"Newsies"

To paraphrase Bette Midler: "I never miss a Christian Bale musical." And he's the star newsboy in Kenny Ortega's "Newsies" (Disney, 1992). Here he's peeking through the door leading backstage at a New York vaudeville theatre called Irving Hall where Ann-Margret performs. 

 

The film is set during an 1899 newsboy strike and also features Bill Pullman, Robert Duvall, Trey Parker, Robert Moscow, Ele Keats, Luke Edwards, Kevin Tighe and Deborrah Lee-Furness. The cinematography was by Andrew Laszlo.

 

During this trip into the "theatre" we get some studio backstage shots as Ann-Margret performs the number "My Lovey-Dovey Baby" but we see neither an audience nor the auditorium. 

 

 

We're back at the theatre later in the film as Ann-Margret's character, Medda, has donated use of the house for a newsboy rally. 

 

The shot pans down the backlot facade from Medda's image to the theatre entrance. 

 

When we get this balcony view it's apparent that we're not on the backlot anymore. The scene was shot at the Tower Theatre, 8th and Broadway. Thanks to Garan Grey for noting that there was a downtown theatre featured in the film.

 

 

Christian and friends onstage at the Tower.

 

 

Boys in one of the side boxes.

 

Ann-Margret makes her entrance for the "High Times, Hard Times" number. 

 

 

 

Near the house right front exit on a railing that was added for the filming. 

 

A view during the filming at the Tower that appears in a "making of" featurette on the film's DVD. 

 

 

 

Kevin Tighe, representing trouble, at the back of the auditorium. Broadway is beyond the brass doors. 

 

 

 

A fine shot through the standee rail. 

 

 

 

The number continues. 

 

 

A look to the side wall. 

 

A nice shot back toward the stage. 

 

 

 

Trouble brewing outside the backlot exterior.

 

 

 

Ann-Margret aloft at the end of the number. 

 

 

 

Photographer Bill Pullman trying to curry favor with the ominous visitor Kevin Tighe. 

 

Christian realizes that the cops are after him. 

 

 

 

In the Tower's lobby trying to get out of the building. 

 

A shot across the lobby's upper level.

 

It's all over when Christian, in the lower right, is confronted by a mounted officer.

See the pages about the Tower Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for historic information about the 1927 vintage building along with hundreds of photos. It's now an Apple store.

Thanks to Garan Grey for noting that a two minute clip from Ann-Margret's number "High Times, Hard Times" is on YouTube.  

On IMDb: "Newsies"