Everyone wrestles with career choices, even the people who eventually make it look effortless. Before finding his stride as the brilliant mind behind “The Far Side,” cartoonist Gary Larson briefly flirted with the hectic world of Madison Avenue advertising. Like many creative detours, it was earnest, well-intentioned, and completely wrong for him.
Below are real examples of 1950s advertising, followed by Larson’s own reimagined versions of those same ads. They offer a humorous glimpse into a path not taken and a reminder that sometimes the best career move is realizing what you should never do.
The Original Advertisement | Gary Larson's Version |