Life.com has an interesting gallery of images showing the history of Mad Magazine, courtesy of longtime Mad editor John Ficarra (who gives commentary on each of the photos).

Here are some samples from the gallery...

Bill Gaines at his desk...



Photo: courtesy of MAD Magazine

Robert De Niro comes by for a visit...



Photo: courtesy of MAD Magazine

How awesome is this picture that Harry Hamlin arranged of the cast of L.A. Law posing like the cover of Mad lampooning the show? Show creator Stephen Bochco is the judge, by the way...



Photo: courtesy of MAD Magazine

Cool stuff, huh?

You can check out the full gallery here.