A sno-ball is a confection made with finely shaved ice and flavored sugar syrup.

Melted marshmallow, which is sticky but pourable, became a common topping, adding a dollop of sweetness and a creamy texture to the snowball.

In 1936, Ernest and his wife Mary took their machine to the streets of New Orleans and opened Hansen's Sno-Bliz.

[1][2] By this time, grocer George Ortolano had invented his own ice-shaving machine, which he later called the Sno-Wizard.

Baltimore's mayor at the time, Harold W. Jackson, defended the purveyors, saying, "Some of us may be down to eating snowballs soon, and I don't want to put any limitations on the trade.".