Food of the Seventies, King Cole BBQ Potato Chips

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Description
Tangy, spicy, potato chips that were from 1970's. On my weekly walk to "The Pied Piper" store, in Massachusetts I would have to get a bag for my Mom. She loved these.
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User Stories and Comments

The following are comments left about King Cole BBQ Potato Chips from site visitors such as yourself. They are not spell checked or reviewed for accuracy.

Tim - July 14, 2007 - Report this comment
I LOVED these chips! They went great with an ice cold Welch's Grape Soda on a hot 70's summer day!
Chris T - July 06, 2008 - Report this comment
My cousins Dad used to get them somewhere in CT because he lived in New Britain CT. This was back in the early 70's. Boy were they good. Are they still in business?
Sue St - January 09, 2009 - Report this comment
OMG - I loved those chips! Can you get them anywhere? I'd buy a case. I used to get them at the corner store and eat the whole bag by myself (the big bag)!
Ken W - January 30, 2009 - Report this comment
King Cole Potato Chip Co., was bought by Bachmans, in 1982, who then shut them down. (As a result, I refuse to eat Bachmans) There former plant, is now an electrical supply store. Yes they were good, for my taste buds they were the best bbq potato chips ever
C'est La Vie - April 10, 2009 - Report this comment
I remember back in the '60/'70's in Maine, we use to eat these chips all the time, along with a Mountain Dew,RC Cola or Cream soda's . The smaller bags were only five cents each, and their rival was Humpty Dumpty..Sure brings back great memories!
Roy Davis - May 03, 2009 - Report this comment
King Cole Foods, maker of King Cole potato chips, potato sticks, cheese corn, and seasoned popcorn, was one of several potato chip manufacturers in South Portland in the mid-1900s. The business was originally run by Norman Cole and John Hayes, Jr., and began in a building at 609 Main Street on the corner of Thirlmere Avenue, The company’s predecessor was the Winslow Chip Company, which was run by Norman Cole at that same location. The business moved circa 1947 to a larger facility at 174 Cash Street on the corner of Hunnewell Street. Norman Cole left the business and went on to a new potato chip manufacturer, Humpty Dumpty.
John Crosby - June 17, 2009 - Report this comment
Best BBQ chips ever. Sweet and tangy but not salty. Fantastic BBQ flavor.
donna r. - August 26, 2009 - Report this comment
I used to stop on my way home from school and buy a bag. the best bbq chips. I still am looking for the chip that comes close to these if anyone has found one let me know
tbone picker - September 07, 2009 - Report this comment
those king Cole bbq chips were the best chip of all time, any flavor, any brand.
joe borek - February 26, 2010 - Report this comment
we used to buy king cole potato chips in a large can. when did they stop making them in the can?
daniel casey - March 16, 2010 - Report this comment
I have an old big tin can from the 70's
Rocky Shepheard - April 07, 2010 - Report this comment
Right. 5 cents for a bag of King Cole potato sticks at Jamieson's in Greenville, Me. And Devil Dogs, Waleeco Coconut bars, on and on. I'd love to see some labels for these.
Christy Mougin - April 10, 2010 - Report this comment
I have a large can with a picture of the nursery rhyme Old King Cole on it and the slogan "Fit for a King" on the back. There is no product name anywhere on the tin, but it is the same size as other chip cans. Is it a King Cole can?
Jim - July 10, 2010 - Report this comment
Best BBq chips ever, the small bag was Green and the Cellopane was Colored Amber/Yellow to give the chips a more bbq Look...
ted benner jr - August 06, 2010 - Report this comment
my dad (ted sr) sold king cole for 35+ years .. it was a great company and great produts sooo sad the bachman took them over it all went down from that day on
sheryl - August 28, 2010 - Report this comment
I loved these chips as a kid in the 60s and 70s.
allan newman - September 05, 2010 - Report this comment
we always looked forward on our trips through maine on the way to campobello islsnd to having some of those wonderful king cole potato chips.why couldnt humpty dumpty carry on with the only good tasting chips.there are no good chips any more. and I have tried them all
vinny - September 27, 2010 - Report this comment
the absolute best BBQ chips ever produced. They just disappeared into thin air one day and nothing comes close any more.
Gregory Brawn - March 19, 2011 - Report this comment
I remember them as a kid we could buy them in grade school for a nickle during lunch time they were the best BBQ chips ever. I believe they were made right here in the great state of Maine wish they would come back!
Tim - May 18, 2011 - Report this comment
I remember the jingle being played constantly during the summer on the AM stations
Sam Cathers - June 13, 2011 - Report this comment
These were great chips, no doubt. I grew up in coastal Maine in the 60s, and enjoyed all the goodies from the corner store. My favorite chips, though; were Circus Time. Then, Humpty Dumpty. Yup, five-cent bags,too. In those days, you could score a good bag of chips, and a five-cent "Nickle Nip" soda, & be on your way.(After, you'd get two cents back for the empty bottle!) Oh, those were some great days! Betty's market on Richardson street always had all the "goods." I'd gladly go back in a heartbeat....
kevin - September 24, 2011 - Report this comment
I grew up on cape cod,MA.and remember king cole bbq chips,they were the best chips ever,when I travel anywhere,I always try different bbq chips,but can never find that same flavor.the people responsible for dis-continuing these chips should be,well I won't get into detail,but you guys know what i'm thinking.please bring back king cole bbq chips.ps hot rod stickers were cool too.
Tim - January 05, 2012 - Report this comment
My uncle tended bar at the Fair Haven Inn in Fair Haven, VT, and I go over to visit him with my dad, who would buy me a bag of King Cole bbq chips and a Royal Palm orange soda. Good stuff.
Jeff - January 21, 2012 - Report this comment
I used to get these chips at Lake Dunmore, VT as a kid!! They were my favorite! UTZ honey bbq'd are close but please bring them back!!
Cheri - July 11, 2012 - Report this comment
I grew up in Central Maine and my mouth just waters thinking of King Cole BBQ chips. Can't someone find that recipe and make them again? I bet they'd get rich. Nothing now tastes like them. I used to look for the bags where I could see the flavoring crumbs even through the plastic on the bottom of the bag. Please, someone, remake them with the same flavor!
Julie Doliber Ingram - September 22, 2012 - Report this comment
My Uncle, Porter D. Boggis worked at King Cole and I remembered going to the factory and having a tour. I also remember, my uncle going to work one day and told to pack up his belongings and being let go so they wouldn't have to pay him a retirement.
Terry Benner Sr. - October 17, 2012 - Report this comment
My dad, brother and my self used to sell all of the King Cole products and yea! they did have a good BBQ chip, I think they called it a western flavor. After Bachman fazed King Cole out I had a chance to sell the King Cole Brand name from Bachman as a private label but with the bad blood that Bachman had left with our family I just couldn't do it. Bachman had the whole mid-coast of Maine all tied up with our family, Humpty Dumpty and Circus Time brands had a hard time working our area. King Cole/Bachman had 60% of the shelf space here on the coast of Maine, now Bachman maybe in 6 locations between Belfast and Bath. They got just what they deserve.
Dan Huard - February 05, 2013 - Report this comment
My father Fern Huard was a plant manager at King Cole for several years. He really loved that place. Really broke his heart when it closed. It sure is nice to read these stories of how good the chips were. Brings back memories. Fern Huard passed away Feb 18,2010. God bless his soul.
Pat M - November 26, 2013 - Report this comment
A King Cole distributor lived across the street from my family when we lived in Auburn, Maine in the 1950s through late 1960s. Once in a while I would be offered a bag of the chips. I still have and use a King Cole potato chip can which my mother spray painted for me to use as a trash can in my bedroom.
Mark D - January 26, 2014 - Report this comment
I used to work at the Kitty Korner store in Lisbon Falls from 1964 till 1973. They carried King Cole chips which were my favorite chips. The BBQ chips were the best I've ever ate. I travel a lot and no matter where I go I look in the stores for the local BBQ chips to see if I can ever find a chip with the same taste............I'm still looking!! As Ken W above stated I refuse to purchase Bachmans products because they took a wonderful product off the shelf because it was better than the crap they make!!
Doug D - February 03, 2014 - Report this comment
I remember King Cole chips, and I have seen many of the large cans in people's kitchens. I hadn't known the origin of the company; I assumed it was related to the tea company of the same name in New Brunswick, which is very much still in operation.
Rita Allison - March 27, 2014 - Report this comment
I worked for King Cole Potato Chip Company and then when it was Bachman Foods. I worked in the office at 174 Cash St. So. Portland Maine. I remember Fern Huard. A wonderful man. Frank Woodard was the General Manager and Suzanne Woodard was the office manager. It was after They retired when I left
Robert Kester - March 31, 2014 - Report this comment
Looking for vintage calenders large size from the 1960s King Cole Potato Chips.Please call me at 570-587-0124.Thank you
Judith Hayes - April 09, 2014 - Report this comment
My father, John E. Hayes was the owner of King Cole Foods. It was truly a sad day when he sold it, but health issues made it impossible for him to continue running the business. The BBQ chips were the absolute best and I am glad to see so many people remember them and enjoyed them.
Tom Dwyer - June 10, 2014 - Report this comment
I agree with all of the previous posters here. King Cole BBQ's were the best. In the 60's I would love to have an orange crush and a bag of those bad boys. Compared to King Cole, the Humpty Dumty BBQ's were too spicy for my young palate. Now Humptys are what I eat but since they were bought out by a Canadian company the taste is the same but the chip is thicker. Not as good. Coles were the best.
Dave - March 18, 2015 - Report this comment
I remember Wise bought Circus Time from the Robinson family in S. Portland in the late 70s but that was the last Time that I heard or the brand.
jeff buotte - March 26, 2015 - Report this comment
Yes, I used to buy Circus Time Potato Chips in the 60's for a nickel, also haven't heard of them since. They were delicious and today to me the brand that rivals Circus Time are Utz. Cannot find a pic of the package anywhere
Mike Vanidestine - March 28, 2015 - Report this comment
My dad worked for King Cole in the 60's and early 70's. He was their regional number one salesman for several years. He would bring his truck home and pass out free bags to the neighborhood kids where we lived in Winter port Maine. To this day the now adult kids talk about the neighborhood chip man. Miss those chips.
Trish - May 25, 2015 - Report this comment
King Cole BBQ chips always makes me think of my dad. As we were growing up, he would only buy that brand and would share them with us at night while watching TV. I'd love to think that they would produce them again as I haven't found anything that compares. They were definitely the best around.
Mick - November 22, 2015 - Report this comment
The best Barbecue Chips I have ever had! I used to buy the small bags almost everyday after school in the 60's/70's. Thanks to John E. Hayes for the memories of my favorite all time snack!
Ben S - December 10, 2015 - Report this comment
I was married to John Hayes Jr. Darter Judy A Hayes.
Judith S. - February 16, 2016 - Report this comment
To Ben S. When did you divorce her?
Mike sloan - April 19, 2018 - Report this comment
Worked on clean up crew thru high school 1976- 1979 Dave Bamford was manager Fern , Walter ,Harry,,Glen , and Jimmy West
Patricia Misiaszek - February 02, 2020 - Report this comment
These bbq chips were the best! I used to buy on my way to school and on my way home from school and of course on the weekends! So sad they went away and no one could mimic the flavor or buy the recipe! I love them, my family and everyone I know loves them!
Jim Joubert - April 15, 2021 - Report this comment
My uncle Bill Lawerence of Brewer,Maine was a salesman who drove a King Cole truck (van) from that part of Maine delivering to small stores throughout the area. I used to go with him once a year on his route, of course I got a treat for my work,loved it and him too. I have a tribute to him on my model railroad,a King Cole factory that gets daily deliveries and pickups. Great memories.
Michael Dube - November 27, 2021 - Report this comment
Used to ho to Smith's Store in Auburn Maine and have a bag of King Cole Chips with a Dirk Smith 30 cent hot dog special
Bob Graham - April 30, 2023 - Report this comment
I went to high school (Deering High) in Portland,Maine in the '50's and remember John Hayes(jr)whose father was Mr. Hayes (senior), and of course the owner of King Cole chips. I know they were good (as were Humpty Dumpty) and other good snacks from the Fabulous Fifties. (Remember Wasson's Grove hamburgers, anyone?) Oh, for a working Time Machine that would allow a trip back to better times...!!

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