National Lampoon May 1976

National Lampoon
May, 1976

May, 1976, and on the Billboard Hot 100, the number-one song in the country is 'Welcome Back', the theme song to the TV show 'Welcome Back Kotter', by John Sebastian.

Looking at the cover of the May, 1976 issue of the National Lampoon, we see this is the 'Unwanted Foreigners' issue, sure to satirize ethnic and cultural identities, and thus, to offend..........

The advertising features the latest album from Paul McCartney and Wings, along with a humorous treatment of Scotch cassette tapes.

The 'Facts' section provides some real-life misadventures. The one involving the motorcycle is my favorite.

The 'Unwanted Foreigners' theme goes transgressive, without hesitation, with a satiric portrayal of Africa, couched as a high school social studies textbook.

In the interests of Equity and equal opportunity disparagement, editor P. J. O'Rourke takes aim at Europeans, and the member states of the European Economic Community (a sort of particularly hapless early version of the European Union) with 'EEC ! It's the U.S. of E !

Written by Tony Hendra, the article showcases amazing puppets and dioramas handcrafted by Peter Nigel Luck and Roger Law (no such things as AI and Photoshop, back in 1976). Hendra, Luck, and Law all were Brits, so they brought a particularly vicious sensibility (that might not otherwise be present in an American humor periodical) to mocking the EEC.

Another outstanding piece of art in this May issue is an oil painting by none other than Boris Vallejo. A sure sign that in the 1970s, the Lampoon could afford top talent:

Probably the most offensive segment in the May issue was O'Rourke's 'Foreigners Around the World', the kind of article that never would be allowed to see the light of day in this 21st century. 

Each ethnic vignette has just enough bald truth, and nastiness, to make the best formula for derision. The black-and-white illustrations, by Randy Jones, are brilliant caricatures.

Whew ! After all that Transgression, let's have some lighter fare. How about a nice bit of nudity, with 'Foto Funnies.' There's also a mockery of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.

And that's how it was, 48 (!) years ago in the pages of the National Lampoon.........