Electro Freeze exists today, with a broad product line.
Whoda thunk it?

I'll go along with the electrical wire hookup to the cables above, but not the things on the ground. I believe those to be a water hose and an drain hose going into the sewer under the curb. The hookup above is sketchy enough without having the cables just laying on the ground.

I'm with MrK on this one; it looks like an electrical hookup of some sort (albeit a sketchy one). One cable continues across the curb and the grass and the other may be the one attached to the wires running overhead. It puts the 'Electro' in this cute setup.

Or portable barriers doing double duty as garbage receptacles?

[Garbage receptacles, period, I’d say. - tterrace]

As a student at Syracuse University in the 1960's, trucks such as these became evening mobile food and snack dispensers to the SU students in the dorms and on fraternity row. The driver announced his presence outside a dorm or fraternity by ringing a bell, and they all became collectively known as "The Dingleman."

I like the temporary power connection behind the center of the van. Wonder if this is a bootlegged connection done of the spot?

[Or could it be a hose, perhaps for draining/defrosting the Electro-Freeze? - tterrace]