Wednesday, September 25, 2013

"Screwball" The MAD MAD MAD GAME?


 "Screwball", THE MAD MAD MAD GAME?  was released by Transogram in 1960. The game had players entering the "Madvertising business" ("Only Boobs and 1/2 wits can win!") traveling around the board in their "Jokewagons" filled with phony MAD-like products,  (Prince Boobert Tobacco, Swipe toothpaste, Winegoof Beer, Cantaford Motor Co, screamingly funny stuff like that), spending "Mad money". The luck of the spinner determined whether players had to pay nothing, half, full or double price for their prizes. Got it?

The problem was that Transogram and the game's creators didn't bother to license the rights from MAD magazine, despite using an Alfred E. Neuman look-alike on the box cover (with art created by the cult comic book artist Howard Nostrand). MAD objected, and to appease MAD's lawyers the game was recalled with a second version released, this time with a microphone covering the fake Alfred's mouth to cover the gap tooth, and wearing headphones to cover his large ears. The "Screwball" was now larger,  with one less "MAD" in the game's title. Finally,  the hilarity could ensue!
first version of the game, art by Howard Nostrand

game directions
the game and it's contents

some of the game cards, art also by Howard Nostrand

the revised cover 

Thursday, September 12, 2013

"Godfrey Cambridge's Rent a Negro Plan"

The late, great, rotund 1960's black comedian Godfrey Cambridge's 1967 book "Put-Ons & Put-Downs" featured his earlier caustic nightclub/album  routine "Godfrey Cambridge's Rent a Negro Plan". The routine was illustrated for the book by the great MAD caricaturist Mort Drucker and reprinted in Cavalier magazine. Drucker also illustrated the book cover.

The comic book artist Neil Adams is also credited with "illustrating" the art, but I can't really figure out why. Adams had a distinctive style which I'm not recognizing in this work. Perhaps Adams inked Drucker's pencils? Any speculation or information would be appreciated.