The Mid Century Vault

Currently Playing: 035 Mad Magazine!

What, Me Worry? 🤔 Before The Simpsons, before SNL, there was MAD Magazine—the rebellious humor publication that taught generations of kids to question authority and spot a phony advertisement a mile away! Join pop culture historian Philip Mershon in the Mid Century Vault as he dives deep into the chaotic, brilliant history of the magazine that invented modern satire. From its origins as an EC Comic (Tales from the Crypt) escaping the Comics Code Authority, to the golden age ushered in by editor Al Feldstein and "The Usual Gang of Idiots." Discover the stories behind its most iconic features: The gap-toothed, eternal optimist: Alfred E. Neuman The brilliant Cold War allegory: Spy vs. Spy The mind-bending invention: The Mad Fold-In (by the genius Al Jaffee) The legendary movie parodies by Mort Drucker Learn how MAD's anarchic humor laid the foundation for virtually all modern American comedy, from Weird Al Yankovic to South Park. If you love satire, comedy history, or mid-century pop culture, this is a must-watch! What was your favorite MAD Magazine feature? Let us know in the comments! 👇 If you'd like to further support my work, here's my buy me a coffee link: https://coff.ee/philipmershon For more Mid Century Vault adventures, just go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/philipmershon ➡️ Like & Subscribe to The Mid Century Vault for more deep dives into pop culture history! #madmagazine #popculturehistory #nostalgia