1. The document analyzes the characters and setting portrayed in the film Newsies compared to the actual 1899 Newsies strike. It describes 10 main characters from the film like Jack Kelly and Spot Conlon and compares them to the real historical figures. 2. The setting of 1890s New York City is discussed in terms of industry, urbanization, immigration, and child labor. 3. In the conclusion, a table is used to compare and contrast key events, characters, locations, and outcomes between the actual 1899 strike and how it was depicted in the Disney film Newsies.

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Jennifer Briscoe
Darcy Stanco
Mass Media
11 October 2014
Newsies Review & Analysis
Charectors
1. Jack Kelly:
A. Street smart, dreamer, hurt
1. Is an orphan
a. Makes up stories about his parents.
b. Yearns for a family.
B. A leader
1. Protects the other Newsies.
2. Comes up with idea to strike.
2. Spot Conlon:
A. Cocky, tough
B. The king of Brooklyn
1. Leader of the Brooklyn Newsies.
2. Joins Jack in the strike.
3. Sarah Jacobs:
A. Innocent, infatuated
B. David and Les’s sister.
4. Medda Larkon:
A. Show Girl, compassionate
1. Owns her own threatre
a. Lets the Newsies use her theatre for meetings.
5. Bryan Denton:

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A. Journalist, likes the Newsies.
1. He reports on their plight.
2. Helps them make a newspaper.
3. Gives up his war reporter job to help the Newsies.
6. Joseph Pulitzer:
A. In the Newsies:
1. Tyrant, money hungry, greedy, selfish
B. In real life:
1. Smart, concerned, immigrant, excellent businessman.
a. left money to Columbia University.
1. The University later started the Pulizter Prize.
7. David Jacobs:
A. A little naive, honorable
1. Becomes good friend to Jack.
B. Comes from good family.
2. Shows Jack what a real family is like.
8. Les Jacobs:
A. Imaginative, precocious, brave
1. Younger brother of David.
9. Racetrack Higgins:
A. Street smart, Gambler
1. Haggles with the newspaper vender.
10. Crutchy:
A. Handicapped, gullible, sweet, Jerry Lewis-esk.
B. His bravery comes out.
Setting
11.

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A, Growth of industry:
1. New York is portrayed as a very industrious city at that era in time.
B. Urbanization:
1. The city is portrayed as very dense much as it is today.
C. Immigration:
1. Immigration is underplayed in the movie, most of the poor children working
came from immigrant parents.
D. Child Labor:
1. The movie shows many children working as Newsies so I think they portrayed
the times very well for a “G” movie.
E. Labor Unions:
1. Non-existent for children.
12. Headlines:
A. People are attracted to others misfortune and the more outrageous the headline the
more it will sell.
13. Pulitzers resolve to make money.
A. Hurts the boys because it costs them more to buy the papers.
14. Reaction of the Newsies:
A. The Newsies rebel and go on strike.
15. Was a musical appropriate:
A. It was a good idea to make this event in history a musical because it teaches today’s
children about history but also teaches them that they have rights just like adults, and that
they can make a difference in the world.
16. A good movie from the text:
A. I would like to see a comedic/drama about William Hearst, starting with his expulsion
from Harvard. And to focus the meat of the movie on the outrageous headlines and how they
came up with their ideas.
B. Seth Rogan as William Hearst and John Goodman as Pulit

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17. Compare and contrast
Compare and Contrast Strike of 1899 and Disney’s ”Newsies”
Newsie Strike of 1899 Disney movie “Newsies”
Reason Reason
Joseph Pulitzer upped the price of newspapers
from fifty cents to 60 cents during the Spanish
American war but after the war people
weren’t as interested in the papers, but
Pulitzer and Hearst refused to reduce the cost
of papers to the original fifty cents where all
the other papers did.
Joseph Pulitzer was a greedy tyrant who
upped the price of newspapers from fifty
cents per one hundred to sixty cent per
hundred costing the Newsies. The newspaper
boys also ate the cost of papers not sold.
Characters of the 1899 Strike Characters of the Movie
Mike “Jack” Sullivan was only in the papers
once and was not the leader of the strike.
Jack Kelly (Francis Sullivan) The leader of
the strike and the star of the movie.
Loise “Kid Blink” Ballatt was the real leader
of the strike he was repeatedly in the papers.
He reportedly was missing an eye.
Kid Blink was portrayed as a minor player.
Anthony “Racetrack” Higgins was the vice
president of the union and also helped plan
the rally at Irving Hall. He was known to use
his sense of humor during speeches. He was
known as “The Voice of Brooklyn”.
Racetrack Higgins was portrayed as a
comedian and a follower being faithful but
unable to take the initiative on his own.
Spot Conlin was actually called the
“Grandmaster workboy of Brooklyn He was
not a leader but he willingly joined the union.
Spot Conlin comes across as a tough guy (
though small) and is said to be “The King of
Brooklyn”. He makes Jack Kelly prove that
the Newsies are serious about the strike
before he commits to it.
David “Dave” Simmons (Simonds) was
accused of being a turncoat.
David Jacobs befriends Jack and becomes his
right hand man. Hey is portrayed as an honest
kid from a decent family.
Crutch Morris is an officer in the union. Crutch plays a cripple who needs protection,
he is very gullible and silly.
Joseph Pulitzer a shrewd businessman who
also keeps the people in mind.
Joseph Pulitzer is a tyrant with no heart who
will do anything to make a buck.
Location Location
The strike took place in New York City and
the Newsies actually blocked the Brooklyn
Bridge.
The movie seems to take place in front of the
news building.
Outcome Outcome
Pulitzer offers the Newsies the option to sell
back their unsold papers but keep the price at
sixty cents and the newspaper boys accepted.
The newsies win and Pulitzer drops the price
of the newspapers back down to fifty cents a
hundred.

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