Created from the Chicago Tribune's vast archives, Gangsters and
Grifters is a collection of photographs featuring infamous criminals,
small-time bandits, hoodlums, and more at shocking crime scenes. These
vintage glass-plate and acetate negatives were taken from the early
1900s through the 1950s, and they have been largely unseen for
generations. That is because most have never been published, only having
been witnessed by the photographers and police in the moments after an
arrest, crime, or even murder. Included are graphic crime scenes, raw
evidence, and depictions of searing emotions, captured on film during a
time when photographers were given unprecedented access alongside
police. Some photographs resemble film noir movie stills. Some are
cartoonish. All feature real people, real drama, and real crimes.
Accompanying information about each is included wherever possible, often
with archived news stories.
Gangsters and Grifters is a powerful, visually stunning look back into
the dark story of Chicago's nefarious crime underworld. These
fascinating, surprising, and entrancing photos reveal still-unsolved
murder mysteries and portraits of notorious gang overlords like John
Dillinger and Al Capone. This is a must-have for photography buffs,
history lovers, and anyone curious about the seedy underbelly of early
20th-century Chicago.
