The Gumps was an extremely popular comic strip about a middle-class family created in 1917 by Sidney Smith (1877-1935), running in nation-wide newspapers until 1959. Readers anxiously followed the convoluted story lines, and by1919, this popularity prompted an interest in film adaptations. Between 1923 and 1928, Universal Pictures produced at least four dozen Gumps two-reel comedies starring Joe Murphy (1877-1961), one of the original Keystone Cops, as Andy Gump.
In this image Mr. Murphy, in character as Andy Gump, shakes hands with an unidentified man on the back deck of a train car. The Gumps were visiting Seattle as part of a "vacation" tour of the Pacific Coast. At the time Mr. Gump was "campaigning" for the 1928 U. S. presidential election, stating if elected his "first official act will be to have the national capital moved from Washington to Seattle." While in Seattle Mr. Gump met with A. Bloom of Universal and Robert W. Bender of the Columbia Theatre.
Webster & Stevens number: 107722
Caption information source: "The Seattle Daily Times," July 4, 1926, pps. 10 and 23.
Physical Description: 1 negative : glass, b&w ; 5 x 7 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
