JOHN DILLINGER - Public Enemy: Americas Most Notorious Gangsters
In the period following World War 1, America enjoyed a period of extreme prosperity. The "Roaring Twenties" saw a boost in industry and production, as well as a new, more relaxed lifestyle. Americans indulged in hot jazz music, illegal speakeasies, and reckless spending.
America could not go on giving credit to people who bought over-inflated stocks for companies that were over-producing their products. The bubble had to burst. London's stock market crashed on September 20th, 1929, leading to a panic in America. Stocks were shaky, and the economy was on the verge of tanking. Despite numerous attempts to inject capital into stocks to save the economy, as was done during the 1907 crisis, the market still fluctuated uneasily. Individuals and companies alike began to sell their stock at a rapid rate.
Outlaws like Bonnie and Clyde, and "Pretty Boy" Floyd became heroes in the eyes of the American people. These people rolled up to banks and demanded money; a feat that many destitute Americans dreamed they could do. The robbers were considered Robin Hood type characters; giving the evil, rich banks what they deserved after treating their customers so poorly. However, these thieves weren't stealing from the rich to give to the poor, as Robin Hood did, they were stealing from the rich to line their own pockets.
Nevertheless, as newspapers continued to report on the exploits of the outlaws they became celebrities in their own right; as recognizable and idolized as any movie star. It was the perfect environment for the handsome, charming, and cunning John Dillinger to round up a gang of robbers and take the American banks by storm.
Once America's most wanted, this is the story of John Dillinger, one of the most ruthless outlaws ever to have lived.