Bringing Up Father

Bringing Up Father was a comic strip created by George McManus that ran from January 12, 1913 to May 28, 2000.

The strip was about an Irishman named Jiggs living in the United States who comes into wealth but still wants to keep his old pals, eat corned beef and cabbage, and hang out at the tavern, much to the consternation of his wife, Maggie, a social climber.

McManus was inspired by The Rising Generation, a musical comedy by William Gill that he had seen as a boy in the Grand Opera House in St. Louis Missouri, where his father was manager.

One of the characters, Dinty Moore, owner of Jiggs' favorite tavern, lent his name to a real-life restaurant chain and a line of canned goods.

McManus died in 1954 and the strip continued under a number of other artists.

Film versions

The following three movies, all titled Bringing Up Father, were based on the strip:

• In 1915, directed by Larry Semon and starring Hughie Mack and Kate Price
• In 1928, directed by Jack Conway, written by Frances Marion with titles by Ralph Spence, starring J. Farrell MacDonald, Jules Cowles and Polly Moran
• In 1946, directed by Edward F. Cline and written by Cline, Barney Gerard and Jerry Warner, starring Joe Yule, Renie Riano, George McManus (as himself) and Tim Ryan.
  • The last produced four sequels:
    • Jiggs and Maggie in Society - 1948
    • Jiggs and Maggie in Court - 1948
    • Jiggs and Maggie in Jackpot Jitters - 1949
    • Jiggs and Maggie Out West - 1950
• Several silent animated shorts:
  • Father Gets Into the Movies
  • Just Like a Woman
  • A Hot Time In the Gym
  • The Great Hansom Cab Mystery
  • Music Hath Charms
  • He Tries His Hand at Hypnotism
  • Second, the Stimulating Mrs. Barton
  • Father's Close Shave
  • Third, Jiggs and the Social Lion