Digital Dramaturgy Research Display

Jack Kelly

Louis Baletti, Kid Blink (Historical)

A charismatic leader of the Newsboys' Strike of 1899, Kid Blink (Louis Baletti, 1881–1913) rallied his fellow newsies against powerful newspaper publishers. His determination and street smarts made him an ideal early symbol of the resistance. Rumored to have betrayed the strike and harassed by strikers leading to his arrest. Some say faith was restored in Kid Blink, some say it wasn’t and that he later went on to aid the police against fellow strikers. There are those who think that he was subject to a whisper campaign on the part of the newspapers as well, which caused this confusion. Regardless he still stepped down from the committee. He worked as a cart-driver and saloonkeeper and died of tuberculosis at the early age of 32.

Davey

David "Dave" Simmons/Simons (Historical)

A key figure in the Newsboys’ Strike, David Simmons had been selling papers since the age of eight and helped to organize his fellow newsies and was elected as the president of the Manhattan strike committee. After being suspected of betraying the strikers he demoted himself and served as treasurer for the remainder of the strike. Simmons read a list of resolutions at the Irving Hall rally, one of which called for less violence, which was lightly heeded for the remainder of the strike.

Katherine Pulitzer

Nellie Bly (Historical)

A trailblazing journalist, Nellie Bly (1864-1922) was the pen name of a woman born Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman. She got her start in 1885 after a Pittsburgh Dispatch article titled “What Girls are Good For” was for ‘birthing children and keeping house’ and Bly responded under the pseudonym “Lonely Orphan Girl” with a passionate letter to the editor. Impressed by her writing, the editor sought out the author and offered her a job. Thus began Nellie Bly's illustrious career, during which she tackled social issues, pioneered investigative journalism, and broke barriers for women in the field. Joseph Pulitzer offered her a job in 1887 when she offered to go undercover as a patient in the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island. And two years later while working for The World, completed her 72-day trip around the globe, inspired and beating Jules Verne's character in 'Around the World in Eighty Days' .

Medda Larkin

Aida Walker (Historical)

Aida Overton Walker (1880–1914) was one of the premiere Black artists in the early 1900s. Between the Play Mill and Broadway productions of newsies the character of Medda Larkin was reinspired with her as the inspiration. Aida got her start at the age of 15 performing and touring with the Octoroons before joining the Black Patti Troubadours where she met her husband George Walker. In 1899 her and George were starting their own troupe with comedian Bert Williams, where she served as the leading lady in all of their productions.

Theodore Roosevelt (Historical)

A dynamic force in American politics, Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was elected New York's Governor Nov 8, 1898, before becoming US President in 1901. Roosevelt was known for a charismatic personality and a ‘cowboy machismo’ that endeared him to many Americans. He also championed conservation, establishing national parks and forests, and he pursued an active foreign policy, symbolized by his motto "speak softly and carry a big stick." His efforts helped shape the role of the United States as a global power.

Willian Randolph Hearst (Historical)

A powerful newspaper magnate, the owner of the New York Journal and others, William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) was given control of The San Francisco Examiner by his father in 1887, and quickly used it to build a media empire known for its over-the-top "yellow journalism." This style of journalism focused on sensationalism, through exaggeration or fabrication, as well as human interest stories. Hearst quickly built up a lot of social capital and used this influence to shape public opinion and even instigate wars, such as the Spanish-American War which newspaper owners pointed to when questioned on the rising costs to those that sold the papers on the street.

Joseph Pulitzer (Historical)

Another influential newspaper publisher, Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911) grew up wealthy in Hungary attending private schools until he 17; he enlisted in the Austrian army, Napolean's Foreign Legion in Mexico, the British Army in India until he was let go, and then contracted with a US bounty hunter to replace a draftee eventually signing up for a year in Lincoln's Cavalry for a year. After leaving the military at he made his way to St. Louis and worked various odd jobs, and taught himself law and English in the Mercantile Library, when in 1868 at the age of 21 he was offered his first journalist position. Four years later he was publisher. Pulitzer founded what is now named after him, the Pulitzer Prize, to promote excellence in journalism and literature. Pulitzer’s New York World newspaper was a champion of the common people, exposing corruption and advocating for social reform.

Annie Kelly (Historical)

An adult newswoman who played a significant role in the Newsboys' Strike, Annie Kelly rallied support from other unions and the public. Her fiery speeches and unwavering determination inspired the newsies and helped them gain wider recognition for their cause. The New York Sun described her as “the brick of all women and the most faithful of the strikers”. Her newsstand gained higher traffic, and she made more profits despite not selling the two most popular papers because of her loyalty to the strike. When Kid Blink was asked about the women who didn’t join the strike he replied, “Anyway, we’ve got Annie with us. You can bet there ain’t no Worlds or Journals under her skirts.”