Here’s two young mystery lads in newsboy caps. And the movie would be?
How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition
How to Wear a Hat – ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Edition
Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition
How to Wear a Newsboy Cap – Marc Chevalier Edition
This is, of course the 1931 film “The Public Enemy,” with wardrobe by Earl Luick, with newsboy caps aplenty. Once again, they are a badge of the underclass. Please congratulate Mike Hawks for identifying our mystery lads as is Frank (Junior) Coghlan and Frankie Darro; also Mary Mallory, Michael Ryerson and Don Danard for identifying them and/or the movie.
There’s so much else to explore in “Public Enemy” besides newsboy caps.
Our young ruffians run through an unidentified department store. This is a fairly involved multi-floor sequence involving escalators, so I’m going speculate that this is an actual department store dressed as 1909, rather than a sound stage. Tell me what you think.
A pair of escalators, which to me argues against this being a set.
Our mystery building also has elevators.
The top of the escalator. If this is a set, it’s an awfully big one.
In fact, a police officer gets off the elevator.
Judging by this shot, “Public Enemy” either used a large (and expensive) set or an actual location – presumably a department store in downtown Los Angeles.
A reverse angle shows more of the store.
And one final shot for the newsboy cap fans in the audience. Again, the caps, worn at a sharply tilted angle, are a badge of the underclass, as the bowler/vest combination would be for an older generation of petty crook.
Will someone please tell “Boardwalk Empire” how to do newsboy caps? Thank you!
Photo: Jack Huston in “Boardwalk Empire.” Credit: Macall Polay HBO via the Los Angeles Times.
ladailymirror.com 
This is Frank (Junior) Coghlan and Frankie Darro from PUBLIC ENEMY.
LikeLike
Though I doubt it because this looks talkie era, the fellow on the left looks a lot like Coy Watson.
LikeLike
Billy Hallop, who looks like he was still buying his newsboy caps in the children’s department whenever he made whatever this is
LikeLike
BOYS’ REFORMATORY, with Frank Coghlan Jr. on the left and Frankie Darrow on the right.
LikeLike
I Wake up Screaming with George Hickman and Stanley Clements.1941.
LikeLike
Leo Gorcey on the right. Probably early “Dead End Kids” film and not the “East Side Kids” nor “Bowery Boys.” The other? Nah, Huntz Hall came later.
LikeLike
Is that Frankie Darro on the right?
LikeLike
Must be PUBLIC ENEMY then.
LikeLike
If it is Frankie Darro I’d have to say this is Wild Boys of the Road (1933).
LikeLike
I think it looks like Frank Coghland Jr. on the left and it’s Frankie Darro on the right.
LikeLike
And the movie would be “The Public Enemy”.
LikeLike
I would say that the escalator is a location. They use large lamps and the light bounces off everything …there’s no attempt at general illumination nor much masking. Lots of hidden lamps behind things to “spot” various areas. For a film with this budget the location would almost be a necessity…it’s expensive to build a working escalator.
LikeLike
@Gary: That was my guess. I just wonder which department store they used… I’m guessing something that was period to 1909 in downtown L.A.
LikeLike
I would guess the escalator is in the old May Company Department Store at 8th & Broadway.
LikeLike
There was Hamburger’s Department Store also Broadway
LikeLike
The Broadway Department Store in downtown Los Angeles had its ancient wooden escalators as late as the 1970s. I remember going up and down them when I was a kid. They clattered!
LikeLike
The location was The Broadway Department Store in downtown Los Angeles, My grandfather worked there for over 4 decades. In photo number seven from the top, there are escalators on the wall. This elevator facing never changed even into the ’60’s at the store. Also, yes these are the old wooden clakety-clack escalators that I remember. Great photos.
LikeLike