Food of the Seventies, Wampum Corn Chips

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i believe...that wampum corn chips were made by the laura scudders chip company in the 70's.--anybody remember bireley's orange soda? or island lime soda(did schweppes or canada dry make it?)adams sour berry gum, oompahs, rally candy bar,root-t-toot mike and ikes, flings cheese curls, pink panther flake cereal, man! i wish it was 1972 again!
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The following are comments left about Wampum Corn Chips from site visitors such as yourself. They are not spell checked or reviewed for accuracy.

Armando F. Ortiz - May 30, 2008 - Report this comment
I was born in 1968 and can clearly remember as early as '72, 73, 74. My family loved our 'snacks'. I grew up in Southern Cal-Long Beach, so our grocery stores had the Laura Scudders market. It was different back then though. Snacks were marketed very differently than now. Once a week on his payday, my Dad would bring the local daily newspaper, a couple bags of chips and a big 'glass' bottle of soda-pop. Usually a 'Mother's Pride' strawberry, orange or pineapple. Anyway...WAMPUMS, more often than not, made the 'cut'. These were 'outstanding' in taste and texture. You also got a lot-for-your money as well back then. These came in a little above-small-to-medium bags. Part of the bag/packaging was clear/see-through. You could SEE the product. These corn chips were BY FAR, better tasting than FRITOS. As far as I can remember, they came in just two flavors; regular salted corn and BBQ. Man, the BBQ tasted really great! Yes, they were a bit salty, but the flavoring was literally mouth watering for a basic 'snack'. What I loved too, was the logo. CHIEF WAMPUM was great. I am Latin and thus part Indian and in no way was I offended my the caricature. I thought he was cute and memorable. Marketing was also different back then. People and 'groups' did not take to such 'offense'. Sadly, it's different times now. Whatever. I still say these corn chips tasted great. I loved Chief 'W' and as clearly as I type this up now to all of 'Cyberspace', I remember/associate 'happy' memories of that time and of that place in my life. I hope you all do too in yours.
S. Parra - July 28, 2008 - Report this comment
I was just talking to my sister about these chips and she cracked up. We also grew up in south central L.A. in the 60's and 70's. My mother used to buy Mother's Pride all the time. I even vaguely remember the radio jingle. They had a ton of flavors: Strawberry, Cola, Root Beer, Orange. But the Wampum package would not survive today; the word "injun" is a racial epithet, short for "Indian" which are referred to as Native Americans.
C.Albright - August 13, 2008 - Report this comment
Growing up in Santa Barbara in the 70's, our mom would buy the variety pack of chips that we'd take in our lunches. We'd fight over the BBQ Wampums! They were the best part of the whole pack! Now that I live in Tennessee, it is hard to find anything comparable. A brand named, Grippo's is close but nowhere near as good. I sure wish someone would purchase the rights to manufacture them again. Who cares what they call it, just make them like before and I'll find a way to buy them!
zmanzero - August 16, 2008 - Report this comment
god, those were good chips. and i always liked the indian guy. wish i had a bag right now to munch on, as i remember they were a little bit above the standard of corn chips.
Blayne - August 17, 2008 - Report this comment
Wampums, the best corn chip ever! I so miss that great distinctive corn taste. What happened to them? Kinda hoped if Laura Scudders didn't want to make them any longer that some other company would buy the recipe (and the Wampum name) and market them. And the "Injun" like the "Frito bandito" were positive images for me. How could anything bad come from something so good, of course I was only 8 years old at the time. Hope they come back one day.
phil me - September 19, 2008 - Report this comment
Those were the best chips ever made. I would almost beat someone for a bag of those.
Gary - November 09, 2008 - Report this comment
We lived in San Bernardino in the 60s and 70s, and I have always remembered the taste, and part of the commercial for Wampum Corn Chips. "Me wantum wampum, plenty corny wampum.... Why not show name....why not show package" These were truly the greatest chips I have ever eaten.
Chris C - November 22, 2008 - Report this comment
I definitely remember Wampums - they were great! I have told friends about them over the years, but no one seems to remember them, even my older friends from that era. It's a shame they don't bring this recipe back, even if they have to change the name for PC reasons...
David Jurickovich - November 23, 2008 - Report this comment
Hey , Ijust got a bag a casa ricardo brand corn chips from the dollar store here in sacramento ca. that remind me of wampum corn chips so much i had to see if wampum was on the internet.lolCasa ricardo got the same taste [from what i remember} & texture
Jason Liebig - May 02, 2009 - Report this comment
Hey guys, I just posted scans of the Wampum chip bag from my packaging collection. If you'd like to see a real vintage 1970's Wampum bag, check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonliebigstuff/3493506663/ -Jason
Evanne - June 07, 2009 - Report this comment
Wow, I thought I was the only one who remembered Wampum's! They were great, much better than anything on the market today. Once in awhile, I'll buy a bag of Fritos or other brand, hoping for the taste I remember, but no luck. Today's corn chips are ok, but nothing like Wampum's! They were the best. Does anyone remember when Bugle's came out? There were 3 different snacks from that company that came out at the same time. I remember Bugles and Daisy's, but don't remember the 3rd. Daisy's were really good too!
Richard - July 11, 2009 - Report this comment
You're all whack! I grew up in Wilmington in the early '50's, none of you know ISH. 72,73,74 hah !what country did you immigrate from?
Dennis - August 16, 2009 - Report this comment
Yeah, Wampum were the best. I remember Wampum was the first to have the larger chips. That's why we bought them instead of Fritos. I wish they would make a come back
Connie - September 04, 2009 - Report this comment
OMG I have been drooling about WAMPUMs for about 2 years now. I agree with everyone, those were the best corn chips EVER!!!!! I will be getting in touch with Laura Schudders to push for the return, Lucky grocery stores up here in the Northern California area are still selling their chips to this day...I can still see the white bag they came in right now mmmmmmmmmm
Wade - September 22, 2009 - Report this comment
Wampuns kicked Frito's ass. It may have been a case where Frito Lay just bought up the market. Also Bell Brand chips and Laura Scudders wee good. If they would just start making Regal Crown sour candies again too
Enid - October 23, 2009 - Report this comment
Wampum corn chips are way older than the '70's. My mother would buy them once in a while; they were a real treat. I had them for lunch in 1960, and I'm sure they are older than that.
BGH - February 24, 2010 - Report this comment
Wampums were the best, bar none. Today Frito Lay has "Scoops" on the market and they are similar, not as good, but they remind me of Wampums.

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