Al Feldstein
The sharp-witted editor who steered Mad Magazine for three decades, shaping American satire with a subversive grin.
1925–2014 (age 89)·American comics artist·Birthday: October 24·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Al Feldstein didn't just edit Mad Magazine; he was its anarchic ringmaster during its most influential era. Taking over from founder Harvey Kurtzman in 1956, he transformed the publication from a comic book into a slick, black-and-white magazine, a move that bypassed comic censorship codes. For nearly 30 years, Feldstein curated its unique blend of smart, absurd humor, commissioning the parodies of movies and ads that taught generations to question authority and spot hypocrisy. He oversaw the work of the 'Usual Gang of Idiots'—artists like Don Martin and Antonio Prohías—and cemented features like 'Spy vs. Spy' and 'The Lighter Side.' After retiring, he swapped satire for serenity, achieving success as a painter of dramatic Western wildlife scenes.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Al was born in 1925, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Al Was Born
The biggest hits of 1925
#1 Movie
The Gold Rush
Al's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1925Born
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1930Started school
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1938Became a teenager
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Could drive
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1943Could vote
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1946Turned 21
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1955Turned 30
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 40
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 50
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 60
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 70
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 80
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Died at 89
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
Key Achievements
- He served as the editor of Mad Magazine for 29 years, from 1956 to 1985, its longest and most commercially successful period.
- He pioneered the magazine's shift to a black-and-white format, which allowed for greater satirical freedom and reduced production costs.
- He commissioned and edited countless iconic parodies of films, TV shows, and advertisements that defined American humor.
Did You Know?
Before Mad, he was a key artist and writer for EC Comics, drawing horror and science fiction stories.
His second career as a wildlife painter was highly successful; his works were sold in galleries across the American West.
He voiced himself in a 2013 episode of 'The Simpsons' titled 'The Fabulous Faker Boy.'
“What, me worry?”
