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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Those were the best chips ever made. I would almost beat someone for a bag of those.

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.

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...

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

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

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!

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?

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

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

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

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.

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.

Gee, too bad they don't make racist food anymore.

Yeah, racist food was the best!

Big Chief Wampum used to sing, "Me wantum Wampums, plenty corny Wampums."

I have been craving the taste of the best corn chips ever made. When I was about 10 yrs old wee would come home every Friday night late from church and my father would stop at a small market and let us kids get a bag of laura Scudder corn chips and a orange soda. What a memory! Wish we could buy them somewhere today. Why did they stop making these corn chips??

So when did they stop making these? 1980ish? Earlier?

You'd never find these on the shelves in the US, not in today's PC world!

My mother packed wampum corn chips in my lunch when I went to Elementary school in the 60's. They were the best chip ever.

Wampums Corn chips were great! I've asked so many people if they remember them so it's nice to see that so many do!! Wish they'ed come back!

I too was a kid in the late 60's, growing up near Sacramento. I remember espacially WAMPUM BBQ Corn Chips. Nothing then nor now can hold a candle to these chips! Frito-Lay over the years has done limited runs of BBQ Fritos (which I buy whenever I find them) but they are a distant second to Laura Scudder's "Plenty Corny" corn chips. One of my favorite snacks as a kid was Wampum Chips (pref. BBQ) and Apple Beer, which was like carbonated apple cider but a little more tart. Came in a black and gold can. Good Times that I'll never forget! CA in the 60s was a great place to be a kid then! Now, notsomuch...

Does anybody remember the Wampum pizza chips? OMG, they were soooo good, better than the bbq ones. I'm going to write to Laura Scudder's and beg them to start making them again. And how about Par-T-Pak soda? It came in a bunch of flavors and was way better than today's soda.

I grew up in Boyle Hieghts Ca. after school on the way home there was a little food shack called Rick's they sold the Wampum special, it was a bag of Wampum chips opened on the top and they would cover chips with a couple of scoops of Chili(like the one in chili beans but tasted much better, so you would get this treat with these awsome chips and pipping hot chili covered, this was the best childhood treat I remember to this day have not had a better treat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My wife was cleaning out a old cabinet of my grandmothers that was in the garage. She passed about 12 years ago. She found a stack of about 20 Wampum trick or treat bags. They are in mint condition. Each bag has a funny saying on them. lol One of the bag states. Chief say, respect-um parents, they smarter than you. Chief say, no fight-um on playground, bury hatchet for peace. Chief say, study-um lessons hard, get-um smart like teacher. There are more as well. Of course kids of today would not follow those rules. lol

my brother just called me and asked me if i remembered Wampum chips,i said yes the best chips ever.He was watching the movie Hud.with Paul Newman & Patricis Neal mentioned the chips

Michael, your brother did hear a mention of wampum in Hud, but I belive the reference was to Indian beads for trading, not corn chips: "I'll bring you a half-pound box of candy, maybe some perfume." "How about some coloured beads and wampum?" "Whatever it takes to make you trade." "No, thanks."

My grandmother worked at Laura Scudders....and I loved my wampums She would bring them home all the time.....

I recently tried Trader Joe's brand of corn chips and they gave my memory a jolt. They tasted similar to, if not exactly like, corn chips I used to have as a child in the 70's but I couldn't remember the name of the brand. I did however remember a cartoon like American Indian on the packaging. After scouring the internet and browsing images and finding this page, I am pretty certain that it is the Laura Scudder's Wampum corn chips that the Trader Joe's corn chips reminded me of. Hopefully somebody can confirm my tastebud memory. And no, I'm not a shill for Trader Joe's!

I am also having a pleasant flashback... I am eating Fresh&Easy brand "original jumbo dippin' corn chips" and I told my husband, "these taste like Wampum!" Yummy.

Thanks for the lead Laynie. I picked up some of the dippin' corn chips from Fresh & Easy and they taste the same as the ones from Trader Joe's! I wouldn't be surprised if they're from the same source. In any case, I guess it's safe to say that the corn chips from both Trader Joe's and Fresh & Easy taste like the Wampum chips. Excellent!

Wampums - best ever - distrint corn flavor - ridges - they were the best!

Omahgosh!!! I loved the BBQ corn chips, they were the best on the market!!! Thanks so much for the info on the brand found at Trader Joe's, can't wait to try them!!! Now if only I could find a brand that tasted like the original Doritos Taco Flavor chips??!! Oh well...i found loads of pictures of other snacks I used to eat as a child. What a wonderful trip down memory lane.

A neighbor who lived on our street in Whittier, CA, named Don White created the character image of Chief Wampum. Don was a commercial artist for many years working mostly in advertising. Back in those days, it was a pretty cool claim to fame!

I have also tried the Trader Joe's corn chip and do believe that it is very similar to the Wampun taste. I grew up in Downey and also loved the Regal Crown Sour candies..yum!

Yea grew with these too in arizona .one of our boarders worked at warehouse would bring cases of chips.wampu and the frito bandido..wnd laura scuders peanut butter...grew up near reservation.they wern offended by it nor were we...flower children were though. ...they had to save us

I loved those BBQ corn chips. I had a recipe once for baked BBQ chicken using the crushed Wampums and sour cream. I will have to try the Trader Joes brand.

so I'm notcrazy, there was a Wampum chips in the 60s. I too grew up in LA suburb..Laura Schudders chips ruled!

BBQ wampum chips were the BEST!!!!!!! They need to bring them back!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best chips ever

Also from CA...Bellflower, always had Wampums in my pink poodle lunch box every day...yummmm

Oh take me back, I loved those chips. We had such good things back then. Granny Goose chips also. Wampum were as good to me as Fritos, and I love them both.

Every Saturday my mother and I would do our weekly grocery shopping at Gemco in Garden Grove California. She bought me a bag of barbecue flavored Wampums every time and I couldn't wait to get in the car and open the bag to eat on the way home. They were my favorite chip and I wish they were still being made. I'd buy them by the case! That is one of my favorite memories from growing up.

Oh god, Laura Scudder’s BBQ corn chips were the BEST!! I’d pay $20 for a small bag right now. I miss them so much 😢

Wampum...first introduced in the 50s. Great commercials.

Grew up in Whittier in the 60's. Wampum's Pizza flavored chips were like no other. These were my favorite by far. All of Laura Scudders chips were the best. Could never figure out how Lay's took over.

People think I'm crazy when I say that Wampum was so much better than Fritos. Much different flavor- would always go straight to Them over even potato chips. And Jets breakfast cereal!

You are in luck! Herr’s has just started making BBQ corn chips that taste exactly like Laura Scudders’ BBQ chips back in the ‘90s. Wonder if they bought the recipe. Bought mine at Rite-Aid and a gas station.

Yes, Wampums were better than the Fritos. My mom always packed Wampum in my lunch and they were always the best part (unless a Hostess Cupcake was also in there). Talking 1958-64 here. Encouraging to hear that Trader Joes has something similar but I'll wait for the calorie free version to be invented. :)

I forgot to mention that we lived in El Cerrito (near Berkeley California) at the time.

ha ha we were just remembering some of the old food we loved at our office today. so i did a search for the wampums, lived in alameda,ca bay area, i remember those were so so good, i would buy a bay and enjoy those soooo muchhhh. sure miss those chips. BRING BACK WAMPUMS !!!

I just pretend that Fritos are as good as Wampums, after all, it’s all we have left

Does ANYONE make a decent bbq corn chip anywhere?? It seems like a natural thing. Chief Wampum was the absolute best!

Wampums were the best and so far unequaled. Yeah I remember the Trader Joes bbq corn chips and they were a runner up. Too bad they don't make them anymore as of 5-2023. Fritos BBQ appear once in a while where I live now, but very unsatisfying even if you've never tried Wampums. It's amazing how varied the chip isle is nowadays, and how bbq flavor is more popular than ever, but you can't find a bbq corn chip. What made Wampums so good was that they were slightly thicker than Fritos and had a heavy layer of a deep brownish red bbq spice that coated the chip like sand. And their square shape was better suited to laying that flavor on your tongue than a curly Frito. I most always chose a bag of Wampums to go with my Gaetano from Giuliano's (for any South Bay people.)

I worked for Laura Scudders' for 30 years from Route sales in Big Bear and San Bernardino...holding about every position in those 30 years into sales and marketing in the corporate office. Wampum was a huge seller as well as our chips, nuts, onion rings, Mini Tacos, Dip Mixes, Bean and Salsa can dips....and the list goes on and on for hundreds of items. Then it was sold to an oriental business and then the unions took over and then business closed shop within a year.