# Where are Dagwood's and Blondie's parents? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537 "2020-05-10T15:19:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/1 "2020-05-10T15:19:08Z")
Reading the Sunday comics this morning, I realized I could not recall having ever seen - or even heard reference to - Dagwood’s or Blondie’s parents. Struck me as curious, given the nature of the strip, and the length it has run. I understand back in the 30s, Dag’s rich parents disapproved of Blondie, but it surprises me that there has not been more (any?) mention of either set of grandparents over the past 5 decades. Do you have any info (or theories) about the missing Blondie generation? Any other comic strip “omissions” that strike you as unusual? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/2 "2020-05-10T17:01:01Z")
When the Bumsteads disowned Dagwood, they apparently meant it and they never saw each other again (although they were present at the wedding). As far as I know, the Boopadoop family was never seen, other than Blondie herself. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/3 "2020-05-10T17:14:34Z")
Little Nemo has it right. Their parents weren’t needed, and the strip has never been long on adding characters. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/4 "2020-05-10T17:23:06Z")
For me, the most mysterious thing about _Blondie_ was why neighbor [Herb Woodley](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7f/77/eb/7f77ebb7e78203a1b608badf9b35a069.jpg) apparently moonlighted as a mailman under the name of [Mr. Beasley,](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cf/d1/a8/cfd1a8e03ea3b16527768cd8d5a930d5.jpg) and Dagwood never noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/5 "2020-05-10T17:32:04Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > As far as I know, the Boopadoop family was never seen, other than Blondie herself. I think the answer lies in the fact that Blondie’s sister [Betty](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Betty_Boop_patent_fig1.jpg) (who used a shortened form of the family name as her stage name) [was originally a dog.](https://www.fleischerstudios.com/uploads/1/7/4/1/17419695/9875178-orig.jpg) I think Blondie was embarrassed by her canine ancestry and sought to conceal it. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/6 "2020-05-10T21:51:16Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > For me, the most mysterious thing about _Blondie_ was why neighbor [Herb Woodley](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7f/77/eb/7f77ebb7e78203a1b608badf9b35a069.jpg) apparently moonlighted as a mailman under the name of [Mr. Beasley,](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cf/d1/a8/cfd1a8e03ea3b16527768cd8d5a930d5.jpg) and Dagwood never noticed. Identical cousins? I followed Blondie from the mid-50’s to mid-70’s (?). HOW could I never have noticed that? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/7 "2020-05-10T22:56:56Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Identical cousins? > I followed Blondie from the mid-50’s to mid-70’s (?). HOW could I never have noticed that? I wonder if they ever appeared together in the same strip. Actually, there are slight differences between them. Herb has a larger jaw and a cleft chin. But they could be brothers. You wonder why Young made them so similar. Maybe the mailman outfit was a disguise so Herb could sneak a visit to Blondie once Dagwood left for work.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/8 "2020-05-10T23:09:34Z")
They escaped into the future. Dagwood’s parents are George and Jane Jetson. It is obvious if you just l look at them. How can you not see it? Blondie is Donna Reed’s mom. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/9 "2020-05-10T23:45:01Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > When the Bumsteads disowned Dagwood, they apparently meant it and they never saw each other again (although they were present at the wedding). Apparently [the couple was still being invited to Dagwood’s parents’ parties](https://www.frominsultstorespect.com/2013/12/15/blondie-dagwood-and-the-nature-of-personal-power/) at least a short time after they married, but with bad results. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/10 "2020-05-10T23:46:21Z")
[Maybe Dagwood’s father clumb a stick and hollered “fire”](https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0006/blondie1.html)? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/11 "2020-05-10T23:57:30Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > As far as I know, the Boopadoop family was never seen, other than Blondie herself. Blondie’s mother at least is referred to in the early strips. [Here’s a strip where Blondie’s mother is heard,](https://natedsanders.com/chic_young_hand_drawn ___blondie___ comic_strip_from-lot57804.aspx)but remains out of the scene. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/12 "2020-05-11T00:00:38Z")
[Here’s one where Blondie’s mother actually appears.](https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/comic-strip-art/chic-young-blondie-daily-comic-strip-original-art-dated-6-25-31-king-features-syndicate-1931-dagwood-has-left-his-fil/a/817-5568.s) She’s evidently a brunette, and Blondie was living with her before she married Dagwood. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/13 "2020-05-11T00:28:19Z")
actually in the book i read by the son of the creator when he took it over in the 80s the Sunday strips were originally for blondie and her mom (who was characterized as a ditzy flapper party girl ) until the tone of the comic changed they were just joke scripts usually about the mom’s lifestyle that didn’t have any continuity with the ones during the week ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/14 "2020-05-11T00:28:44Z")
Her mother is also in the first _Blondie_ comic on [this](http://bennypdrinnon.blogspot.com/2013/05/chic-youngs-blondie-boopadoop.html?m=1) page. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/15 "2020-05-11T00:34:13Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Maybe the mailman outfit was a disguise so Herb could sneak a visit to Blondie once Dagwood left for work.😉 Where’s the thrill in that? Herb’s wife Tootsie is already Blondie, just a brunette. It’s the Veronica/Betty principle in action. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/16 "2020-05-11T01:50:55Z")
So when was the last reference to the parents? No one else ages (MUCH - these past several decades), so I presume they are still around. And yeah - I remember one time realizing Herb and the mailman WEREN’T the same person. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/17 "2020-05-11T02:37:31Z")
Blast from the past… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r9R9LDYb6HM/hqdefault.jpg "Blondie and Dagwood Movies: Blondie Goes Latin (1941)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9R9LDYb6HM) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/18 "2020-05-11T03:08:43Z")
I would guess all the parents would have been phased out pretty quickly, and certainly before Baby Dumpling was born. Having found success as a domestic strip, Young probably wanted eliminate all connections to Blondie and Dagwood’s former identities. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/19 "2020-05-11T15:42:46Z")
I guess it is kinda unusual in the lack of different characters. Outside of an occasional co-worker at the water fountain, customer at the caterer’s, or passerby on the sidewalk or in stores, the Bumsteads travel in a quite circumscribed society. Being such a “family oriented” strip, I guess it seemed “reasonable” that there would at least occasionally be references to extended family - other than Dagwood’s references to long lost uncles, cousins, etc w/ unusual accomplishments/characteristics. For example, For Better or Worse (being rerun) had a recent thread w/ a visiting relative. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537/20 "2020-05-11T15:54:47Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Identical cousins? > I followed Blondie from the mid-50’s to mid-70’s (?). HOW could I never have noticed that? It’s the hat. Like Clark Kent’s glasses, it renders the person completely unrecognizable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-dagwoods-and-blondies-parents/853537.md?page=2)