Basil Wolverton returns to the pages of "Mad" THE COMIC BOOK for a feature only he could draw. Harvey Kurtzman really knew his arsenal and how to use it.
From the November 1954 issue, here's "Meet Miss Potgold!"
Talk to you soon.
A daily almanac of events and people I admire and appreciate. All things, and the people who did things, that were WORTH DOING! Songs and Cartoons and near-insane ramblings by me, too.
For those under 40 or so; "Meet Miss Potgold" is based on the "Meet Miss Rhinegold" beauty contest.
ReplyDeleteRhinegold was a New York-based beer brewery who sponsored the NY Mets for decades, and were pioneers in using minority models in their ads and commercials.
From 1940-1965 they held an annual beauty pagent featuring local women.
The results were featured in their ad campaigns on buses and subways.
Since MAD's writers and artists were almost entirely from the Tri-state area (NY/NJ/Conn), they were quite familiar with the contest.
The brand name was purchased by another company, and while there is Rhinegold beer again available, it's not quite the same formulation.
If you Google "rhinegold beer", you'll see the logo, which "Potgold" matches exactly!
Awesome input, Britt! Thanks for filling in what needed to be there in the first place...much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteWill Eisner featured a "Miss Rhinemaiden" contest in one of his Spirit strips.
ReplyDeleteJinx Falkenberg, a model who hosted a morning radio show with her husband Tex McCrary, was perhaps the best known Miss Rhinegold.
I'm diggin' on the archaic beer vibe we got going in this comment section!
ReplyDeleteAnd the winner is............
ReplyDeletePHILODENDRON POTGOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
{who else?}