History of Al Jaffee in Timeline

Al Jaffee (born Allan Jaffee) was a highly influential American cartoonist, best known for his long-standing contributions to Mad magazine. For 65 years, he created the iconic Mad Fold-in, a back-cover feature requiring readers to fold the page to reveal a hidden image and joke. Jaffee was Mad's longest-running contributor, solidifying his legacy in the world of satire and cartooning. His work was a staple of American humor for generations. His humor was described to be dry, as seen in his quote: "Serious people my age are dead."

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

March 13, 1921: Abraham Jaffee Born

On March 13, 1921, Abraham Jaffee, later known as Allan Jaffee, was born.

Others born on this day/year

1927: Return to Lithuania

In 1927, Al Jaffee's mother took him and his brothers back to Zarasai, Lithuania, with his father's consent.

1940: Return to U.S.

In 1940, Jaffee's youngest brother returned to the U.S., before the Holocaust in Zarasai.

December 1942: First Publication

In December 1942, Jaffee's work was first published in Joker Comics.

1942: Career Start

In 1942, Jaffee began his career as a comic artist, setting the stage for a record-breaking run.

1945: Marriage to Ruth Ahlquist

In 1945, Al Jaffee married Ruth Ahlquist, whom he met while working at the Pentagon during his military service.

1946: Return to Civilian Life

In 1946, Al Jaffee returned to civilian life and began working for Stan Lee.

1955: First Mad Appearance

In 1955, Jaffee first appeared in Mad magazine, marking a significant moment in his career.

1957: Tall Tales Panel

In 1957, Jaffee began drawing the Tall Tales panel for the New York Herald Tribune, which was syndicated to over 100 newspapers.

1958: Return to Mad

In 1958, after Humbug folded, Jaffee brought his unpublished material to Mad, leading to his re-hiring.

1961: Invention of Telephone Redial and Address Books

In 1961, Al Jaffee's articles showcased his inventions like telephone redial and address books, demonstrating his inventive mind.

1963: End of Tall Tales

In 1963, Jaffee stopped drawing the Tall Tales panel for the New York Herald Tribune after pressure to add words led to a decrease in foreign sales.

April 1964: Near Continuous Mad Contribution Begins

Starting in April 1964, Al Jaffee began a half-century run of nearly continuous contributions to Mad magazine.

1964: Fold-In Becomes Signature Feature

From 1964, the Fold-In became one of Mad's signature features, appearing in almost every issue.

1964: Creation of the Fold-In

In 1964, Al Jaffee created the Fold-In for Mad Magazine, which became his longest-running feature.

1964: The Mad Fold-In Collection Time Span

The Mad Fold-In Collection: 1964–2010 was released.

1965: Invention of Snowboarding

In 1965, Al Jaffee's articles showcased his inventions like snowboarding, demonstrating his inventive mind.

1967: Invention of Computer Spell-Checker

In 1967, Al Jaffee's articles showcased his inventions like the computer spell-checker, demonstrating his inventive mind.

1971: National Cartoonists Society Special Features Award

In 1971, Al Jaffee won the National Cartoonists Society Special Features Award.

1972: Special Features Reuben Award

In 1972, Al Jaffee received a Special Features Reuben Award for his Fold-Ins.

1973: National Cartoonists Society Advertising and Illustration Award

In 1973, Al Jaffee won the National Cartoonists Society Advertising and Illustration Award.

1975: National Cartoonists Society Special Features Award

In 1975, Al Jaffee won the National Cartoonists Society Special Features Award.

1977: Issue Without Fold-In

In 1977, one issue of Mad was published without a Fold-In, although Jaffee did provide the back cover.

1979: National Cartoonists Society Humor Comic Book Award

In 1979, Al Jaffee won the National Cartoonists Society Humor Comic Book Award.

1979: Invention of Multi-Blade Razors

In 1979, Al Jaffee's articles showcased his inventions like multi-blade razors, demonstrating his inventive mind.

1980: Double-Visual Gimmick

In 1980, Jaffee created a unique double-visual gimmick for Mad, where the inside and outside back covers merged to create a third image when held up to the light.

1982: Invention of Graffiti-Proof Building Surfaces

In 1982, Al Jaffee's articles showcased his inventions like graffiti-proof building surfaces, demonstrating his inventive mind.

1984: The Shpy Illustrations

Since 1984, Jaffee has provided illustrations for "The Shpy" in The Moshiach Times.

1997: Fold This Book! collection of Fold-Ins released

In 1997, a collection of Al Jaffee's Fold-Ins was released in a book titled Fold This Book!.

1998: Hawks & Doves strips republished

In 1998, Al Jaffee's Hawks & Doves strips were republished, along with an original strip in color.

2004: 2004 Interview

In 2004, Jaffee recalled something in an interview.

2005: Motion Theory creates video for Beck's song "Girl"

In 2005, the production company Motion Theory created a video for Beck's song "Girl" using Al Jaffee's Mad Fold-Ins as inspiration; Jaffee's name appears briefly in the video, on a television screen.

March 13, 2006: Stephen Colbert salutes Al Jaffee on The Colbert Report

On March 13, 2006, Al Jaffee's 85th birthday, Stephen Colbert saluted the artist with a Fold-In birthday cake on The Colbert Report.

August 2008: NY1 Feature

In August 2008, Jaffee was interviewed for an NY1 feature about his career, where he reflected on reinventing oneself and persevering through dark days.

2008: Reuben Awards' Cartoonist of the Year

In 2008, Al Jaffee won the Reuben Awards' Cartoonist of the Year.

2008: Jaffee's Process

In 2008, Jaffee described that he never sees the finished Fold-In painting folded until it's printed in the magazine, relying on his visual mind to see the two sides.

2008: Cartoonist of the Year

In 2008, Jaffee received the Reuben Awards' Cartoonist of the Year award, with fellow cartoonists like Arnold Roth and Charles M. Schulz praising his talent.

2008: Tall Tales Collection

In 2008, a collection of Jaffee's Tall Tales strips was published.

2008: Humbug Reprint

In 2008, a full reprint of Humbug was published, featuring a new cover illustration by Jaffee and an interview with him and Arnold Roth.

2010: Jaffee Interview

In 2010, Al Jaffee gave an interview where he commented on his longevity, stating, "Serious people my age are dead."

2010: Al Jaffee recalls interaction with Stephen Colbert

In 2010, Al Jaffee recalled an interaction with comedian Stephen Colbert.

2010: Al Jaffee's Mad Life biography published

In 2010, Al Jaffee's biography, Al Jaffee's Mad Life, written by Mary-Lou Weisman, was published.

2010: Description of Earliest Fold-Ins

In 2010, Jaffee described the earliest Fold-Ins.

2010: The Mad Fold-In Collection Time Span

The Mad Fold-In Collection: 1964–2010 was released.

September 2011: Mad Fold-In Collection Published

In September 2011, The Mad Fold-In Collection: 1964–2010, a four-volume hardcover boxed set, was published by Chronicle Books.

October 2011: Sergio Award Presentation

In October 2011, Al Jaffee was presented with the Sergio Award at a banquet in his honor from the Comic Art Professional Society.

2011: Fold-In Recognition

In 2011, Jaffee realized that he had created an English language word when Jeopardy! contestants correctly identified a Fold-In.

April 2013: End of Near Continuous Mad Contribution

In April 2013, Al Jaffee ended a half-century run of nearly continuous contributions to Mad magazine, with only one issue missing his work.

June 2013: Fold-In Rejected

In June 2013, a Fold-In was rejected for being too sensitive about gun violence.

July 2013: Inducted into Will Eisner Hall of Fame

In July 2013, Al Jaffee was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame during San Diego Comic-Con. The award was accepted by Sam Viviano on his behalf.

October 2013: Archives donated to Columbia University

In October 2013, Columbia University announced that Al Jaffee had donated most of his archives to the college.

April 2014: Elected to the Society of Illustrators' Hall of Fame

In April 2014, Al Jaffee was elected to the Society of Illustrators' Hall of Fame.

March 30, 2016: Guinness World Record

On March 30, 2016, Al Jaffee was declared to have "the longest career as a comics artist" at "73 years, 3 months" by Guinness World Records.

April 9, 2016: Life Time Achievement Award

On April 9, 2016, Al Jaffee received a Life Time Achievement Award - the National Cartoonist Society's Medal of Honor in New York City.

June 2019: Last Original Fold-In Appears

In June 2019, Jaffee's last original Fold-In appeared in Mad, after being rejected from the June 2013 issue due to sensitivity about gun violence.

June 2019: Final Designed Fold-In

The final Fold-In designed by Jaffee appeared in the June 2019 issue of Mad.

August 2019: Fold-Ins Reprinted

Since August 2019, Mad has been reprinting old Fold-Ins or publishing new ones by Johnny Sampson.

December 2019: Final Original Work in Mad

In December 2019, Al Jaffee's original work was featured in Mad magazine for the last time, marking the end of an era.

January 2020: Death of Joyce Revenson

In January 2020, Joyce Revenson, Al Jaffee's wife, died.

June 2020: Retirement Announcement

In June 2020, Jaffee announced his retirement, and Mad published a tribute issue in his honor.

August 2020: Last Published Fold-In

Al Jaffee's last Fold-In to be published appeared in the August 2020 issue of Mad, a farewell to readers prepared six years in advance.

2020: End of Career

Al Jaffee's career ended in 2020. Jaffee holds the Guinness World Record for the longest career as a comic artist.

2020: Fold-In Almost Every Issue

From 1964 to 2020, the Fold-In became one of Mad's signature features, appearing in almost every issue.

April 10, 2023: Allan Jaffee's Death

On April 10, 2023, Allan Jaffee, American cartoonist, passed away.

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