Stacks Image 207561

Please like my Facebook Page
to ensure you receive all current events.

Stacks Image 208130

———————————
Potato chip exhibit to open Saturday

BALLSTON SPA“In the Saratoga Style: Potato Chips and Their Regional Folklore” opens Saturday at Brookside Museum, Saratoga County History Center, 6 Charlton St. The exhibit, which will be on display through Dec. 31, explores the many stories that have claimed to explain the story behind the snack, from disgruntled customers to kitchen mishaps.

The use of the “Saratoga” name to nationally market potato chips is seen through the expansive collection of famed local expert Alan Richer, known as “The Toga Chip Guy.”

The exhibit is open to the public 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. For more information,
go to
https://brooksidemuseum.org.


I have recently been featured in twi Times Union Articles
Please read the articles by clicking the links below!

Article 1 - Vanderbilt helped invent the chip in Saratoga?
Likely a salty myth


Article 2 - Toga Chip Guy makes a second showing on History Channel

Stacks Image 208139

Please read the article in Saratoga Today that features, your's truly, The Toga Chip Guy!

Click Here

Stacks Image 208144

Current Events!


Please watch the latest episode of The History Channel's The Food That Built America, "When The Chips Are Down", season 2, episode 3, where I am prominently featured.

Click Here!

Stacks Image 208152

Read my feature article in "Shorelines" The Saratoga Lake Association News Letter.

Click Here

Stacks Image 208157

Listen to my recent interview on Heart Radio.

Click Here

Stacks Image 208162

Stacks Image 208165

Listen To The New History Channel Podcast

After appearing in several episodes of The History Channel's Series "The Food That Built America", I have now been prominently featured in an associated podcast.

Please visit The ACast Site to listen!


Please read my recent interview with Julia Dunn on CBS 6.

Click Here

Stacks Image 208173

Read The Article About Me In Saratoga Today Entitled "Who: Alan Richer, The Toga Chip Guy"

This article was just published today, April 2nd, It starts on Page 3.

Click here to read!


Stacks Image 208181

Stacks Image 208184

Watch the latest episode of the History Channel's "The FoodThat Built America "that aired on Natational Potato Chip Day, March 14. Featuring the history of Herman Lay and then rival Fritos!

Click here to watch








Stacks Image 208209


John Karolefski, author of the blog Grocery Stories at:
 
https://www.grocerystories.com/ 

has written a book about grocery shopping. He had requested a quote from me about about chips -- their place in snack history, their popularity, etc.

I had provided him with a quote that I will disclose once his book is published.

Here is that quote!

"Potato chips are more American than apple pie. Compare the shelf space allotted to potato chips and apple pie in your local grocery store"


Stacks Image 208220


Recent Events

On Novemeber 19th 2019, I spoke to the New York Capital Region Elfuns Club at the Hilton Garden Inn in Clifton Park NY, on the History of the Potato Chip.
The club consists of mostly retired General Electric employees.


Stacks Image 208226

The Toga Chip Guy Is On The Air!

I have been interviewed about the history of the potato chip by a California based radio station, Yesterday USA  Radio Networks,  at 10:30pm New York time on Saturday, September 14th.  
Listen here!

KITTY CLOVER POTATO CHIP COMPANY
Established Early To Mid 1900’s

Kitty Clover Factory Tour Brochure


Thanks to Ana Somers of the Douglas County, Nebraska Historical Society. Click the image below to view the entire brochure.

Stacks Image 207514
Stacks Image 207504

Kitty Clover POS in store

The Kitty Clover sign and display are located on the left side of this photo.

Thanks to Ana Somers of the Douglas County, Nebraska Historical Society.

Stacks Image 207511

Items From The Harman Collection featuring Kitty Clover

Stacks Image 207466
Stacks Image 207489
Stacks Image 207492
Stacks Image 207496
Stacks Image 207481
Stacks Image 207498
Stacks Image 207500
Stacks Image 207477
Stacks Image 207473
Stacks Image 207485
Stacks Image 207469
The following photos and descriptions are courtesy of the Durham Museum
Stacks Image 207380
Stacks Image 207382
A building with a sign. It says 'Kitty Clover Potato Chips.' A brick road runs in front of it.
Stacks Image 207449
Company plant at 24th and Pierce Street. Building was constructed by masons from Italy with stone blocks salvaged from the old Douglas County Courthouse. Originally used as a dance hall.
Stacks Image 207443
Company plant at 24th and Pierce Street. Building was constructed by masons from Italy with stone blocks salvaged from the old Douglas County Courthouse. Originally used as a dance hall.
Stacks Image 207437
Company plant at 24th and Pierce Street. Building was constructed by masons from Italy with stone blocks salvaged from the old Douglas County Courthouse. There is a company delivery truck parked in front of the building. Negative is delaminating.
Stacks Image 207431
Company plant at 24th and Pierce Street. Building was constructed by masons from Italy with stone blocks salvaged from the old Douglas County Courthouse. Employees are filling up cans of freshly made potato chips.
Stacks Image 207425
Company plant at 24th and Pierce Street. Building was constructed by masons from Italy with stone blocks salvaged from the old Douglas County Courthouse. Employees making up the batches for potato chips to be made with.
Stacks Image 207419
Company plant at 24th and Pierce Street. Building was constructed by masons from Italy with stone blocks salvaged from the old Douglas County Courthouse. Employees making up the batches for potato chips to be made with.
Stacks Image 207413
Company plant at 24th and Pierce Street. Building was constructed by masons from Italy with stone blocks salvaged from the old Douglas County Courthouse. Employees on the production line filling up bags with potato chips.
Stacks Image 207407
Kitty Clover Potato Chip Company Picnic, Omaha, Nebraska.
Stacks Image 207401
Automobiles driving down a snow road with storefronts on either side. Signs read "Free Vees With Coupon From Kitty Clover", "To East Interstate 80", "To North Interstate 29", "Meadow Gold Ice Cream", "Atlantic, Greenfield, Missouri Valley".
Stacks Image 207395
Automobiles driving down a snow road with storefronts on either side. Signs read "Free Vees With Coupon From Kitty Clover", "To East Interstate 80", "To North Interstate 29", "Meadow Gold Ice Cream", "Atlantic, Greenfield, Missouri Valley".
Stacks Image 207389
Exterior of Fred Lippold's home at 5315 Grant Street. Lippold of Kitty Clover Potato Chips Company.
Stacks Image 207455
A family size bag of Kitty Clover potato chips costs 59 cents
Terry Lippold - September 13, 2009
My father, Harold Lippold revived Kitty Clover in Omaha. It was just at the end of the Depression; he was 18 and could not get a job. He bought a defunct company with the logo; a witch’s cauldron sized copper pot, a case of printed bags, a stapler and a hand potato peeler for $150. He pealed, sliced, cooked, bagged and delivered the bags himself. Nobody knew what potato chips were at that time. He could not sell them so he placed them on consignment by walking to all the local restaurants, bars, theaters etc. He traded 40% of the business to my grandfather, Fred Lippold and 20% to my grandmother Louvana for a 50% interest in their car so he could expand. As he grew the business, his mom became the bookkeeper and his dad quit his job as a pharmacist to build the world's larges potato chip company. They only served nine states and the per capita consumption was about 30 pounds per person. Dad retired at the age of 42. The trade magazines could never figure out why he had such extreme success. It was that he never scrimped on ingredients. Kitty Clover became so large and powerful, he could have his own strain of potato grown in Idaho and have them brought directly to his plant on 24th street in Omaha. He used only corn oil for the best flavor. I remember as a kid standing next to the metal conveyor belt and grabbing the hot chips just after they rose from the oil and moving through a shower of salt. You think they were good from the grocer. I can still taste those hot ones 50 years later!
Stacks Image 172347
Stacks Image 185146
Stacks Image 185152
Stacks Image 185158
Stacks Image 185164
Stacks Image 185170
Stacks Image 199734

The following photos are licensed from The Nebraska Historical Society

Three photos of Kitty Clover Plant in St. Paul, MN. One is at night and one includes a truck in front of the plant. Kitty Clover was owned by Fairmont.

1955 photo of Fairmont ice cream display (two men and two women offering samples of ice cream) and photo of large Snackmobile truck.

Stacks Image 207366
Stacks Image 207368
Stacks Image 207370
Stacks Image 207372
Stacks Image 207374
Stacks Image 207516
Stacks Image 207518
Stacks Image 207520
Stacks Image 207522
Stacks Image 207524
Stacks Image 207526
Stacks Image 207528
Stacks Image 207530
Stacks Image 207532
Stacks Image 207534
Stacks Image 207541
Stacks Image 207543
Stacks Image 207545
Stacks Image 207539
Stacks Image 207547

Don Julio, A Direct Descendent Of Kitty Clover

Stacks Image 207551
Stacks Image 207553