Sep 5th 2008 07:13 am Murder, he wrote

1997-06-30-mary-lou.gif

We are close to the denouement of this old series featuring Mary Lou; this strip and the ones to follow in the next few days are the reason we’re here, to understand Mary Lou’s more-than-casual connection to Gene’s family, as depicted in the current newspaper strips.

This strip inevitably brings up the old trivia point: what is the family surname? It’s Day, and I’ve told you this story before, but at my age there are few stories I haven’t told. When I first sold the strip, the family had no name. The strip itself had no name! Preparing to launch, the syndicate brain trust decided, “Let’s make their name ‘Day’ and call the strip ‘Day by Day.’” However, it turned out there was an old, semi-defunct newspaper column called ‘Day by Day,’ and legally timid heads prevailed. The strip was named “Arlo and Janis.” I subsequently kept the name ‘Day.’ Why not?

Posted by jimmyjohnson / Vintage A&J

28 Responses to “Murder, he wrote”

  1. Ken from Framingham (Boston Globe reader) on 05 Sep 2008 at 7:20 am #

    “Luddites Unite!” Hey, there’s another T-Shirt idea…

  2. Jeff in Ann Arbor on 05 Sep 2008 at 7:20 am #

    “Arlo and Janis” is a much better name. “Day by Day” reminds me of Doris Day and the fifties. Boring.

  3. ws on 05 Sep 2008 at 7:52 am #

    Long time reader, first time writer.

    Love Mary Lou. She’s a keeper.

  4. maggie in SW LA on 05 Sep 2008 at 8:05 am #

    Thanks for retelling the story of how A&J came by their last name. There’s a good chance I had read that before, but sigh….at my age…I don’t seem to have as much storage space. I think my brain must look like my Outlook folders…..all jumbled up with lots of old, no longer needed ones hanging around. They’re still there, I just don’t remember what’s in them any longer. Have a good, safe weekend JJ & everyone else.
    BTW….has anyone heard an update on the Professor & how his surgery went?

  5. Kaitlyn on 05 Sep 2008 at 8:07 am #

    You may have told the story before, but you’ve got new readers now, like me.

    I’ve been really curious and I thought it had something to do with Doris Day, who I remembered as Janice Day for too long. Oh well, I wasn’t alive when she was popular. (Of course, if it was Janis’s last name, then it wouldn’t be Gene’s)

  6. Brad on 05 Sep 2008 at 8:30 am #

    Funny, there’s also a popular on-line comic strip called Day by Day. If only you had waited a few years….

    http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/

  7. Greg J. on 05 Sep 2008 at 9:20 am #

    Jimmy, I’m glad to hear things are OK down in your “neck of the woods”, I had worried Gustav would do much more damage than it did. All of the long time readers remember seeing the devastation of Pass Christian through your photos, and I thought this time around would be more of the same (The devastation, not your pics or your treatment of it here on your site. Just thought I should clear that up lol). On the recent mary Lou comics both in the papers and here: Great stuff. I think Mary Lou is a great way to get Gene in the strips more, and that she fits nicely in a strip about “life”.
    Keep up the good work.

  8. Ken A. on 05 Sep 2008 at 10:43 am #

    Now that the current Mary Lou story is winding down, I hope it won’t be so long before we see her again! :)

  9. Jeff from Utica, MI on 05 Sep 2008 at 10:46 am #

    I had forgotten I was reading about “The Days.” Which reminded me that this site could use a faq section. Answer all the most common questions. For example,the story of who are honored by the names Arlo and Janis. It can include other things too. Like letting new people know that the site isn’t updated every day. Also that it is a moderated message board.

  10. Jim in southwest Illannoy on 05 Sep 2008 at 10:51 am #

    Ah yes, open mouth insert foot. We men are known for hoof in mouth disease. I’ve gotten better as I’ve gotten older and been married longer. Still, it happens. Arlo really did step in it in today’s strip.

    I’m glad you went with “Arlo and Janis” for the strip’s name. “Day by Day” sounds too much like “As the Stomach Turns” or any other soap opera. A&J is much classier, though it does seem to be at least as addictive (more so for me since I don’t watch soaps, but have to get my A&J fix every day).

  11. Michael on 05 Sep 2008 at 11:12 am #

    Let me guess… Arlo’s great aunt is named Doris, right?

    Michael

  12. Gary on 05 Sep 2008 at 11:49 am #

    I’ve been a reader now for about 6 years. I followed it through various newspapers in South Texas until I realized that I was paying for the paper just to flip through and read Arlo and Janis. When I found this website, I started saving money instantly.

    Don’t worry about revenue problems, though. I’ve since purchased several books. I’d like to thank you, Mr. Johnson. I cannot wait for my son to begin reading. He’s going to love my collection of Calvin and Arlo.

  13. sarah in oregon on 05 Sep 2008 at 1:20 pm #

    Phil in TX – see my post about Chrome on yesterday’s (thursday) board.

  14. Eric on 05 Sep 2008 at 3:04 pm #

    It’s much like the family’s last name on “Malcolm in the Middle.”

  15. Bob Josephson on 05 Sep 2008 at 4:01 pm #

    OK, the name is Day. But how many times has it actually been used in the strip? Was this the first time?

  16. ron on 05 Sep 2008 at 4:51 pm #

    arrrrhhh very good strip JJ , and only 14 days more to go, me harty’s .avast an shiver me timbers Ron ahh for pete sake white sox lets get going here.

  17. Mary in Ohio on 05 Sep 2008 at 5:12 pm #

    Lucy Van Pelt of Hennepin County could not be reached for comment.

  18. John in LA, late of P'cola on 05 Sep 2008 at 9:04 pm #

    Hey J.J.
    Wish you’d consider re-running your EXCELLENT series on CUBA.
    Thanks,
    John

  19. domaucan1 on 05 Sep 2008 at 10:22 pm #

    Hi Jimmy,

    I started reading A&J many years ago when I had a subscription to the Opelika-Auburn News to keep up with Auburn football, etc. I’m a 1968 DVM graduate of Auburn, native of Baton Rouge, LA, but a true WAR EAGLE. Gustov tried to do us in but didn’t. It was a lot worse than Katrina for Baton Rouge. We will survive. Electricity just came back today, Friday. It was off since Monday. Slight roof and fence damage. My three children, three spouses and six grandkids are all safe and sound, thank God!

    I really look forward to my daily Arlo and Janis. Keep up the great work. We’re proud of you. WAR EAGLE!

    domaucan1 from Big BR

  20. domaucan1 on 05 Sep 2008 at 10:23 pm #

    Second post from domaucan1.

    My wife is also safe and sound!

  21. neko in San Jose on 06 Sep 2008 at 12:31 am #

    Loodie saves the day, a la Sarah Palin!

  22. debbie on 06 Sep 2008 at 4:08 am #

    http://www.arloandjanis.com/Moreoldpages.htm

    On this link I found an old comic of Gene’s “What I did for summer vacation’ 1993. It was sweet and made me think of my teenage days. I enjoyed this SO much that once again I have stayed up all night reading the comics and the mailbox. I greatly enjoyed the grasshopper and the ant. Hope you are well.

    My mother passed away 3 years ago at an early age and I miss her. You mentioned having a hard row to hoe with just a very few characters (and I would not presume to tell you your business – but I cannot remember any outlaw strips.)

    Thanks for Arlo and Janis. My mother enjoyed the strip after I introduced her to them. We would discuss them daily.

  23. Rick in Shermantown, Ohio on 06 Sep 2008 at 6:18 am #

    I’ve always preferred “Arlo & Janis” over “Day by Day.” To me, “Day by Day” sounds like a contrived title, one designed to catch a reader’s attention by being cute. “Arlo & Janis” attracted me immediately because it is true to real life.

  24. debbie on 06 Sep 2008 at 6:21 am #

    Oh no JJ, it is almost 7:30 in the morning. I work second shift and I’ve stayed up. I’ll be so tired, but wanted to let you know – I followed some old strips and found, ta da – Natalie – the sister-in-law….so sorry about that.

    thanks! I have laughed and laughed…see you when I wake up!

  25. Rick in Shermantown, Ohio on 06 Sep 2008 at 6:28 am #

    I have too much on my mind.

    I forgot to mention that I find it to be highly coincidental and perhaps a little ironic that, as we have been reading about Mary Lou, the news broke about Gov. Palin’s daughter.

    I also find it interesting that, while many people were lambasting Palin, they forgot that they were also talking about a seventeen-year-old girl — somewhat akin to how Arlo needed Gene to remind him that Mary Lou was a human being.

    Final comment: Over the course of my teaching career, I saw many, many girls – children, actually – who were pregnant. Even in our so-called enlightened, modern age, they were the targets of salacious comments, lewd leers, and knowing winks. The poor girls were already carrying the weight of the world upon their shoulders, and they didn’t need another burden.

  26. Laetitia in Australia on 07 Sep 2008 at 6:36 am #

    In reference to today’s current strip – in Australia, today is Fathers’ Day. We don’t have “Grandparents’ Day”.

  27. E from Natick on 08 Sep 2008 at 12:27 am #

    Jimmy, I’ve really been enjoying seeing these strips again. I had completely forgotten just how much time Mary Lou had spent with the family.

    But I miss Ruth!

  28. John in LA, late of P'cola on 08 Sep 2008 at 9:31 pm #

    Rick in Shermantown:
    “Final comment: Over the course of my teaching career, I saw many, many girls – children, actually – who were pregnant. . . .”

    Hey Governor Palin:
    Guess the crapola of teaching abstinence only isn’t the brightest idea. Wonder if Palin ever talked about BIRTH CONTROL w/ the kid?