Myrtle Young

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Myrtle Nola Young (April 1, 1924[1] – August 9, 2014) was an American potato chip collector whose collection caught the eye of national news and talk shows.

Collecting[]

The Kentucky-born Young, while working as a potato chip inspector for Seyfert Foods in Fort Wayne, Indiana, selected potato chips that reminded her of something or someone for her collection.[2] She started her collection in 1987 when she saved a chip that looked like a face from the conveyor belt.[3] At the time of her death she was said to have between 250 and 300 chips in her collection.[4]

Television appearances[]

She appeared with her chips on Happy's Place, The Tonight Show,[5] and Late Night with David Letterman.[6][7] When she appeared on The Tonight Show in 1987, her back was turned and host Johnny Carson pretended to crunch into one of her prized chips; in 1999, TV Guide named it as the funniest moment ever on television,[8] and was included in a collection of Johnny Carson's greatest moments.[9]

She also appeared on The Chevy Chase Show, Bill Cosby's You Bet Your Life, Geraldo and Vicki! as well as appearances on shows in Amsterdam and London.[8]

Later life[]

Young later became part of an advertising campaign for Seyfert's and at one point was named to a trade delegation from Fort Wayne that toured the Far East.[10]

After her retirement, Young continued to serve as a tour guide at the potato chip factory and showed off her collection of chips resembling Bob Hope, Rodney Dangerfield, animals and other curiosities until the plant closed in 2000.[10]

Death[]

She died in Fort Wayne, Indiana, aged 90, on August 9, 2014, from congestive heart failure.[11][12]

References[]

  1. ^ "Obituaries | Tribute Archive".
  2. ^ Cindy Cornwell. "MYRTLE’S PRIZE POSSESSIONS" Archived 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine, The Waynedale News, September 24, 2010.
  3. ^ "Woman Has Eyes For Star-Studded Potato Chips". Schenectady Gazette, November 5, 1987.
  4. ^ Myrtle Young, Fort Wayne's 'Potato Chip Lady,' dies of natural causes at 90. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-08-24. Retrieved 2014-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ Video on YouTube
  6. ^ "Culprit Chomps Myrtle's 'chips'", Madison Courier, September 17, 1990.
  7. ^ "Inspector takes chip collection on the road". Associated Press. November 4, 1987. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Johnny Carson's Funniest Moment". Sun-Sentinel. January 18, 1999. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2014-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ a b Frank Gray, "Myrtle Young, city's Potato Chip Lady, dies.", Journal Gazette.
  11. ^ "Myrtle Young, Fort Wayne's Potato Chip Lady dies". The Journal Gazette. August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  12. ^ Kilbane, Kevin (August 12, 2014). "Potato chip collection changed life for the late Myrtle Young". The News-Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
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