Conversation

My new working class New York hero is Steve Brodie, a five feet tall newsie who had hustle like no other: he lived on his own at 9, was a professional competitive walker, noted lifeguard & saved several people from fires, but his claim to fame was diving off the Brooklyn bridge, which he parlayed into owning a sports bar and starring in a touring musical as himself, re-enacting the jump (he always did a free show for news boys). He fed poor folks in winter from his saloon