Among the demands Father Flanagan had for the movie “Boys Town,” he required that the movie show Boys Town as it really was, with no fences. He also wanted to make sure the film showed the racial, cultural and religious diversity of the Home. Gene Reynolds, who played Tony Ponessa, the crippled boy who wanted to be mayor, went on to produce the popular TV series M*A*S*H.

The movie “Boys Town” was one of the first motion pictures to incorporate cultural diversity. The dining hall scene with each boy saying grace based upon their individual faiths was very revolutionary. In an era where society was segregated by faith and race, the movie caused a sensation. Many new supporters of all faiths and races came to assist Father Flanagan based upon the presentation of the Home in the movie “ Boys Town.”"

Bob Watson, who played young PeeWee, went on to become a Methodist minister. He claimed Father Flanagan inspired him to join the clergy. In 1990, Watson returned to Boys Town to help dedicate the new protestant church on campus, Chambers Chapel.

Louis B. Mayer was so hesitant to release the movie “Boys Town,” he actually shelved it for several months. He believed it would never sell. Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy appealed to Mayer and convinced him to release the film. It went on to become an international success.  Spencer Tracy’s “Boys Town” performance led to his second Best Actor Oscar win. He was the first person in history to win two consecutive Oscars.

Tracy dedicated his Oscar to Father Flanagan and sent him the statue. Father was ill when it arrived at the Home. The gold-plated statue sat on Father Flanagan’s desk for ten years. Boys who were sent to Father’s office believed rubbing the statue brought them luck, and it was only a matter of time before the gold was all but worn off the statue.

Over the years, many myths arose about Spencer Tracy’s “Boys Town” Oscar. Some claimed that Tracy’s original Oscar was misspelled and Tracy sent the misspelled statue to Father Flanagan in a rage, asking the Academy to give him a new one. However, the Academy of Arts and Sciences says only one Oscar was given to Spencer Tracy for his performance in “Boys Town,” and they recognize that the statue now on display at the Boys Town Hall of History is that statue. Spencer Tracy put a second plate on his Oscar statue before sending it to Father Flanagan. It reads: “To Father Flanagan, Whose great human qualities kindly, simplicity and inspiring courage were strong enough to shine through my humble efforts. Spencer Tracy”

	The movie was such a success in America, Father Flanagan was instantly recognized as the authority on childcare in the United States. Juvenile court judges would take several hundred children at a time to see the movie in an attempt to improve their behavior. Father Flanagan was soon overwhelmed with requests for advice on a number of subjects. Father would personally answer each letter.
	When the movie was shown around the world, large numbers of people became inspired to help children. Many of these individuals visited Boys Town to learn how the village operated. In all, 89 Boys Towns would be established around the world inspired by the work of Father Flanagan, as presented in the movie “Boys Town".
	Louis B. Mayer was so impressed by the work of Father Flanagan he offered to build Father a new home in California. The new Boys Town would be a $1-million complex of buildings in the heart of Beverly Hills. Father turned down this offer, stating Nebraska was his adopted home and the place where Boys Town was founded and would remain forever.
	The movie “Boys Town” led to the creation of a radio serial based upon the lives of the boys in the village. Each week, listeners could tune in to the program “Life at Boys Town” and hear the adventures of the boys. The episodes would promote Father’s theories of brotherhood and childcare. The program aired for several years across America.