Blanket (Newsies)
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Blanket, Slider, Crazy Legs, Flipper |
| Occupation: | newsboy |
| Relationships: | |
| Fandom: | Newsies |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Blanket, also called Slider, Flipper, or Crazy Legs, is a background Newsies character. He is known in the fandom for being one of the only characters without canon names listed on Fanfiction.net, with the other being Tumbler. He was played by Brian Friedman.[1]
Fandom
Unlike Tumbler, Blanket does not have a well-documented history of presence in the fandom and most modern fans do not know his name. Fanfiction.net user SilverShoes17, who posted the first fic currently available online to feature Blanket, wrote that, "I am labeling Blanket as the first boy we see sleeping in the lap of the Horace Greeley statue."[2] They had seen him mentioned on a fansite but did not know his identity.[3] User mayday321 was able to provide context for his origins in the reviews.
Blamket waas named by the TNC (Tumbler Newsies Community). NML (Newsies Mailing List) named him Slider. At the reunion, the actor, Brian Friedman, said his name was Carzy Legs. NO one will ever use that name. He was in the very beginging of the Sieze the day reprise, the one Bumlets was leaning on. He was also the last to leave the nun's, and people also say he was the boy 'Patrick' the mom was singing about, because they look identical.mayday321[4]
Usage of the name Slider is supported by a profile on the Newsies-Sim Home Page, which was active in 2000. He is identified by his appearance in "Seize The Day," as mayday321 referenced.[5] The Happy Newsie Minivan suggests that the name Slider came from fan Snickery,[6] who wrote in 1998 or 1999 on their dedicated Slider page the following:
Alright, during Seize the Day Chorale, Bumlets has his arm on his shoulder. That's probably the best shot that you will get of him. He's usually in gray, and although he doesn't usually wear it, he does have a gray plaid hat, that you can see him wearing 'during' Carryin' the Banner. Hang on... here's the deal with "Slider"'s name. I don't think that Slider is his name in the movie. But I remember from this very old homepage - which WAS a great homepage - but unfortunately the owners don't have it anymore... but anyways... they had a game on there, and they said that there was a boy named Slider (whom I have already told you who he was...), and a boy named Tumbler. Tumbler is the boy that during CTB, when all the boys are leaving the lodging house, he comes sliding out across the floor, and jumps and pulls his pants up... Or you can also see him at the very end, after the Finale Dance, he's the boy who does the jump-heel-touch jump, and then falls down.Snickery/Susie[7]
Much of TNC is now offline, but a post was archived from September 2011 which supports mayday321's claims.[8]
You surely recognize Blanket. Many have speculated that Blanket is Patrick and one backstory is that he is indeed Patrick. Well how can he stand next to his mother then? Good question. Many say that his mother is blind.Blanket is played by Brian Friedman, who is now a respected choregraper. He was at the Newsies reunion and is quoted as saying that on set his character’s name was Crazy Legs.
We ignore this.spotconlonsterritory[8]
A more popular post by movienewsies which listed Newsies characters as a fandom reference material in 2013 is still online and gave a brief description aligning with TNC's.[9] YouTuber Anya Naylor's 2021 video essay/reaction included a recognition of Blanket and provided the movienewsies post as a source, as well as explaining that Patrick as a side character was often Blanket.[10]
Fans on Tumblr assigned the new name Flipper to the same character in 2021. This was based on a shot in which he flips his hair.[11]
Example Fanworks
Fanfiction
- Hey Good Lookin' by Coneflower at The Newsie Beat (2001), as Slider
- The Real Deal by Slash on Lumos Et Nox (2004), as Slider
- Zimbardo by truemizzie on Fanfiction.net (2007), as Slider
- Blanket by SilverShoes17 on Fanfiction.net (2011), as Blanket
- Welcome to Dream by pretendpuppy on AO3 (2020), as Blanket
- How The Newsies Came To Be by pretendpuppy on AO3 (2020), as Blanket
Fanart
- family photo by this-hattan-newsie on Tumblr (2022), as Flipper
Miscellaneous
- The Cliches of the Newsies Fandom by alien babydoll on FFN (2013), as Blanket
- Flipper Appreciation Post! by lousy-old-shrimp on Tumblr (2021), as Flipper
- Newsie: Flipper by one-highfalutin-sonuva-gun (2024), as Flipper
Fannish Links
- Blanket search on Fanfiction.net
References
- ^ Can you spot me? by Brian Friedman on Facebook (2021)
- ^ This newsboy was nicknamed "Greeley Jr." by the Racegirls according to Who is Who ?! at Newsies Stuff (1999)
- ^ Blanket by SilverShoes17 on Fanfiction.net (2011)
- ^ Reviews (2011)
- ^ Profiles of the Newsies-Sim Characters (c. 2000)
- ^ Our Tribute to Some Unnamed Newsies at the Happy Newsie Minivan (2002)
- ^ Slider! on Just 4 Newsies (c. 1999)
- ^ a b Names You May Not Recognize by spotconlonsterritory (TNC) on Tumblr (2011)
- ^ A Nice Newsies Reference Material by movienewsies on Tumblr (2013)
- ^ I Love Newsies (1992) by Anya Naylor on YouTube (2021), 09:05 - 11:10
- ^ Help me!! Name this boy!! ask by marvels-obscure-tophat to letter-from-the-refuge on Tumblr (2021)