Everyones Favorite Charity the Story of Boys Town
“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 quickly attracted attention for its modern approach to juvenile care. Thirteen Boys Town locations are now established throughout the country, with Father Flanagan’s original vision becoming a model worldwide. 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. Starring industry leading men Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney in charismatic roles, the movies managed to win Oscars for Best Actor and Best Original Story despite heavy competition. 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. Conversely, they do reflect typical problems encountered by those involved in juvenile care; in fact, the second movie even delved into the subject of reform school abuse and homelessness among the young. But onscreen or off, Boys Town has become the model for progressive junvenile care, in or out of the home, inspired by Father Flanagan’s insight that there is no such thing as a bad boy, only a troubled one in need of care.