| Mutt & Jeff | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Augustus Mutt |
|
First Appearance |
A. Mutt (November 15, 1907) |
|
Original Publisher |
San Francisco Chronicle |
|
Created by |
Bud Fisher |
Origin[]
Augustus Mutt is a tall, dimwitted racetrack character — a fanatic horse-race gambler who is motivated by greed. Mutt has a wife, known only as Mrs. Mutt (whom Mutt always addressed as "M'love"; Al Smith admitted in a Boston Globe newspaper column that her first name was Ima – and conceded that he did not use it often because it was not a complimentary name). The Mutts' son was named Cicero.
Mutt first encountered the half-pint Jeff, an inmate of an insane asylum who shares his passion for horseracing, in 1908. They appeared in more and more strips together until the strip abandoned the horse-race theme, and concentrated on Mutt's other outlandish, get-rich-quick schemes. Jeff usually served as a (sometimes unwilling) partner.
Jeff is short, bald as a billiard ball, and wore mutton chop sideburns. He has no last name, stating his name is "just Jeff—first and last and always it's Jeff". He has a twin brother named Julius. They look so much alike that Jeff, who cannot afford to have a portrait painted, sits for Julius, who is too busy to pose. Rarely does Jeff change from his habitual outfit of top hat and suit with wing collar.Characteristic lines and catchphrases that appeared often during the run of the strip included "Nix, Mutt, nix!", "For the love of Mike!" and "Oowah!"
Friends of Mutt and Jeff have included Gus Geevem, Joe Spivis, and the English Sir Sidney. A recurring theme in the strip has the two interacting with celebrities, including sports figures, actors, and politicians. They often refer to these real-life people in a chummy way, such as an actor "Doug" Fairbanks and president "Herb" Hoover.
Public Domain Appearances[]
Public Domain Comic Strip Appearances[]
- Mutt and Jeff (1907-1928)
- Mutt and Jeff #6-18 (Cupples and Leon)
Public Domain Comic Book Appearances[]
- The Funnies #1-3, 6, 8, 10-16, 18-19
- Popular Comics #1-3, 8, 29-37
- First Love Illustrated #89
Public Domain Film Appearances[]
- Mutt and Jeff (1916-1926)