Sam Gross, probably the most iconic of all the single-panel National Lampoon cartoonists, has died at the age of 89. Sam’s work appeared in the magazine almost from the beginning, starting with the May 1970 Vol. 1, No. 2 (“Greed”) issue, and then regularly thereafter, well into the 1990s when it finally ceased publication. He
Bruce McCall, a frequent contributor to National Lampoon in the seventies and into the eighties, has died at age 87. McCall both wrote and illustrated most of his articles and was especially known for what he called “retro futurism”, which he described as a vision of the future seen through the eyes of the past.
Sean Kelly, editor of National Lampoon in the seventies and early eighties, has died at age 81. Sean Kelly was involved with National Lampoon from nearly the start. His earliest byline appears in the July 1970 (Bad Taste) issue. He was soon on staff, eventually becoming Senior Editor in 1977 until he left the magazine in 1984.
P.J. O’Rourke, one of the best-known contributors to National Lampoon, has died of lung cancer at age 74. (NY Times obit here; Reason magazine video tribute here.) He began writing for the magazine in 1972, became executive editor in 1973, managing editor in 1976, and finally editor-in-chief from 1978 through 1981. As far as I
You may have noticed that, while I do provide listings (some of them detailed) for many issues of National Lampoon, they only cover the first five years of the magazine—1970–1975, or what I call the Golden Age. Obviously, the magazine continued to be published for another twenty plus years. So, my listings aren’t much help
Q: There was a cartoon about a UFO landing in NYC. One alien gets out to explore and gets mugged, etc. When he gets back to the ship, he is asked how it was by his alien colleagues and his response is “Level this planet.” A: Once again, Cartoon Carol to the rescue: “Found it!
Q: There was an spoof ad for selling homes in Love Canal as a great place to raise a family, that showed a young couple pushing their baby on a swing in a park. The baby in the swing I think, was a toaster with doll arms and legs. A: Carol found it: “Wrong Lampoon!
The Trots & Bonnie book is out April 27th and the publisher is offering it direct to fans at 30% off deal in effect through April 25, 2021.
Anne Beatts, regular contributing editor in the early years of National Lampoon, has died at the age of 74. She was also one of writers of Saturday Night Live in its first few seasons and created the tv series Square Pegs in 1982. (NY Times obit here.) She was born in upstate New York, but
Tony Hendra passed away at the age of 79 on March 4, 2021. You can read the full obituary at The New York Times. Hendra was a contributing editor from 1970-71, managing editor in 1972, an editor from 1973-76, and senior editor in 1977, after which he parted ways with the magazine. In his early
