1-8 Reading post #2

John Dillinger was not alone. Times were tough, and it tuned out that criminal was a fairly common profession. It was in the middle of an economic crisis (the depression), and people just needed ways to get money. Even though it was an evil profession that took money of good citizens, many liked reading about these infamous crooks who managed to out-race the omnipotent government; which was currently failing them. Matera recalls, "Newspapers were bannering the colorful bank robbery stories often speculating as to who was involved... There would be twenty nine bank stickups in Indiana alone during 1933, nearly one a week" (Matera 58). People were getting desperate. Part of this can be attributed to the harsh economic times, but the newspaper publicity helped this crime boom. Dillinger was hardly alone, with this many gangs on the loose, Dillinger managed to fly under the radar for quite some time. The papers also contributed to this crime boom. By publishing the stories with such prestige, it gave people ideas. It also raised awareness. Daru Matera describes the situation of older times "This production was directed by a tough, arrogant robber named Lester Gillis who as battling Dillinger fornt page for front page on the publicity front" (Matera 73). By giving Dillinger such publicity, it made more and more people to want to be like him. It also helped that they top tier crooks were given nicknames, John Dillinger was the Jackrabbit. Lester Gillis was George "Baby Face" Nelson (where have we heard that before?). The newspaper gave them such prestige for breaking the law; and that inspired more people to be like Jackrabbit and Baby Face.