National Lampoon 1998

The final issue from National Lampoon publishing.  Known since 1970 for the more than 300 issues of National Lampoon Magazine, they were responsible for casting Saturday Night Live from their Radio Hour Programs.  In 1970, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Anne Beatts, Harold Ramis, Michael O’Donoghue, and many others were all part of the Lampoon family.   Saturday Night Live was offered to Doug Kenney but he turned it down.  As a result, his Radio Hour programs aired for 2 years only.  The entire cast and writing team named above were hired by NBC and the first cast of SNL was created.