Which newsies were real and which ones were made up?
Excellent question!
The most well known of course is Kid Blink, whose real name was Louis Baletti. Other real 1899 strike leaders included Ed "Racetrack" Higgins (leader of the Brooklyn union), "Spot" Conlon, "Crutch" Morris (also called "One-Leg Morris," secretary of the union), and "Boots" McAleen/McAleenan (noted as being just 11 years old at the time of the strike by The New York Sun).
Jack Kelly and David Jacobs exist in a dubious realm between fact and fiction. Jack Kelly is based on a few different boys including Kid Blink, and David is at least partially inspired by "Dave" Simmons/Simons, president of the union.
Apart from these characters, many of the original cast of newsies were based on/named after real newsboys.
Here's a list with some pictures and clippings I have on hand:
Kid Blink (and kind of Jack Kelly) - Louis "Kid Blink" Baletti
Right: "'Striking Newsboys Stand Firm." July 30, 1899. The New York Herald.
David Jacobs - "Dave" Simmons/Simons
Right: “New-York Newsboys.” July 30, 1899. New-York Daily Tribune.
Racetrack - Ed "Racetrack" Higgins
"Newsboys Act and Talk." July 25, 1899. The New York Times.
Spot Conlon - "Spot" Conlon
"The Only Tie-Up In Town." July 21, 1899. The New York Sun.
Crutchy - "Crutch" Morris
"A Newsboys' Meeting." July 24, 1899. The New York Tribune.
Boots - "Boots" McAleen/McAleenan
"Newsboys 'Go Out'." July 20, 1899. The New York Sun.
Mush - "Young Mush"/"Young Myers"
"Newsboys' Strike Swells." July 23, 1899. The New York Sun.
Bumlets, Dutchy, Snitch ("The Snitcher"), Snoddy, Swifty the Rake ("Kelly the Rake"), Snipeshooter ("Snipe-Shooter"), Pie Eater, Skittery, and Jake the Oyster
Pictures and text excerpts from: "Darkness and Daylight." 1897, pp. 124 - 125.
Of the original 1992 newsies, the only characters not directly inspired or based on historical newsboys are Specs and Itey.
As far as I'm aware, the stage musical newsies Albert, Buttons, Elmer, Finch, Henry, Jo Jo, Romeo, and Tommy Boy were all made up. (Though there were likely multiple newsboys with the first names Albert, Elmer, or Henry.)
