John Dillinger

[rain_gryphon]

So, we're having a John Dillinger Festival this weekend. I can certainly accept that the man is of historic interest. Were there to be a learned symposium, or even just a special exhibit at the Old County Jail (now a museum) I'd have no complaint. Holding a festival in his honour, though (because however we spin it, that's exactly what it is) seems to be in poor taste at the very least. The man was a murderer, and a bank robber, amongst his other crimes. I realize that the town is driven by a desire to make money rather than to lionize villains, per se. Somehow, that just makes it a bit sleazier.

Comments

[xolo.livejournal.com]

Oh my! I actually saw that very car once, at the County Fair, when I was (IIRC) ten or so. I was quite impressed at the time, but then, as I grew older, I came to accept the prevailing local wisdom that it was just some old car that someone had shot full of holes and cut some chickens throats inside of (because the seats were drenched in old, dried blood).

Then, about twenty years ago or so, I ended up chatting online with this guy who was a scholar on Depression-era gangsters, and mentioned my experience in passing (the actual discussion started out to be about something completely different that I don't even recall anymore), and he perked right up and started asking questions about it, and came to the conclusion that it was probably the original car that I'd seen. So, yeah.