The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-06-12
AN EX-KING
OF tho st. Louis B0otblacks Now
q Prosperous Theatrical Man
aGer-His Interesting
Story.
Springfield Herald.

Among the arrivals Yesterday at the
Metropolitan hotel was James NJ. Calvin,
business manager of Harvey's "Muldoon's
Picnic" company, which will show at the
opera house next Thursday night Calvin
is principally known to fame by the sobri-
quet of "Reddy," given to him on account
OF his red hair For several years he had
the distinction of being known as the
"King of the st. Louis BOotblacks," on
account of being the leader of the street
gamins.
Few people are better known in the Fu-
ture Gieat than "Reddy," and he is one of
the most prominent characters OF the me-
tropOlis. He is now about twenty-one
years old and posse ssed of the experience of
one twice that age. He is natural wit
and 1T is frequently that he is called upon
to entertain some OF the leading men in
st. Louis. The last time the writer met
Red" in st. Louis was in the rooms of a
leading club, where he was keeping an au-
dience OF twenty-five in roars of Laughter
by relating some If his experiences. In
the company were such men as Col. John
A. COckerill, ex-Gov. Chas p johnson.
John G. Gault, late general manager of the
Wabash, John A. Norton, Stewart Robson,
Col. j. e. Normile, Col. Will Nave and
men OF that character, so it will be seen
that the late boolblack must possess gen.
Jus i'm order 10 amuse men of such recog-
nized prominence.
Calvin acquired the leadership of the
gamins by being able to sell more newspa-
pers than any other boy in the city. On
account of his brightness he won the friend
ship OF Gov johnson, Judge Chester Krum,
Richard Scruggs, George Balm, and many
Others and Influenced the,l to establish a
Newsboys' Home, which was finally situat-
ed on Olive street and flourished for
number OF years. IL was by the important
part he took in founding the institution
that "Red." became SO prominent, the
newspapers giving him no end of notoriety.
Eugene Field, then editor of the Journal.
tJOk fancy to Red" and took him off
the street and gave him a position in the
mailing department of his paper. This
wa. The turning point i'm the boys career,
and Red" gave Field the credit of contrib.
utiDg more than any one else to his sue
cess i'm Lie.
When Joseph Pulitzer purchased the
Post-Dispatch he employed Calvin as
chief clerk in the mailing department of
fee.
When the Chronicle started they had an
immense deal OF trouble with their circula.
TO ar the newst,.ys refused to handle
the paper on account OF the pennies. They
finally employed Calvin at a handsome |
salary to take charge of the circulation.
Almost immediately the paper was issuing
$1,000 copies daily. Calvin left the Chron-
ic.e the firt of the year, and com menced
the publication of theatre programme fo-
The Peoples theatre. When he went into
business he had saved $1,000. which he
mad in bank.
A ew weeks ago Calvin became busi-
ness manager of Harvey's "Muldoon's
picnic party" and at once made prepare.
ions to give performance in St. Louis.
The company last week opened Uhris's
ave to crowded house, which was prin.
ipally owing to Reds personal popularity.
Red was born in New York state, of
American parentage. When he was but
little over three years Old he commenced
elling papers on the streets and blacking ,
cots.
John ]. Jenning the ''Magoogan" of the
'ost Dispatch is now engaged iu writing
n Irish comedy to be played by Galvin's
ompany the present season. The play is
, be first presented at Hyde Brehmsn's
1eatre in New York.