A pithy comic strip about life, love, lust and puthy cats.

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

They Suit Horses, Don’t They?

By Jimmy Johnson


Buy the new book, "Beaucoup Arlo & Janis!"Today's "Arlo & Janis!"
Yesterday, July 29, 2015, marked 30 years of Arlo & Janis in newspapers. It’s an understatement to say the big anniversary bash was low key. Oh, months ago there were big plans, but the best laid plans of mice and men aft get knocked into a cocked hat. I confess to a certain ambivalence about the whole thing. To survive and thrive for 30 years in the newspaper syndication business is a rare accomplishment. Conversely, bragging about how long one has been around in the syndication business is tantamount to bragging about how lame and irrelevant one has become. That’s not always fair or true, but for some it is the consensus. I do want to say that I feel very privileged. I love what I do. Who wouldn’t? And I thank all of you who have made my livelihood possible over the years by reading Arlo & Janis and encouraging me. I consider it a personal favor, which I will return by drawing the best comic strip I can.

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177 responses to “They Suit Horses, Don’t They?”

  1. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Debbe 😉 Walking Playlist #8 – Because, you can never have too much Stones. Also, it was featured in “Night Shift”, an old comedy I really enjoyed, a Ron Howard film with Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton, and Shelley Long. (Ms. Long made a really cute…and sexy…hooker, something a bit unexpected compared to her role as Diane on “Cheers”, who seemed to always have a stick up her butt.)

    Also, that lady I mentioned previously would inevitably jump me after she got me started up. 😉

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQSGw0hMd_I

  2. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    We haven’t had this many people since Woodstock. Wavy Gravy, where are you? Hello yal if you haven’t been here before. JJ, I was just kidding although it was really Ken Burns’ birthday. We’ll just say keep up the good work. If we overdo it you may decide to run for president. “I’m just an everyday simple savior of my country.”-Pat Paulson

  3. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Thank You “Fearless Leader” for 30 years of memorable stories, 4 boxes at a time (mostly)

  4. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Mark
    Thank you – Thank you – Thank you
    When I see the words that is exactly what they are singing. They inserted this between 2 verses of “Eternal Father” without noting but then “they” combined lyrics from different versions of a hymn and made it their own.
    I have transcribed the 2 CDs using 4 Hymnals and the Net. Now it is complete.

    For those that did not look it is from:
    “Hymns Triumphant”
    The London Philharmonic Choir
    The Amen Choir and
    London’s National Philharmonic Orchestra

  5. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    emb

    Steve S will try to contact you for me.

    Brother did take Biology classes.
    You had 1,000s of students so to remember 1 after 50 years they would have to have
    been very very good or very very bad. Like the girl with the curl. Which is a clean Limerick.

    There was a little girl

    By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1807–1882
    There was a little girl,
    Who had a little curl,
    Right in the middle of her forehead.
    When she was good,
    She was very good indeed, (I heard “very very good”)
    But when she was bad she was horrid.

  6. Sideburns Avatar

    I like this version better, referring to Mae West:

    When she was good,

    She was very very good,

    But when she was bad she was better!

  7. emb Avatar
    emb

    Didn’t realize it was Longfellow. I also learned ‘very, very good.’ Don’t remember where, but pretty sure it was later than KG-2nd grade. Peace, emb

  8. Mindy from Indy Avatar

    Friday’s real-time – Bwhahahahaha! Okay, morning is officially made. 😀

  9. Debbe Avatar
    Debbe

    Good morning Villagers….

    As I said a couple of days ago, congratulations Jimmy Johnson. for 30 years of successful readership…

    oh, and this fan loves today’s real time

    ya’ll have a blessed day.

  10. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    Mae West had a beautiful mink coat. “My goodness”, exclaimed an admirer. “Goodness had nothing to do with it dearie.”

  11. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Old Bear, you are very welcome. Glad I could help you out.

    “Free the lizard”? No wonder the couple took up running. Excellent capper to a good story line. Thanks and enjoy your weekend, Jimmy.

  12. Ruth Anne in Winter Park Avatar
    Ruth Anne in Winter Park

    I too learned “very, very good” – had no idea it was Longfellow!

  13. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    Today was an absolute laugh out loud special – just trying to free the lizard indeed. And a great expression on Arlo’s face.

  14. Steve from Royal Oak, Mi Avatar

    Did all go well Debbe? I know that you are quite busy…

  15. domaucan1 Avatar
    domaucan1

    Jimmy,

    Sorry to be so late. Having been”with” you since the beginning in the Auburn-Opelika News, I feel like you and Arlo and Janis are part of my family, and, since you are a fellow WAR EAGLE, you are family and always will be. CONGRATULATIONS! Keep up the good work and, win or lose,
    IT’S GREAT TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER!

  16. Canuckguy Avatar
    Canuckguy

    This is my favourite strip and I have been a fan ever since my newspaper started carrying it which I can’t remember when but it was certainly more than 25 years ago.
    Heh, when I type in ‘favourite’, the system indicated a spelling error due to the Canadian habit of putting the ‘u’ in Mercan spelt words like ‘labor’, ‘favor’, ‘arbor’, ‘candor’, ‘harbor’, ‘behavior’ and of course ‘humor’

  17. sandcastlerâ„¢ Avatar
    sandcastlerâ„¢

    The real time is a great hooter. Hope you copyrighted “free the lizard”, would make a great band name.

  18. Cozmik Cowboy Avatar
    Cozmik Cowboy

    Thank you, Jimmy!
    I’ve been reading A&J since the beginning, and I honestly cannot remember one bad strip (that didn’t have the cat).

  19. Symply Fargone Avatar

    @JJ,

    Today’s strip two words:

    Symply Fargone!

  20. emb Avatar
    emb

    Old Bear:

    ‘You had 1,000s of students so to remember 1 after 50 years they would have to have been very very good or very very bad. Like the girl with the curl.’

    I remember some in other categories. Some try to sweet talk for a grade, or even offer their ‘services.’ Don’t remember their names usually, but it did result in my incorporating info / my lovable wife into many of my first few lectures. Also, incorporated casual references to church activities [no theology, they thought, but such things as, ‘Wife is our parish nurse.’], which led to individual class questions like, ‘How can you claim to be a Christian, and still “believe in” evolution?’ [I never ‘claimed to be a Christian’, and also they brought that question up, which freed me to answer it, in broad, not denominational of even ‘Christian’ terms. I miss the classroom [but not the meetings and budgets].

    Also remember many that became lifelong or long term friends, either / fascination with biology or some common interest. As I said at my retirement party, being a teaching prof is the best underpaid job in the world.

    Peace, emb

  21. emb Avatar
    emb

    ‘OR even ‘Christian’ terms.’

  22. sandcastlerâ„¢ Avatar
    sandcastlerâ„¢

    Board game updated for the early 00’s.http://www.gocomics.com/moderately-confused/2015/07/31

  23. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Sand

    Or

    Mr Teal in the Home Office with the Recharger.

  24. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    GETTING OLDER

    A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor’s office.
    “Is it true,” she wanted to know, “that the medication
    you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?”
    “‘Yes, I’m afraid so,”‘ the doctor told her.
    There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied,
    “I’m wondering, then, just how serious is my condition
    because this prescription is marked ‘NO REFILLS’..”