The Toilet Paper shortage of 1973 (ally)

[pvande55]

Tomorrow Dec 19 marks the fortieth anniversary of Johnny Carson joking about a toilet paper shortage, causing shoppers to rush out and buy as much as they could. An actual shortage ensued, and continued even after Carson admitted it was a joke. Things didn't straighten out for weeks. http://www.todayifoundout.com/index....aper-shortage/
Anyone remember that?

[Grandstander]

I seem to have wiped it from my memory.

[2nd trick op]

I think the OP has a little research to do; I don't recall any great outrage or "spillling of ink" over toilet tissue. There was, however, a very stong concern in rural areas about "dome lids" (the metal tops which seal Mason jars) the following summer, and for a year or two after.

Here's a link to a story from those times:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=1547,4011422

If memory serves me correctly, this seemed to be a case of an anxiety feeding upon itself. One of the big manufacturers was bringing a new plant on-line. That caused some temporary disruptions, which caused some people to "stock up" since the product isn't perishable and doesn't cost that much to make. But use is highly seasonal, so the phenomenon (and the rumors) persisted for another sason or two.

[pvande55]

Well, it wasn't a big story that year, and happening near the end buried it a bit. However, it is an interesting mass psychology lesson. Just rumors, or jokes, of something that isn't true can have an impact.

[Listener2307]

I remember it.
Oil 'shortage' was in 1973, too.

It reminds me of Tulip Mania in 1637 (although I don't really remember that one), and some other bogus investment/shortage schemes.