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Gus Arriola

Gustavo "Gus" Arriola (July 17, 1917 – February 2, 2008) was an American comic strip cartoonist and animator, primarily known for the comic strip Gordo, which ran from 1941 through 1985.

Gus Arriola
Arriola in 1949
BornGustavo Arriola
(1917-07-17)July 17, 1917
Florence, Arizona, U.S.
DiedFebruary 2, 2008(2008-02-02) (aged 90)
Carmel, California
Area(s)Cartoonist
Notable works
Gordo
AwardsNational Cartoonist Society's Humor Comic Strip Award, 1957, 1965

Biography edit

 
Gus Arriola in 1935

Gus Arriola was born in Florence, Arizona, the youngest of nine children. Arriola's father, Aquiles Arriola, had been born on a hacienda in Sonora, Mexico.[1] Gus's mother died when he was a baby, and he was raised by an older sister in a Spanish-speaking household.[2] He learned English by reading the Sunday comics.[1] His family moved to Los Angeles, California, when he was eight years old. He first studied art formally in Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, California.[1]

Immediately after high school he spent a year working on Krazy Kat for Screen Gems, then three years animating Tom and Jerry and Lonesome Stranger for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio as a "sketch man", before leaving to start his own comic strip.[2][3] During World War II, he directed training films for the United States Army while continuing to produce Sunday Gordo cartoons.[2]

Gordo (1942–1985) edit

 
Gus Arriola's Gordo (1964)

Although Arriola did not visit Mexico until 1961, he used the human and animal characters of his strip to introduce Mexican culture to readers throughout the world.[1] Gordo was initially designed to be a Mexican version of Li'l Abner, with a highly caricatured style and a lazy overweight title character who spoke in heavily accented English and took naps under a tree wearing a sombrero.[1] The character reflected popular conceptions of Mexicans at the time, particularly Leo Carrillo's portrayal of The Cisco Kid's sidekick, Pancho, on television and film.[2]

After his early strips were criticized for Hollywood-style cultural stereotypes, Arriola realized that his was the only periodical work in American mass media that depicted life in Mexico and modified the strip to be more sympathetic.[4] A much thinner and contemplative Gordo eventually became a flirtatious tour guide, whom Arriola often described as an "accidental ambassador" for Mexican culture.[5] The strip introduced America to such now-popular words and phrases as "hasta la vista", "amigo", "piñata", "compadre", "muchacho" and "hasta mañana", as well as Mayan, Aztec and Mexican customs, history and folklore.[5] Arriola also periodically included traditional Mexican recipes in Gordo that proved popular, telling one interviewer, "In 1948 we ran Gordo's recipe for beans and cheese—which got me into 60 extra papers, by the way."[6]

Arriola did all of the writing, illustration and production of Gordo himself, creating strips every day (except in his army years) for 45 years.[2] Charles Schulz described it as "probably the most beautifully drawn strip in the history of the business."[5] Arriola received the National Cartoonist Society's Humor Comic Strip Award in 1957 and 1965. Although not overtly political, Gordo was also one of the first pop culture works that regularly raised environmentalist concerns.[4]

The last Gordo strip was published on March 2, 1985.

Personal life edit

 
Gus Arriola poses with admirers in 1946.

While working on Gordo Arriola lived in La Jolla, California, Phoenix, Arizona and then Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, where he ran a shop selling Mexican arts, crafts, and artifacts from 1961 to 1963.

Arriola met his wife, Mary Frances, at MGM in 1939. They remained married until his death.[2]

He died in Carmel on 2 February 2008. Shortly before his death he received a lifetime achievement award from the Arts Council for Monterey, California.[2] He had suffered from Parkinson's disease.[7][8]

On February 20, 2008, the comic strip Baldo noted, "In memory of our amigo Gus Arriola, 1917–2008." The March 21, 2008, version of the comic strip La Cucaracha, by Lalo Alcaraz, was also a tribute to Arriola.

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Wyatt Buchanan (February 3, 2008). "Gordo cartoonist Gus Arriola dies in Carmel". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Maureen Davidson (January 17, 2008). ""Gordo" opened U.S. readers to Mexico; its creator to be honored for his lifetime achievement". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved 2008-02-03.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ . Carmel Art Association. Archived from the original on 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  4. ^ a b . University Press of Mississippi. Archived from the original on 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  5. ^ a b c Hector Cantu (November 30, 2000). "Gordo creator took accent off stereotype". The Dallas Morning News.
  6. ^ . Archived from the original on 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  7. ^ "'Gordo" creator Arriola dies at age 90". San Jose Mercury. Associated Press. February 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-03.[dead link]
  8. ^ Obituary in the Monterey Herald

External links edit

  • Sam Klemke's video interview with Gus Arriola
  • Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Art Database

arriola, gustavo, arriola, july, 1917, february, 2008, american, comic, strip, cartoonist, animator, primarily, known, comic, strip, gordo, which, from, 1941, through, 1985, arriola, 1949borngustavo, arriola, 1917, july, 1917florence, arizona, diedfebruary, 20. Gustavo Gus Arriola July 17 1917 February 2 2008 was an American comic strip cartoonist and animator primarily known for the comic strip Gordo which ran from 1941 through 1985 Gus ArriolaArriola in 1949BornGustavo Arriola 1917 07 17 July 17 1917Florence Arizona U S DiedFebruary 2 2008 2008 02 02 aged 90 Carmel CaliforniaArea s CartoonistNotable worksGordoAwardsNational Cartoonist Society s Humor Comic Strip Award 1957 1965 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Gordo 1942 1985 2 Personal life 3 Awards 4 References 5 External linksBiography edit nbsp Gus Arriola in 1935Gus Arriola was born in Florence Arizona the youngest of nine children Arriola s father Aquiles Arriola had been born on a hacienda in Sonora Mexico 1 Gus s mother died when he was a baby and he was raised by an older sister in a Spanish speaking household 2 He learned English by reading the Sunday comics 1 His family moved to Los Angeles California when he was eight years old He first studied art formally in Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles California 1 Immediately after high school he spent a year working on Krazy Kat for Screen Gems then three years animating Tom and Jerry and Lonesome Stranger for the Metro Goldwyn Mayer cartoon studio as a sketch man before leaving to start his own comic strip 2 3 During World War II he directed training films for the United States Army while continuing to produce Sunday Gordo cartoons 2 Gordo 1942 1985 edit nbsp Gus Arriola s Gordo 1964 Main article Gordo comic strip Although Arriola did not visit Mexico until 1961 he used the human and animal characters of his strip to introduce Mexican culture to readers throughout the world 1 Gordo was initially designed to be a Mexican version of Li l Abner with a highly caricatured style and a lazy overweight title character who spoke in heavily accented English and took naps under a tree wearing a sombrero 1 The character reflected popular conceptions of Mexicans at the time particularly Leo Carrillo s portrayal of The Cisco Kid s sidekick Pancho on television and film 2 After his early strips were criticized for Hollywood style cultural stereotypes Arriola realized that his was the only periodical work in American mass media that depicted life in Mexico and modified the strip to be more sympathetic 4 A much thinner and contemplative Gordo eventually became a flirtatious tour guide whom Arriola often described as an accidental ambassador for Mexican culture 5 The strip introduced America to such now popular words and phrases as hasta la vista amigo pinata compadre muchacho and hasta manana as well as Mayan Aztec and Mexican customs history and folklore 5 Arriola also periodically included traditional Mexican recipes in Gordo that proved popular telling one interviewer In 1948 we ran Gordo s recipe for beans and cheese which got me into 60 extra papers by the way 6 Arriola did all of the writing illustration and production of Gordo himself creating strips every day except in his army years for 45 years 2 Charles Schulz described it as probably the most beautifully drawn strip in the history of the business 5 Arriola received the National Cartoonist Society s Humor Comic Strip Award in 1957 and 1965 Although not overtly political Gordo was also one of the first pop culture works that regularly raised environmentalist concerns 4 The last Gordo strip was published on March 2 1985 Personal life edit nbsp Gus Arriola poses with admirers in 1946 While working on Gordo Arriola lived in La Jolla California Phoenix Arizona and then Carmel by the Sea California where he ran a shop selling Mexican arts crafts and artifacts from 1961 to 1963 Arriola met his wife Mary Frances at MGM in 1939 They remained married until his death 2 He died in Carmel on 2 February 2008 Shortly before his death he received a lifetime achievement award from the Arts Council for Monterey California 2 He had suffered from Parkinson s disease 7 8 On February 20 2008 the comic strip Baldo noted In memory of our amigo Gus Arriola 1917 2008 The March 21 2008 version of the comic strip La Cucaracha by Lalo Alcaraz was also a tribute to Arriola Awards edit1957 and 1965 National Cartoonists Society Humor Comic Strip Award 2007 Arts Council for Monterey California Lifetime Achievement AwardReferences edit a b c d e Wyatt Buchanan February 3 2008 Gordo cartoonist Gus Arriola dies in Carmel San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved 2008 02 03 a b c d e f g Maureen Davidson January 17 2008 Gordo opened U S readers to Mexico its creator to be honored for his lifetime achievement Monterey County Weekly Retrieved 2008 02 03 permanent dead link Gus Arriola Cartoonist Carmel Art Association Archived from the original on 2008 02 01 Retrieved 2008 02 03 a b Accidental Ambassador Gordo The Comic Strip Art of Gus Arriola University Press of Mississippi Archived from the original on 2019 07 14 Retrieved 2008 02 03 a b c Hector Cantu November 30 2000 Gordo creator took accent off stereotype The Dallas Morning News The Gus Arriola Interview Hogan s Alley 1998 Archived from the original on 2015 02 02 Retrieved 2013 01 16 Gordo creator Arriola dies at age 90 San Jose Mercury Associated Press February 2 2008 Retrieved 2008 02 03 dead link Obituary in the Monterey HeraldExternal links editNCS Awards Gus Arriola Interview Sam Klemke s video interview with Gus Arriola Billy Ireland Cartoon Library amp Museum Art Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gus Arriola amp oldid 1176815916, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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