Talk:Alfred E. Neuman

Untitled
What does the E. in Alfred E. Neuman stand for? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.167.42.196 (talk) 16:20, 22 October 2004 (UTC)

Whatever. I was fascinated by this piece of information:

Neuman's name was used on a radio show by Henry Morgan. Sir Henry Morgan (c. 1635 - August 25, 1688) was a privateer and radio host of Welsh birth, who made a name in the Caribbean as a leader of buccaneers and roughnecks. Sorry, but Alfred E. Neuman inspires nonsense like that.  12:25, Nov 8, 2004 (UTC)

What? no picture? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 151.37.165.239 (talk) 14:30, 15 November 2004 (UTC)

There was a song by Alfred E. Neuman entitled (what else?) "What, Me Worry?" I only have a poor quality recording, but the vocalist sounds suspiciously like Mel Blanc. Confirm/deny? Lee M 02:31, 7 May 2005 (UTC)

MAD also released a "record" with the magazine called "It's a Gas" with "vocals by Alfred E. Neuman." The vocals consisted entirely of the song's title (once) and belching (many times). Carlo 00:14, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

How about the "Worry" magazine cover where W.'s face is slightly altered? Should there be a mention of that, even though it wasn't MAD?--Joel 01:19, 30 May 2005 (UTC)
 * If that one is mentioned, it should be in context -- there've been a lot of political references to AEN, including to Jimmy Carter. And there will certainly be more. The idea isn't entirely unreasonable, but where would we stop? McGehee 21:02, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Does Alfred E. Neuman manifest physical characteristics typical of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? Will someone familiar with this condition please add the appopriate material to this article. Josh-Levin@ieee.org 01:40, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

I read somewhere that alfred E newman is a ripoff of the yellow kid —Preceding unsigned comment added by Nohi (talk • contribs) 13:55, 25 April 2007 (UTC)

It wasn't Harvey Kurtzman, but Al Feldstein that named Alfred E. Neuman, after one of his own pseudonyms. This should be changed on the page. 72.175.124.34 (talk) 20:49, 26 August 2009 (UTC)

Google, in its April fool gag for 2010 cited this wiki as saying that Alfred Neuman is from Topeka, Kansas. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.208.22.26 (talk) 19:35, 1 April 2010 (UTC)

The REAL Henry Morgan  wrote material used in 3 issues of MAD in 1957-58 , and wrote much of the material on the 1959 "Musically MAD" LP . 99.49.32.94 (talk) 03:59, 23 August 2015 (UTC)

Nazi's used him as propoganda?
If he first appeared in 1954 how was he used as anti-jewish nazi propoganda? Am I missing something? --Allthewhile 04:21, 27 July 2005 (UTC)
 * The image first appeared in MAD in 1954. Variants of it had already existed for many years previously. --Clement Cherlin 02:36, 23 December 2005 (UTC)
 * Most precisely, in 1954 was his official MAD debut but, nameless, he had existed before that in Europe, 19th century according to this article.Herle King 18:39, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

Origins of
I came across this page on the web dating from the 40s. Looks a lot like Alfred E. Neuman. http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/americavotes/taft.html -- harburg 02:28, 22 August 2005 (UTC)
 * It looks like Alfred E. Neuman. crossed with a monkey--220.238.238.21 10:26, 19 October 2005 (UTC)
 * One thing that I've never seen touched on anywhere is that the origins actually reflect anti-Irish stereotypes of the late 19th century. At that time the Irish were typically drawn with simian characteristics in editorial cartoons... cast iron toy banks, comics - everywhere the Irish were made to look like chimps. The Yellow Kid grew out of this same era and shows some of the same effects, though toned-down. The yellow kid's "real name" was in fact Mickey Dugan. Alfred E. Newman is a direct descendant of these Irish-as-chimp depictions, and its almost certain that the pre-Mad versions were intended to depict an irish person. Jafafa Hots 22:24, 13 January 2006 (UTC)

Where did you get "Mickey Dugan" from? Although the comic took place in Hogan's Alley, I've never heard a name for him. Actually, the earliest "Alfred" I've seen was late 19th century, and I think it was an ad for a dentist. Nothing particularly Irish about it. Carlo 00:14, 26 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Here's one link to the "Mickey Dugan" info: http://cartoons.osu.edu/yellowkid/index.htm. As far as him looking Irish, today we would not see anything like that in the image, but in the latter half of the 19th century in the U.S., anti-Irish sentiment was very strong, and similar images meaning to represent the Irish were widespread in editorial cartoons, cast-iron toy banks, etc. They were meant to suggest that the Irish were low-bred and even simian. While we wouldn't see that in the image of Alfred, a person at that time, being exposed to images of that style and with that intent everywhere would likely instantaneously make that connection. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jafafa Hots (talk • contribs) 05:36, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Another possible pictorial precursor -- The Butcher from The Hunting of the Snark : illustration by Henry Holiday 1876
 * http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/c/carroll/lewis/snark/images/snark3.jpg
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunting_of_the_Snark
 * http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/c/carroll/lewis/snark/index.html
 * This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.139.160.98 (talk) 23:49, 12 October 2009 (UTC)

Frederick B. Opper
It could be the character was created by Frederick Burr Opper in Puck starting in 1887. Before this you have characters looking somewhat like like him but Opper's really starts to look like him and becomes a signature character for the next two decades. http://john-adcock.blogspot.com/2010/02/mysteries-of-melvin_17.html --2601:205:4100:BA79:E472:75E:6D89:8B9 (talk) 15:51, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Blogs are not an acceptable source. -  FlightTime  ( open channel ) 16:30, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

MOXIE
And where can we see pictures of her? Has she got any catchphrase?Herle King 18:41, 23 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Isn't Moxie a catchphrase? 惑乱 Wakuran (talk) 16:53, 31 October 2008 (UTC)
 * It's a catch phrase based on the (once) #1 selling soda in America. I like your Moxie, kid.  Moxie is the Captain Marvel of pop.--2601:205:4100:BA79:E472:75E:6D89:8B9 (talk) 15:45, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

suggested nazi depiction
Tod den Juden cannot mean Death of the Jews (that would be Tod der Juden). Also, I think AEN as antisemitic poster boy is somewhat not probable. The features of the "typical" Jew in anti-semitic material have other traits. Maybe the extreme ears though. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 145.253.2.237 (talk) 08:10, 15 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Tod den Juden indeed translates to Death to the Jews. Because "den Juden" is a dative case. The correction (which is now applied) is fully justified therefore. HTH. -andy 77.190.26.252 (talk) 07:26, 31 January 2011 (UTC)

Live character in mask.
"A live-action version of Alfred E. Neuman -- an uncredited actor wearing a mask -- appears briefly in the 1980 film Up the Academy which was originally released to theaters as Mad Magazine Presents Up the Academy. Mad later pulled its support from the film and all footage of the Neuman character was excised from North American home video and television releases, alhough it was reinstated for the 2006 DVD release."

Wasn't there also a live action person wearing a mask on the first episode or two or Mad TV before &/or after commercials? 67.5.157.33 20:07, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

Postcard
No. That postcard dates from the 1920s or earlier. It is not the postcard Kurtzman saw on the bulletin board. The Neuman image from the bulletin board was printed in the April 1956 issue of Mad and was a b/w image of Alfred looking very much like the Mingo painting. Pepso2 (talk) 17:05, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

Appearance in Peanuts
The article states that Neuman appeared as a hullucination by Charlie Brown in a Peanuts strip and TV special. Is this true? — Loadmaster (talk) 02:35, 3 March 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, I've seen that particular show and can confirm it. Whether it should be listed here is another matter. WillOakland (talk) 22:05, 29 November 2008 (UTC)
 * Which TV show and what strip (date)? — Loadmaster (talk) 16:13, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

More on (Moron?) Genesis
I'm reading the book The Ten Cent Plague and on p. 198 it quotes Kurtzman as follows: "It was a face from an old high school biology book, used as an example of a person who lacked iodine." The source is Kurtzman's My Life as a Cartoonist, Minstrel Books, 1988. FWIW. Fitfatfighter (talk) 01:28, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Recent tit-for-tat edits
"Original research" is often used as a shorthand catchall for "I oppose it." Would you care to explain how the text you're repeatedly deleting qualifies as OR? The material doesn't advance a position, it is directly related to the topic of the article, and it's both neutral and verifiable. I don't see any violation anywhere on WP:OR. Since you have, I ask you to specify further.

It was unchallenged until you took it on as a personal project, but I've since provided citations. I can't find online ref's for the specific MST3K quips, and if those have to go for that reason, so be it.

I'm honestly not sure what you're promoting here. You've began by complaining about a section title, then original research, then anonymous IP addresses. But the sort of material you're deleting is commonplace on Wikipedia, and generally welcome. Examples: The Wikipage on Snoopy lists the lyrical references in the 1960s songs by the Royal Guardsmen, an air force bomber, and NASA's nickname for a type of headset. The Wikipage for Green Lantern refers to dialogue from a BBC sitcom and 'The Simpsons,' lyrics from a hit Donovan song, a hiphop figure using the name, and a WWE wrestler's persona and tattoo.

It's not my intent to start or pursue an edit war. I would like the editing process to satisfy you, so please explain your position.208.120.7.152 (talk) 04:07, 30 November 2008 (UTC)

Forbush Man
In Marvel's Not Brand Echh, their mascot was the Forbush Man. Could he be a reference to Alfred E. Neuman? -Golem866 (talk) 15:08, 12 February 2010 (UTC)

cybervigilante
Good Lord! According to the 1908 Antikamnia Tablet Calendar illustration, Alfred E. started out as one of the execrable "Ginger Kids" This explains much. (I also can't believe an article about such an iconic figure rates low importance. Alfred E. is one of the few things I can recall from my drug-addled youth. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Cybervigilante (talk • contribs) 03:08, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

"Yes, We Can't!"
This was official, wasn't it? A friend sent me this funny picture (on orange-red background) of "Alfred E. Obama" with the above newly coined catchphrase. Since it's another exceptional replacement of his usual "What - Me Worry?" (considering that both consist of three words) this might be a good add in the article. -andy 77.190.26.252 (talk) 07:23, 31 January 2011 (UTC)

joke shops/ amusement parks
i grew up in boston, and the single joke shop in town, Jacks Joke Shop, had a figure on its sign that was very similar to alfred e. newman. i have also noticed that coney island employed a very archetypical face that was similar to alfred as well. this needs to be rooted out to its origins — Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.185.130.149 (talk) 04:15, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

open source pre-MAD image of Alfred E. Neuman found (1940s)
Produced in the 1940's, this item features a pre-MAD image of Alfred E. Neuman, and a photo of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) on the back. Not sure if and how to include it. Stating that there has been images of Alfred E. Neuman during the FDR campaign might be enough? Seem anyway interesting, not? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Reeze2000 (talk • contribs) 08:02, 23 November 2011 (UTC)

Ish Kabibble
The IMDB entry for M. A. Bogue (stage name Ish Kabibble) (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0091928/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm) has the following:
 * His 1989 autobiography explained the meaning behind his stage name. "Ish Kabibble" derives from the Yiddish expression "Ische ga bibble?", meaning, essentially, "What, me worry?", the expression later appropriated by MAD Magazine as a motto for its Ish Kabibble-like fictitious mascot Alfred E. Neuman.

Worth adding to this page? 99.245.230.104 (talk) 23:23, 25 September 2014 (UTC)

Alfred E. Neuman
Why hasn't anyone noticed the similarity between Alfred E. Neuman and the historic "Peck's Bad Boy" (who seems to be identical to "New Boy")? Craig Bobby — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.135.56.159 (talk) 01:46, 18 June 2015 (UTC)

Fruit machines / one-armed bandits
When I was growing up in the UK in the early 1970s, it was very common to see fruit machines a.k.a. one-armed bandits (of the old-fashioned mechanical three-reel variety) with AEN's face as one of the payout symbols. In fact, if I remember correctly, on some machines three Alfreds gave you the jackpot. Am slightly surprised to see no reference here under Cultural Impact, perhaps I shall try to find one. 81.109.186.140 (talk) 16:26, 17 April 2017 (UTC)

Muffler Man/Mortimer Snerd
https://usagiants.com/tag/half-wit/ what about it? 198.161.4.63 (talk) 18:02, 30 August 2017 (UTC)

Excessive Wikilinks?
I stopped by to add a wikilink to Credibility Gap, since it might be a more obscure reference that would be useful to the average reader. Yet after doing so I realized there was a mountain of wikilinks right before it, describing: "Neuman has appeared in a slew of guises, including..."

I have to question, first of all, whether all of these are necessary - and secondly, where does it end? Does every rendition of Neuman necessitate an additional reference in the article? It just seems like excessive wikilinking to me, and a burden to the reader. That is all. <> Alt lys er svunnet hen (talk) 03:57, 19 November 2018 (UTC)

and Boris
https://magazin.spiegel.de/EpubDelivery/image/title/SP/2019/30/300 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 178.203.144.52 (talk) 08:50, 21 July 2019 (UTC)