Stuff from my Studio #15: MAD 50th Shirts!

I started with MAD in mid-late 2000, and only two years later the magazine celebrated its 50th birthday. I took it upon myself to have embroidered polo shirts made for the MAD staff. This picture is of the prototype embroidery design that was sent to me for approval back in 2002, and it’s tacked up on the corkboard wall of my studio. This was set on the “pocket” area (aka the left chest area) of some very fancy Bill Blass polo shirts. I had about 15 made I think.

Sadly the shirt project was a bit of a disaster. The embroidery turned out nice but apparently Bill Blass shirts run VERY big in the sizes. The XLs were like XXXL, and so on. The majority of the shirts were way too big on everyone. The staff was very kind about it, but they were not very wearable shirts and I seldom saw anyone wear them. I remember seeing Nick Meglin wearing his at a few Reubens, and he had to roll up the sleeves or they hung past his elbows. Sam Viviano also wore his now and again when we did signings together.. Here’s a pic of him at San Diego Comic Con when we were promoting the MAD show on Cartoon Network. I think Nick and Sam were just being gracious.

So, if you ever see one of those on Ebay, that’s a rare MAD collectible.