From Bank Robber to Celebrity

In the 21st century, we have an undeniable fascination with celebrities, but this isn’t a modern phenomenon. Even in the 1930s, the American public was captivated by a different breed of celebrities – Public Enemies. The likes of Bonnie and Clyde, Ma Barker, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Machine Gun Kelly achieved widespread fame, often followed by their demise in a hail of bullets. Among these infamous figures, one name stands out: John Dillinger, who earned the title of Public Enemy Number One, a designation shared by only six individuals in history.

John Dillinger’s life of crime began in Indianapolis in 1903. Raised by a stern father after his mother’s early death, Dillinger’s formative years were far from ideal. At a young age, he dropped out of school to pursue a life of petty crime, which led him into a cycle of arrests and short-lived jobs. It was during a stint in the Navy, motivated more by avoiding the law than patriotism, that he began his journey down a criminal path.

After a brief military career, Dillinger returned to a life of crime, marrying a young woman named Beryl Hovius. Attempting legitimate work but finding no opportunities, he turned to theft. Unfortunately, one particular robbery earned him a severe prison sentence, ten to twenty years, for robbing and assaulting a grocery store owner named Frank Morgan.

However, prison would be where Dillinger’s criminal education truly began. He fell in with experienced bank robbers who imparted their knowledge, turning the impressionable young man into a hardened criminal. Upon his release ten years later, Dillinger embarked on a spree of bank robberies that would make him infamous.

Dillinger’s criminal operations were meticulously planned. He and his gang would meticulously scout targets weeks in advance, studying the bank’s weaknesses, staff schedules, and surrounding geography. Each member of the gang had a specific role, from lookouts to vault breakers to crowd controllers, ensuring their operations ran like clockwork. Their professionalism set them apart, as did their ruthless determination to kill anyone who stood in their way, including police officers.

The police eventually caught up with Dillinger, arresting him in Ohio. However, he staged a daring escape from jail, setting the stage for more daring robberies. The gang’s activities escalated, leading to firefights with the police and the theft of weapons and bulletproof vests from law enforcement.

Dillinger’s notoriety grew to such an extent that he was one of the most recognizable figures in the country, rivalling Hollywood celebrities. Ford even capitalized on his infamy by using his crimes to promote their cars.

To avoid capture, Dillinger turned to plastic surgery, using dubious surgeons to alter his appearance. He endured excruciating procedures, including attempts to remove his fingerprints, which were only partially successful. Despite these efforts, he couldn’t escape his celebrity status.

In July 1934, as Dillinger watched a movie with his girlfriend Polly Hamilton at the Biograph Theater in Chicago, authorities closed in on him. He attempted to flee but was shot down by federal agents, ending his life as dramatically as it had unfolded.

John Dillinger, a bank-robbing pioneer with a penchant for high-profile escapes, became a celebrity both admired and vilified by the public. Even in death, his notoriety persisted, as thousands came to view his body. He remains a legend in the annals of American crime history.

In the end, Dillinger’s story serves as a reminder that celebrity, whether in the 21st century or the 20th, has a unique allure, and the more notorious the figure, the more they are adored.

Thank you for reading and more to come very soon. !