Issue Details

Issue	#25
Published	September 1955
Cover Price	0.25 USD
Pages	60
Editing	Harvey Kurtzman
Notes	Characters noted are in the frame around the page. Alfred L. Neuman bears no physical resemblance to Alfred E. Neuman, whose image does appear unnamed. Main cover image is reprint of a Thomas Nast editorial cartoon of "Boss" Tweed and cronies. Many articles in this issue are part of a running gag where unlikely items are labeled "Davy Crockett"; at the height of the marketing for such products his name was indeed on some unlikely items.

Cover Details - "MAD Fearlessly Exposes The Tweed Ring"

Characters	Socrates; Napoleon; Sigmund Freud; Marilyn Monroe; Alexander The Great; Rembrandt; Galileo; Lassie; Tom Swift; Columbus; Caesar; Buffalo Bill; Alfred L. Neuman; Melvin Cowznowski [Alfred E. Neuman]; Copernicus; Louis Pasteur; Ludwig Van Beethoven; "Boss" Tweed
Genre	humor
Script	Thomas Nast (signed)
Pencils	Thomas Nast (signed); Harvey Kurtzman (frame, signed)
Inks	Thomas Nast (signed); Harvey Kurtzman (frame, signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Characters noted are in the frame around the page. Alfred L. Neuman bears no physical resemblance to Alfred E. Neuman, whose image does appear unnamed. Main cover image is reprint of a Thomas Nast editorial cartoon of "Boss" Tweed and cronies. Many articles in this issue are part of a running gag where unlikely items are labeled "Davy Crockett"; at the height of the marketing for such products his name was indeed on some unlikely items.

1 page Ipuna Toothpaste story "What?...You Haven't Tasted New Ipuna?"

Synopsis	Phony ad for Ipuna Toothpaste.
Genre	satire
Pencils	Bill Elder (signed)
Inks	Bill Elder (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Parody of ad for Ipana Toothpaste. On inside front cover.

1 page Table of Contents foreword, introduction, preface, afterword "Contents"

Characters	Stan Freburg; Doodles Weaver; Steve Allen; Allen Jaffee [Al Jaffee]
Genre	fact
Script	Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Pencils	? (photo)
Inks	? (photo)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Includes a brief summary of contents with photos of some contributors.

2 page Radio Dept. text article "Radiodetectiveland"

Characters	Sam; Alfred E. Neuman
Synopsis	A look at the crazy neighborhood inhabited by the average radio show detective.
Genre	humor
Pencils	Bill Elder (signed)
Inks	Bill Elder (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Alfred E. Neuman bears no physical resemblance to the MAD trademark character.

1 page Leave Me Or Leave! story A Stirring Scene To Say The Least From MGMG's "Leave Me Or Leave!"

Characters	Doris Daytime; James Cagneebone
Synopsis	Phony ad for movie "Leave Me Or Leave!"
Genre	satire
Pencils	Bill Elder (signed)
Inks	Bill Elder (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Also mentions movie credits for: Josef M. Kornmeyer; Alfred E. Neuman; Elliot Cowsnofski; Alfred Kornmeyer; Josef E. Cowsnofski; Elliot M. Neuman; Alfred Cowsnofski; Josef Neuman. Appears to use a photograph as base for illustration.

Half page Letter Dept. letters page "Letter Dept."

Characters	Alfred E. Neuman
Script	Harvey Kurtzman ?
Pencils	various
Inks	various
Letters	typeset
Notes	Art is excerpts from previous issues. Alfred E. Neuman is not named, and editors ask for information on the source of "What? Me Worry?" and the old picture used for his image.

Half page MAD Strikes Back! promo (ad from the publisher) "MAD Strikes Back!"

Pencils	? (photo)
Inks	? (photo)
Letters	typeset
Notes	House ad for 2nd MAD paperback book: "MAD Strikes Back!"

5 page People Dept. story "The Jack E. Glisten Story"

Characters	Jack E. Glisten
Synopsis	A behind-the-scenes look at how the Jack E. Glisten show is produced.
Genre	humor
Pencils	Wally Wood (signed)
Inks	Wally Wood (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Parody of the Jackie Gleason tv show.

2 page Music Dept. text article "Very Square Dance"

Synopsis	Lyrics by Steve Allen presented without the musical score.
Genre	humor
Script	Steve Allen
Letters	typeset

5 page Sports Dept. story "Baseball...Science Or Skill?"

Characters	Smoky Allshot; Casey Stumble; Melvin Crudley; Alfred E. Neuman
Synopsis	Comparison of the scientific and instinctive methods of baseball team management: both fail.
Genre	satire
Script	Al Jaffee
Pencils	Jack Davis (signed)
Inks	Jack Davis (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Alfred E. Neuman bears no physical resemblance to the MAD trademark character.

4 page Magazine Dept. text article "Anyone For Wrist Slashing?"

Characters	Stan Freberg; Michael Wilting; Liz Wilting; maid; delivery man; Mikey Wilting
Synopsis	Excerpt from a movie magazine and a "screenplay" by Stan to show contrasts between his characters and real life.
Genre	humor
Script	Stan Freberg
Pencils	Wally Wood (signed)
Inks	Wally Wood (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Persons parodied are Elizabeth Taylor and then-husband Michael Wilding.
Reprinted	in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn]

6 page Confidential Information Dept. text article Was George Washington "George"?

Characters	George Washington; John Smith; Pocahontas; Snow White; Witch; The Seven Dwarfs [Dummchen; Fröhlich; Doktor; Brummbär; Niessen; Schüchtern; Schlafhaube]
Synopsis	Exposé type articles on George Washington, John Smith and Snow White.
Genre	satire
Pencils	Bill Elder (signed)
Inks	Bill Elder (signed)
Letters	typeset

2 page Fairy Tale Dept. text story "The Sleeping Beauty"

Characters	Sleeping Beauty
Synopsis	The fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.
Genre	satire
Script	Ernie Kovacs [as Pierre Ragout]
Pencils	Gustave Doré (signed)
Inks	Gustave Doré (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Told briefly and with French words substituted for English every so often. Includes an old drawing and a glossary.

6 page MAD Award Dept. story "MAD Awards"

Characters	Alfred E. Neuman (as award statuette); Ed Hurlthehay
Synopsis	Awards for best tv commercials.
Genre	satire
Pencils	Bill Elder (signed)
Inks	Bill Elder (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Parodies of commercials for: Oldsmobile [Goldsmobile]; Dial Soap [Dialtone Soap]; storm windows; Colgate Dental Cream [Colgrate Dental Cream]; Saran Wrap [Sarong Wrap]. The award statuette is in image of MAD trademark face and appears to be the first time the name Alfred E. Neuman is applied to this face.

4 page Newspaper Dept. text article

Characters	Mel Haney
Synopsis	Various typical newspaper columns: Hollywood gossip; horoscope; Broadway gossip; doctor; lovelorn.
Genre	satire
Script	Bernard Shir-Cliff
Letters	typeset
Notes	Mel Haney is caption under image of Alfred E. Neuman.

4 page Build-It-Yourself Dept. text story "They Built Their Dream-House Singlehanded"

Characters	Blanding Countersunk; Babs Countersunk
Synopsis	Story of how the Countersunks built their not-quite-so-dream house.
Genre	humor
Pencils	Wally Wood (signed)
Inks	Wally Wood (signed)
Letters	typeset

1 page Education Dept. text article "Gettysburg Address"

Synopsis	Teacher's grading and editing of Lincoln's Gettysburg address as if it had been written for an English assignment.
Genre	satire
Script	Doodles Weaver
Letters	typeset

5 page Television Dept. story "The Stark Club"

Characters	Sherwin Billingscheck; Sherwinette Billingscheck; Mr. & Mrs. Fludney Bent; Mr. & Mrs. Bedney Flunt; Mr. & Mrs. Fledney Bunt; Myron Cowznofski; Mr. & Mrs. Flentney; Mr. & Mrs. Blunt; Mr. & Mrs. Buntney; Gledney Dent; Barney Flent; Mr. & Mrs. VanFlentney; Mr. & Mrs. Bootney Fent; Mr. & Mrs. Blint; Mr. & Mrs. Gentney Woont; Sir Flentney Blent
Synopsis	A tour through the nightly happenings at the Stark Club.
Genre	satire
Pencils	Jack Davis (signed)
Inks	Jack Davis (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Parody of tv show about New York's Stork Club.

3 page Roger Price Dept. text article "Advice To Young Men On How To Get Into The Army"

Synopsis	Humorous advice on joining the U.S. Army.
Genre	humor
Script	? (photo); Roger Price
Pencils	? (photo); Roger Price
Inks	? (photo); Roger Price
Letters	typeset
Reprinted	in Brothers Mad, The #U2105 (Ballantine Books, 1958 series); Brothers Mad, The #267 (Ballantine Books, 1958 series); Brothers Mad, The (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #267K

Half page Fozless Fooznick; Crazy-Root Hair Tonic story "Fozless Fooznick"

Characters	Fozless Fooznick; Chief; Lil' Ab'r
Synopsis	Fooznick is running from his relatives.
Genre	satire
Pencils	Bill Elder [as Chester Cool and Al Hopp]
Inks	Bill Elder [as Chester Cool and Al Hopp]
Notes	Parody of Wildroot Cream Oil Hair Tonic ads and Fearless Fozdick character.
Reprinted	in Brothers Mad, The #U2105 (Ballantine Books, 1958 series); Brothers Mad, The #267 (Ballantine Books, 1958 series); Brothers Mad, The (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #267K

3 page Movie Dept. story "The Blackboard Jumble"

Synopsis	Scenes from the movie and a recommendation for solving the real life violence problem in schools.
Genre	satire
Pencils	Wallace Wood (signed)
Inks	Wallace Wood (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Parody of movie "Blackboard Jungle."

Half page NDDDS story "Banish Body Aroma Problems and Like That"

Synopsis	Phony ad for NDDDS Chlorophyll Tablets.
Genre	satire
Pencils	Bill Elder (signed)
Inks	Bill Elder (signed)
Letters	typeset

Half page The MAD Reader; MAD Strikes Back! promo (ad from the publisher) "Wowee Gang - I Wish I'd Written Both These New Mad Books!"

Letters	typeset
Notes	House ad for MAD paperback books.

1 page Kennt Cigarettes story "Your Voice of Wiseness Says Smoke Kennt"

Synopsis	Phony ad for Kennt Cigarettes.
Genre	satire
Pencils	Bill Elder (signed)
Inks	Bill Elder (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Mentions Ipuna Toothpaste from front page ad in this issue. On inside back cover.

1 page Ol' Craw Whiskey story "A Picture History of Ol' Craw"

Characters	Ulysses S. Grant; Robert E. Lee; Davy Crockett; Jim Bowie; James Craw; Pocahontas; John Smith; Alfred E. Neuman
Synopsis	Phony ad for Ol' Craw Whiskey.
Genre	satire
Pencils	Bill Elder (signed)
Inks	Bill Elder (signed)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Parody of Ol' Crow ad. Alfred E. Neuman bears no physical resemblance to the MAD trademark character. On back cover.