#newsies the movie

Hello!! I’m trying to procrastinate on a ton of work atm, and while I am putting together another BIG info post that should be coming out  later this week, if you want to know any questions about our boys or  labor law (guess who is maybe declaring their specialty at the end of the semester????) or NYC or the 1800s or American history in general, please feel compelled  to do so. I miss all of you! 
Hugs and love, 

Mod Syd 

A ticket to a movie would have cost anywhere from a Nickle to a dime for a viewing. Films would be running 5 to 8 minutes long; and they were called “one reelers” earlier in the period. 
A short list of films released in 1899 with their run times. Keep in mind each viewing would be a Nickle. 

The Biter Bit 1 min 9 seconds
Cinderella 6 mins
The Kiss in the Tunnel 1 min 3 seconds
The Dreyfus Affair 13 minutes (this was actually a collection of 11 films combined)

Hello! So I promised a second part and look at that I’m actually following through in a timely manner! So Katherine’s post yesterday was Really Long, today’s about Sarah will be shorter. 

The first garment again will be a chemise, hers will probably be much plainer, worn and patched from many repeated washings. 

Next will once again be stockings and shoes, her stockings would most likely be black and once again, mended many times. Also, they most likely would be made out of wool or cotton, not silk like Katherine’s. Some might have some decoration around the ankles called “clocking” but Sarah’s would probably not have this. 

Sarah’s shoes would be second hand, they’re one of the most expensive parts of the average person’s wardrobe. She would need sturdy comfortable shoes for standing and working long days. 
(I know what the date says on the label, but from images, these are closer to what she would wear) 

As for a corset, she may not actually wear one. (This is the only time I will approve of a female character not wearing a corset.) But this is dependent on her financial status and also how recently the Jacobs immigrated. If they had been in the States for a while already, Sarah would most likely want to assimilate and get a corset but Mrs. Jacobs most likely is not wearing one. Feel free to figure that all out. For my purposes, I am saying she isn’t wearing one. 

In winter, She would probably layer some flannel underwear. It would be made out of wool and it’s a very very warm garment. If she wore this, it would be under her chemise or she may have a separate pair of drawers/ shirt she could wear over her chemise. 

For her final layers, a shirt waist would be worn. These were made very cheaply in mass production so here is where a bit of extra money might be spent for some decoration. 

And then A skirt, made out of a lightweight wool in a dark blue, black or brown.  She may wear a petticoat underneath but if so, only one, maybe two in the winter and they would be very simple. The skirt length would be at least above the top of the foot, most likely at the ankle especially if she is not doing factory work as if you are carrying items in your arms,  you won’t have a hand free to lift your skirt as you walk up the stairs. Certain kinds of factory work allowed women to dress slightly more fashionably due to higher wages, a static position and less danger of the equipment. Someone in a Mill for example would want their skirts higher to not risk getting them caught in the machines or to be sweeping up all the gross crap that had fallen on the floor. 

The final layer would be an apron. If Sarah is doing factory work like spinning, weaving or the like, she will most likely be wearing an apron like the lady on the left where it has a blouse part. For work around the home or if she were doing factory work like sewing, the apron on the right is more commonly seen. Personally, I believe that this would be a personal preference as to what would rather be worn. For example, working in a mill, it is much messier work than say sewing shirt waists where you will just get thread and such in your lap rather than risk oil or a substance getting on your blouse. 

Hats were seen much more rarely on very poor women. Instead, they may tie handkerchiefs around their hair when going out. Once Sarah had been working for a while and saved up some pocket money, her first spend would probably be on a hat to be a bit more fashionable. Hats were the easiest accessory to have because you could keep the base (or blank in technical terms) from year to year and then only need to buy new trim or decorations every couple of seasons.  By the end of the century, hats were getting very very large and were secured with hatpins. 

I hope that this helped in writing and seeing the differences in Katherine vs. Sarah! As always, any questions, feel free to send in an ask! 
Hugs and Love, 
Mod Syd