-NEW ORLEANS 1913 by Joel Kaye-
THE EDITOR’S OFFICE AT A NEW ORLEANS NEWSPAPER JANUARY 1913. EDITOR IS SEATED.
REPORTER STANDS.
- EDITOR Shooting a .38 revolver you say?
- REPORTER Yes, Mr Editor, sir!
- EDITOR On the corner of Rampart and Perdido Street on New Year’s Eve. That’s a disgrace! Anyone hurt?
- REPORTER No.
- EDITOR Never mind. (PAUSE) At whom was he discharging said weapon?
- REPORTER Another child.
- EDITOR Also armed?
- REPORTER The boy said the other party was shooting at him and his companions with a cap pistol.
EDITOR SPREADS HIS ARMS WIDE TO MIME A HEADLINE
- EDITOR ‘Colored pistol gang rampages thru Storyville Section!’
- REPORTER He said they were a singing quartet.
- EDITOR Looking to rob sailors!
- REPORTER He was the only one convicted.
- EDITOR Well, just the one child shooting off a pistol will have to do. I’m not an unjust man.But you see how these negroes are. Armed and dangerous at twelve years old. Whatever will he turn into? What was his name?
- REPORTER Louis Armstrong.
EDITOR STANDS UP
- EDITOR I’ve got a meeting with the mayor. Set the story up right away.
- REPORTER Yes sir!
- EDITOR ‘Louis Armstrong!’ No King Louis he!
THEY EXIT.