Our first psychedelic drum circles were pounding on Charlie Chips cans! We loved that sound!!
Harvey Leeds
_________________________________
Being a native of York/Adams Counties where the potato chip and pretzel reigns supreme; I have first hand knowledge of chip making when chips were really GOOD ( and I don't mean just the GOOD label ), I mean the taste.
When I was a wee youngster, I lived behind Martin's Potato Chip Factory. I would go down with my siblings and they would give us chips right off the assembly line. When I was 12 ( yes, I know , it was probably illegal ) , I would clean the cans for them and get chips as a reward ( sometimes even a few coins ) . My children remember when the B-B-Que chip came to be and they followed in my footsteps of walking to the factory when we would visit my parents. The smells were divine .
The secret , of course , to all chips in those days ( pre- 1965 ) was LARD . The wonder "drug" that made chips taste like a real treat instead of like stale dough. There were at least 8 famous chip brands that had their origin in York , Berks, Lancaster and/or Adams Counties , probably more.
The chip was not only delicious ,but when you got a pound of chips, you got a pound of food , not air. I remember filling the bags up to the rim with chips and then having the girls on the line staple them shut and put them into boxes for shipping to locations.
What in the world happened.................I need not really ask, as the answer is the health patrol and nutrition gods who dictated what is edible and what was not. Pooey , I say.
I won't eat chips now ............... there is not a potato chip made today that is any good.
Cathy
_________________________________
dr karlsberg my doc too…used to be we shared dealers ..now its doctors haha
Shep Gordon
_________________________________
I am so with you.
The artisanal chip is a wonderful thing. I too can’t eat just one.
In Chapala-Ajijic, Mexico, outside of Guadalajara you can get these chips that come in a clear bag with hot sauce and the chips themselves are magnificent. I’m orthodox, don’t want anything on my chip so I don’t care about the hot sauce but my grand daughter goes crazy for the salsa. I was in Mexico City looking high and low for potato chips only to realize slowly that it’s a regional thing! The great chips are from the state of Jalisco, which also gave us tequila.
I often stay my hand from buying Rusty’s or whatever hand made chip is on sale at Gelsons .... but sometimes I don’t.
Wendy Waldman
_________________________________
So funny.
2 things.
First. Michael Kornweiser told us if smashed up the bag we’d get more chips.
Keep in mind we were all six and Michael was seven making him the oldest so naturally we believe Him. And yes wise was the potato chip of choice.
But the funny thing for us Bronx kids is when one of the dads would take us fishing up in Connecticut we would buy Connecticut potato chips that was the brand name. Whether or not they were better than wise made no difference the fact that they were from Connecticut made them exotic
Neil Lasher
_________________________________
Hi Bob! This was a great Sunday read. I remember when I was younger, my favorite potato chip was Jays. They’ve been around forever!
Their packaging was simple white and blue, nothing fancy. The chips were delicious! My mom always got them as a treat for my brother and I from the old Jewel Food Stores in Chicago. I abhorred the imperfect chips with either green or dark brown edges. I thought those “bad” chips would sicken me, so I always threw them out! It!
Jays Chips are now a part of the Snyder-Lance family of snacks. Glad to see they’re still around. And you’re absolutely right: the little moments are what make our lives worth living.
Thanks so much for this wonderful post, and have a great week ahead.
Aaron Koral
_________________________________
Oh Bob.... Charles Chips.... I grew up in North Jersey in the 50's and 60's... still live there. The Charles Chips man would deliver the can... it was a beige-y yellow with the logo knocked out of a brown background. I ate to satiation, as you say. Then, my parents who were children of the Depression saved a can and used it to house store-bought chips because they were, of course, less expensive. And hell, you had a great can to store them in. The can was in use in that house until my dad passed away in 2012....
Heading out for a bag of salt and vinegar....
John Mucha
_________________________________
Thanks for all your information and entertainment!
?
HAHA, Charles Chips. It was the summer of 1961 and once again, I had disobeyed my mom and returned home wet and muddy from playing in "the Crick", my own private Amazon Jungle river that ran through the new split-level housing development in Cherry Hill NJ., teeming with the diverse wild life of a turtle, a frog, a grimy rat or two, and the banks lined with a beautiful shiny leafed plant called poison ivy. I had been warned there would be punishment if I continued to "go down the Crick" although nothing specific was mentioned. This time, instead of a crack on the backside, mom outfitted me in a white, fluffy dress with big, red polka dots and shoved me out the front door and locked it. I realized right away I wasn't getting back in the way I went out and to add urgency to the situation, I spied the Charles Chips delivery truck coming down the street so it was to the back of the house I ran. The back door was locked too and I heard the metallic slam of the Charles Chips truck. I was waiting to hear the truck continue on it's delivery route when I heard footsteps coming around to the back patio. I scooted under the wooden picnic table just outside our back door to wait out the delivery. My view was a pair of legs in brown shorts (maybe he moonlit for UPS too) black shoes and black socks that went halfway up his calves. As I watched him almost walk by, my greatest fear was realized when he stopped at the picnic table and bent down with a tin of Charles Chips under each arm and said "Mark? What are you doing there?". I tried to shoo him away with my hand but my mom opened the back door and after a quick exchange, he went on his way. Had lot of good laughs about that one with my mom. Those Charles Chips were GOOD!
Nah, it didn't keep me from going down "the Crick".
Mark Hobbs
_________________________________
Your potato chip post really brought back some memories Bob! I believe we are exactly the same age, so we are on the same timeline (that's why I relate to your music posts so much as well). Wise and Charles Chips were a part of my youth growing up in Bethesda, Maryland. I will also add Utz potato chips in a plastic bag inside a big red, white and blue cardboard box - I remember those as being especially good too. Utz is still around (their Pub Mix has been a fave for years), yet it seems they got out of the potato chip business.
Best Regards,
Bobby Poe, Jr.
_________________________________
Cape Cod potato chips are the best! Had them for the first time in Nantucket and they used to come with a little packet so you could make the dip. Everyone in CT ate Wise but they were too dark / burned tasting and too oily for me. When I moved to California, I would bring back a few bags every trip. Now I can get them at Smart and Final! All these decades later, they’re still my favorite!
Lisa Battista
_________________________________
Remember Dipsy Doodles? Like Fritos but saltier and sweeter. The basement of Houston Hall at Penn has vending machines then, the high point of my day was a little bag of said chips and can of 7 Up. Yes, the little things.
Eric Bazilian
_________________________________
I still have my Charlie chip can. The all mustard color can had the chips and the brown one had the pretzels.
It’s insane to think they just dumped so many chips into one container.
I guess the idea was they would get stale, but not before they dropped off more next week.
What a name thought, Charlie’s chips.
Jared Polin
_________________________________
As Michael Pollan says:
"The banquet is in the first bite"
Taking this adage to heart will help you enjoy your food and eat more slowly. No other bite will taste as good as the first, and every subsequent bite will progressively diminish in satisfaction. Economists call this the law of diminishing marginal utility, and it argues for savouring the first bites and stopping sooner than you otherwise might. For as you go on, you'll be getting more calories, but not necessarily more pleasure.
John Paluska
I loved this and now I’m off to buy some chips!!!!!!
Kate O'Laughlin
_________________________________
But then....you have to have another one, just to enrich the moment a bit longer.
John Brodey
_________________________________
Love your blog. I hope you had a chance to taste the best chips ever, Golden Sun made in Slatington, PA.
The best ever! Long gone. Check out their FB page.
Andy McKittrick
_________________________________
Thought you might find this interesting. When I was a kid my family lived nextdoor to Joe Murphy's brother and so had an endless supply of Tattoo.
Ken Kiernan
In an idea originated by the Smiths Potato Crisps Company Ltd, formed in 1920, Frank Smith packaged a twist of salt with his chips in greaseproof paper bags, which were sold around London.[19] The potato chip remained otherwise unseasoned until an innovation by Joe "Spud" Murphy, the owner of the Irish crisps company Tayto, who in the 1950s developed a technology to add seasoning during manufacture. After some trial and error, Murphy and his employee Seamus Burke produced the world's first seasoned chips: Cheese & Onion and Salt & Vinegar.[20]Companies worldwide sought to buy the rights to Tayto's technique.[21]
The first flavored chips in the United States, barbecue flavor, were being manufactured and sold by 1954.[22][23][24] In 1958, Herr's was the first company to introduce barbecue-flavored potato chips in Pennsylvania.
_________________________________
As a youth, I had chip envy. That’s right, my parents didn’t order Charles Chips and most of our neighbors did. I’d use an excuse to visit my neighbor and friend across the street so I could invade their tins. It didn’t matter if it was potato chips or pretzels, I needed a fix. Either was pretty damn perfect. And don’t get me started on the seltzer guy. You know, seltzer filled and refilled in glass bottles also delivered door to door. One could make an absolutely perfect egg cream. Sigh, we didn’t have seltzer delivered to our house either. I guess I had somewhat of a deprived childhood. We did have a milkman, but as a kid that hardly cut it. Calcium doesn’t taste as good as salt.
Stuart K. Marvin
_________________________________
You made my mind wander back to my days growing up in South Georgia. Since Bear Bryant represented Alabama made Golden Flakes chips that was our brand of choice. Every Sunday on his Bama highlight show explaining how his team man handled whomever they played he would always take time out to enjoy some Golden Flake chips and suggest that we do the same. I did have a rich cousin that had Charles Chips delivered in the UPS looking truck but we didn't want nor could afford all that.
Years later both of my beautiful daughters attended Alabama and 4 National Championships later they both graduated .
Thanks for the memories and Roll Tide.
Tom Giddens
_________________________________
You really do write about all the important stuff. Case in point: potato chips. Though I have a stronger point re loving Wise.
I am waiting for the “kettle” chip backlash to begin.
The obsession with maximum crunch has ruined potato chips. Since when did we need everything we consume to crunch with such fierceness? If I wanted to break rocks I would’ve robbed a bank.
You need the jaw compression strength of a doberman to eat these things.
Is it the entertainment value? Are we such amped up stim-junkies now that even potato chips have to have some level of performance to them? An attribute that was formerly just part of an enjoyable culinary experience had to be tweaked up to peak performance levels on some test chart?
And they’re everywhere! You can never find a “regular” potato chip at a party, or at a deli anymore.
That might be good for my health, as I can eat a bag of Wise practically in one bite.
But Jeez, I’m exhausted after eating those things. And none of them taste like potatoes!
Paul Gigante
_________________________________
Oh my god Bob - thank you!!
This is the best writing about potato chips and it just clobbered me as I sit here and eat a piece of toast for the first time in years. I had forgotten about the green spots - why are there no green spots anymore?!?
Absolutely made my morning.
Thank you for all the excellent writing, but this one put a smile on my face. I’m also stealing the Orthodox vs. Reformed chip lines.
Kind regards,
Paul Steckler
_________________________________
Having grown up in NEPA not far from the town of Berwick I never realized that it was a gentleman named Earl Wise that started the company. I always thought it was just a catchy/heady name for a chip company. Charles Chips came along a few tears later. Once a year my pilgrimage back East must include a trip to Hank's for a hoagie with a bag of Wise potato chips. Still quality products!
Richard King
_________________________________
Great memories. You’re a CT boy. No State Line chips?
Rob Falk
_________________________________
I feel that way about a pina colada.
Lizzz Kritzer
_________________________________
Growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland, I fondly recall those weekly Charles Chips deliveries. Now, in NY, it’s UTZ Dark Russets. Impossible to have just one.
All best,
Michael Paoletta
_________________________________
What a totally honest and beautiful piece you have written here.
Amanda Trees
_________________________________
Thank you for this. It’s among the best.
Danny Broussard
_________________________________
You’ve been on the West Coast too long...or did you just forget about Utz Chips and pretzels?!
tutz
_________________________________
Maui chips!
Michael Leon
_________________________________
In Cleveland...
In the 60's...
It was Wise in the store...
And Charles at your door...
Marty Bender
_________________________________
Bob...you could try this, as it is my food
mantra: watch what I eat during the week and on Sunday all bets are off.
I eat whatever I want - including potato chips!
Sari
_________________________________
So agree Bob!!!!
It’s the crunch for me
Also I’ve recently gone jalapeño kettle oh my
Dr. Blaine Leeds DDS
_________________________________
ahhhhhhh....we need the crunch
...think about enjoying vegetables that grow above ground vs those from below - far less sugar content
...this brings us to the potato chip vs the bean chip
so ya wanna indulge.....here ya go: check out Beanitos Black Bean Chips
Joanne Smale
_________________________________
Try Zapp’s from New Orleans. Crawtators www.target.com/p/zapp-s-new-orleans-kettle-style-spicy-cajun-crawtators-potato-chips-9-5-oz/-/A-47086582
And, the most sublime “Voodoo” www.target.com/p/zapp-s-new-orleans-kettle-style-voodoo-potato-chips-9-5oz/-/A-47086581?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Grocery+Essentials+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Grocery&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9007768&gclid=CjwKCAjwo87YBRBgEiwAI1Lkqf7M83AE4-sh15MIu12g8qc2AuHtin40G5OGOZ8sk3L2DlV85eAidhoCB3MQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Andrew Schwartz
_________________________________
NEVER cared for Lays or Pringles as they seemed to only technically
qualify as potato chips, scientifically processed and pounded into
flawless chips, from potato remnants like McD's chicken˛ nuggets.
Particularly unappealing if you were raised on Wise.
Not sure if these are available on the West Coast but Utz Kettle Classic
Gourmet Dark Russets Potato Chips are amazing.
They earned the coveted Zero Willpower Ban at my house as we were eating them like well, like potato chips.
William Nollman
_________________________________
I'm a Reform Jew, but I'm an Orthodox chip eater.
!!!
Scott
_________________________________
Your testament to the Reuben a year or so back had me out hunting one down for lunch. Will it be a bag of chips today?
Stuart Gray
The struggle is REAL brother
Matt Hays
_________________________________
Nothing like a bag of Wise Potato Chips with a Sabrett Dog, and a Yoo-hoo to wash it all down. I’ll leave the Tang for the Astronauts.
Regards,
John Conard
_________________________________
You can still get Charles Chips at Cracker Barrel (restaurants/country stores) on the east coast—Cracker Barrels are at almost every highway exit, especially the exits on Interstates. I store my plugs and cords in a Charles Chips tin. Ah the memories. We weren’t financially sound enough to get the chips delivered to our house in the suburbs of Philadelphia. My friends all were, though, in the late 60s and early 70s.
If you want me to send you a Charles Chips tin, I’d be happy to do so. With or without chips. Their chips aren’t so tasty though. Wise are much better. Maybe I could put a bag of Wise in the tin for you and send it along? Happy to do so. My treat...
Wendy Day
P.S. Wise still exists on the east coast. We get them in Atlanta, too. They are still my first choice for chips. The Wise Honey BarBQue chips are crack!!
_________________________________
I appreciate your worship of the potato chip.
Take my advice: order a 30 count case of lightly salted, plain Route 11 potato chips from Mount Jackson, Virginia. The perfect combination of kettle cooking, salt and crispness. Not too salty, not too greasy, not too dense. I discovered them while living in Chicago and now I order a case every 3 months or so.
www.rt11.com/
30 2 oz. bags for $29 delivered. Can’t beat it.
www.amazon.com/Route-11-Salted-Potato-Chips/dp/B00KPTN58U/ref=sr_1_5_a_it
You’ll thank me.
Dave Curtis
_________________________________
Bob, you can try Target on Sepulveda north of Burbank.
www.target.com/p/wise-174-all-natural-potato-chips-10oz/-/A-47086746
Gary Einhorn
_________________________________
The Superior Potato Chip rules in Michigan.
Loren Parkins
P.S. Bert Lahr’s Lay’s Potato Chips commercials....
_________________________________
Check out Why You Eat What You Eat: The Science Behind Our Relationship with Food by Rachel Herz
_________________________________
www.goodreads.com/book/show/34068474
Hank Stone
_________________________________
They still make Wise chips.
The real great find is Trader Joe's ode to the Classic Potato Chip--$1.99 a bag, and no scheping to Costco.
Lance Grode
_________________________________
Your writing so on point, grew up on wise, preferred onion and garlic. Still have Charlie Chip tin on fridge. East coast memories...
salemtower19
_________________________________
YES. Yesyesyes...
if i was linguistically able, and could put words to paper/pixels, i could have written this. you understand the complex life-long relationship i’ve had with potato chips.
and here i thought i was the only one...
-f.
--
frank ozaki
_________________________________
Bob: the below really put smiles on our faces. My Brit wife in particular - they like to claim salt and vinegar as their own. Thank you for this.
Bernie Cahill
_________________________________
Wise is still around in the Northeast. I can’t resist when I go home - same thing for Devil Dogs, which aren’t distributed in California, but the odd NY-style pizza place in the Bay Area might order from Amazon and resell them, even though they’re not supposed to.
Now if only I could find a Hoodsie...
Jennifer Carney
_________________________________
You cannot get in between a man and his potato chips. It’s a deal breaker
Gary Spivack
_________________________________
You have to remember the old Lay's motto
"You can't just eat one"
Which is pretty much true....
Tom Hedtke
_________________________________
Beautiful.
Wayne Callahan
_________________________________
I’m an Utz girl myself but don’t buy them for the same reason!
Terri Haram
_________________________________
Very happy with Miss Vickies chips
Bob Stevens
_________________________________
Hello Bob, I still have a couple of Charles Chips metal tins. Two different sizes. Still sturdy, still intact. Thanks for this one, brought back memories. Cara
Cara Trimboli
_________________________________
That first chip, just as you open the bag, is sublime. This made my mouth water and solidified my plans to eat a bag of chips today. Thank you!
Tim
Midd ‘89
_________________________________
Addicting!!! And Wise with the green spots were the best!
(although the sea salt and vinegar are amazing)
Thx Bob
Peter van Roden
_________________________________
Bob, you brought back an endearing memory of my mother -- height of The Mad Men era:
Engrossed in the latest page-turner, she'd sit at the kitchen table most afternoons, facing the bay window, surrounded by her essentials -- Jack Daniels, Marlboros and Wise potato chips.
Deb Wilker
_________________________________
Wise are still around in New England. I buy them and love them. I think Bordens bought them out and didn't mess with the recipe. I'm surprised you didn't mention State Line potato chips, which are also still around, though they're made in Canada.
David Przech
_________________________________
Enjoy your writing.
Brought back memories of Western Massachusetts and Stateline Potato Chips. Mmmm.
Remember the jingle?
Keep at good sir.
Paul Vincent Nunes
_________________________________
Dear Bob: I just adopted two puppies at the Jefferson County (Watertown, NY) SPCA a couple of days ago. Lo and behold, across the street was the WISE potato chip factory (and yes, still in operation). I wanted my girlfriend to take a picture of me next to a huge owl sign in the front parking lot, but our hands were full... with puppies!
Now I wish I had a pic to send to you.
Best,
George Rossi
_________________________________
I *believe* Wise are still/mostly today available in the South, as the "generic" alternative to Lay's. Like you said, those brown and green spots were every kid's nightmare, and I think it caught up with them financially at some point...
Okay, I actually just looked it up, because you got my mind to wondering, as I know my old small hometown in NC actually had a Wise plant/warehouse. Wise is based out of Berwick, PA, but they were bought by a huge Mexican company back in 2012. Wise is only available in 15 states now, all along the Eastern seaboard.
Isaac Weeks
Nashville
_________________________________
The Wise Owl Chip still exists. $.99 for (3) Ounce bags in NYC plus the now available Garlic and Salt and Vinegar flavors and who can forget those insane Wise Onion Rings. But Lays has a BBQ Baked Potato Chip that is insane
Hard to find in LA.
Next up .....Ring Dings
Chris Apostle
_________________________________
I last saw Wise potato chips in a Grocery Outlet store in Oakland a couple years ago. Probably still get them. And a guy used to deliver us canisters of Charles Chips way back in the Gavin Report days. Now in Great Britain, this is the “crisps” capital of the world. A whole aisle of brands and flavors here...but no Wise.
Keith Zimmerman
_________________________________
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4LkEHNsTmg
Let the Shadows of Knight tell you about Fairmont.
J. Riley
_________________________________
Dear "Wise”"Man,
Of course they still make them.
They haven’t changed a thing.
I’m sure they’re still made in Long Island City or at worst Brooklyn.
So not to worry the chips are adding to the trade deficit with China.
Wise chips are still as greasily finger lickin’ good and imperfect as ever.
I don’t care how much sodium there is “per serving” because I eat the whole bag in less than a day.
It is as good as it gets.
Cheers from the North Bronx, the sixth borough.
Lou Perrone
_________________________________
Thanks Bob I had a friend who moved from Ct. to LA.I had to mail her big boxes of Wise chips every few months.Wish I could get them here in CO.Stay well Ted Keane
_________________________________
www.wisesnacks.com/products/potato-chips/golden-original/
www.amazon.com/Wise-All-Natural-Potato-Chips/dp/B001WJV7L4
Hyperbolium
_________________________________
Yes Bob, you can still get Wise chips at least you can in New Jersey!
Jim Ryan
_________________________________
If you want Wise chips you can find them at Big Lots
Marc Federman
_________________________________
Indeed. Wise Chips are still sold and made in Pennsylvania. Made in town of Berwick, Pennsylvania.
My uncle had a grocery store back in the 60’a and 70’s and a little bit of the 80’s, and sold two brand of chips. Wise and Golden Sun, which were made in Slatington, Pennsylvania.
Wise still is a popular brand in certain sections of Pennsylvania. Golden Sun went out of business about 15 years ago
Thomas Huber
_________________________________
Wise still exists, and sells a variety of flavors now with the owl still a part of the logo. Even carried on Amazon is you need a nostalgia fix.
Robert Papanos
_________________________________
wisechips.com/index.html
Chuck DuCoty
_________________________________
www.wisesnacks.com/
William Hamilton
_________________________________
I've found WISE chips in Big Lots stores.....for only $1 a bag, with different flavors
flickflackmb
_________________________________
Not the same bag. Where’s the owl? Supposedly available at Target. I remember the green spots!!!!
Lee in Nashville
_________________________________
www.amazon.com/s/s/ref=sr_nr_p_89_0?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Awise+potato+chips%2Cp_89%3AWise&keywords=wise+potato+chips&ie=UTF8&qid=1528022787&rnid=2528832011
Michael Levine
_________________________________
I think Wise Potato Chips are still available. They were childhood favs along with Lays and Gordons. Gordons had a red truck on the bag label. All were good with RC Cola, a southern favorite.
William Perkins
_________________________________
They still make Wise and I still love them. They have them in upstate NY...NYC, etc.
Jim Lewi
_________________________________
Send me your address I will send you some Wise! I share your appreciation of them. They sell them on the east coast and i only allow myself i bag every two months but savor every bite!! Dark/ green/brown edges!
Mary Beth Medley
_________________________________
Still have Wise in Philadelphia. They are the best!!!
Glenn Cooper
_________________________________
Looks like you can buy at dollar tree, target, Walmart and of course...Amazon.
Here’s a store locator link:
www.wisesnacks.com/store-locator/
Jane Quick
_________________________________
Thanks for the memories! Wise is still around.The Judaism/potato chip analogy was hysterical.
Joseph Barbarotta
_________________________________
www.target.com/p/wise-174-all-natural-potato-chips-10oz/-/A-47086746?
You can also find them at Walmart, Amazon and likely your local grocery store.
Bill
_________________________________
If you really want to forestall death for as long as possible, you gotta stop eating junk, and by junk I don't mean just potato chips, pretzels and cookies, but meat, dairy and eggs. The only things it's safe to eat are whole food and plant based, i.e., fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains and mushrooms.
Much as I don't want to, I know I have to die. I accept that. When it happens, though, I don't want it to be my fault. Please watch the following video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuHprfXjtD8&t=225s
Ray Starr
_________________________________
Bob, re living longer vs. enjoying yourself, check out Barbara Ehrenreich's book "Natural Causes." She's brilliant.
Gary Ross
_________________________________
...this is as good as it got.
Greg Strickland
--
Visit the archive: lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, Unsubscribe
To change your email address this link
