<p>The Gumps was an extremely popular comic strip about a middle-class family created by Sidney Smith (1877-1935) in 1917, running in nation-wide newspapers until 1959. Readers anxiously followed the convoluted story lines, and by 1919, 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 "Mutt" Murphy (1876-1961), 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. </p>
<p>Caption information source: The Seattle Daily Times, July 4, 1926, p. 10 and 23</p>
<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Celebrity touring--Washington (State)--Seattle; Gumps; Railroad cabooses--American--Washington (State)--Seattle</li>
<li>People: Murphy, Joe, 1876-1961</li></ul>
<div class="fn value">
Webster &amp; Stevens</div>
Taken on 1 June 1926
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/search">Museum of History and Industry</a>