Mad #156 (Albert Feldstein) - Fiddler Made a Goof! Issue - January 1973

Mad super-writer, Frank Jacobs specializes in parody songs and poetry.  He was at his best with an updated version of Fiddler on the Roof with Zero Mostel (1915-1977) and Imogene Coca (1908-2001) trying to raise a family of rebellious girls in an upper middle class suburb in America.  One daughter leaves to marry a rock group ("Floyd and the Wheat Germs"), the second has a thing for Woody Allen, and the third (who usually carries a hand grenade) elopes with a Lesbian woman named Pauline.  Zero is driven to analysis where he reveals dreams about his Russian ancestors who blame him and those like him for the current blight.  Jacobs also wrote "If Today's Celebrities Answered Virginia's Letter About Santa Claus" and the magazine parody, "Profitable Football News."  Editor Feldstein had an easy job in the days when Mr. Jacobs was writing one-third of the magazine. [JAM 3/29/2010]

Sherlock's pipe is in the middle of his violin bow and the doctor is handed a can opener in "Clodumbo."

Reader Neil Wahlert has identified Mad Art Director John Putnam as the tax audit victim in "You Know You've Really Got a Problem When ..."

Departments:
Fiddler Mad a Goof - Antenna on the Roof
Plashtick - Realistic Model Car Kits
Inside-Ouch - Behind the Scenes in a Department Store at Christmas Time
Plight Gags - You Know You've Really Got a Problem When
There's No Tool Like an Old Tool - Don Martin's Personal Experiences with New Power Tools
Ask a Stupid Question ... - If Celebs Answered Virginia's Letter about Santa Claus
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side of Week-Ends
Field Gold - PRO-fitable Football News
Pump And Circumstance - A Mad Look at Service Stations
Yule-O-Gee! - The Mad Christmas Hate Book
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
Knifin' Falk - Clodumbo
Mother Load - Visiting Day

Fold-In - Love