Some NatLamp Alums Drop By
Cartoonist and writer Chris Browne, who contributed regularly in the late ’70s and early ’80s, including the “Funny the Bunny” comic strip, wants to know whatever happened to Danielle, the Foto Funnies girl. The best info I have is that she got married and moved to Connecticut in the late ’70s. If you have more info, let me know.
Richard Levinson wrote for the “Letters” section in the ’80s and wrote songs for the Class of ’86 Review. He notes that Lampoon insiders he became aquainted with seemed to be less aware of the magazine’s impact on modern humor than do the fans. He is currently involved in a project which involves several early Lampoon alumni, but doubts it will ever be produced.
Jim Wilson, who specializes in prop humor, did a museum catalog parody for Lampoon in the late ’70s under P.J. O’Rourke. I checked out his website and was surprised (and pleased) to see a link to Mark’s Very Large National Lampoon Site. Thanks Jim! Update: Jim’s website no longer exists.
Readers Looking for “That’s Not Funny, That’s Sick!”
Several readers are looking for the 1977 album “That’s Not Funny, That’s Sick!” Drop me a line if you know where to get one.
Several Readers Have Back Issues For Sale
Mykel Board has “a bunch” and will take requests or provide a complete list of what he has. Robert Barry has a set of Lampoons from the first 6 or 7 years (including issue #1) in “mint or near mint” conditions with mailing labels he is looking to sell. Blanche Buebe found back issues of NatLamp in her basement from the years 1971-74, and is looking for interested buyers (Update: Blanche has sold them as of 8/98). Note: As far as I know, these people are on the up-and-up, but be aware that I have not had any personal dealings with any of them, so you are on your own.
National Lampoon May Cease Publishing; Beard Interview Posted
Reader Joe Thomas reports that he spoke to the current editor of National Lampoon, Duncan Murray, who told him 1997’s Sexual Harassment issue may be the last and that no further issues are planned. The magazine has only published one issue per year since 1994. Joe also notes that there is an interview with Henry Beard in the online humor magazine The Door. Update: The Door shut down in 2008 and their website, which included the Beard interview, no longer exists.
O’Donoghue Biography Published; M.O’D Page Updated
A biography of Michael O’Donoghue titled “Mr. Mike: The Life and Work of Michael O’Donoghue, the Man Who Made Comedy Dangerous,” written by Dennis Perrin, has just been published by Avon Books. You can read a review of it from Booklist on Amazon.com. Thanks for this tip and additional biographical information for the newly updated Michael O’Donoghue page go to Brian Siano, Joe Thomas, Jim Wilson and especially Darius H. James (a.k.a., Dr. Snakeskin), author of Negrophobia and That’s Blaxploitation!, for graciously allowing me to reprint a personal memoir of Michael O’Donoghue from the latter book.
I Have Visitors?
I started tracking visitors to Mark’s Very Large National Lampoon Site about a month ago. So far, there are about 30-40 visitors a day; about 450 different visitors over the last month.
New Home Page
After careful thought and consideration, I have decided to put something useful in place of the gratuitous cover page which has graced this site since it began. Over the last few months, as people have discovered this site, I’ve received many queries and tidbits of information from visitors. Up to now, I’ve kept it all to myself. This seemed a waste, so I came up with this news page idea. This is now the default page on Mark’s Very Large National Lampoon Site. Smart web surfers should now bookmark this page instead of the About This Site page for all the latest developments. And it won’t just be stuff about the site. It will include anything I feel is relevant. I will try to update it at least once a month or sooner, if events merit.
Hello…?
Mark’s Very Large National Lampoon Website went live today.
Mark’s Very Large National Lampoon Website, Coming Soon
Started working on the site.
Mark's Very Large Plug. You might think, as you wade through this site, that I have no life. Not true. I spend about two days a year working on Mark's Very Large National Lampoon Site. The rest of the time I make fonts. You can see my real website here. I also have an “art” website where I post caricatures and other stuff. For Lampoon-related stuff and site updates, follow me on X (Twitter).
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Mark's Very Large National Lampoon Site is not affiliated with National Lampoon or National Lampoon Inc.
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