Everything you need to know about Public Enemy No.1 for Dillinger Days this weekend

Bank-robbing celebrity gangster John Dillinger's only tie to Tucson is the fact that he got caught here. That's it. But that was enough to put Tucson on the map — and now Dillinger Days is basically a Tucson holiday.

You can blame that on the Hotel Congress. The hotel's history is entwined with Dillinger's; and in an attempt to keep the historic venue in downtown Tucson busy during the slow month of January — between New Year's and the gem show — about 20 years ago the owners decided to bring back Tucson's favorite bad guy.

Here's how the story goes:

Rewind to 1934

John Dillinger, otherwise known as Public Enemy No. 1, was an outlaw from the midwest, best known for robbing banks and successfully escaping jail three times. They say jail changes a person and that's what it did to Dillinger. 

In jail, he met people who would later become part of his gang. And after his first escape, he was known as one of the most infamous robbers in the country — with dead bodies and broken laws following he and his gang wherever they went. 

While the gang was ahead, they thought they'd stay low in Tucson where nothing could possibly go wrong.

Originally, Dillinger and his gang were supposed to stay in a house on First Street and Second Avenue at 927 N. 2nd Ave., but apparently the floors had just been waxed or polished (or whatever), so they couldn't stay there that night. 

Instead, the gang stayed in a room on the third floor at Hotel Congress for the night. Unfortunately for Hotel Congress, a fire broke out in the basement, which traveled to, and burned down, the third floor. This flushed out the gang, leaving their bags of cash and guns in the rooms. 

They were screwed. I mean these guys were wanted by the FBI, their faces were on the front page of newspapers and magazines, so someone was going to notice. They were noticed. 

Tucson police and firefighters accidentally did what the FBI couldn't. They arrested the gang but not John Dillinger, who apparently had slipped out during the commotion and run off to the house on Second Avenue. He was caught there hours later. 

It was the talk of the town. Tucson! The Dillinger gang was caught in Tucson (!) of all places. The arrest made headlines. We're really proud of that front page, it's hanging in a hallway at the Arizona Daily Star. "Dillinger Gang captured here" it screamed in bold font across the top. 

Dillinger and his gang were arrested and then later arraigned in the Pima County Courthouse before being extradited to other cities in the midwest for an actual trial. Dillinger went to Indiana and the rest to Ohio. 

The gang members, Harry Pierpont, Charles Makley and Russell Clark, were found guilty of murder. Clark served life in prison, while Makley and Pierpont were to face the death sentence. Makley died before getting to the electric chair while he and Pierpont attempted another jail escape. Pierpont died later on the electric chair. 

Dillinger, however, successfully escaped the "inescapable" Indiana prison he landed in using only a wooden gun, got a new gang together and went back to robbing banks. He did that for a little while until he was caught and killed by FBI agents outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago later that year.

Fast forward to 2018

Hotel Congress now stands with only two floors. The house where Dillinger was captured is now a rental by the university. And there is a Dillinger exhibit at the Arizona Historical Society's Downtown History Museum. 

Around this time every year, Hotel Congress transforms into a 1930s time capsule filled with vintage cars, costumes, and Dillinger Gang capture reenactments. This year, there are activities and crafts for children, two lectures, live entertainment, walking tours, a beer garden at Maynard's Market and Kitchen, and — most importantly — three reenactments. 

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It's a giant spectacle.

Dillinger Days

It keeps getting more elaborate every year.

David Slutes, the entertainment director for Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., called the first few Dillinger Days "quaint" because the reenactments were performed in the small lobby of the hotel fitting only a few people at a time.

Since then, reenactments have changed to become more historically accurate (at some point there were aliens involved), the number of people in attendance has grown and Dillinger Days is now a two-day event. 

Five years ago, Dillinger Days added a speakeasy night for the adults. This event supports the Greater Tucson Fire Foundation.

Here's the Dillinger Speakeasy breakdown:

• Friday, Jan. 19, 2017 from 7-10 p.m.

• Enjoy a whisky tasting, dance to the live music, eat food and smoke cigars — because what else makes you feel like you live in the 1930s? There's also going to be era-related entertainment and "historic fun."

This event is for the over-21s and tickets ($35) are available online. 

Here's the Dillinger Days breakdown:

• Saturday, Jan. 20, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Arts and crafts and carnival games are open for children and families at 9 a.m.

• Listen to two lectures at 10 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. inside Club Congress.

• There will be live music and entertainment all day.

• Enjoy local brews at the Dillinger Beer Garden, located across the street at Maynards. It's the newest addition to the yearly event.  

• Watch the Dillinger reenactments at 11 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. You can also buy a $30 front-row seat to the action that includes an brunch entrée from Cup Cafe, a non-alcoholic beverage and a 2018 Dillinger Days commemorative gift.

• Go on a Dillinger Historic walking tour at 11:45 a.m. and 2 p.m., signup for the tour at Maynards

• Stay after 6 p.m. for a Dillinger edition of Retro Game Show Night hosted by Tempest DuJour. Tickets are $12 at the door, space is limited so get there early.