Flashback Monday ~ Johnny Carson and the toilet paper frenzy of 1973

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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.