Harvey Kurtzman 100 -- October 3, 2024

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Cartoonist Harvey Kurtzman was born 100 years ago today, on 02-October-1924. He was the creator and first editor of Mad Magazine. 

Tom Smothers, RIP -- December 30, 2023

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Tommy Smothers has died. My parents had a Smothers Brothers album and I just barely remember their television show. I remember when CBS canceled it, and I remember Mad Magazine calling them the "Smothered Brothers." I learned something about comic timing from them. 

Comic Book -- Mad Magazine -- February 10, 2022

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We have been watching the 2022 Winter Olympics from Beijing. It feels odd watching a Winter Olympic Games without snow. 

Comic Book -- Mad Magazine -- August 7, 2021

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The late, lamented Mad Magazine roasted the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. We have enjoyed watching the 2020 Summer Olympics being held in 2021 in Tokyo.

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Al Jaffee 100 -- March 13, 2021

 

Mad Magazine, 14-April-2020

Recently retired Mad Magazine artist and writer Al Jaffee turns 100 years old today. He was a great influence on my sense of humor. I always liked his "Fold-Ins" and "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions." I stared at the Fold-In until I could tell what it would like if I folded it. I didn't want to crease the back cover. As a tribute, Mad did an All Jaffee issue when he retired. 

He is a veteran of World War Two. 

William Conrad 100 -- September 27, 2020

 

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Actor William Conrad had a long career in radio, movies and television. I probably first heard of him when he narrated episodes of Rocky and Bullwinkle. Later when I listened to old radio shows on KSFO, I heard him in Gunsmoke, where he played the original Marshall Matt Dillon, and in anthology shows like Suspense and Escape. Later I saw him in films noir like The Killers. I don't think I watched any of his television shows, even though Cannon was set in San Francisco. I enjoyed the Mad Magazine satire, "Cannonball." 

Happy Independence Day 2020-- July 4, 2020

Mad Magazine, June, 1963

Happy Fourth of July to all. 244 years ago, we declared our independence. Alfred E Newman celebrates with a firecracker.

Mort Drucker and Phyllis Lyon, RIP -- April 13, 2020

Mad Magazine, December 1972

Mad Magazine's Mort Drucker has died.  It was not because of COVID-19.  When I read Mad, his film and television parodies were my favorite feature.  I could tell which actresses he liked.

Activist Phyllis Lyon also died (not of COVID-19).  I remember when she married her partner
Del Martin at City Hall when Gavin Newsom made same-sex marriage legal.  They were together for 56 years. 

Woodstock 50 -- August 16, 2019

The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Three Days of Peace and Music took place 50 years ago, on 15-17 August, 1969.  I wasn't very old and I was on the West Coast, so I didn't hear much about it while it was going on.  I remember jokes about it in Mad Magazine.  I didn't get to see the movie on its first run, but I saw it a few theaters.

Comic Book -- Mad Magazine, RIP -- July 11, 2019

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I was devastated to learn that Mad Magazine is going to cease publication.

The October-November 1952 issue of Mad, published in August, was the beginning of a great American tradition. EC, famous up to that time for horror comics, moved in a new direction. Published by Bill Gaines and edited by Harvey Kurtzman, Mad introduced sharp satire (Humor in a Jugular Vein) to comic books.

Mad became a magazine in 1955. Legend said it was because of the growing controversy about comic books, but it was done to satisfy Kurtzman's ambition.

I read Mad for many years and it certainly influenced my sense of humor. I know some movies better through reading the Mad parodies rather than seeing the movies themselves.

Mad Number 117 -- January 23, 2016

I don't usually write about football, but with the Super Bowl coming, I might as do this.  Alfred E Newman splits the goal posts on the cover of the March, 1968 Mad Magazine. 

Mad #2 -- October 20, 2014

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The December 1952-January 1953 issue of Mad, probably published in October, was the second issue of a great American tradition. EC, famous up to that time for horror comics, had moved in a new direction. Published by Bill Gaines and edited by Harvey Kurtzman, Mad introduced sharp satire (Humor in a Jugular Vein) to comic books. Mad became a magazine in 1955. Legend said it was because of the growing controversy about comic books, but it was done to satisfy Kurtzman's ambition. I read Mad for many years and it certainly influenced my sense of humor. I know some movies better through having read the Mad parodies rather than seeing the movies themselves.

Al Feldstein, RIP -- May 2, 2014

I was sad to learn of the passing of Al Feldstein, who edited Mad Magazine during the entire time that I read it.  He was still in high school when he was hired by the Eisner & Iger shop to work on their many comic book projects.  After serving in World War II, he freelanced until he joined EC in 1948.  He started as an artist, then became a writer, and then an editor. 

Harvey Kurtzman left EC's Mad, which had become a slick magazine, and Feldstein took over as editor.  Mad  helped to shape my sense of humor and helped me learn about many movies which I could not get into theaters to see. 

Kurtzman retired in 1984 and took up painting and ranching. 

The image of Mad Number 166 from April, 1974 is from Doug Gilford's http://www.madcoversite.com/.  My copy probably resides in a box in my mother's basement.  I should dig it out. 

Karen Black, RIP -- August 11, 2013

I was sorry to hear that actress Karen Black had died.  She was very big when I was young.  I admired her work in movies like The Great Gatsby, The Day of the Locust and Family Plot.  I could tell the artists at Mad Magazine liked her because they always took great care in drawing her for the movie satires.  I was thinking just recently that I had not seen her in anything for a long time.  Today we went to mass at Saint Peter's in Pacifica. They have changed more of their methods. The areas at the front where they project hymn lyrics are painted gray and the slides are black on white rather than white on black. From my mom's house, we could hear Outside Lands. This year they did not set up the speakers to make things quieter outside the park. Vampire Weekend was playing during dinner.

The City on Film -- Dirty Harry -- May 13, 2013

The San Francisco Arts Commission (http://www.sfartscommission.org/) has set up a series of posters by artist Christina Empedocles honoring "the City’s rich history as an iconic cinematic backdrop."  This one depicts a poster for Dirty Harry.  I read the Mad Magazine version long before I saw the movie.  They captured Clint Eastwood's performance perfectly. 

Comic Book #17 -- October 22, 2012

The October-November 1952 issue of Mad, published in August, was the beginning of a great American tradition.  EC, famous up to that time for horror comics, moved in a new direction.  Published by Bill Gaines and edited by Harvey Kurtzman, Mad introduced sharp satire (Humor in a Jugular Vein) to comic books.  Mad became a magazine in 1955.  Legend said it was because of the growing controversy about comic books, but it was done to satisfy Kurtzman's ambition.  I read Mad for many years and it certainly influenced my sense of humor.  I know some movies better through reading the Mad parodies rather than seeing the movies themselves.

The image is from the wonderful site CoverBrowser (http://www.coverbrowser.com/) 

To quote Russ Hodges:  "The Giants win the pennant.  The Giants win the pennant.  The Giants win the pennant."  The Giants beat the Cardinals 9-0 in game 7.  It was raining hard at the end.  They will face the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.