What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine

Host this Exhibition!

This exhibition is available to be hosted at your venue.  For more information, please contact travelingexhibitions@nrm.org. Laurie Tang: 413-931-2232

June 8, 2024 through October 27, 2024

This exhibition explores the unforgettable art and satire of MAD, from its beginnings in 1952 as a popular humor comic book to its emergence as a beloved magazine that spoke truth to power and attracted generations of devoted readers through the decades. MAD’s influence and cultural impact will be explored in this landmark installation, which features iconic original illustrations and cartoons created by the magazine’s Usual Gang of Idiots—the many artists and writers who have been the publication’s mainstays for decades. These include Sergio Aragonés, David Berg, Paul Coker, Jack Davis, Dick DeBartolo, Mort Drucker, Will Elder, John Ficarra, Kelly Freas, Al Jaffee, Harvey Kurtzman, Don Martin, Nick Meglin, Norman Mingo, Antonio Prohías, Marie Severin, John Severin, Angelo Torres, Sam Viviano, Richard Williams, and Wally Wood. The art of next generation visual humorists, including Emily Flake, Drew Friedman, Peter Kuper, Teresa Burns Parkhurst, C.F. Payne, Tom Richmond, and Dale Stephanos, will also be on view.

Richard Williams
Alfred E. Neuman and Norman Rockwell, 2002
Cover illustration for Mad Art: A Visual Celebration of MAD Magazine and the Idiots Who Create It (Watson Guptill, 2002)
Oil on canvas
James Halperin Collection, Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
MAD and all related elements ™ & © E.C. Publications. Courtesy of DC

It is difficult to imagine a time when satirical, irreverent humor was not common across media, but in the 1950s, anti-establishment humor was not the cultural norm. An iconic illustrated humor magazine that has been surreptitiously enjoyed by millions for more than seventy years, MAD was the first to ironically and humorously poke holes in all aspects of American life—from movies, television, music, art, and advertising to superheroes, celebrity culture, and the political scene of the day. Special features like Spy vs. Spy, MAD Fold-Ins, MAD’s Maddest Artists, and MAD’s Marginals, which have been longtime favorites, continue to delight.

First published in 1952, MAD originally launched as an EC comic book series founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines, with its inaugural issue titled Tales Calculated to Drive You Mad. In 1955, with MAD No. 24, the comic was reimagined as an illustrated magazine, releasing it from the censure of the Comics Code Authority. The publication’s now legendary parodies of Superduperman and Starchie, takeoffs on the classic DC superhero and Archie comics, respectively, launched MAD into the stratosphere. Between 1952 and 2018, five-hundred-fifty magazine issues were published, along with a multitude of special issues, paperbacks, and compilation projects.

More than 150 original works of art will be on view, including a special highlight gallery devoted to the art of Mort Drucker, the award-winning caricaturist and illustrator who contributed to MAD for more than five decades. Paintings, drawings, cartoons, ephemera, artifacts, and media will tell MAD’s indelible story and explore the impact of this venerable publication on American humor, media, culture, and society.     

This exhibition was made possible in part by generous support from

The Halperin Foundation

Media sponsor:

MAD MAGAZINE EXHIBITION ADVISORY

Steve Brodner, Exhibition Co-Curator
Steve Brodner is today’s foremost satirical illustrator and caricaturist. Acclaimed in the fields of journalism and the graphic arts as a master of the editorial idiom, he is a regular contributor to The Nation, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times. Brodner’s art journalism has appeared in most major magazines and newspapers in the United States, such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Esquire, Time, Mother Jones, Harper’s, and The Atlantic. His newsletter, This Week, can be found daily at stevebrodner.substack.com and weekly in The Nation. Norman Rockwell Museum presented an exhibition of his work in 2008 titled Raw Nerve: The Political Art of Steve Brodner.

Stephanie Haboush Plunkett, Exhibition Co-Curator
Stephanie Haboush Plunkett is the Chief Curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum and the organizing curator of many exhibitions relating to the art of Norman Rockwell and the field of illustration. She leads the Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies, the first scholarly institute devoted to the study of illustration. Her recent publications include Leo Lionni: Storyteller,  Artist, Designer; Tony Sarg: Genius at Play; Drawing Lessons from the Famous Artists School; and Norman Rockwell: Drawings, 1911 to 1973.

Sam Viviano, Lead Advisor
Sam Viviano is an award-winning humorous illustrator specializing in caricature and cartooning for magazines, books, and advertising. His first cover illustration for MAD appeared in issue # 223, in June, 1981, and he went on to become Art Director of MAD—a position that he held for nineteen years, from 1999 to December 2017. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Family Weekly, Reader’s Digest, Institutional Investor, HITS, Scholastic’s Dynamite, and Bananas, among others.

IMAGES

Kelly Freas (1922-2005)
Alfred E. Neuman as Scarecrow, 1958
Cover illustration for MAD #43 (EC, 1958)
Acrylic on board
James Halperin Collection, Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
MAD and all related elements ™ & © E.C. Publications. Courtesy of DC

Sam Viviano
Alfred E. Neuman for President, 2008
Cover illustration for MAD No. 495, November 2008
Digital
Design Director: Ryan Flanders
MAD and all related elements ™ & © E.C. Publications. Courtesy of DC

Kelly Freas (1922-2005)
Quid, Me Vexari? (What, Me Worry?), 1959
Cover illustration for MAD #51 (EC, 1959)
Ink and gouache on illustration board
James Halperin Collection, Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
MAD and all related elements ™ & © E.C. Publications. Courtesy of DC

Bill Elder (as “Eldder” in tribute to Charles Addams) (1921-2008)
It’s so funny the way Poppa’s eyes bug out because he doesn’t have the Sanofranized label, 1955
Illustration for MAD #26 (EC, 1955)
Ink and ink wash on paper
James Halperin Collection, Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
MAD and all related elements ™ & © E.C. Publications. Courtesy of DC

Jack Davis (1924-2016)
Beware of Imitations, 1954
Illustration for MAD #11, (EC, 1954)
Pen and ink
James Halperin Collection, Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
MAD and all related elements ™ & © E.C. Publications. Courtesy of DC

Norman Mingo (1896-1980)
Jack in the Box, 1967
Cover illustration for MAD #113, (EC, 1967)
Opaque watercolor over graphite
James Halperin Collection, Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
MAD and all related elements ™ & © E.C. Publications. Courtesy of DC

Don Martin (1931-2000)
Pay Toll Fifty Feet, 1980
Back cover illustration for MAD #213, (EC, 1980)
India and colored inks on Bristol board
James Halperin Collection, Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
MAD and all related elements ™ & © E.C. Publications. Courtesy of DC

Al Jaffee (1921-2023)
What Simple Pastime is Becoming a Luxury that Many Americans Can No Longer Afford? 1979
Fold-In illustration for MAD #172, (EC, 1979)
Ink and gouache on board
Collection of Dr. Lewis Kaminester
MAD and all related elements ™ & © E.C. Publications. Courtesy of DC

PANEL OF ADVISORS

David Apatoff is an illustration historian and The Saturday Evening Post‘s art critic. He is the author of several books and articles on art and has served as a museum curator, and has a special fondness for American illustration. He is author of the popular blog, illustrationart.blogspot.com.

Scott Bakal is an award winning illustrator, photographer, and professor of illustration at MassArt in Boston. His clients include Rolling Stone, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, Washington Post, Family Circle, Reader’s Digest, Playboy, Smithsonian, Discover, Vancouver Opera, Variety, Wall Street Journal, Tor Books, Wizards of the Coast, and Yoga Journal.

Dick DeBartolo is known as The Giz Wiz and MAD’s Maddest Writer, having been featured in every issue of MAD for the past fifty years. As the Giz Wiz, he appears on Ask The Tech Guys, hosts The Giz Fiz, and does a weekly podcast with Chad Johnson on The Giz Wiz. Dick is also The Giz Wiz on ABC’s World News Now.

John Ficarra was hired as Assistant Editor for MAD in 1980, shortly after his debut as a contributing writer. He became MAD’s Editor in Chief in 1985 (with Nick Meglin until 2004), a position that he retained until 2018.

Emily Suzanne Flake is an American cartoonist and illustrator. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Time, and many other publications. Her weekly comic strip Lulu Eightball has appeared in numerous alternative newsweeklies since 2002.

Keith Knight is the creator of the weekly comic strip The K Chronicles (1993), the weekly single panel comic (Th)ink (2003), and the daily strip The Knight Life (2008). In a style and wit reminiscent of MAD, Knight addresses serious social and political issues while incorporating signature humor. Woke, a television series partially based on Knight’s life, debuted on the Hulu streaming service in 2020; the second season became available in April 2022.

Peter Kuper’s work appears in The New Yorker, The Nation, and MAD, where he has written and illustrated “Spy vs. Spy” for every issue since 1997. He is the co-founder of World War 3 Illustrated and has produced over two dozen books including Sticks and Stones, The System, Diario de Oaxaca, Ruins, and adaptations of many of Franz Kafka’s works. His most recent graphic novels include Kafkaesque and an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.

Judith Yaross Lee is Distinguished Professor Emerita at Ohio University. Dr. Lee is an award-winning teacher and scholar who has served as Distinguished Professor of Communication Studies and Director of the Central Region Humanities Center. She is internationally recognized as an authority on American literary humor from Mark Twain to the present, and is the author/editor of Seeing MAD: Essays on MAD Magazine’s Humor and Legacy (University of Missouri Press, 2020), among other notable books on American humor studies.

Louis Henry Mitchell is Creative Director of Character Design at Sesame Workshop. He has designed and styled contemporary and classic Muppet characters as well as Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons and floats, including Big Bird and Super Grover. A gifted educator and portraitist, he is also a member of the Norman Rockwell Museum Board of Trustees.

RELATED EVENTS

Ready for some MAD Fun?

June 8 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

MAD Grand Opening Weekend Events!
Save the Dates: June 8 & 9, 2024

Worried about missing out?

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR E-NEWSLETTER

Get early access and first crack at tickets and program reservations!

BECOME A MEMBER

PRESS

Norman Rockwell Museum’s Summer Exhibition Goes MAD!

February 8, 2024—Norman Rockwell Museum is pleased to announce this summer's landmark exhibition exploring the art, satire, and cultural impact of MAD Magazine, one of the longest-running humor publications in America. Opening June 8 and running through October 27, What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine presents iconic original illustrations and cartoons from MAD's longtime regular contributors, dubbed the "Usual Gang of Idiots," as well as next-generation visual satirists.

MEDIA

Take A Tour Of MAD Magazine With Their Idiot-In-Chief

Published: May 18, 2016

Mad Magazine: Inside Look Behind the Scenes (1987)

Published: October 24, 2017

Mort Drucker & John Reiner – The NCS Masters Collection

Published: © 2015 NCSF ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Who is Jack Davis – MAD Magazine

Published: © 2003 Nowhere Productions Athens, GA

VENUE(S)

Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA    June 8, 2024 through October 27, 2024

This exhibition is available to be hosted at your venue.  For more information, please contact travelingexhibitions@nrm.org.

Hours

OPEN
Mon 10am-4pm
Tue 10am-4pm
Thu 10am-4pm
Fri 10am-4pm
Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 10am-5pm

CLOSED
Wednesdays
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
New Year’s Day
ROCKWELL’S STUDIO
Re-opens May 2 – November 10, 2024
closed Wednesdays
TERRACE CAFÉ
Closed for the season.
Re-opens June 2024

Special Holiday Hours: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10am-3pm.
When attending the Museum, please observe our COVID-19 policies; in addition to Massachusetts Travel Guidelines.

Admissions

Save time by purchasing your tickets online in advance of your visit!  Online reservations for visits through April 30, 2024 available for purchase. Museum Visit admission is required for all tours.

Buy Admission

Members Adult Seniors /
Retired Military		 Children /
Active Military		 MA Teachers College
Students
Museum Visit: Free $25 $23 Free $22 $10
Rockwell’s Studio Tour: Free + $10 + $10 Free + $10 + $10
Curator Tour:
Leo Lionni		 Free + $15 + $15 Free + $15 + $15
Guided Tour:
Rockwell’s Life & Art
(40 minutes)		 Free +$10 +$10 Free +$10 +$10

Save time by purchasing your tickets online in advance of your visit!  Online reservations for visits through April 30, 2024 available for purchase. Museum Visit admission is required for all tours.

Buy Admission

Museum Visit:
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Adults: $25
Seniors & Retired Military: $23
MA Teachers: $22
College Students: $10

Rockwell’s Studio Tour:
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Adults: $10
Seniors & Retired Military: $10
College Students: $10

Guided Tour:
Rockwell’s Life & Art
(40 minutes) – additional purchase
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Ticket per person: $10

Curator Tour:
Leo Lionni
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Adults: $15
Seniors & Retired Military: $15
College Students: $15

Additional Discount Opportunities:

  • Front Line Medical Workers receive free admission.
  • AAA member, NARM member, Stockbridge Resident, and EBT/WIC/ConnectorCare Cardholder discounts available.

For Free and Reduced prices, you may be required to present a valid ID demonstrating your status for qualifying for discounted pricing.

Available Discounts
Kids Free is supported by:
Connector Card is supported by:
Norman Rockwell Museum receives support from:

DIRECTIONS

Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Glendale Road Route 183
Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-931-2221

Download a Printable version of Driving Directions (acrobat PDF).

Important note: Many GPS and online maps do not accurately place Norman Rockwell Museum*. Please use the directions provided here and this map image for reference. Google Maps & Directions are correct! http://maps.google.com/

* Please help us inform the mapping service companies that incorrectly locate the Museum; let your GPS or online provider know and/or advise our Visitor Services office which source provided faulty directions.

Route 7 runs north to south through the Berkshires. Follow Route 7 South to Stockbridge. Turn right onto Route 102 West and follow through Main Street Stockbridge. Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

Route 7 runs north to south through the Berkshires. Follow Route 7 North into Stockbridge. Turn left onto Route 102 West at the stop sign next to The Red Lion Inn. Shortly after you make the left turn, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

Boston (two-and-a-half hours) or Springfield (one hour):
Take the Ma ssachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West, getting off at exit 10 (formerly exit 2) – Lee. At the light at the end of the ramp turn left onto Route 20 East and then immediately turn right onto Route 102 West. Follow Route 102 West into Stockbridge Center (about five miles). Continue going west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

from Albany and west: (one hour) Take I-90 east to exit B3 – Route 22. Go south on New York Route 22 to Massachusetts Route 102 East. Stay on Route 102 East through West Stockbridge. Continue on Route 102 East approximately 5.5 miles until you come to a blinking light at the intersection of Route 183. Make a right at the blinking light onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(two-and-a-half hours) Take either the New York State Thruway or the Taconic State Parkway to I-90 East. Follow I-90 East to exit B3 – Route 22. Go south on New York Route 22 to Massachusetts Route 102 East. Stay on Route 102 East through West Stockbridge. Continue on Route 102 East approximately 5.5 miles until you come to a blinking light at the intersection of Route 183. Make a right at the blinking light onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(one-and-a-half hours) Take I-91 North to the Massachusetts Turnpike. Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West, getting off at exit 10 (formerly exit 2) – Lee. At the light at the end of the ramp turn left onto Route 20 East and then immediately turn right onto Route 102 West. Follow Route 102 West into Stockbridge Center (about five miles). Continue going west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(five minutes)
Go west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.