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Issue: Mad #50
Publication Date: October 1959
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Disclose Detail
Issues: #50 of 550 Issues (622 Printings)
Title:
Variant: unnamed
Rating:
Publisher: FlagEC
Brand: none
Indicia Publisher: E.C. Publications Inc.
On Sale Date: (not set)
Volume: 1
Pages: 52
ISBN: none
UPC/EAN: none
Price: $0.25 USD
Indicia Frequency:
Content Items: 29 (21 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s):  
Disclose Notes:  
  Does this data need corrections? Become an editor.
Disclose Format
Publication Type: Comic Book
Color: color (#1-23, 400-550); color cover with black & white interior (#24-399)
Dimensions: standard Golden Age US (#1-23); magazine size (#24 onward)
Paper Stock: glossy cover
Binding: saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: Was Ongoing Series
Format Notes:  
Disclose Reprinted In3
Disclose Reprinted From0
There is currently no data for this Issue being reprinted from anywhere.
Disclose Images1
Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 
Assets0
 
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Disclose Content Items (29 total)
Disclose Issue Images
Unfinished Business

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Alfred E. Neuman
Character(s): Alfred E. Neuman
Synopsis: Alfred's gaze from a billboard is watching the billboard painter's fall from a scaffold.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
The Most Important ¼ Inch in Smoking Today

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Parliamatch
Synopsis: Parody of ad for Parliament cigarettes.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Inside front cover.
Disclose
Departments

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): various
Inker(s): various
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Vital Features
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Art is excerpts from this issue.
Disclose
First Came Mad for Keeps...

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ? (photo)
Inker(s): ? (photo)
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Mad Forever
Synopsis: House ad for Mad Forever hardcover book.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.33
Disclose
If You Have Trouble Falling Asleep...

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ? (photo)
Inker(s): ? (photo)
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): The Bedside Mad
Synopsis: House ad for Mad paperback book.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.17
Disclose
Random Samplings of Reader Mail

Letters Page  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Synopsis: Letters of comment, many about issue #48.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Art is excerpts from previous issues. Letter writers: Fred Strohm; Charles Pierce; Arthur Milano; Kathy Dawson; Richard Kapnick; Walter Rode; Edward Jacklivitch; Barney Currer; Pat Hudson; Tim Pabian; Danny Gallant; Brian Lavin; Tom Nye; Peter Olen; Paul Lippman; Thompson News Stand; Everett Saggus; Frank Davis; B. R. Saunders
Disclose
The Face That Launched a Thousand Ships!

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Character(s): Alfred E. Neuman
Synopsis: House ad for pinups suitable for framing.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.17
Disclose
Why Fight Over the Only Copy of Mad on the Newsstand

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Mad Magazine
Synopsis: House ad for Mad subscriptions.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.33
Disclose Notes: Models are various Mad staff members.
Disclose
Spot That Plug!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Dishonorable Mention Dept.
Synopsis: Analyzes how television show scripts have subtle product plugs and predicts that in the future we will see shows consisting of nothing but a recitation of brand names.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 3
Disclose
How to Fight the Small Car Threat

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Fix Their Volkswagen Dept.
Synopsis: Traces the history of how small cars became long cars, and what automakers should do to satisfy the public's new demand for small cars.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose
NBC Plays CBS in the TV Baseball League

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Afoul off the Screen Dept.
Character(s): Mel Allen; Lawrence Welk; Groucho Marx; Phil Silvers; Red Skelton; Milton Berle; Jack Paar; Bob Hope; Ted Mack; Steve Allen; Ed Sullivan; Jerry Lewis; Kathryn Murray; George Gobel; Jack Benny; Arthur Murray; Charlie Weaver; Richard Boone; Eve Arden; Jackie Gleason; Alfred Hitchcock; Eddie Fisher; Perry Como; Lassie; John Charles Daly; Dorothy Kilgallen; Bennett Cerf; Arlene Francis; Arthur Godfrey; Michael Anthony; Jack Webb; Raymond Burr
Synopsis: A wacky look at a baseball game played by television stars playing in character.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 4
Disclose Notes: Some characters listed are not pictured but are announced by the play-by-play announcer.
Disclose
The Mad Time Capsule

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Let's We Forget Dept.
Synopsis: Stuff that Mad would put in a time capsule... to be left buried.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
The Nearsighted Man and the Telephone

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: A man mistakes another man for a pay phone, and another man retrieves the dime from the "phone" man's mouth.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose
Where Song-Writers Get Their Inspiration

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): No Muse Is Good Muse Dept.
Synopsis: Everyday inspirations that may have occurred for famous songs, from advertisements, news articles, letters, etc.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 3
Disclose
Women in Whiskey Ads

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Ladies of Distinction Dept.
Character(s): Carrie Nation; Lady Godiva; Mark Twain
Synopsis: Parodies of ads for Old Crow; White Horse; Canadian Club; Seagram's 7 Crown; Four Roses; and Old Grand-Dad whiskeys. Shows subtle ways women are being introduced into ads, where that trend will go, and predicts that children will be next to be included.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 4
Disclose
Scenes We'd Like to See: The Big Break

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: A chorus girl gets a chance to fill in for the star singer on a play's opening night... and she stinks.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
Mad Playgrounds That Prepare Kids for Adult Life

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: Dave explores ideas for playgrounds that will make kids just as miserable as they will become as adults.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagDave Berg's Mad Trash #[nn] published January 1981
as Mad Playgrounds that Prepare Kids for Adult Life [Story on Interior Page(s)]
In Content Item: FlagMad about the Fifties #[nn] [Standard Edition] published January 1997
as Mad Playgrounds that Prepare Kids for Adult Life [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 3
Disclose
Changing Meanings for Fun & Profit

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Out-of-Context Dept.
Synopsis: A look at how people in various businesses could use the Hollywood and Broadway practice of excerpting from bad reviews to create more favorable reviews.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 3
Disclose
What Our Teenagers Really Think About

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Don't Beat This Generation Dept.
Synopsis: It really is true that all teenagers think about is the opposite sex.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose
TV Ads We'd Like to See

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Character(s): Ed Reamers; Wilbur Tsaurus; Mrs. Tsaurus
Synopsis: Parody of Allstate Insurance commercial, featuring Ill-State Insurance.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
Blue Confessions

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Bleating Hearts Dept.
Synopsis: Parody of True Confessions type of magazine, showing how the stories are not as spectacular as the misleading headlines.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 3
Disclose Notes: Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.
Disclose
Practical Greeting Cards

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Maybe Happy Returns Dept.
Synopsis: Greeting cards that might be sent by typical greeting card recipients before an event, to inform people of the upcoming event and need to send a gift.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose
On the Beach

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: The skinny guy at the beach does some instant exercise and has a surprise for the bully.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
The Night Peter Gone Cracked

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Cops and Throbbers Dept.
Character(s): Peter Gone; Lieutenant Jerkobi; Freedie; Mama; psychiatrist; Lawrence Welk
Synopsis: Parody of Peter Gunn TV show, showing how the character would react if not his usual cool, suave self.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 4
Disclose
The Big House Beacon

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Rock 'N Parole Dept.
Character(s): Rocky Albanese; Arson Carson; Seymour Fagin; Burnside Noonan; Trigger Throop; Zack Zinn; Warren Hymer; Guinn Williams; Leo Gorcey; Huntz Hall; Louis Fink; Edward Brophy; Harold Huber; Billy Halop; Chick McGooley; Hank Borelli; Ike Yurks; Monty McGee; Irv Dillinger; Lait Show; Warren Biggleby; Murray Finster; Milton Boil; Boris Willewski; Machine Gun Gertz; Otto Willshire; Alvin Flutz
Synopsis: What if a prison published a high-school yearbook type of publication? A look at the class of '59.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMad about the Fifties #[nn] [Standard Edition] published January 1997
as Mad magazine covers [Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 5
Disclose Notes: Most inmates are caricatures of celebrities.
Disclose
The New Chair

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: A nervous, shaky man gets a new vibrating chair.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
Marvin Talks about Secret Ingredients

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Marginal Marvin Dept.
Character(s): Marginal Marvin
Synopsis: Marvin's theory is that the secret ingredient to one product is really its competitor's product.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0
Disclose Notes: Appears in the margins of 22 pages of this issue.
Disclose
Know the Real Joy of "Mad" Living...

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Mad Clothing
Synopsis: House ad for Mad T-shirts and Mad Straight Jackets.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Models are various Mad staff members.
Photographed at the Cup 'n Saucer Coffee House, New York, NY.
Inside back cover.
Disclose
Nothing Stops It - Not Even Power Brakes

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Body by Fishey
Synopsis: Parody of General Motors Body by Fisher ads. Cars mentioned are Severolet, Pontiarc, Upsmobile, Buckit, and Cadiljac.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Writer credit from "Totally Mad" CD collection.
Back cover.

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