# What is the meaning of this Gahan Wilson cartoon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468 "2018-01-25T18:50:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arizona\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Arizona\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arizona_Mike)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/1 "2018-01-25T18:50:30Z")
Since I was a kid, I’ve been a fan of the cartoonist Gahan Wilson, whose humorously morbid cartoons have been a regular feature in Playboy, the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, the old National Lampoon, and The New Yorker. But for decades, I have wondered what the punchline is for this uncaptioned cartoon, which originally appeared in Playboy: [https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e5/ee/98/e5ee988a3bce9697624a66fb5609d15c--illustrators-painters.jpg](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e5/ee/98/e5ee988a3bce9697624a66fb5609d15c--illustrators-painters.jpg) It depicts a man in a room with an enormous egg shackled to his wrist, who has been hung with a noose. This has bugged me for years. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/2 "2018-01-25T19:07:03Z")
If this poster I found on the internet is correct, it requires knowledge of an ad that was popular at that time. > [@](#): > > I remember seeing this before, as well as seeing the explanation for it. This is an old cartoon, circa the early 1960s, and it was a take-off of a then-current ad campaign that showed people chained to their nest-egg. (I don’t remember what company the original campaign was advertising.) Gahan Wilson just took that burden and took it one macabre step further. ETA, there are other guesses on the webpage I found the above on, but only the cahed version is working for me. [http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:g9f25BG65sEJ:comicsidontunderstand.com/wordpress/2010/12/03/hanging/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:g9f25BG65sEJ:comicsidontunderstand.com/wordpress/2010/12/03/hanging/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) There’s a nest below the egg, so he wants to protect his “nest egg”, yet he’s so unhappy he wants to die. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/3 "2018-01-25T19:07:32Z")
Not a clue. But I only ever “got” about half his stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/4 "2018-01-25T19:23:03Z")
I remember reading that his shrink could tell when it was time for another session by keeping an eye on Wilson’s cartoons. ---
**Author:** ![Arizona\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Arizona\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arizona_Mike)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/5 "2018-01-25T19:37:37Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > If this poster I found on the internet is correct, it requires knowledge of an ad that was popular at that time. > > ETA, there are other guesses on the webpage I found the above on, but only the cahed version is working for me. > [http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:g9f25BG65sEJ:comicsidontunderstand.com/wordpress/2010/12/03/hanging/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:g9f25BG65sEJ:comicsidontunderstand.com/wordpress/2010/12/03/hanging/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) > > There’s a nest below the egg, so he wants to protect his “nest egg”, yet he’s so unhappy he wants to die. Interesting. The take-off on the older ads seems likely! ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/6 "2018-01-25T19:41:04Z")
[This one](http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/10q6bbjtp7hfum.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/7 "2018-01-25T19:42:34Z")
Nice find! ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/8 "2018-01-25T19:42:50Z")
Looks like a long running Chase Manhattan ad. [Another one.](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V4W1eOxnnxg/UxqLRAudVeI/AAAAAAAAC-4/nY8cbp99VLU/s1600/Chase+nest+egg+pumper,+Apr+04,+1964.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/9 "2018-01-25T19:49:12Z")
When I tried to click on the link in the OP, it went to an instant download. Careful! Hopefully it’s just something weird with my set-up, but I’ve reported it for investigation by a mod. ---
**Author:** ![Arizona\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Arizona\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arizona_Mike)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/10 "2018-01-25T20:22:49Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > When I tried to click on the link in the OP, it went to an instant download. Careful! Hopefully it’s just something weird with my set-up, but I’ve reported it for investigation by a mod. I checked and it did the same for me - sorry! Best not to click it. That was the only copy I could find online. ---
**Author:** ![Arizona\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Arizona\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arizona_Mike)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/11 "2018-01-25T20:24:37Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Looks like a long running Chase Manhattan ad. > > [Another one.](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V4W1eOxnnxg/UxqLRAudVeI/AAAAAAAAC-4/nY8cbp99VLU/s1600/Chase+nest+egg+pumper,+Apr+04,+1964.jpg) Yep, that seems to be the source of the joke. Thanks very much, that was bothering me for years! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/12 "2018-01-25T20:29:26Z")
[Moderating] Yes, the link does that for me, too (Firefox, OSX). I’ve seen that sort of thing happen before, and I have no idea why, or if it represents some sort of a risk. Hang on a moment; I’ll [be right back…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20747518#post20747518) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/13 "2018-01-25T21:04:05Z")
OK, the folks over in GQ say that it’s just a mis-configuration over at the server hosting the image, and that it shouldn’t cause any problems beyond being an annoyance. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/14 "2018-01-26T00:40:39Z")
Thank you Chronos. I really didn’t like it. It was an invasion. Entered my home without permission. Good to know it wasn’t lethal. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/15 "2018-01-26T00:42:58Z")
Thank you for checking it out! ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/16 "2018-01-26T01:17:06Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > If this poster I found on the internet is correct, it requires knowledge of an ad that was popular at that time. > > ETA, there are other guesses on the webpage I found the above on, but only the cahed version is working for me. > [http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:g9f25BG65sEJ:comicsidontunderstand.com/wordpress/2010/12/03/hanging/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:g9f25BG65sEJ:comicsidontunderstand.com/wordpress/2010/12/03/hanging/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) > > There’s a nest below the egg, so he wants to protect his “nest egg”, yet he’s so unhappy he wants to die. I got the impression it was he couldn’t stand being chained to an egg any more so he offed himself. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/17 "2018-01-26T01:19:46Z")
My browser asked me if I wanted to open it with XnViewer, which is my default handler for .jpg files–it’s just a picture, no biggie, probably the hosting server doesn’t want the bandwidth from a hotlink. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/18 "2018-01-26T01:41:17Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > I got the impression it was he couldn’t stand being chained to an egg any more so he offed himself. Nah. If he didn’t want to protect the egg, there wouldn’t be a nest underneath it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/19 "2018-01-26T01:47:12Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Nah. If he didn’t want to protect the egg, there wouldn’t be a nest underneath it. That’s just a feature of the Chase ad campaign. Of course, his nest egg would have been in a nest until he found it unbearable. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-gahan-wilson-cartoon/807468/20 "2018-01-26T03:35:58Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > [This one](http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/10q6bbjtp7hfum.jpg)? Guy looks kind of like Sean Connery.