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Dillinger
days in Racine
When I was a lad working a night shift in the Wax plant, I started
to converse with a fellow worker lad about John Dillinger. I don't remember
how or why, or the exact conversation, but I more or less called Dillinger
'a true revolutionary'. The myth building was in force, Bonnie & Clyde
had been described as folk heroes - I was toeing the line of the party
of nostalgia I guess.
Anyway, Eddie G., the other guy says something like "Well I don't
think he's so great, he shot my uncle." Which sort of shut me up
cause here was a different and genuine perspective on this.
When Dillinger came to Racine he robbed the American Trust on Main St.
And Ed's uncle was a teller. Dillinger and gang got involved in shoot
out, absconded and as I here tell it..put a couple of customers and bank
officers on his running board as a shield when he left town.
A fan of the Untouchables I think I also had a romantic view of Frank
Nitti. Of course, my Italian American friends cued me in: He was a bad
guy, his like might take over an Italian family's Wisconsin farm for days
on time when hiding out.
In Racine now there is a historical display on 'celebrating Dillinger'.
The fellow is becoming ever more myth. Fewer Eddies to say "hey I
dont think he was so great."
I remember: Waiting in line with a nation of kids for streamed down 4th
st by Main and staring at the American Trust clock, and the alarm, and
imagining Dillinger days. Celebrate
Dillinger -RJTimes, Nov 10, 2003
Unrelated
Kasparov
versus Deep Fritz -New Sci, Nov 19, 2003, 2003, New Sci
Long-time
EET Editor, George Rostky -Nov 13, 2003
Two
words: "Plastic Memory" - New Sci, Nov 13, 2003
On
bias as a phase of civilization -NYTimes, Nov 9, 2003 [reg req/fee
for arc]
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Cant you see that I am trying to tell
you I love you?
Studying
bout the blues -PBS.org [pdf]
Studying
on the blues -PBS.org [html]
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