MAD – end of an era

Mad, the satirical magazine, is winding down after 67 years having been losing circulation from its 1970s high of nearly 3 million readers. It started a tradition that spawned “Saturday Night Live,” “The Simpsons,” “South Park” and The Onion and influenced many comedians. One cartoonist said “For baby boomers, it was like the Bible. To my mind, it was where you found reality.”

The publisher who oversaw Mad for 40 years was William Gaines, 1 March 1922, who inherited a comic business from his father. He was a creative and quirky Sun Pisces conjunct Venus and Uranus in a defiant square to Mars in fiery Sagittarius. He may have had an entrepreneurial, inspirational Fire Grand Trine from Mars in a showbizzy trine to Neptune trine an Aries Moon. His communicative Mercury was in Aquarius which next to Sagittarius is a favourite comedian’s sign. His Mercury was in a confident trine to Jupiter and an artistic opposition to Neptune.

The first issue of MAD came out in August 1952 with no date but it was a momentous month with Jupiter in Taurus opposition Mars in Scorpio square Pluto (maybe Sun) in Leo opposition a North Node in Aquarius – definitely designed for the long haul and for sharp satire.

The first editor was Harry Kurtzman, 3 October 1924. He was a Sun Libra with Mercury in communicative Virgo in a rebellious and outspoken opposition to Uranus. He had creative Venus Neptune in flamboyant Leo in a showbizzy and enthusiastic opposition to Mars in contrary Aquarius.

It was a good partnership for four years with a composite creative and successful Water Grand Trine of Jupiter trine Pluto trine Uranus, formed into a Kite with Pluto in a ruthlessly determined opposition to Mars and square Saturn – it wouldn’t all be sweetness and light and Kurtzman did leave but it kicked it off in good style.

Al Feldstein who went on to edit MAD for twenty years, 24 Oct 1925, was a Sun Scorpio with a creative Water Grand Trine Pluto trine Uranus trine Saturn formed into a Kite by Pluto opposition Jupiter which squared onto Mars – talented, confident and didn’t pull his punches.