Adriana Suarez
I just saw a DVD of a great old movie, “Newsies.” It is a musical loosely based on a true story about newsboys – children who sold newspapers on street corners – that takes place in 1899 in New York.
In the old days, instead of buying newspapers from vending machines or adult “hawkers,” people got them from newsboys, also known as newsies. The newsies would buy papers at half a penny each and sell them on the street for a whole penny.
Then the owner of the newspaper raised the price the newsies had to pay for each paper by one-tenth of a cent. This was such a hardship that the main character, played by a teenage Christian Bale, known these days for his role as Batman, organized a strike by the newsies. They put up posters and handed out fliers so the owner of the paper would lower the price. Watch the DVD to see if the newsies succeed.
The movie came out in 1992. If you are looking for a good rental that is a fun family movie, this is a neat story. There is a lesson: If you don’t give up on something, it might come true.
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PROMOTING LITERACY THROUGH JOURNALISM
The Tucson Citizen is in partnership with Bear Essential News, Domino’s Pizza and KVOA to promote literacy through journalism.