For a comic strip that has been around as long as it has, Arlo & Janis is blessed with a steady influx of new readers, especially on the Web. Occasionally, when events skip from the title characters to their son and his family, many of those new readers are left asking, “Who th’ heck are these people, and where is Arlo & Janis?” Now this will be a snooze for most of you, who’ve been reading A&J for a long time, but I thought it would be fun to take time on the blog today to introduce those other people in Arlo & Janis.
We must begin, of course, with Gene. Simply, Gene is the son of Arlo and Janis. For years in the strip, he was an almost daily presence, playing the role of the precocious little boy. But the characters age in A&J, if not in real time something close to it. Eventually, he went off to college, but he spent his summers working in a seafood restaurant “on the coast” that belonged to the family of a childhood friend. You might rightly ask, “What coast?” It’s never specified, but I grew up visiting the beaches of the northern Gulf Coast, from Gulfport to Apalachicola, so I suppose influence from that area is inevitable. You are free to insert the coast of your choice.
That childhood friend was Mary Lou. Mary Lou grew up on the beach, and she and Gene first met when they both were about 12 years old. They may have been the same age, but when it came to “precocious,” Mary Lou was far beyond young Gene. Yet, they bonded as friends. For several years, Gene would return to the beach with his vacationing parents and renew his acquaintance with Mary Lou. However, “Lou,” as she’s sometimes called, was destined for a life crisis of her own, and the two drifted apart briefly. The age of digital communication being what it is, though, they never lost touch completely, and by the time Gene the college boy arrived to work at her family’s restaurant, they were in love. Having weathered her crisis, Mary Lou played a large role in the day-to-day running of her father’s restaurant and initiated Gene into the demanding business of hospitality.
That “life crisis” was Meg, Mary Lou’s daughter. An intelligent and good-natured only-child, she literally grew up in the family business. She spent many hours doing homework and coloring in her grandfather’s cluttered office, and she sometimes lagged for quarters with the bus boys behind the restaurant. To further amuse herself, she would sit in a booth at slow times and bundle silverware and napkins. To be sure, she inherited the family work ethic, but the child in her took immediately to the child in Gene. They’ve been buds from the time they met. And, no, Gene is not Meg’s biological father, since it often is asked.
Gus is the patriarch of the coast clan, Mary Lou’s father and Meg’s grandfather. Starting from nothing, “Pop” has owned and operated a series of motels and restaurants along the coast. He owned the motel where Gene’s family stayed on several of their vacations, which is why Mary Lou was living at the beach when she and Gene met as children. Actually, Gus’ real business all along was real estate, as he sold one concern and purchased another. That beach property you wish you’d bought back when it was dirt cheap? Well, Gus did buy it, and he’s done quite well. After the kids married, Gus made Mary Lou and Gene partners in his popular restaurant, and when he sold the site to developers he rewarded their hard work generously. It was this largess that is bankrolling their current dream of living for themselves on their small farm. A no-nonsense man with an infinite love for his daughter and granddaughter, Gus is one of my favorite characters.
Well, that’s about it! I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief recap. I would like to remind everyone that there’s one more week in the Kickstarter campaign to resurrect the parsonage in Camp Hill. If you’re interested, click on the link below. If nothing else, check out the video! I worked a long time on that sucker, believe it or not!
133 responses to ““Who are these people?””
Gus is Greek, no question. Meg looks like him. Mary Lou looks like Gus’ second wife.
I had a back story once, but a visit to my chiropractor fixed it.
To those who just happened on the site, don’t worry, no purchase is required. If you love the strip, the book is great and well worth it. The kick starter project is also well worth it, but for a different reason.
Jimmy is shy about promoting himself. I am a semi retired huckster with few such inhibitions and we love Jimmy.
Funny, no one must use huckster or inhibitions anymore, Hal didn’t know the way to spell. Oh right, it’s election year, so it’s normal behavior.
Inhibitions have fallen by the wayside. Someone posted on FB that we should not be attacking the two Presidential candidates character. My reply was “What character?” I would love to talk about the issues but both of these candidate’s characters are fatally flawed.
A friend posted a fully clothed Mrs. Obama and a totally nude possible First Lady. My observation was nudity was just fine with me but some how did not seem right for international diplomacy. Can you imagine the Queen in nothing or her husband?
Or for that matter either of the candidates? This is no political statement, just under Ghost’s observation about those we don’t want to see without clothes. I don’t think we’ve had a President since JFK I would have wanted to see without clothes but perhaps the younger Bush?
In case you wonder what this is about, look on Facebook or Twitter or just Google.
It’s interesting to me to see the talking heads looking into the camera and trying to avoid saying “What are you people thinking?”
Good one Jerry!
I read that as “In case you wonder what this is about, look on Facebook or Twitter or just Giggle.”
I’d direct the same question to many of the talking heads as well.
What color is Gene’s hair supposed to be these days? He started out black, then it was brown, and in today’s strip it was blonde. Is this an error by the daily colorer, or is he going through the rainbow of hair? Will he become a ginger? Or go grey early like Steve Martin?
He spends a lot of time in the sun and has naturally and organically gone blonde. I like it.
Steve, more than two candidates, guessing you are referring to the kids with deep pockets.
Jackie, all that sun exposure did for me was melanoma.
I love the humor and loving relationships of this comics. The writer/artist is “spot on” with his observations of human behavior and he presents it with dry wit and subtle compassion. A long time fan. First thing I read daily. Way to go Jimmy!
I think, and hope, that Gus loves Gene almost as much as eh loves Mary Lou and Meg.
And I meant to tell you, JJ, that the video was VERY impressive. It looks like the result of hard work.
Have to watch the video on my tablet. Still have no idea what Ludwig said. Jimmy you did a great job on video.
So when do we get an Arlo and Janis tv special, Jimmy?
didn’t Mary Lou have an older sister though?
Where I got this is a state secret.
“WHOREHOUSE SUES LOCAL CHURCH OVER LIGHTNING STRIKE!
What an interesting turn of events in Pahrump, Nevada…
Diamond D’s brothel began construction on an expansion of their building to increase their ever-growing business.
In response, the local Baptist Church started a campaign to block the business from expanding — with morning, afternoon, and evening prayer sessions at their church.
Work on Diamond D’s progressed right up until the week before the grand re-opening when lightning struck the whorehouse and burned it to the ground!
After the brothel burned to the ground by the lightning strike, the church folks were rather smug in their outlook, bragging about “the power of prayer.”
But late last week ‘Big Jugs’ Jill Diamond, the owner/madam, sued the church, the preacher and the entire congregation on the grounds that the church … “was ultimately responsible for the demise of her building and her business — either through direct or indirect divine actions or means.”
In its reply to the court, the church vehemently and vociferously denied any and all responsibility or any connection to the building’s demise.
The crusty old judge read through the plaintiff’s complaint and the defendant’s reply, and at the opening hearing he commented, “I don’t know how the hell I’m going to decide this case, but it appears from the paperwork, that we now have a whorehouse owner who staunchly believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that thinks it’s all bullsh*t.”
Peace [piece?],
That is hilarious. Did you make this one up? Being Nevada it could be trur!
It is a good story – so good it has many variations 🙂
http://www.snopes.com/humor/iftrue/prayer.asp
I recall reading some years ago that a female sex worker was running for mayor of the small Nevada community in which the brothel that employed her was located. I don’t if she was elected or not. I do remember thinking how refreshing it was to hear of a politician that actually admitted she was a…well, you catch my drift.
s/b …I don’t know if she was elected…
Why is it always the Baptists in those stories? Of course, it was a Baptist friend who told me this…
“Jews don’t recognize Jesus. Protestants don’t recognize the Pope. And Baptists don’t recognize each other in a liquor store.”
For Ghost: https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p235x350/13669160_1052619928106497_3459520410225649234_n.jpg?oh=599b0c97fe9d6bed71f7072eedf6a4df&oe=581342E7
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13606440_1182521528479368_8291357962393473185_n.png?oh=b992c0a54adb403f90e844f5addb8771&oe=5828A4B1