Today in Comics History, January 23, 1919: Happy birthday, Ernie Kovacs!

Born on this day in 1919: comedian, actor, writer and broadcasting pioneer Ernie Kovacs! Among his TV shows were The Ernie Kovacs Show, Three to Get Ready, host of The Tonight Show and commentator on the radio show Monitor. Broadcasts of some of his work under the title The Best of Ernie Kovacs ran on PBS in the late seventies, a perfect time for many (including me!) to rediscover his groundbreaking work. Using ad-libs, absurdity, camera tricks, and blackout sketches, Ernie and his work became a major influence for comedians and television comedy from Monty Python's Flying Circus and Saturday Night Live to Andy Kaufman and Mystery Science Theater 3000.





And yes, Ernie Kovacs starred in comic books! One of his movies was the John Wayne Gold Rush Western North to Alaska, where he played a dishonest swindler (are there any other kind?) that gets his lights punched out by Wayne.




from Four Color #1155 [North to Alaska] (Dell, January 1961), script by Gaylord Du Bois, pencils and inks by Morris Gollub
But: Didja know? (I didn't until very recently!) That Kovacs was a regular guest writer and contributor for the early MAD magazine? And eventually his pieces were listed in the magazine as actually in the "Ernie Kovacs" department? And he got to work with some of MAD/EC Comic's greatest artists? Well, ya do now!



from MAD #24 and 26 (July and November 1955)
Here's some of Ernie's pieces in MAD. They're fresh as today! (Honestly, I'm not bein' sarcastic.)

"Tom Swiffft and His Electric Ping Pong Ball" in MAD #24 (July 1955), text by Ernie Kovacs, pencils and inks by Will Elder
(Click picture to Giant Cannon-size)

"At Home With Lorelei Latour" in MAD #26 (November 1955), text by Ernie Kovacs, illustrations by Gustave Doré, embellished by Wally Wood
(Click picture to Jacob Wrestling with the Angel-size)

"Gringo" in MAD #29 (September 1956), text by Ernie Kovacs, pencils and inks by Will Elder
(Click picture to Risk-size)
Later on, Ernie was getting cover billing! Admittedly, below chimpanzee J. Fred Muggs, but...


from MAD #38 (March 1958), painted cover by J. Fred Muggs
By this time, Ernie Kovacs has settled into writing a regular feature with art by Wood: "Strangly Believe It!," a spoof of Ripley's Believe It or Not!




"Strangely Believe It!" from MAD #37 (top and middle) and 42 (bottom) (January and November 1958); script by Ernie Kovacs; pencils, inks, and letters by Wally Wood
He even produced an item of great interest to me and all my cow and bull pals.


"Strangely Believe It!" from MAD #38 (March 1958); script by Ernie Kovacs; pencils, inks, and letters by Wally Woods
Even when Kovacs's work for MAD was finished, he followed MAD founder Harvey Kurtzman over to his new humor magazine, Help!


cover of Help! #2 (General Promotions, September 1960), photographer unknown
Happy, happy, happy birthday to Ernie Kovacs!