Douglas C. Kenney’s Followers (13)

Douglas C. Kenney

Born

in West Palm Beach, Florida, The United States

December 10, 1946

Died

August 27, 1980

Genre

Humor

edit data

Douglas C. Kenney was an American actor and writer who co-founded National Lampoon magazine in 1970. Kenney edited the magazine and wrote much of its early material.

While at Harvard University, Kenney was a member of the Signet society and editor of the Harvard Lampoon. There he was part of the first group of newcomers who restyled the college humor magazine. Another of these writers was Henry Beard, with whom Kenney frequently collaborated, and who became a lifelong friend. Together with Beard, he wrote Bored of the Rings, which was published during 1969. Kenney graduated in 1968. Soon after, he, Beard and fellow Harvard alumnus Robert Hoffman began work on founding the humor magazine National Lampoon.

Kenney was one of the originating forc Douglas C. Kenney was an American actor and writer who co-founded National Lampoon magazine in 1970. Kenney edited the magazine and wrote much of its early material.

While at Harvard University, Kenney was a member of the Signet society and editor of the Harvard Lampoon. There he was part of the first group of newcomers who restyled the college humor magazine. Another of these writers was Henry Beard, with whom Kenney frequently collaborated, and who became a lifelong friend. Together with Beard, he wrote Bored of the Rings, which was published during 1969. Kenney graduated in 1968. Soon after, he, Beard and fellow Harvard alumnus Robert Hoffman began work on founding the humor magazine National Lampoon.

Kenney was one of the originating forces of what was to become known during the 1970s as the "new wave" of comedy, a dark, irreverent style of humor Kenney used as the basis for his magazine. Kenney was Editor-in-Chief from 1970 to 1972, Senior Editor 1973 to 1974, and editor from 1975 to 1976.

Kenney wrote much of the early material, such as "Mrs. Agnew's Diary", a regular column written as the diary of Spiro Agnew (or "Spiggy")'s wife, chronicling her life among Richard Nixon and other famous politicians. The feature was an Americanized version of Private Eye's long-running column "Mrs. Wilson's Diary," written from the viewpoint of Prime Minister Harold Wilson's wife.

To escape the pressures of running a successful magazine Kenney sometimes took unannounced breaks although, despite these absences, "Mrs Agnew's Diary" was always submitted to the Lampoon. During one of these breaks he wrote a comic novel, "Teenage Commies from Outer Space". Kenney threw the manuscript in a bin after a negative review from Beard. Beard later said that it was simply the wrong form and the spirit of the novel was channelled into the National Lampoon's 1964 High School Yearbook, which Kenney co-wrote with P. J. O'Rourke.

Kenney had a five-year buyout contract with the Lampoon's publisher, 21st Century Communications. Kenney remained on staff until 1977. He quit to co-author the screenplay to National Lampoon's Animal House, along with Chris Miller and Harold Ramis.

Kenney had a small role in Animal House as the fraternity brother called "Stork," whose only line of dialogue was the combative "Well, whut the hail we s'posed to do, yuh mo-ron?" Produced quickly on a small budget, National Lampoon's Animal House was, until Ghostbusters, the most profitable Hollywood comedy. ...more

Combine Editions
Douglas C. Kenney’s books

Average rating: 3.17 · 7,004 ratings · 537 reviews · 19 distinct works • Similar authors

	National Lampoon April 1970 liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	National Lampoon May 1970 by Douglas C. Kenney, Michael O'Donoghue, Henry N. Beard liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Undiscovered Notebook of Leonardo da Vinci 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1972	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	National Lampoon, October 1970 Issue 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	National Lampoon, December 1970 (Vol 1, no 9) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	National Lampoon Magazine October 1971 (Issue #19) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	National Lampoon October, 1970 Vol. 1 No 4 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	National Lampoon Magazine May 1970 GREED peter money 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	National Lampoon September 1971 Vol. 1 No.18 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	National Lampoon May 1973 Vol. 1 No.38 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Douglas C. Kenney…

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Horror Aficionados : Track the Books You Read in 2015	90	378	Dec 17, 2015 01:47PM
Goodreads Librari...: Combine author profiles, Update bio & More	3483	885	Sep 13, 2026 12:26AM

Douglas C. Kenney’s Followers (13)

Douglas C. Kenney

Combine EditionsDouglas C. Kenney’s books

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
Douglas C. Kenney’s books