Founded by Sol Brodsky, "Cracked," was a deliberate imitator of MAD Magazine. Mad featured Alfred E. Neuman and Cracked featured a simple-minded janitor named Sylvester P. Smythe.
A typical issue of Cracked Magazine featured two TV or movie parodies.
In the mid-1970’s Cracked expanded into international markets.
In 2001 the publication suffered the impact of an anthrax scare. An anonymous letter carrying the powder was sent to American Media, Inc., where one employee was killed. Cracked offices were housed in this same building. They were forced to evacuate the offices and destroy their archives, including their original photographic prints from all issues 1958 through 2000.
An attempt to revive the publication was never able to reach fruition.