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Issue: Mad #56
Publication Date: July 1960
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Disclose Detail
Issues: #56 of 550 Issues (622 Printings)
Title:
Variant: unnamed
Rating:
Publisher: FlagEC
Brand: none
Indicia Publisher: E.C. Publications Inc.
On Sale Date: 05/12/1960
Volume:
Pages: 52
ISBN: none
UPC/EAN: none
Price: $0.25 USD
Indicia Frequency:
Content Items: 26 (17 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s):  
Disclose Notes: On-sale date from 1960 Periodicals, Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
  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 In6
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
 
spacer
Disclose Content Items (26 total)
Disclose Issue Images
Alfred E. Neuman For President

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Character(s): Alfred E. Neuman; Richard Nixon; Hubert Humphrey; John F. Kennedy; Harry S. Truman; Adlai Stevenson; Lyndon B. Johnson; Nelson Rockefeller; Harold Stassen ?
Synopsis: Politicians from both major parties endorse Alfred.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
Weak Coffee Sales Gives Us Growers Java Jitters!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): League of Frightened Coffee Growers
Synopsis: Parody of ad for a coffee growers organization.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Inside front cover.
Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.
Disclose
Departments

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): various (see Notes)
Inker(s): various (see Notes)
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Vital Features
Synopsis: table of contents
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Art is excerpts from various stories in this issue.
Disclose
Start Your Own Hall Of Fame

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Alfred E. Neuman bust
Synopsis: House ad for china bust of Alfred.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.25
Disclose
Campaign For The MAD Vote

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ? (photo)
Inker(s): ? (photo)
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Alfred E. Neuman For President Kit
Synopsis: House ad for kit containing poster, sticker, button, and hat.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.5
Disclose
Random Samplings of Reader Mail

Letters Page  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Penciller(s): ? (photo)
Inker(s): ? (photo)
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Character(s): Tony Randall; Lyle Bettger
Synopsis: Letters of comment, many about issue #54, and a mention of the recent TV show "Four For Tonight" which featured a comedy sketch based on Don Martin's "Hair Tonic Commercial" cartoon. Letters by: Mike Cunningham; Robert Raymond; Gardner McKay; Linda Fertig; Sam Wohl; Gary Wolfersberger; Joyce Aldrich; Bob Rothstein; Joe Szymanski; Alan Silverman; Ronnie Perlman; Terry Bird; Terry Reed; Robert Higgins; Ives McCoy; Edna Thompson
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Gardner McKay was the star of TV's "Adventures in Paradise."
Disclose
A Little Knowledge Is A Dangerous Thing

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): MAD Magazine
Synopsis: House ad for subscriptions.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.2
Disclose
Put A Little Fun In Your Life!

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: 0.05
Disclose
Madison Avenue's Political Ad Campaigns

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Hoke-Filled Room Dept.
Character(s): Richard Nixon; Pat Nixon; John F. Kennedy; Adlai Stevenson; Lyndon B. Johnson; Hubert Humphrey [as Hubert Humphreys]; Stuart Symington; Norman Thomas; John J. Stickeyfingers
Synopsis: Parodies of consumer product ads used as political ads.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 6
Disclose
MAD's Modern Olympic Games

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Five-Ring Circus Dept.
Synopsis: Olympic style events based on the skills of living modern city life.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagThe Self-Made Mad #[nn] published January 1971
as MAD's Modern Olympic Games [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 3
Disclose
The Chiropractor

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: A chiropractor loosens up his patient a little too much.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
MAD Bubble Gum Cards

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Chew's Who Dept.
Character(s): Alfred E. Neuman; Ewald Wierhoffer; Clyde Reeber; Dr. Boris Acid; Dr. Herman Witheringpuss; Rosemary Winecoop; Walter Smitner; Carlyle Burnlash; Merrill Lynch Piercefenner; Dr. Neville Sternbrush; Enoch Saltzpritcher; Getyer Hanzoff; Seymour Verblanger; Rudy Gougewell; Omar Wintermutt; John Ward Heeler, Jr.
Synopsis: Explores what bubble gum card statistics might look like if the cards featured people from professions other than sports.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagThe Self-Made Mad #[nn] published January 1971
as MAD Bubble Gum Cards [Text Story on Interior Page(s)]Alfred E. Neuman card omitted
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 4
Disclose
The Good Woman In Africa

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: A woman who has been counseling cannibals gets unusual results.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
How Publicity Works

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Bilking It Dry Dept.
Character(s): Senator Ardsley Stonehenge
Synopsis: Phoney newspaper clippings showing how a good publicity man can get mountains of press from a molehill of an event.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 3
Disclose Notes: Art credit in issue is wrong, as this is clearly Joe Orlando's work, matching that of the "MAD Bubble Gum Cards".
Disclose
The Garbage Explosion

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Litter-ly Speaking Dept.
Synopsis: A look at how the population explosion will lead to a garbage explosion and MAD's solution.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 3
Disclose
The MAD "Comic" Opera

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Character(s): Dick Tracy; Mickey; Tarzan; Dondi (cameo); Wimpy (cameo); Junior (cameo); Mandrake The Magician (cameo); Alley Oop (cameo); Phil; Little Orphan Annie; Rex Morgan M.D.; Dagwood Bumstead; The Little King (cameo); The Phantom (cameo); Henry (cameo); Jeff (cameo); Sandy; Flash Gordon (cameo); Superman [Clark Kent] (cameo); Steve Canyon (cameo); Daddy Warbucks (cameo); Smilin' Jack; Penny; Snuffy Smith; Lowizee Smith; Prince Valiant (cameo); Jiggs (cameo); Maggie (cameo); Pogo (cameo); Joe Palooka (cameo); Li'l Abner (cameo); Daisy Mae; (cameo); Shmoos (cameo); Mark Trail (cameo); Andy Gump (cameo); Archie Andrews (cameo); Veronica Lodge (cameo); Hans Katzenjammer (cameo); Fritz Katzenjammer (cameo); Moon Mullins (cameo); Linus Van Pelt (cameo); Popeye (cameo); Olive Oyl (cameo); Mary Worth (cameo); The Spirit (cameo); Pluto (cameo); The Jeep (cameo); Red Ryder (cameo); Mr. Dithers (cameo); Blondie (cameo); Dennis The Menace (cameo); Cheeta; Cicero's cat (cameo); Smokey Stover (cameo)
Synopsis: A parody of Broadway musicals using comic strip characters. Rex Morgan has kidnapped Annie and intends to remove her unique eyes, but Sandy leads Dick Tracy and Tarzan to a rescue, which is aided by Snuffy Smith.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagThe Self-Made Mad #[nn] published January 1971
as The Mad "Comic" Opera [Story on Interior Page(s)]
In Content Item: FlagMad Special [Mad Super Special] #36 [$1.75 Cover Price] published January 1981
as The Mad "Comic" Opera [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 6
Disclose Notes: Many other comic strip characters that I do not recognize appear in cameos, especially in the big finale song scene. There is also a mid-page decoration featuring head shots of probably every contemporary comic strip character.
Disclose
Scenes We'd Like To See: The Race Through The Jungle

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: A Tarzan-like man races through the jungle, swinging on vines, to an unusual destination.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
Honest Ads

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): The Truth Blurts Dept.
Character(s): Sammy Getzoff
Synopsis: A look at how advertisements might be if they told the truth.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 4
Disclose Notes: Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.
Disclose
Patty Play Dolls

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: Details the expenses of owning a doll as big as a child, and advises parents to ask Congress to declare such dolls as dependents so the parents can get a tax break.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 3
Disclose Notes: One character on the last page looks like a young version of Berg's Roger Kaputnick character.
Disclose
MAD's TV "Alfie" Awards

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Clumsy Category Dept.
Character(s): Bert Parks; Jack Paar; Jose Melis; Dean Martin; Gale Storm; John Daly; Bennett Cerf (cameo); Dorothy Kilgallen (cameo); Desi Arnaz; Lucille Ball (cameo); Steve Allen; Gardner McKay
Synopsis: TV stars receive awards for categories of dubious merit, in a parody of the Emmy Awards show.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 3
Disclose
The Tourist And The Italian Urchins

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: A tourist takes a photo of some kids, one of whom has a strange growth.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
The U.S. Army Chicken Officer's Field Manual

Text Article  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): The Man In Command Dept.
Synopsis: A phoney instruction book for army officers, showing how they are trained in all the things that annoy enlisted men.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagThe Self-Made Mad #[nn] published January 1971
as The U.S. Army Chicken Officer's Field Manual [Text Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 5
Disclose
The Chase

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Synopsis: A man on horseback escapes some Indians when the horse leaps a chasm...sort of.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagThe Self-Made Mad #[nn] published January 1971
as The Chase [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Noted as a "Scene We'd Like To See", but not listed as that Feature in Department title.
Disclose
More MAD "Y'OX"

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Marginal Marvin Dept.
Character(s): Marginal Marvin
Synopsis: Captions with arrangements of "X"s and "O"s as the art.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0
Disclose Notes: Appears in the margins of 22 pages.
Disclose
Announcing...A Twin Launching From The MAD Pad

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): MAD books
Synopsis: House ad for "The Golden Trashery of MAD" and "The Organization MAD."
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Inside back cover.
Props courtesy of Polk's Modelcraft Hobbies, Inc.
Disclose
Crocked

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Rummie Walker
Character(s): Frank Kelly Freas; Rummie Walker
Synopsis: Parody of a series of Johnny Walker liquor ads, featuring artists.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: back cover

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