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Good Days and Mad: A Hysterical Tour Behind the Scenes at Mad Magazine
A writer who has written for every issue of "Mad" tells the inside story of thirty years of America's craziest magazine
316 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 21, 2025
The ultimate insider guide, from the man, the myth, the moustache, Dickie D!
You don't get more inside the glory years of MAD than this, D.D. was there almost from the beginning. Excluding the comics era, this is the straight poop, fresh and hot!
You don't get more inside the glory years of MAD than this, D.D. was there almost from the beginning. Excluding the comics era, this is the straight poop, fresh and hot!
April 8, 2020
MAD About MAD Books!!!!!
It’s time to get MAD!!!!!!!!!
Or, in this case, get MAD with multiple books that feature MAD Magazine and it’s crazy cracked view of reality.
Now for the Muggles out there, MAD Magazine is a humour publication that has been around since the 1950s, skewering life and society and movies and television and politics and advertising and even itself. My love for MAD has been around my whole life, as I have expressed before.
But now, back to my plethora of MAD books.
Lets start with a history of MAD with……
Good Days And MAD: A Hysterical Tour Behind the Scenes at MAD Magazine by Dick DeBartolo.
This volume, published in 1994, is a memoir penned by DeBartolo, who is a long time MAD writer and knows tons and tons about the venerable institution. He fills this book with gazillions of stories from over his decades working for Bill Gaines, the cofounder and leader of MAD. Accompanying the tales, which and very short and breezy and to the point, are also gazillions of pictures and cartoons and reprints filling the pages. It makes a smorgasbord of info and fun and interesting stories, and it all feels very real. DeBartolo also puts all through the book tons of forewords, written by all sorts of MAD staff and others, because, well, he forgot that he asked so many people to write a foreword for him. And yes, that is an obvious joke.
The wacky stories range from his and others relationship with Gaines, pranks played, the infamous MAD trips that Gaines paid for, the origin of the MAD radio spots (which I had never heard of till now), the MAD paperback books that I miss so much, the MAD travelling slide show (which I also had never heard of till now), the 60 Minutes feature on MAD, an excellent reprint of the infamous George Lucas letter about the Star Wars parody, and the even more infamous legends about Gaines being cheap cheap cheap with company expenses but very generous generous generous with his personal fortune.
The chapters at the end dealing with Gaines later years and health are sad, and even sadder when his passing occurs. Included is the full page ad MAD put in the New York Times addressing his death.
I didn’t mind when DeBartolo goes off topic and discusses his other careers, such as working on gameshows and magazines and consumer product reviews. But even through we know these stories take place in the 1970s and 1980s and 1990s, he rarely gives an indication of when anything takes place, which is frustrating for continuity buffs like myself. And once in a while, they go into the TMI area.
A history of MAD has to include one defining department….
MAD Fold This Book by Al Jaffee is of course all about the legendary Fold In that MAD puts on the inside back cover of tons and tons of issues going back decades. Jaffee invented the fold in as kind of a parody of Playboy magazines fold out. You read the caption and see the drawing, then fold the page in on itself, which creates a new drawing and caption, all to make a humourous point. This collection, featuring commentary by Jaffee (who is right now in his 90s!!) talks about the creation of the fold in and how he makes them, plus several examples of them and his thoughts on some individual pieces.
For the history buffs, the first Fold In was in MAD issue 86 from April 1964 and its topic was the much publicized Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton affair. MAD number 119 in June 1968 had the first colour Fold In, and MAD had its first Fold In cover on issue 320 in July 1993. Jaffee covers all sorts of topics from politics to the Vietnam War to pollution to the generation gap to pollution to the evils of cigarettes, sometimes striking controversies.
This is an extremely fun and fascinating slim volume, published in 1997, and has an introduction by Peanuts creator Charles Schultz. Jafee does mention the rare occasions when the Fold In was not included in MAD, with explanations as too why. MAD Fold This Book is a great look at this unique creation, and the history it looks at.
One part of MAD history is their mocking adverting…..
Which MADvertising: A MAD Look at 50 years of MADison Avenue by former MAD Associate Editor David Shayne, who also has worked for various television shows, chronicles massively. Published in 2005, Shayne starts at the beginning with how ad parodies were practically part of the MAD DNA pretty much from the start. In fact, Gaines despised most advertising, including false ones, and for cigarettes, and constantly railled against them.
Shayne gives us generous helping of reprints of all sorts of MAD’s attacks on ads, sometimes even showing the original ads. Much efforts were put into these parodies, going back decades, and plenty of background material on the originals and how MAD made the parodies. And quite often, it seems like MAD put more effort the satires then the companies that made the source ads did. This detailed throughout the volume, and seeing how photography Irving Schild went to great lengths to perfect what he was doing. He also quite often used the MAD staff and their families and friends as models for this features. We also find out that some of the artists drawing the parodies worked on real ads, which is interesting.
One of my favourites is a parody of My Fair Lady called My Fair Ad-Man, with song satires inspired by the musical and advertising. It is a great bit of work and excellent part of history. One drawback is that sometimes the text in the source ads and satire ads are too small to read properly, which can be very hard on the eyes.
And eyes are what we watch movies with…..
That awful segue leads to MAD About Movies, the WB Special Edition. This huge collection, published in 1998, features all Warner Brothers movies, who are the corporate owners of MAD. We get an introduction by famous movie critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, all saluting MAD and its parodies.
This collection is in order of when the films were released, which makes the historical and cultural aspect of them even better. What is also awesome to me, being a longtime film buff, since I have seen most of the movies parodied here. And it is interesting to see how much of MAD’s commentary I agree and disagree with over these classics. Okay, I am stretching that word here, because Under Siege is included in this volume. And they are right that the Steve McQueen vehicle Bullitt sucks.
One of the best parts of MAD About Movies for the Geek part of me is seeing their parodies of Superman The Movie and Superman II, and Batman 1989. These are awesome beyond belief. They also have Siskel and Ebert “guest host” the Mars Attacks satire, and for the insanely die hard fans, MAD includes the parody of Up The Academy, the comedy movie they sponsored in the early 1980s and quickly disowned.
The only downside to the entire volume is the graphic design sucks. For 1998, it looks like no one at MAD knew what computer design was, making this volume look like something from the 1970s.
And a much better design went into…..
MAD About Super Heroes, version 2.5, which was published in 2012. This collection is huge, and has a gazillion movie and television parodies, along with general hero satires. Volume one probably has the earlier stuff like Super Duper Man and Starchie, and can’t wait to see that one someday. I do really like the politicians, as super heroes ones, including Super Delegate, and the Sergio Aragones pages are great as well.
Some of my favourites include X-Men 2, Watchmen, and the graphic novel review for Infinite Secret Crisis On All Earthly Worlds which just feels so much like so many modern event comics. I also really really really loved the Constantine and Green Lantern parodies because those “movies” really really really deserved it.
Whew! And that is a wrap on this look at these MAD books!!!
I have always loved MAD’s crazy cracked view of reality, and yes I love that term nudge nudge wink wink, and I have always loved how MAD magazine gives laughs and learning to its readers. And these books are no exception.
Scoopriches
It’s time to get MAD!!!!!!!!!
Or, in this case, get MAD with multiple books that feature MAD Magazine and it’s crazy cracked view of reality.
Now for the Muggles out there, MAD Magazine is a humour publication that has been around since the 1950s, skewering life and society and movies and television and politics and advertising and even itself. My love for MAD has been around my whole life, as I have expressed before.
But now, back to my plethora of MAD books.
Lets start with a history of MAD with……
Good Days And MAD: A Hysterical Tour Behind the Scenes at MAD Magazine by Dick DeBartolo.
This volume, published in 1994, is a memoir penned by DeBartolo, who is a long time MAD writer and knows tons and tons about the venerable institution. He fills this book with gazillions of stories from over his decades working for Bill Gaines, the cofounder and leader of MAD. Accompanying the tales, which and very short and breezy and to the point, are also gazillions of pictures and cartoons and reprints filling the pages. It makes a smorgasbord of info and fun and interesting stories, and it all feels very real. DeBartolo also puts all through the book tons of forewords, written by all sorts of MAD staff and others, because, well, he forgot that he asked so many people to write a foreword for him. And yes, that is an obvious joke.
The wacky stories range from his and others relationship with Gaines, pranks played, the infamous MAD trips that Gaines paid for, the origin of the MAD radio spots (which I had never heard of till now), the MAD paperback books that I miss so much, the MAD travelling slide show (which I also had never heard of till now), the 60 Minutes feature on MAD, an excellent reprint of the infamous George Lucas letter about the Star Wars parody, and the even more infamous legends about Gaines being cheap cheap cheap with company expenses but very generous generous generous with his personal fortune.
The chapters at the end dealing with Gaines later years and health are sad, and even sadder when his passing occurs. Included is the full page ad MAD put in the New York Times addressing his death.
I didn’t mind when DeBartolo goes off topic and discusses his other careers, such as working on gameshows and magazines and consumer product reviews. But even through we know these stories take place in the 1970s and 1980s and 1990s, he rarely gives an indication of when anything takes place, which is frustrating for continuity buffs like myself. And once in a while, they go into the TMI area.
A history of MAD has to include one defining department….
MAD Fold This Book by Al Jaffee is of course all about the legendary Fold In that MAD puts on the inside back cover of tons and tons of issues going back decades. Jaffee invented the fold in as kind of a parody of Playboy magazines fold out. You read the caption and see the drawing, then fold the page in on itself, which creates a new drawing and caption, all to make a humourous point. This collection, featuring commentary by Jaffee (who is right now in his 90s!!) talks about the creation of the fold in and how he makes them, plus several examples of them and his thoughts on some individual pieces.
For the history buffs, the first Fold In was in MAD issue 86 from April 1964 and its topic was the much publicized Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton affair. MAD number 119 in June 1968 had the first colour Fold In, and MAD had its first Fold In cover on issue 320 in July 1993. Jaffee covers all sorts of topics from politics to the Vietnam War to pollution to the generation gap to pollution to the evils of cigarettes, sometimes striking controversies.
This is an extremely fun and fascinating slim volume, published in 1997, and has an introduction by Peanuts creator Charles Schultz. Jafee does mention the rare occasions when the Fold In was not included in MAD, with explanations as too why. MAD Fold This Book is a great look at this unique creation, and the history it looks at.
One part of MAD history is their mocking adverting…..
Which MADvertising: A MAD Look at 50 years of MADison Avenue by former MAD Associate Editor David Shayne, who also has worked for various television shows, chronicles massively. Published in 2005, Shayne starts at the beginning with how ad parodies were practically part of the MAD DNA pretty much from the start. In fact, Gaines despised most advertising, including false ones, and for cigarettes, and constantly railled against them.
Shayne gives us generous helping of reprints of all sorts of MAD’s attacks on ads, sometimes even showing the original ads. Much efforts were put into these parodies, going back decades, and plenty of background material on the originals and how MAD made the parodies. And quite often, it seems like MAD put more effort the satires then the companies that made the source ads did. This detailed throughout the volume, and seeing how photography Irving Schild went to great lengths to perfect what he was doing. He also quite often used the MAD staff and their families and friends as models for this features. We also find out that some of the artists drawing the parodies worked on real ads, which is interesting.
One of my favourites is a parody of My Fair Lady called My Fair Ad-Man, with song satires inspired by the musical and advertising. It is a great bit of work and excellent part of history. One drawback is that sometimes the text in the source ads and satire ads are too small to read properly, which can be very hard on the eyes.
And eyes are what we watch movies with…..
That awful segue leads to MAD About Movies, the WB Special Edition. This huge collection, published in 1998, features all Warner Brothers movies, who are the corporate owners of MAD. We get an introduction by famous movie critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, all saluting MAD and its parodies.
This collection is in order of when the films were released, which makes the historical and cultural aspect of them even better. What is also awesome to me, being a longtime film buff, since I have seen most of the movies parodied here. And it is interesting to see how much of MAD’s commentary I agree and disagree with over these classics. Okay, I am stretching that word here, because Under Siege is included in this volume. And they are right that the Steve McQueen vehicle Bullitt sucks.
One of the best parts of MAD About Movies for the Geek part of me is seeing their parodies of Superman The Movie and Superman II, and Batman 1989. These are awesome beyond belief. They also have Siskel and Ebert “guest host” the Mars Attacks satire, and for the insanely die hard fans, MAD includes the parody of Up The Academy, the comedy movie they sponsored in the early 1980s and quickly disowned.
The only downside to the entire volume is the graphic design sucks. For 1998, it looks like no one at MAD knew what computer design was, making this volume look like something from the 1970s.
And a much better design went into…..
MAD About Super Heroes, version 2.5, which was published in 2012. This collection is huge, and has a gazillion movie and television parodies, along with general hero satires. Volume one probably has the earlier stuff like Super Duper Man and Starchie, and can’t wait to see that one someday. I do really like the politicians, as super heroes ones, including Super Delegate, and the Sergio Aragones pages are great as well.
Some of my favourites include X-Men 2, Watchmen, and the graphic novel review for Infinite Secret Crisis On All Earthly Worlds which just feels so much like so many modern event comics. I also really really really loved the Constantine and Green Lantern parodies because those “movies” really really really deserved it.
Whew! And that is a wrap on this look at these MAD books!!!
I have always loved MAD’s crazy cracked view of reality, and yes I love that term nudge nudge wink wink, and I have always loved how MAD magazine gives laughs and learning to its readers. And these books are no exception.
Scoopriches
November 23, 2021
Highly entertaining for anyone who loves MAD Magazine. All of the writing in this book has the irreverent, sarcastic tone of MAD so you should know that before taking this on.
Some highlights of this were more than 10 forewards written by different MAD contributors, some fun pictures of the team, and a variety of anecdotes from MAD staff trips and practical jokes. One such joke was that de Bartolo and Sergio Aragones were good at fake falling down a flight of stairs (ideally carpeted). When staying at a hotel, Sergio would fake fall down the stairs in the lobby and act hurt at the bottom and say, "I need a doctor!" Then de Bartolo would come to the same set of stairs at the top and say, "I'm a doctor!" Then proceed to fall down the same stairs himself. High comedy!
Some highlights of this were more than 10 forewards written by different MAD contributors, some fun pictures of the team, and a variety of anecdotes from MAD staff trips and practical jokes. One such joke was that de Bartolo and Sergio Aragones were good at fake falling down a flight of stairs (ideally carpeted). When staying at a hotel, Sergio would fake fall down the stairs in the lobby and act hurt at the bottom and say, "I need a doctor!" Then de Bartolo would come to the same set of stairs at the top and say, "I'm a doctor!" Then proceed to fall down the same stairs himself. High comedy!
August 12, 2010
Disappointing book. I would have skipped the too-cute approach of 36-point bold type and concentrated more on the relationships between the staff and William Gaines.
The book told about three stories, and told them over and over and over again.
1. Wow, was Bill Gaines out of shape! He loved food and wine.
2. Gosh, he was a wacky boss! He took us on trips all around the world.
3. The author loves powerboating and gadgets.
It's really not much of a book. The endless "forewords" are just irritating.
Skip it. Just go back and read old MAD Magazines. You'll enjoy yourself more.
Two stars.
The book told about three stories, and told them over and over and over again.
1. Wow, was Bill Gaines out of shape! He loved food and wine.
2. Gosh, he was a wacky boss! He took us on trips all around the world.
3. The author loves powerboating and gadgets.
It's really not much of a book. The endless "forewords" are just irritating.
Skip it. Just go back and read old MAD Magazines. You'll enjoy yourself more.
Two stars.
October 23, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book. I grew up on MAD, so it was nice learning a bit more about the “behind the scenes” of this totally MAD enterprise. One thing I can say with certainty is that I miss Mad Magazine, and I cannot believe it’s gone! You almost expected it to always be there... but this was not the case. To The Usual Gang of Idiots... I salute you! Thanks for all the laughs.
December 25, 2022
Great behind the scenes view of Mad Magazine - and more a celebration of Bill Gaines. A bit glossed over - I know that IRL a lot of artists/writers felt like they were screwed by the magazine. (Don Martin sued them). But for a mad Magazine fan, it was fun to read how the sausage was made.
Great behind the scenes photos too!
Great behind the scenes photos too!
March 7, 2021
This is an excellent look at the inside workings of Mad Magazine as told by one of the crazier writers, Dick de Bartolo, who had a lot to do with the best days of one of the best comic magazines ever.
July 24, 2022
Exactly what the title says. More bang for the buck than the usual gang bang, with MAD magazine's (un) usual "gang of idiots" footing the show.
Read
December 19, 2024"the usual gang of idiots"
September 9, 2007
A re-read, I picked Good Days and Mad: A Hysterical Tour Behind the Scenes at Mad Magazine off the bookshelf earlier this week.
A tribute to William M. Gaines and MAD Magazine written by one of its long-time contributors, Dick DeBartolo combines memories, fact and fiction (and fourteen forewords!) in a wackily entertaining package. Organized somewhat chronologically and somewhat thematically, he discusses the development of MAD Magazine and Gaines' devotion to the staff, as well as the ideas behind the magazine. As of the book's publication date (1994) MAD Magazine never accepted advertising and did very little promotion of itself. Most of the staff works remotely, with fax machines and FedEx being the lifelines of the publication. Excerpts of articles are scattered through the chapters, usually with some lead-in material. The tone of the book perfectly reflects the gentle anarchy and silly satire of the magazine itself.
Less a detailed look at the history of the magazine than recollections about a dear friend, DeBartolo shares stories about the thirty-odd (very odd, in some cases!) years he worked and played with Bill Gaines. I'd recommend this book to any fan of Alfred E. Newman; with a suggestion that they also look for the Mad About The [Decade] series as well.
A tribute to William M. Gaines and MAD Magazine written by one of its long-time contributors, Dick DeBartolo combines memories, fact and fiction (and fourteen forewords!) in a wackily entertaining package. Organized somewhat chronologically and somewhat thematically, he discusses the development of MAD Magazine and Gaines' devotion to the staff, as well as the ideas behind the magazine. As of the book's publication date (1994) MAD Magazine never accepted advertising and did very little promotion of itself. Most of the staff works remotely, with fax machines and FedEx being the lifelines of the publication. Excerpts of articles are scattered through the chapters, usually with some lead-in material. The tone of the book perfectly reflects the gentle anarchy and silly satire of the magazine itself.
Less a detailed look at the history of the magazine than recollections about a dear friend, DeBartolo shares stories about the thirty-odd (very odd, in some cases!) years he worked and played with Bill Gaines. I'd recommend this book to any fan of Alfred E. Newman; with a suggestion that they also look for the Mad About The [Decade] series as well.
September 3, 2020
This was a total pleasure read for me that I just picked up for awhile every so often over a few months. I've never been one to rush through books, anyway. I actually bought this book directly from the author, who was kind enough to autograph it and enclose some fun includes. Dick wrote for the great Mad Magazine from when he was in high school in the early 1960s to it's sad final issue of new material. While this book discusses a great deal of the history of the magazine Dick is not a historian and doesn't discuss the early years of Mad before he joined it. The book is basically about Dick, Dick's work with Mad and, more than anything else, his long friendship with Mad's flamboyant publisher, Bill Gaines. Indeed the stories that most stay with me are Dicks wacky adventures with Bill, such as their trip to the torch of the Statue of Liberty (I'll just say Bill was a very large man).
Dick is at his best when writing humor and is a living legend a that. Luckily, there are a lot of laughs in this book. While this may not be the kind of memoir that makes the best seller lists, it was an unforgettable read for long time fan of Mad and the author. Mad fans will love that in addition to Dick's text, it's full of great Mad comic art and rare photos taken over the years. If you're a Mad fan or a Dickie De fan, you want it. Buy it from Dick if you can!
Dick is at his best when writing humor and is a living legend a that. Luckily, there are a lot of laughs in this book. While this may not be the kind of memoir that makes the best seller lists, it was an unforgettable read for long time fan of Mad and the author. Mad fans will love that in addition to Dick's text, it's full of great Mad comic art and rare photos taken over the years. If you're a Mad fan or a Dickie De fan, you want it. Buy it from Dick if you can!
May 1, 2009
I am glad that Mad Magazine still makes the same jokes after all these years and they are still funny.
This title of this tome is misleading. There is a lot of Mad Magazine knowledge nuggets, but it also covers food, Regis and Kathy Lee, and boats.
Sadly, this book connected Mad Magazine with Regis & Kathy Lee, which is really not what I needed in my life. Why, Dick Debartolo, why did you have to bring those two worlds together? Sad.
This title of this tome is misleading. There is a lot of Mad Magazine knowledge nuggets, but it also covers food, Regis and Kathy Lee, and boats.
Sadly, this book connected Mad Magazine with Regis & Kathy Lee, which is really not what I needed in my life. Why, Dick Debartolo, why did you have to bring those two worlds together? Sad.
July 13, 2007
I learned that it isn't easy building a magazine... even one recommended for idiots! I love you Dick DeBartolo, and I gained a truly high respect for MAD founder: Mr. Bill Gaines. They sure aren't just a bunch of idiots like they claim themselves to be. They are brilliant people. Enough said.
January 22, 2008
DeBartolo is not one of my favorite Mad writers. His humor is often too pun-ridden and forced. But I'm enjoying this book because of the personal insider's look at the Mad offices, particularly DeBartolo's relationship with Bill Gaines.
May 8, 2007
great history on mad magazine since its inception in the 50s. william gaines, the founder, was a great guy.
January 20, 2012
Entertaining book about the author's career as a writer for Mad magazine with many stories about other people who worked there.
March 4, 2012
I haven't read MAD magazine in quite a few years, but this book got me interested in resubscribing. It was a fun look at the goings on of the MAD staff.
March 20, 2013
A personal approach by Dick de Bartolo. great to read his memories of working at one the greatest cartoon magazines ever created!
July 14, 2013
If you grew up reading MAD magazine, you will appreciate this loving tribute to Bill Gaines, written by Dick DeBartolo, MAD's Maddest Writer.
March 1, 2014
Okay, you have to love MAD Magazine to appreciate this, but if you do, you will.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews