The series premiered in 1900. Stopped in 1932 due to Oppers' deteoriating eyesight.

The title character is a good-natured hobo wearing rags and a can for a hat. He is a victim of society, he is always misunderstood, and his helpful actions most often backfire and regularly land him in the clutches of the law. Hooligan has two sidekick brothers who pop up occasionally; the negative Gloomy Gus and the would-be aristocrat Montmorency, both of which are a far cry from Happy's optimistic outlook.

Hooligan obtained the rare honour of being a semi-regular guest star in the much younger series Sam's Strip.