Flashback Monday ~ Johnny Carson and the toilet paper frenzy of 1973
By Joanie
@Freelanzer (10743)
Canada
April 6, 2020 12:09pm CST
All it took was a joke by talk show host Johnny Carson to cause a toilet paper frenzy and shortage. As the story goes, on December 11, 1973, a Congressman put out a press release about a possible toilet paper shortage. However, when Johnny Carson joked about it on air, he neglected to mention “possible” and also that the congressman was referring to commercial toilet paper pulp.
On December 19th, 1973 Johnny Carson's Monologue stated, “there is going to be an acute toilet paper shortage” What followed was weeks of line ups, fights and bombardment of stores as frenzied customers sought to hoard toilet paper creating an artifical shortage. In effect there was no toilet paper shortage.
Is it intereresting how mere words can create panic. Does this remind you of what is happening now? Enjoy the flashback video.
Johnny Carson jokes about the recent toilet paper shortage. There was actually not a toilet paper shortage, but after Johnny delivered this joke people ran o...
6 people like this
4 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (50580)
• United States
8 Apr 20
I guess I was too young to remember this. Finding Toilet paper is definitely like looking for a needle in a haystack here still.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
8 Apr 20
Me too. I just heard about it. Same here witht he toilet paper and flour and yeast.
