John Dillinger: Public Enemy No. 1

During the darkest years of the Great Depression, John Dillinger became one of the most notorious outlaws in America. He robbed banks, escaped from jail, crossed state lines, and repeatedly humiliated law enforcement while newspapers transformed him into something larger than life. To some Americans, Dillinger became a Depression-era folk hero striking back at the banks. To the federal government, he was one of the most dangerous fugitives in the country. Dillinger’s gang carried out a string of violent bank robberies across the Midwest, and his name became linked with other infamous criminals of the era, including Baby Face Nelson. His spectacular escape from the Crown Point jail in Indiana only added to his legend and intensified the manhunt. By the summer of 1934, federal agents were determined to bring him down. Their break came from Anna Sage, the woman who became famous as the “Lady in Red,” although the dress she wore that night may actually have been orange. Sage tipped authorities that Dillinger would be attending a movie in Chicago. On July 22, 1934, Dillinger walked into the Biograph Theater with two women to watch the gangster film Manhattan Melodrama. Federal agents were waiting outside. When Dillinger emerged from the theater that night, agents moved in. According to the FBI, Dillinger attempted to flee and reached toward a weapon. Five shots were fired by three federal agents, and three struck him. John Dillinger was pronounced dead later that night. He was only 31 years old. But Dillinger’s death did little to diminish his legend. Nearly a century later, the bank robber who became one of America’s most famous public enemies remains an enduring symbol of the outlaw era of the 1930s. This is the true crime story of John Dillinger—bank robber, jailbreaker, Depression-era celebrity, and hunted fugitive whose final trip to the movies ended beneath the lights of a Chicago theater marquee. Sources for this podcast Support the show Send Kris and Rob a Message JOIN THE  HITCHED 2 HOMICIDE IN-LAWS AND OUTLAWS START KRIS CALVERT'S BOOKS TODAY FOR FREE H2H WEBSITE H2H on TWITTER H2H on INSTA John Dillinger, John Dillinger Public Enemy Number One, Public Enemy No 1, John Dillinger bank robber, John Dillinger death, Biograph Theater, Biograph Theatre, Anna Sage, Lady in Red, Melvin Purvis, Dillinger Gang, Baby Face Nelson, Great Depression gangsters, 1930s crime, Depression era outlaws, Chicago true crime, Indiana true crime, historical true crime, American gangsters, FBI history, true crime podcast #JohnDillinger, #PublicEnemyNumberOne, #PublicEnemyNo1, #Dillinger, #DillingerGang, #BiographTheater, #LadyInRed, #AnnaSage, #MelvinPurvis, #GreatDepression, #AmericanGangsters, #HistoricalTrueCrime, #TrueCrime, #TrueCrimePodcast, #CrimeHistory, #Hitched2Homicide   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.