Amon Carter's top newsie was the most famous paperboy in America
BY DAVE LIEBER
Long before the Internet measured story readership, Monroe Odom knew what sells
Something about Monroe Odom caught Amon Carter’s eye. Amon loved his real-life newsies. He threw them banquets and gave them silver dollars. But none of them lasted as long as Monroe. He became the most famous paperboy in America.
He was maybe 10 years old or younger when he proved to Amon he deserved the job. He lasted as a street vendor selling the Star-Telegram for 53 years, according to stories collected by Amon biographer Jerry Flemmons.
His office was a pinewood fruit box he placed at the front door of the Worth Hotel. When the hotel opened in 1927 Amon had Monroe snip the ceremonial ribbon. Monroe knew everybody in town.
“His customers included bank, oil company and college presidents,” Flemmons writes in Amon: The Texan Who Played Cowboy for America. “Most bought a paper daily from Monroe and paid a considerable tip, although they also received the Star-Telegram at home.
“His judgment of story values was based on street sales. Disaster was marketable, routine was not. Editors called that the ‘Monroe Doctrine.’”
He changed his sales pitch to fit the customer. Oil men were teased with oil stories, bankers were enticed with a financial headline.
He received a S-T company bonus check each Christmas even though he wasn’t an employee.
So many Monroe stories. Once a new manager at the hotel ordered a desk clerk to “get rid of that old man out there.” Someone told the manager that Monroe would be there longer than the manager.
When Amon wanted Amon Jr. to learn the business and one day take over, he sent his son to Monroe’s side, saying: “You might as well begin at the top.”
Monroe knew Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy, Barbara Stanwyck, Dwight Eisenhower, Franklin D Roosevelt and Will Rogers, who once paid $20 for a paper.
Amon threw an annual Thanksgiving banquet for his newsies at the Elks Club — and gave each boy a silver dollar. (Photo courtesy of UTA Digital Libraries.)
Monroe died at his newsstand. His obituary was on the front page. Amon Jr. paid for the funeral. The Texas Legislature honored him.
He was irreplaceable. As proof, in his place, the company placed a coin-operated newspaper machine.
Monroe Odom courtesy of Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection at UTA Digital Libraries
As good as this Monroe Odom story is, it didn’t make my play, AMON! The Ultimate Texan. The other stories are even better!
Visit AmonPlay.com for ticket and play and book information. AMON! The Ultimate Texan reopens at Artisan Center Theater in Hurst, TX for shows in 2022 on — Aug. 27, Sept. 3 nd 10.
“Theater is the oldest way we have of trying to tell the truth about who we are.” — the late playwright, Terrence McNally.
Tickets are now on sale HERE..
NEW! Read how Amon stole a lot from Dallas, including Gary Cooper.
NEW! Interview with playwright Dave Lieber
