All that separated the dozens of people staking out “The Outsiders” House on Saturday from a VIP event that afternoon was a weathered chain-link fence.
So, as the book’s author S.E. Hinton mingled with folks inside the barrier, dozens of eyes peered through to catch a glimpse. When Ralph Macchio, who played greaser Johnny Cade in the 1983 movie adaptation, was ushered to the side of the house for a photo opp, the fans saw that, too.
People staking out the house isn’t all that uncommon, said Ron Collins. He lives across the street from 731 N. St. Louis Ave., and said ever since Danny Boy O’Connor bought the property to turn it into an “Outsiders” museum, people stop by.
”Not like this,” he added.
On Saturday the sidewalk in front of the home, which is famous for housing the Curtis brothers in “The Outsiders” film, was packed with people.
They had been there since about 8:30 a.m., Collins said.
That’s because less than 12 hours later, Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Darren Dalton and other “Outsiders” insiders were scheduled to appear at a museum fundraising event and 50th-anniversary celebration at Cain’s Ballroom.
Some of the spectators came to the house because they were in town for the event and needed to kill time, others because they had a hunch something would happen there Saturday…
