Bud Fisher

On Strike is one of more than 300 animated ‘half-reelers’ produced between 1913 and 1926 starring the popular American comic-strip characters Mutt and Jeff—and is unusual in featuring live-action shots of its creator, Bud Fisher.

Americans are preoccupied with the news, but need an escape from many of the events reported in the news. These escapes in the past have included dime store novels. The most accessible of these escapes is what are known as the funny papers, the set of serialized comic strips that are included within many newspapers. They appeal to all socio-economic classes, and all ages. Some of the earliest known from the late 19th century include the Yellow Kid, Little Nemo, Happy Hooligan, the Katzenjammer Kids, Mutt & Jeff, and Bringing Up Father. Many cartoonists are seen in action. Some originated their characters, while others have taken over following the passing of the originator. The joy of many comic strips are the absurd and the fantastical, which are limited only by the imagination of the cartoonist. Others are grounded in reality, which add to their poignancy within the public mindset.

1925 Mutt and Jeff cartoon

1925 Mutt and Jeff cartoon

Mutt has been appointed the judge at a dog show. He persuades Jeff to dress in a dog costume and they will split the prize money.

Cowboys Mutt and Jeff tangle with a bull on the ranch where they work.

On Strike is one of more than 300 animated ‘half-reelers’ produced between 1913 and 1926 starring the popular American comic-strip characters Mutt and Jeff—and is unusual in featuring live-action shots of its creator, Bud Fisher.

In this silent Mutt and Jeff cartoon, Jeff puts some pep liquid instead of the usual syrup in the sodas that Mutt serves to the customers in the malt shop.

An early Mutt & Jeff cartoon.

Mutt and Jeff go fishing and Mutt has adventures with some skunks. Later he meets a fair young bathing girl who intrigues his affections until a rival appears.

Mutt and Jeff go fishing and Mutt has adventures with some skunks. Later he meets a fair young bathing girl who intrigues his affections until a rival appears.

An early Mutt & Jeff cartoon.

In this early Mutt and Jeff cartoon, Jeff - hes the short one and his full name is Edgar Horace Jeff - is feeling rather ill. His pal Mutt - the tall one, whose full name is Augustus J. Mutt - attempts to comfort him with unlikely and primitively funny results.

A Mutt and Jeff Cartoon. The mismatched pair find themselves dabbling in the title pursuit.

Private eyes Mutt and Jeff are on the trail of the ghostly shape-shifting criminal, the Phantom.

Private eyes Mutt and Jeff are on the trail of the ghostly shape-shifting criminal, the Phantom.

A Mutt & Jeff cartoon.

Animation from the Mut and Jeff series is a bit crude in it's movement and it's wife with rolling pin humor but even now it's passably amusing.

An early Mutt and Jeff cartoon.

An early Mutt & Jeff cartoon.

A Mutt and Jeff short.

A Mutt and Jeff short.

Mutt and Jeff conduct a moving picture show in which they exhibit their patent process for making and distributing flap jacks on a wholesale basis. The subject is an amusing burlesque on the industrial films of which the public is so fond.

Mutt and Jeff conduct a moving picture show in which they exhibit their patent process for making and distributing flap jacks on a wholesale basis. The subject is an amusing burlesque on the industrial films of which the public is so fond.

An early Mutt and Jeff cartoon.

Mutt and Jeff own and operate their own firehouse. Mutt believes where there's smoke, there's fire, which gets them into an early scrape. But they are called to an actual fire of a several storied residential building. A frantic woman asks them to save her baby who is located on the top floor of the burning building. Their first problem is how to get up to the top floor, which Jeff inadvertently figures out how to do. But other distractions plus trying to find the baby through the thick smoke may be obstacles in achieving their mission. But something that the woman doesn't tell them may be the biggest hurdle.