Myrtle Young, the Potato Chip Lady

June 24, 2022 7:08 AM

Myrtle Young was an inspector at a potato chip factory who amassed a collection of some 250-300 chips that looked like people, animals, or objects. She became something of a minor celebrity, appearing on numerous television shows, with appearance on The Tonight Show often cited as Johnny Carson's funniest moment ever.

Bonus Myrtle content:

NPR recalls Myrtle's famous appearance with Carson upon her death in 2014.
Myrtle's obituary recalls her as a local celeb.
Myrtle on the Happy the Hobo Show
The epitaph on her grave reads: "The Potato Chip Lady."
The Simpsons riffed on both "the potato chip lady" and the Carson bit in the episode about Aunt Gladys

posted by DirtyOldTown (6 comments total)

"He was utterly charmed by her," said Derringer, who accompanied Young on the trip to write about her experiences for The News-Sentinel. Carson kept Young on stage so long the show had to cancel the appearance by actress Jennifer Tilly, who also was scheduled to be a guest.

No offense to Jennifer Tilly, who I really like, but Carson totally made the right call here. Thank you, this is a fantastically timed post.
posted by wheek wheek wheek at 6:27 PM on June 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

I really enjoyed this Carson clip with the Potato Chip Lady. Her expression and visual inventory of her collection when Johnny makes that crunch is priceless.

I have had a number of artist friends who had potato pareidolia: Elvis, Donald Trump potato chips, one bought a fry baby and made a whole show of pareidolia potatoes. I needed a good laugh today, thank you.
posted by effluvia at 8:05 PM on June 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

Thanks for the post, OP. I really needed this today as well!
posted by Bella Donna at 2:20 AM on June 25, 2022

I Miss Johnny.
posted by mikelieman at 3:16 AM on June 25, 2022 [1 favorite]

I've never encountered this story before and it is exactly the kind of sweet, fun humor I really needed today.
posted by ZaphodB at 5:47 PM on June 25, 2022

Bob & Ray did a vey similar sketch, ALSO on Carson. (Unfortunately, I don't know which was first.)

BOB AND RAY - Oddly Shaped Fruits and Vegetables
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 8:57 PM on June 25, 2022