Interview With A Milkman -1996- -2021- Fix Jun 2026

It sounds like a social service, not a delivery route.

Our interview begins in 1996, a time when the job of a milkman was often described as an "anachronism." In Tustin, California, a milkman named Jim Fiore was seen as part of a "dying breed." During their heyday in the 1950s, milkmen were a common sight across the country. In the Pasadena area alone, there were 16 dairies offering home delivery. By 1996, only about 150 milkmen remained in the entire Southland, most working for a single dairy.

Tell me about your last day. April 12th, 2021.

And with that, I bid farewell to John, the milkman, and headed out into the world, feeling a little more grateful for the unsung heroes who make our lives a little brighter every day.

John told me that the company he worked for had to adapt to this new reality. They started offering online ordering and delivery services, which allowed customers to choose from a range of milk products. Interview With A Milkman -1996- -2021-

You start your day when most people are hitting their deep sleep. Why keep this schedule in 1996?

But the rot was there. The workforce was gone. No young person wants to wake up at midnight. They want to do a milk run on an app, by car, at 10 AM. And that’s not a milk round. That’s a delivery job.

A modern home office via Zoom. It is 2:00 PM. Jim Connolly, now 59, sits in a comfortable flannel shirt. Behind him hangs a framed vintage metal milk box.

A modern logistics hub. 10:00 AM. Artie is cleaning out a diesel van. He is 25 years older, his hands weathered. Interviewer: It sounds like a social service, not a delivery route

(laughs) Oh, there have been many. One of my favorites was when I delivered milk to a newborn baby's family every morning for a year. The parents would always leave out a little note or a drawing for me, and it became a highlight of my day. Another memorable moment was during the 2008 financial crisis, when many of our customers were struggling to make ends meet. We worked with the community to offer discounts and special deals to those who needed it most.

John's story is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to serving others. As we look to the future, it's clear that the role of the milkman will continue to evolve. However, one thing remains certain: the importance of human connection and community.

"Some would call us 'The Last Milkmen,'" he said. "We knew the supermarket had won. In the '90s, the share of the market for home delivery had plummeted from near 90% to less than 3%."

Is the modern customer different from the customer of 1996? By 1996, only about 150 milkmen remained in

Fast forward to 2021. The question on everyone's lips is no longer "Is the milkman dead?" but rather, "How do I get a milkman?"

I think people will miss the idea of the milkman. They miss the trust. In 1996, you could leave a fiver under the bottle and trust no one would take it. You could trust that the milk was from a cow two miles away, not a powder boat from Holland. You could trust that if you were sick, the bloke with the float would notice.

The following is a narrative interview reflecting on the disappearance of a classic profession, transitioning from the peak of the 90s to the digital silence of the 2020s. The Last Pint: An Interview with Arthur "Artie" Penhaligon Part I: 1996 – The Golden Hour