In April 1972, Michael O’Donoghue, a comedy writer and senior editor, had an unexpected encounter at the National Lampoon offices in New York. While sorting through his mail, he found a package that appeared to contain sticks of dynamite. Initially, he thought it was a prank and showed it around the office. However, after consulting with experts, he realized it was real dynamite. A note inside read, “Hi Mike, have some fun with this dynamite.” The bomb squad was called, and the office was evacuated, but fortunately, everything ended safely.
Whether the sender was a fan or a critic remains unclear, but one thing is certain: National Lampoon had a profound impact on American comedy. If you’ve laughed at something in the past 50 years, there’s a good chance National Lampoon had a hand in it.
Today’s story is a dive into the history of a comedy powerhouse. I’m Mary McCarthy, and like many, my introduction to National Lampoon was through their iconic films like “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder.” While the brand faced challenges later, its early days were golden.
Before the movies, National Lampoon was a humor magazine at Harvard University, dating back to 1876. Inspired by the British publication Punch, the Harvard Lampoon was created by seven undergraduates. It quickly became popular, selling out its initial print run and even humorously warning President Rutherford B. Hayes not to read it lest he laugh too hard to govern.
Initially a campus-exclusive publication, the Lampoon gained broader appeal in the 1960s when Doug Kenny, a student from Ohio, joined. Known for his sharp satire of suburban life, Kenny found a perfect fit in the Lampoon’s social club-like atmosphere. At Harvard, he met Henry Beard, and together they envisioned a national parody magazine.
With the help of publishing entrepreneur Maddie Simmons, they transformed the Harvard Lampoon into the National Lampoon. The first issue debuted in April 1970, but it took time to find its voice. A turning point came with the September 1970 issue featuring Minnie Mouse in a provocative pose, leading to a lawsuit from Disney but also boosting the magazine’s profile.
By 1973, the magazine was known for its edgy humor, exemplified by a controversial cover threatening harm to a dog if readers didn’t buy the issue. Despite—or perhaps because of—such stunts, the Lampoon’s popularity soared, leading to ventures beyond print.
The first major expansion was “Lemmings,” a stage show featuring future stars like Christopher Guest, Chevy Chase, and John Belushi. This success paved the way for the National Lampoon Radio Hour, which ran for 13 months starting in 1973 and helped launch many careers, including those of future “Saturday Night Live” contributors.
After Doug Kenny left the magazine, the Lampoon’s next triumph was the 1974 book “The National Lampoon 1964 High School Yearbook Parody,” selling 2 million copies. This success inspired the film “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” released in 1978. The movie grossed over $140 million and cemented the Lampoon’s place in Hollywood.
Despite this success, Kenny faced personal struggles and tragically passed away in 1980. His death marked a turning point for the Lampoon, which began to lose its cultural influence in the 1980s. By 1986, the magazine was published only six times a year, and the brand shifted focus to licensing rather than content creation.
Though attempts have been made to revive the brand, including various films and projects, the magazine hasn’t published since 1998. In 2017, Palm Star Media acquired the brand, but its future remains uncertain.
While Mad Magazine has long satirized pop culture, National Lampoon was known for its intelligent yet silly humor. Now, you know the names Doug Kenny, Henry Beard, and the significant impact of National Lampoon on comedy.
Research the impact of National Lampoon on modern comedy. Identify key figures, publications, and productions that were influenced by or directly involved with National Lampoon. Prepare a short presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting how the brand shaped comedic styles and trends.
Write a satirical article in the style of National Lampoon. Choose a contemporary topic and use humor to critique or highlight its absurdities. Share your article with classmates and discuss the elements of satire and humor you employed.
Participate in a group discussion about the ethical boundaries of humor, using National Lampoon’s controversial covers and content as a case study. Debate the balance between comedic freedom and social responsibility, and consider how these issues apply to today’s comedic landscape.
Watch “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and analyze its comedic techniques and cultural impact. Write a reflection on how the film embodies the spirit of National Lampoon and its influence on subsequent comedy films.
Create a podcast episode exploring the history of National Lampoon. Include interviews, sound bites, and analysis of its rise to prominence and eventual decline. Share your podcast with the class and discuss the challenges of maintaining relevance in the comedy industry.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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In April 1972, comedy writer and senior editor Michael O’Donoghue arrived at the offices of the National Lampoon at 635 Madison Avenue in New York. While going through his mail, he opened one of the packages and discovered what looked like sticks of dynamite inside. O’Donoghue initially thought little of it and even began showing it around the office. However, after some calls to people knowledgeable about explosives, he realized that the package contained actual dynamite. There was also a note that read, “Hi Mike, have some fun with this dynamite.” After a bomb squad was called in and a massive evacuation took place, the Lampoon offices were declared safe—well, as safe as they were ever going to be.
It’s hard to tell whether the reader who sent the dynamite was a fan or a detractor, given the magazine’s mixed public reception and irreverent, sometimes controversial sensibility. Regardless, one thing was certain: the Lampoon had a significant influence on American comedy. If you found something funny in the past 50 years in the United States, there’s a good chance the Lampoon either inspired it or was responsible for it.
Today’s throwback is all about the history of a comedy dynasty. The show takes a look back at some of the most influential pop culture stories and events you might remember from your childhood. I’m Mary McCarthy, and like many of you, my familiarity with National Lampoon comes from their effective branding—National Lampoon’s Vacation, National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, National Lampoon presents Dorm Days, and National Lampoon’s Bag Boy.
While the company experienced some challenges later on, it had its glory days. When people hear the phrase “National Lampoon,” they often think of the movies. However, long before the Lampoon had big-screen aspirations, it was a college humor publication at Harvard University, dating back to 1876. Seven undergraduates conceived the Harvard Lampoon, inspired by the British humor publication titled Punch. It featured a mixture of essays, cartoons, and other satirical content.
The Lampoon was said to be an immediate hit, selling through its 1,200-copy print run and later printing a humorous warning for President Rutherford B. Hayes not to read it in case he was too busy laughing to run the country. In the early decades, the Lampoon was mostly a campus exclusive, something for students to read that helped deflate academia. Then, in the 1960s, Doug Kenny arrived on campus.
Kenny, from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, liked to satirize suburbia with a bit of an edge. He was often described as preppy, making the halls of the Lampoon a natural fit. By this point, the publication had become a kind of social club, with young undergrads enjoying formal dinners in a regal building dubbed “the castle.” While at Harvard, Kenny met fellow student Henry Beard, and their creative chemistry was instant. They hatched a plan to produce parodies of popular magazines and distribute their creation nationally.
They struck a deal to issue their full-length parody book of “Lord of the Rings,” titled “Lord of the Rings.” Some of those projects were ushered into the market by Maddie Simmons, a publishing entrepreneur known primarily for printing Weight Watchers magazine. Simmons, Kenny, Beard, and Harvard classmate Rob Hoffman struck a deal to adapt the Harvard Lampoon into a mainstream publication called the National Lampoon.
The first issue of the magazine was released in April 1970, but it wasn’t an immediate hit. Kenny and Beard struggled to find the right tone for their new venture. Early issues featured humorous content that was clever but sometimes edgy. The U.S. hadn’t been a huge market for humor magazines, and the reading public needed a nudge, which they got when the Lampoon put Minnie Mouse on the cover of their September 1970 issue. This unauthorized appearance featured Minnie in a provocative outfit, which caught the attention of Disney, leading to a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the National Lampoon.
In 1973, the magazine published one of its most infamous covers—a photo of a dog with a caption threatening that if people didn’t buy the magazine, the dog would be harmed. While it offended many, it was emblematic of the Lampoon’s edgy humor.
Kenny and Beard eventually built a roster of talented writers who understood the Lampoon’s unique style. Following the Minnie Mouse scandal, circulation for the National Lampoon grew significantly, leading to an expansion of its comedy empire. The first step wasn’t a movie but a stage show called “Lemmings,” which featured young comedians like Christopher Guest and Chevy Chase, as well as John Belushi.
The success of “Lemmings” led to the National Lampoon Radio Hour, which ran for 13 months beginning in 1973. The Lampoon continued to act as a launching pad for comedic talent, many of whom would later contribute to “Saturday Night Live.”
Doug Kenny eventually left the magazine after a buyout deal, which left Maddie Simmons slightly cash-strapped. The Lampoon’s next big achievement was the 1974 book titled “The National Lampoon 1964 High School Yearbook Parody,” which sold 2 million copies. This success led to the idea of adapting the yearbook into a movie, which eventually became “National Lampoon’s Animal House.”
Released in July 1978, “Animal House” made over $140 million domestically and brought the National Lampoon brand more recognition than ever. Hollywood sought follow-ups, leading to “Caddyshack,” which, while not officially branded as National Lampoon, was filled with its humor.
However, Doug Kenny struggled with personal issues, including substance abuse and depression, and tragically died in 1980. His passing marked a significant turning point for the National Lampoon.
In the 1980s, the magazine began to lose its cultural cachet, and by 1986, it was being published just six times a year. The National Lampoon name was sold and began to be used more for licensing than for quality content.
Despite attempts to revive the brand, including various movies and projects, the magazine hasn’t published an issue since 1998. In 2017, Palm Star Media purchased it, but it remains to be seen whether the brand can resonate with audiences again.
While Mad Magazine had long been satirizing pop culture, National Lampoon was a graduate-level humor magazine, smart about being silly. If you didn’t know the names Doug Kenny, Henry Beard, or the impact of the National Lampoon, now you do.
Thank you for watching!
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This version removes any potentially sensitive or inappropriate content while maintaining the essence of the original transcript.
Comedy – A genre of performing arts that aims to entertain and amuse an audience through humor and satire. – Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a classic example of comedy that has been studied extensively in university literature courses.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often examined through documents, artifacts, and other sources. – The history department at the university offers a course on the impact of the Renaissance on European culture.
Magazine – A periodical publication containing articles, essays, and illustrations, often focusing on a particular subject or area of interest. – The university library subscribes to a magazine that covers the latest research in performing arts history.
Satire – A genre of literature and performing arts that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize or mock individuals, politics, or society. – Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” is often discussed in university courses as a prime example of political satire.
Humor – The quality of being amusing or entertaining, often through the use of wit or comedy. – The professor’s use of humor in lectures makes the complex history of theater more engaging for students.
Performance – The act of presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment to an audience. – The university’s drama club is known for its outstanding performance of classic and contemporary plays.
Legacy – Something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor, often referring to cultural or historical achievements. – The legacy of ancient Greek theater continues to influence modern performing arts and drama studies.
Campus – The grounds and buildings of a university or college, often serving as a hub for academic and cultural activities. – The campus theater hosts a variety of performances, showcasing the talents of students in the performing arts program.
Film – A medium of visual storytelling that records moving images to create a narrative or document reality. – The film studies department offers courses that explore the history and cultural impact of cinema from its inception to the present day.
Culture – The social behavior, norms, and artistic expressions of a particular society or group, often studied in relation to history and the arts. – The course on world cultures examines how historical events have shaped the performing arts across different societies.
