| Chicago's gangster history has fascinated world | | | | six of which were gangsters - in the climax of a |
| historians and visitors to the city in equal measure | | | | hefty rivalry between the city's two main gangs: Al |
| since the 1920s. The trauma of gangland Chicago | | | | Capone's South Side gang and Bugs Moran's North |
| during the legendary Prohibition decade has been | | | | Side cronies. |
| immortalised in a variety of Hollywood movies - | | | | Ultimately, Al Capone's arrest in 1931 for tax evasion |
| thrillingly represented in Brian de Palma's 'The | | | | led to his downfall, and this is seen by many as an |
| Untouchables' and uproariously spoofed in Billy Wilder's | | | | ironic - and somewhat deflating - end to this |
| 'Some Like It Hot'. But what is it about this decade in | | | | nefarious gang leader. Essentially, the all-pervasive |
| Chicago's history that never fails to capture the | | | | element of Chicago's gang warfare during the |
| national imagination? | | | | prohibition years is what makes it so appealing to |
| For many, the figure of gang lord Al Capone is a | | | | history buffs - the amazing fact that one man could |
| large part of the allure. During the prohibition years of | | | | have had such complete criminal control over one |
| the 1920s, when the consumption of alcohol was | | | | city, and yet be brought down by such a mundane |
| banned in the United States, Capone effectively ran | | | | offence. |
| Chicago as his own town and went on to become | | | | Of course, the eventual repeal of the prohibition act |
| the most notorious American criminal of the | | | | in 1933 was seen by many as a signal that the first |
| twentieth century. Over the course of the decade, | | | | great domestic experiment of the twentieth century |
| Capone ran his empire from the Lexington Hotel at | | | | had failed; a factor that further pushed Al Capone |
| 22nd and Michigan Avenues in Chicago and profited | | | | and his bootlegging gangs into legendary status. |
| from the extensive bootlegging racket that | | | | Today, many visitors to Chicago are keen to survey |
| permeated the city. The illicit trade in alcohol, and the | | | | the city's gangland past and discover where old |
| huge number of speakeasies (establishments used | | | | speakeasies were located, and this is relatively easy |
| for the covert selling and drinking of alcohol) that | | | | to do. Simply find a hotel in Chicago to use as your |
| sprang up around the city, played an enormous part | | | | base and explore the old site of the Lexington Hotel, |
| in the success of Al Capone's nefarious gangs. | | | | along with Capone's range of infamous haunts. And |
| What's more, the iconic St Valentine's Day Massacre | | | | while this may appear to be a somewhat macabre |
| in 1929 - now seen as one of Chicago's most defining | | | | vacation theme, it's nonetheless one that will provide |
| moments of the 1920s - has also ingrained itself in | | | | a thrill for anyone who finds a bit of gory American |
| the American psyche. This famous incident in | | | | history entertaining. |
| Chicago's history saw the shooting of seven people - | | | | |