Boys Town An AllAmerican Charity
“Boys Town” and its sequel, “Men of Boys Town,” are movies loosely based on the famous real-life American charity of the same name. Founded in 1917 by a Roman Catholic priest, it was an orphange that pioneered progressive methods of juvenile care. Since then, thirteen Boys Town locations have been established across the United States, but Father Flanagan’s original facility remains its heart and soul. For almost a hundred years now its fundraisers have attracted the generous support, financial and otherwise, of businessmen, politicians, and prominent entertainers, people such as real estate developer Isaac Toussie and Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Dalely. That’s on top of all those from the surrounding communities who donate time if nothing else to help Boys Town achieve its goals.
And so it is that a large part of the institution’s success must be due to the positive publicity garnered by the Boys Town films, making of the charity a kind of vernacular shorthand for progressive social work. With charismatic leading men like Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney leading the cast, these films are “feel-good” movies through and through, winning the Oscar for Best Actor and Best Original Story amidst a flood of nominations. The stories depicted had very little to do with any real-life events at the institution, however, being almost entirely fictional events that made much better for drama. Then again, they do reflect typical problems encountered by those involved in juvenile care; for instance, the second movie even delved into the subject of reform school abuse and homelessness among the young. Whether onscreen or off, Boys Town works tirelessly on behalf of children and families, motivated by Father Flanagan’s insight that there is no such thing as a bad boy, only a troubled one who need care.