John Dillinger Events in Tucson, Arizona

Celebrating the Place Dillinger was Captured without Gunfire

Jun 18, 2009

Arizona celebrates its place in Dillinger history every January. "Public Enemies" movie premiere with Johnny Depp gave Tucson an extra party excuse for July 1st 2009.

On January 22, 1934, John Dillinger was America’s first Public Enemy Number One and a fire at Tucson, Arizona’s Hotel Congress led to his capture there. He escaped in Indiana and, according to page 4 of The Biography Channel’s website biograghy on him, his life ended as he had taken Officer Patrick O'Malley's life earlier that year, by being gunned down, July 22, 1934 in Chicago.

Movie: "Public Enemies" with Johnny Depp

75 years later, Universal Studios’ announced it is to release the movie: “Public Enemies,” starring Johnny Depp, on July 1st, 2009. The premiere set off a flurry of celebrations and reenactments based on the film’s premise of John Dillinger’s crimes and his legendary gang. Movie premiere events occured in some of the places where actual events occurred in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Tucson, Arizona's Dillinger Distinction

Some historical markers note where these notorious men were violent, but Tucson, Arizona holds one special distinction as the place where the whole gang was captured by local police without violence. Tucson’s Hotel Congress may be the most natural site for a premiere celebration, because of this historical significance in the Dillinger gang’s 1934 capture. The entire event unfolds as if a mini museum in a side hall just to the right of the lobby entrance. The walls are emblazoned with headlines and photographs of the people and details involved in the fire and capture of Dillinger and his gang on January 24, 1934.

Hotel Congress hosts Tucson's "Public Enemies" Event

Appropriately on July 1st, 2009, Hotel Congress hosts “Dinner and Drinks with Public Enemy No. 1: John Dillinger.” This is a free public event with two shows at 5pm and 7pm, as John Dillinger tells his gang’s story, guiding visitors through the gang’s stay at Hotel Congress, the fire, and their capture in Tucson, Arizona.

The July 1st, 2009 dinner, fun, music, and history night, on the premier of the “Public Enemies” Universal Studios’ movie, is a celebration like “Dillinger Days” with similar festivities: The hotel’s Cup Café will have a reservation only $19.34 special dinner of era specialties. The chefs at The Cup Café are the best, so the temptations are bound to be delicious and dinner reservations fill quickly.

"Dillinger Days" Third January Weekend Every Year

Most authentically, Tucson’s Hotel Congress stands as a time capsule to the 1930’s in the décor of its façade to the lobby check-in, and in the rooms with their black rotary phones, iron bed frames and tile bathrooms. The genuine Hotel Congress has embraced its place in American history by commemorating and hosting “Dillinger Days” the third weekend every January, so “Dinner and Drinks with Public Enemy No. 1: John Dillinger is an easy addition to the Hotel Congress event schedule.

1930's American Slang

As it would be said in 1934, “Be a scenester and go to the wingding at Hotel Congress on July 1st. It won’t take a lot of bread to have a rip-snorter at the boogie-woogie.”

Translation from the website Historical Dictionary of American Slang: “Be where it's happening and go to the party at Hotel Congress on July 1st. It won’t take a lot of money to have an exciting time to the jazzy music.”

Hotel Congress website offers full information on year-round lodging reservations, events, and The Cup Café menu.

For further reading on activities and sites in the Tucson, Arizona area by Lynn Pritchett see:

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