Al Jaffee's Fold-Ins

(Al Jaffee @ age 87)

Every young boy growing up probably remembers running across a Mad Magazine a time or two. Either you read it, didn't think much of it, and moved on to something else. Or, you were like me and became obsessed with it and collected every single issue that came out monthly. Occasionally going to antique stores or used book stores just for the slim chance that you might find some old issues you saw as collectors items. Every Mad Magazine I got I was determined to keep in perfect condition which became difficult when you reached the famous inside back cover featuring a Fold-In by Al Jaffee. A "Fold-In" was an illustrated joke that once you folded the page it created a new image revealing the punch line (followed by uncontrollable laughter, of course). In order to keep my collection in it's mint state I would leave the back page of all my issues alone and fold the ones at the grocery store just to see the hidden joke. Pretty slick eh? Well I just ran across a gallery of Al Jaffee Fold-Ins on the New York Times web page that allows you to fold them right on screen, you can see it all here. As well as a great article about Mr. Jaffee himself, here.