended with milk, which creates an icy cold, thick drink. My favorite frappe is a half n’ half, chocolate/vanilla, though mocha, chocolate/coffee is pretty good too. Though I bet coffee/pistachio would make a yummy frappe too. I haven’t had a fribble in a while, I don’t know if they allow a variety of flavors, like our small local shop does.
Exactly. Friendly’s whatever was a cooy that didn’t compare. They do still have Fried Clams tho. Bonds didn’t but great butter burgers. Sounds like a bunch of Mounties remember Bonds! B Sleeper ‘71
I remember Week’s Dairy in Laconia, NH had Awful Awfuls but only vanilla I think. I was riding from Laconia to Merrimack, NH and still didn’t finish it.
I remember they had it in chocolate also. We lived in Manchester and my mom was from Berlin, so we used to drive to see her dad & sisters, on the way we would stop at Weeks Dairy bar and get an Awful Awful and there was no way my dad wasn’t going to stop there to satisfy our hu anger for that great milk shake!
I miss Weeks Dairy. Use to go there and have their Sissy Splits and Awful Awfuls.
When I was little (early 1960’s) I remember my parents taking me to Edgemont Memorial Park in Montclair to feed the ducks or to the movie theater that used to be on Valley Rd. and Lorraine Ave. and we’d go to Bond’s afterward for Awful Awfuls. As hard as I tried I coud never finish mine. My Dad kept asking “Do you want help?” and I’d always say “NO!”.
Loved bothe the coffee aweful aweful and the fribbel. Now I go to myrtle beach to Friendly’s because that is the clisest. They are. You so good.
i recall in 1955 on an 8th grade field trip to the edison museum in orange, nj on the return trip home, the buss took us to bond’s ice cream on valley road in montclair. i believe that if you could drink two, they gave you a free awful awful. all of us had all we could do to finish one.
To all of you who thought you had to drink two Awful Awfuls to get a free one; I grew up in Montclair, NJ and lived just a few blocks from Bond’s, the after game gathering place for all of us “Mounties .” If memory serves me correctly, and it may not, you had to drink three Awful Awfuls to get a free one, and if you did, your name was posted on a plaque on the wall. My name was never there of course,but the plaque served as a roster of a mighty bunch of MHS football players!! :)) They get pretty hungry after a game! ;)))
Brings back memories Bonds on Valley Rd, Grunnings on Bloomfield Ave. sitting at the counter Coke was 10 cents. 1955-56
Life long Massachusetts resident here. A Fribble is simply Friendly brand name for a grape, which has ice cream in it. A milkshake is whole milk and syrup, buzzed up to a frothy goodness. Before electricity, that’s how a milkshake got its name: from shaking up the milk and flavoring.
I grew up in Newport RI too, and I remember enjoying Awful Awfuls at both the Bellevue Avenue and West Main Road locations. And I too remember the drink-two-get-one-free challenge, and how it was pretty much impossible to get through two full ones!
I LOVED Awful Awful’s!!!!! I grew up in N.J. and went to Bond’s frequently, both in Montclair and Short Hills. This was wonderful to read about them. This younger generation missed out on a delicious creation!!!! Thanks for the memories!!
We had a Newport Creamery a block away when I was growing up. I remember having cream cheese and olive sandwiches and a coffee awful, awful. Wish they had never closed the one near us.
You are the only one who had cream cheese/ olive sandwich besides me…. Wish I could find olive spread in a jar again.. Awful Awfuls are the best.
I also had Awful Awfuls along with Cream Cheese and Olive sandwiches. I now spread cream cheese and add sliced Spanish olives. Close enough for me.
Nope! I had them too. And Awful Awfuls were and still are awesome! I had no idea Friendly (with or without that s) had them, too. Great memories from growing up in RI
1956-60 … Week’s Dairy Bar … Laconia …
Growing up in RI in the 50’s Awful, Awful was the challenge and at graduation time I consumed 4 to get my free coffee Awful Awful at our Newport Creamy in Pawtucket.Wonderful memories!
I grew up in Upper Montclair, NJ, and when we moved to our new home in 1952, we lived next door to George and Bertha (?) Bond, who I think may have started the business in their basement. The business progressed to downtown Upper Montclair, where Bonds was the place to go after football games. If you drank THREE Awful Awfuls at one sitting, you got your name handwritten on the framed lists that hung on the walls!!! It was also my sister’s and my favorite place to go with our father for Saturday lunch; the hamburgers were different and better than anyone else’s. I believe the building is gone now, but it was such a fixture of my childhood. I never realized that the Awful Awful had spread all over the New England area. Thanks for awakening some old memories!
They tore the bldg down and built a bank
In the late 1950’s and early 60’s our high school was, and still is, made up from three towns. Friday night basketball games were the highlight of the week. After the game several of us would drive to Willimantic and Friendly’s for a burger and a chocolate Awful Awful, my favorite. I now live in the mid-west and go back to New England almost every fall. I can still taste and feel the cold, rich, and wonderful Awful Awful. What memories!! I wish they would make their way west.
We would go to our local Friendly and get a “Bloody Big Beef* and an Coffee Awful Awful, please” *Bloody Big Beef was a rare, square hamburger served in a toast sandwich. It was a YUMMY combo! I miss the old Friendly restaurant. We have a Friendlys in town and it is a great place to take my grandson but it’s not the same. ;-{
Remember the deal at Newport Creamery. If you consumed 2 you get the 3rd one free! Never could drink all of the 2nd one! Sunday’s great activity at age 16, driving up and down Broadway picking up girls and bringing them to the Newport Creamery between One Mile Corner and Two Mile Corner!
I went to Cumberland H.S. (R.I.) in the mid 60’S and the Newport Creamery was right up the road. It was our hangout and the Awful Awfuls were the BEST. Your article brought back many memories and really made me SMILE!!!
When I was 11 years old my school was 5 minutes walking distance to Newport creamery in RI. If I had ,25 cents from collecting coke bottles and cashing them in.I would sneak out at lunch time and have a coffee AA. Yes thats what they cost in the early 1950s Still love them today!
I loved/adored Awful Awfuls! We got them in a dairy shop/restaurant in Portland, Maine, which was 100 miles from where I grew up in northern NH. I always ordered my favorite, coffee. It’s good to know they are available at Newport Creamery locations because I live in the Boston, MA area and that is a fun day trip to go to Newport RI. I like mocha, too, and would order that.
Stewards Dairy in Rutland, Vermont had an Awful Awful when I was growing up there in the 40’s through the 70’s. I remember sharing mine with my daughter in the 70’s. That is something I just Love To Remember !
Although I have lived in California, half of my adult life, I’m a New Englander, born and bred. I remember the Awful Awful, BUT at Friendly’s. I wondered why it wasn’t on the Friendly’s Menu, when I was back in New England in 2014, for my Fiftieth High School Reunion.
Because it wasn’t an Awful Awful ! Friendly’s served an ice milk copy called a Frizzle. Awful Awful was ice cream ????
Growing up in Newport,RI, the Newport creamery and an awful awful was a real treat on a Sunday afternoon. Every time I go back, I always stop in and have one…brings back great memories of a different Newport
I remember the ‘Awful Awful’ and my Dad explaining to me how it was different from a shake or frappe. Wicked good, from a 60-year-old standpoint!
Regarding the Awful Awful which we have lived with in RI for as long as I can remember is a staple. I learned that my brother in law consumed 15 in a sitting in Newport RI on a dare while out with his buddies! True, he survived to tell the tale!
Ya sure! Dream on! He didn’t drink Awful Awfuls. They were a quart to 1/2 gallon each.