Mad #25

(September 1955)

What?...You Haven't Tasted New Ipuna? (Table of Contents)

Ipuna Toothpaste / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks:

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Synopsis:

Phony ad for Ipuna Toothpaste.

Indexer Notes

Parody of ad for Ipana Toothpaste. On inside front cover.

Contents (Table of Contents)

Table of Contents / foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman (signed)

Pencils:

? (photo)

Inks:

? (photo)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

fact

Characters:

Stan Freburg; Doodles Weaver; Steve Allen; Allen Jaffee [Al Jaffee]

Indexer Notes

Includes a brief summary of contents with photos of some contributors.

Radiodetectiveland (Table of Contents)

Radio Dept. / text article / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils:

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks:

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Characters:

Sam; Alfred E. Neuman

Synopsis:

A look at the crazy neighborhood inhabited by the average radio show detective.

Reprints:

• in MAD for Keeps (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1958 series) #[nn] (July 1958)

Indexer Notes

Alfred E. Neuman bears no physical resemblance to the MAD trademark character.

A Stirring Scene To Say The Least From MGMG's "Leave Me Or Leave!" (Table of Contents)

Leave Me Or Leave! / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils:

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks:

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Characters:

Doris Daytime; James Cagneebone

Synopsis:

Phony ad for movie "Leave Me Or Leave!"

Reprints:

• in MAD for Keeps (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1958 series) #[nn] (July 1958)

Indexer Notes

Also mentions movie credits for: Josef M. Kornmeyer; Alfred E. Neuman; Elliot Cowsnofski; Alfred Kornmeyer; Josef E. Cowsnofski; Elliot M. Neuman; Alfred Cowsnofski; Josef Neuman. Appears to use a photograph as base for illustration.

Letter Dept. (Table of Contents)

Letter Dept. / letters page / 0.875 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman ?

Pencils:

various

Inks:

various

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Characters:

Alfred E. Neuman

Indexer Notes

Art is excerpts from previous issues. Alfred E. Neuman is not named, and editors ask for information on the source of "What? Me Worry?" and the old picture used for his image.

MAD Strikes Back! (Table of Contents)

MAD Strikes Back! / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.125 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

? (photo)

Inks:

? (photo)

Letters:

typeset

Indexer Notes

House ad for 2nd MAD paperback book: "MAD Strikes Back!"

The Jack E. Glisten Story (Table of Contents)

People Dept. / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils:

Wally Wood (signed)

Inks:

Wally Wood (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Characters:

Jack E. Glisten

Synopsis:

A behind-the-scenes look at how the Jack E. Glisten show is produced.

Indexer Notes

Parody of the Jackie Gleason tv show.

Very Square Dance (Table of Contents)

Music Dept. / text article / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Steve Allen

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Synopsis:

Lyrics by Steve Allen presented without the musical score.

Baseball...Science Or Skill? (Table of Contents)

Sports Dept. / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Al Jaffee

Pencils:

Jack Davis (signed)

Inks:

Jack Davis (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Characters:

Smoky Allshot; Casey Stumble; Melvin Crudley; Alfred E. Neuman

Synopsis:

Comparison of the scientific and instinctive methods of baseball team management: both fail.

Reprints:

• in MAD for Keeps (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1958 series) #[nn] (July 1958)

Indexer Notes

Alfred E. Neuman bears no physical resemblance to the MAD trademark character.

Anyone For Wrist Slashing? (Table of Contents)

Magazine Dept. / text article / 4 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Stan Freberg

Pencils:

Wally Wood (signed)

Inks:

Wally Wood (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Characters:

Stan Freberg; Michael Wilting; Liz Wilting; maid; delivery man; Mikey Wilting

Synopsis:

Excerpt from a movie magazine and a "screenplay" by Stan to show contrasts between his characters and real life.

Reprints:

• in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn] (1997)

Indexer Notes

Persons parodied are Elizabeth Taylor and then-husband Michael Wilding.

Was George Washington "George"? (Table of Contents)

Confidential Information Dept. / text article / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils:

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks:

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Characters:

George Washington; John Smith; Pocahontas; Snow White; Witch; The Seven Dwarfs [Dummchen; Fröhlich; Doktor; Brummbär; Niessen; Schüchtern; Schlafhaube]

Synopsis:

Exposé type articles on George Washington, John Smith and Snow White.

Reprints:

• in MAD for Keeps (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1958 series) #[nn] (July 1958)
• in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn] (1997)

The Sleeping Beauty (Table of Contents)

Fairy Tale Dept. / text story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Ernie Kovacs [as Pierre Ragout]

Pencils:

Gustave Doré (signed)

Inks:

Gustave Doré (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Characters:

Sleeping Beauty

Synopsis:

The fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.

Indexer Notes

Told briefly and with French words substituted for English every so often. Includes an old drawing and a glossary.

MAD Awards (Table of Contents)

MAD Award Dept. / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils:

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks:

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Characters:

Alfred E. Neuman (as award statuette); Ed Hurlthehay

Synopsis:

Awards for best tv commercials.

Reprints:

• in MAD for Keeps (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1958 series) #[nn] (July 1958)

Indexer Notes

Parodies of commercials for: Oldsmobile [Goldsmobile]; Dial Soap [Dialtone Soap]; storm windows; Colgate Dental Cream [Colgrate Dental Cream]; Saran Wrap [Sarong Wrap]. The award statuette is in image of MAD trademark face and appears to be the first time the name Alfred E. Neuman is applied to this face.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents)

Newspaper Dept. / text article / 4 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Bernard Shir-Cliff

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Characters:

Mel Haney

Synopsis:

Various typical newspaper columns: Hollywood gossip; horoscope; Broadway gossip; doctor; lovelorn.

Reprints:

• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #267 (October 1958)
• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #267K (May 1960)
• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #U2105 ([post-1963])
• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #24331 (January 1975)

Indexer Notes

Mel Haney is caption under image of Alfred E. Neuman.

They Built Their Dream-House Singlehanded (Table of Contents)

Build-It-Yourself Dept. / text story / 4 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils:

Wally Wood (signed)

Inks:

Wally Wood (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Characters:

Blanding Countersunk; Babs Countersunk

Synopsis:

Story of how the Countersunks built their not-quite-so-dream house.

[Gettysburg Address] (Table of Contents)

Education Dept. / text article / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Doodles Weaver

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Synopsis:

Teacher's grading and editing of Lincoln's Gettysburg address as if it had been written for an English assignment.

The Stark Club (Table of Contents)

Television Dept. / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils:

Jack Davis (signed)

Inks:

Jack Davis (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Characters:

Sherwin Billingscheck; Sherwinette Billingscheck; Mr. & Mrs. Fludney Bent; Mr. & Mrs. Bedney Flunt; Mr. & Mrs. Fledney Bunt; Myron Cowznofski; Mr. & Mrs. Flentney; Mr. & Mrs. Blunt; Mr. & Mrs. Buntney; Gledney Dent; Barney Flent; Mr. & Mrs. VanFlentney; Mr. & Mrs. Bootney Fent; Mr. & Mrs. Blint; Mr. & Mrs. Gentney Woont; Sir Flentney Blent

Synopsis:

A tour through the nightly happenings at the Stark Club.

Indexer Notes

Parody of tv show about New York's Stork Club.

Advice To Young Men On How To Get Into The Army (Table of Contents)

Roger Price Dept. / text article / 3 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

? (photo); Roger Price

Pencils:

? (photo); Roger Price

Inks:

? (photo); Roger Price

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Synopsis:

Humorous advice on joining the U.S. Army.

Reprints:

• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #267 (October 1958)
• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #267K (May 1960)
• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #U2105 ([post-1963])
• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #24331 (January 1975)

Fozless Fooznick (Table of Contents)

Fozless Fooznick; Crazyroot Cream-Oil Hair Tonic / comic story / 0.33 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Bill Elder [as Chester Cool and Al Hopp]

Inks:

Bill Elder [as Chester Cool and Al Hopp]

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Characters:

Fozless Fooznick; Chief; Lil' Ab'r; Junior (cameo)

Synopsis:

Fooznick is running from his relatives.

Reprints:

• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #267 (October 1958)
• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #267K (May 1960)
• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #U2105 ([post-1963])
• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #24331 (January 1975)

Indexer Notes

Parody of Wildroot Cream Oil Hair Tonic ads and Fearless Fozdick character.

The Blackboard Jumble (Table of Contents)

Movie Dept. / comic story / 3.17 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils:

Wallace Wood (signed)

Inks:

Wallace Wood (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Synopsis:

Scenes from the movie and a recommendation for solving the real life violence problem in schools.

Indexer Notes

Parody of movie "Blackboard Jungle."

Banish Body Aroma Problems and Like That (Table of Contents)

NDDDS / comic story / 0.25 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks:

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Synopsis:

Phony ad for NDDDS Chlorophyll Tablets.

Reprints:

• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #24331 (January 1975)

Wowee Gang - I Wish I'd Written Both These New Mad Books! (Table of Contents)

The MAD Reader; MAD Strikes Back! / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.25 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Letters:

typeset

Indexer Notes

House ad for MAD paperback books.

Your Voice of Wiseness Says Smoke Kennt (Table of Contents)

Kennt Cigarettes / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils:

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks:

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Synopsis:

Phony ad for Kennt Cigarettes.

Indexer Notes

Mentions Ipuna Toothpaste from front page ad in this issue. On inside back cover.

A Picture History of Ol' Craw (Table of Contents)

Ol' Craw Whiskey / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils:

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks:

Bill Elder (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

satire

Characters:

Ulysses S. Grant; Robert E. Lee; Davy Crockett; Jim Bowie; James Craw; Pocahontas; John Smith; Alfred E. Neuman

Synopsis:

Phony ad for Ol' Craw Whiskey.

Indexer Notes

Parody of Ol' Crow ad. Alfred E. Neuman bears no physical resemblance to the MAD trademark character. On back cover.