Newsies, which began life as a Disney movie before morphing into a brand-new stage musical at Paper Mill Playhouse, was inspired by a real-life event: the strike of newsboys against Joseph Pulitzer and other publishers who tried to take more than their fair share of the young workers' earnings.

What parts of Newsies is true?

The true fact is that Newsies is based on the 1899 Newsboys' Revolution, which was triggered by Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst's decision to raise the prices of their papers, The Evening World and the New York Evening Journal (which the newsies had to buy in order to sell).

Was there a real Jack Kelly?

He was busted for gambling and related offenses, but nothing much came of it. Jack cleared his name from the charge of murder only in 1936, two years before his death — three years after Fiorello La Guardia was elected mayor.

Was Bryan Denton a real person?

So while the newspapers named in the movie and the musical were all real papers, but the movie wasn't right, either, with a reporter named Bryan Denton. As far as we can tell, there was no reporter named Bryan Denton who worked at The Sun. But the article written for The Sun was real.

Was Crutchie a real person?

Yes! Crutchie is based on a real kid! We know very little about him but here is what we do know: His name was Crutch Morris according to most sources, although one source calls him Crutchy Morris and another refers to him as One-Leg Morris.

Newsboys' Strike of 1899 | The Kids Who Beat Pulitzer and Hearst

36 related questions found

What is Crutchies real name Newsies?

Crutchy Morris is a Manhattan newsboy. His real name is Charles Morris Albert.

Why is Crutchie disabled?

Jack's best friend is named Crutchie, because one of his legs was paralyzed by polio, and he uses a crutch to walk. He's fairly popular with fans of the show for his excellent jokes and adorable hopefulness.

What happened to the real life Katherine Pulitzer?

Died of pneumonia. Daughter of publisher Joseph Pulitzer. Died of pneumonia.

Did Teddy Roosevelt really help the Newsies?

Newsies is based on the Newsboys Strike of 1899. ... Finally, in the movie and musical, Theodore Roosevelt helped Jack and the Newsies with the strike against Pulitzer and Hearst.

How old is Crutchie?

Age: Unsure. However, given that he's Jack's best friend, he's probably fairly close in age to him- 15 to 18.

Why did Newsies say extra extra?

If an extraordinary event happened after a publication's morning deadline, many newspapers would print a second edition in order to deliver the news, i.e. an "extra." And to bring attention to the breaking news, newsies would go out of their way to push these secondary editions, shouting, "Extra!

Why did Snyder go to jail Newsies?

Disabled newsie "Crutchie" is captured by Pulitzer's enforcers, the Delancey brothers, and placed in an orphanage and juvenile detention center called the Refuge, run by the sketchy Warden Snyder, who neglects the orphans so that he can embezzle money given to him by the city for their care.

Who does Jack fall in love with in Newsies?

Katherine Pulitzer is a stage-musical-only character who replaces, in some way, the characters of Bryan Denton and Sarah Jacobs. She is the journalist who helps with the Newsie strike and the love interest for Jack Kelly.

How old is Katherine supposed to be in Newsies?

Katherine Plumber: (Female, Age: looks 17 to 20's) Strong-willed, smart and ambitious young reporter, works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren't taken seriously.

Who is the love interest in Newsies?

One of the new characters the musical has birthed is Katherine Plumber, a young reporter who becomes of particular interest to our hero, Jack Kelly. Katherine is actually a combination of Bryan Denton, the news reporter who helps lead the newsies. and Sarah, Jack's love interest.

What happened Crutchies legs?

The crippling effects of polio have left him with a bum leg but you won't find him looking for sympathy. A tough little guy, he's always got a wisecrack and a smile.

Who is specs in Newsies?

Specs is an ensemble newsie. He was originated by Mark David on screen and Ryan Steele on stage.

Who was Joseph Pulitzer in the Newsies?

Joseph Pulitzer was the publisher of the New York World and one of the two main antagonists of the 1992 Disney musical Newsies. He was portrayed by the legendary actor Robert Duvall, who also played Frank Burns, Fred Waterford, Bill Kilgore, and Tom Hagen.

What did Kid Blink do?

Kid Blink was a charismatic leader. ... After the strike, Kid Blink got a job as a cart driver and later as a saloon keeper. He may have also worked as the right-hand man to New York mobster Chuck Connors. He died in July 1913 at the age of 32 of tuberculosis.

How old is Spot Conlon in Newsies?

Spot Conlon: Male or Female, Age 17-20, The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation and a short singing solo in “Brooklyn's Here.” Darcy: Male or Female, Age 15-20, The upper-class kid of a publisher who sides with the newsies.

What disease does Crutchie have in Newsies?

“Crutchie and I share the perseverance and fearlessness that result from challenges. He always finds a way to slip in a joke and so do I,” he said in a news release. Tombs is an actor, singer and musician who was born with arthrogryposis, a disorder that causes atrophied muscles and stiff limbs.