St. Valentine's Day Massacre
I came across “Valentine ‘29,” a flash collaboration, which can be viewed through Newgrounds and Brainwash Studios among other places. I had never heard of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre before watching this video. Either no one else knows about it or I’m just really uninformed.
From curiousity I searched Google and came across a full-coverage story of Al Capone — the suspected leader of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. This story can be found in the Crime Library (specifically, the Valentine story can be found here).
Basic Summary:
Gang leaders Capone and Jack McGurn are believed to have planned an assassination attempt of another gang leader, Bugs Moran. Capone and McGurn’s team dressed as cops and baited Moran’s gang with fine whiskey at a cheap price staged in a garage at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 14, 1929. After Moran’s gang were in the garage, the fake cops arrived and ordered the seven members of Moran’s gang to line up against the wall. The men obeyed, following what they believed were police orders, and then were shot with their own guns.
With the cop disguises, Capone and McGurn’s team were able to leave the scene of the crime without suspicion. Capone and McGurn were nowhere near the crime scene. They executed a brilliant and horrifying plan, but they didn’t kill Bugs Moran as he never showed up (for more detailed information, you should probably read the full story [above link]).
It’s frightening that these things actually happen; you expect them from horror movies, but not in real life. I find it surprising that I had never heard of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre prior to the “Valentine ‘29” video. What do I not know? Do I even want to know?
It’s probably better to be informed about these things, about horrible events. It makes you wonder whether you really know what’s going on around you.
— Alan Liang
Comments
Alan,
Growing up in Chicago, the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre is common knowledge. I even took a tour of Chicago with my Girl Scout troop that went to the site - a garage on the North side, where you can see the bullet holes in the walls.
There is a tourist-y (yet fun) Chicago Mobster tour that will teach you all about Capone, Bugsy Moran, and all the rest. I recommend it.
Posted by: Kathleen Patton | February 22, 2007 2:00 PM
And then you can watch “Some Like It Hot,” the best movie ever.
Posted by: Jackie Hedeman | February 22, 2007 6:50 PM
You’re so right, Jackie! What a movie. And, as I recall, Urbana even plays a role in it — that’s where Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon were trying to get to when they witnessed the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. (Correct me if I’m wrong about that — it’s been a few years since I saw the film.)
Posted by: David Porreca | February 23, 2007 12:05 AM