Fun with Hand Shadows

Franklin Jacobs was a writer and satirist, well-known for his work in Mad magazine. He was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on May 30, 1929. He was a graduate of the University of Nebraska and was editor of the campus humor magazine. He served in the Army, working as an editor and reporter for the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. His early career included working for a public relations firm, secretary to a press agent, and writing for Fish Gazette magazine.

In 1957, Jacobs began writing for Mad magazine. His first pieces were published in the June 1957 issue. He stayed for 57 years. He mocked popular culture and politics, producing nearly 600 pieces, paperback books, and a biography of the founding publisher entitled, The Mad World of William M. Gaines. His last piece was published in 2014. Frank Jacobs died on April 7, 2021 in Tarzana, California. He was 91.

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