Mutt and Jeff

Mutt and Jeff was a comic strip that ran from November 15, 1907 to 1982. It was created by Bud Fisher, though for most of its run (1932-1980), it was drawn by Al Smith. Other contributors included Ken Kling, Ed Mack, and George Breisacher.

While not the first daily comic strip, it was the first successful one and is credited with establishing the format that continues to this day.

The strip was originally titled A. Mutt. The character Jeff was introduced on March 27, 1908. On June 7, 1908, the character A. Mutt was killed off, but was later brought back as Augustus P. Mutt.

During the silent film era, more than 300 animated Mutt and Jeff shorts were released, the longest animated series in cinema history (although Popeye has appeared in the most cartoons if television is included).

Interestingly, before Smith began drawing the strip, Mack introduced a plotline featuring Mutt running for President, during the 1928 Presidential election when the same-named Governor Al Smith was a candidate.

Due to the strip's popularity, "Mutt and Jeff" became idiomatic for any tall-and-short pair of men.