Mr. Muggs Jones

Jim Jones and Mr. Muggs

Advanced Intelligence

Forced Boxing

Being a cult mascot

Playing Tug-of-war and keep away (in Real life)

### Featured Episodes

Episode 302: Jonestown Part III: Check PleaseEpisode 303: Jonestown Part IV: The BoxEpisode 304: Jonestown Part V: The Last Year

## Mr. Muggs Jones

Mr. Muggs Jones made his debut in Episode 302 of the Last Podcast on the Left. He

## Origins

It is unknown when Mr. Muggs was born. He was bought by Jim Jones and his family at a pet store on a trip back from Los Angeles in 1971 or 1972 (when Stephan Jones was 11-12 years old). Jim Jones lied about where the chimp was from, claiming the primate had been saved from an animal testing lab.

His name originates from The Tonight Show, who had their own chimp mascot named J. Fred Muggs. He became the mascot for the People's Temple.

## Last Podcast Interpretation

When Mr. Muggs was introduced in the middle of Episode 302 by Marcus, Ben is impressed and thought that any kid would love to have had a pet monkey growing up. Meanwhile, Henry builds a new character around the primate, taking the lie that Jim Jones told his followers that Muggs had been rescued from a labratory, and imagining the pet with a voice box, making him sound robotic.

Mr. Muggs seems to be very intelligent and aware of what is happening around him, including that he is in a cult. He knows that Jim Jones is a horrible person (and even picks up on the man's use of sunglasses). The primate even attempts to convince the Jones children to run and to save themselves and him too. He also seems understands that he is a mascot and encourages people to merchandise him as they can make good money from it. Henry also imagines that when the three talk about discipline, Mr. Muggs would be forced to box old ladies as punishment (This could be based on a rumour that children who misbeaved in Jonestown were sometimes punished by being put in Mr. Muggs' cage, which is terrifying considering how dangerous chimpanzees could be and Jim had trained Muggs to attack on command. However, against this theory is that Mr. Muggs loved children and mistrusted adults).

In Episode 303: Jonestown Part IV: The Box, Mr. Muggs reappears, this time relaying to the members that he talked to the Gang of 8 (defectors from the Temple). Marcus talks about how Mr. Muggs was the first resident of Jonestown and Ben says the chimp must've loved it, until Marcus mentions that the poor guy was kept in a cage the entire time. Ben asks why they would do that and the other two insist that he would have just run away and that he's a wild monkey. Ben goes on to say that he would have put Mr. Muggs in a Fleetwood Mac dress and Henry asks if Ben would have liked to "mate" with this monkey.

## Quotes

"Run children run, save yourselves. Save Muggs, save Muggs the monkey. Get monkey into police car!"

- *Mr. Muggs' first lines*

"Why are you wearing sunglasses inside? Do you... you are frightening me. Please stop trying to make love to me!"

"Please merchandise me, you're leaving money on the table."

"Check Please!"

"I don't want to kill you but look what I did to Raquel Welch."

-*Being forced to box an old lady*

"I'll never tell what happened here..."

## Gallery

Mr. Muggs and Joyce TouchetteMr. Muggs and People Temple MembersMr. Muggs in his cage in JonestownMr. Muggs and Stephan Jones

## Fan Art

[1] Mr. Muggs: A Profile

[2] Mr. Muggs- James Warren Jones