John Wojtowicz poses at the Brooklyn branch Chase Bankthat he robbed in 1972 in an attempt to fund sexual reassignment surgery for his lover Elizabeth Eden.
In an indirect way, Wojtowicz succeeded in his mission.
John Wojtowicz, of Brooklyn, New York, met his first wife, Carmen Bifulco, while working at the Chase Manhattan bank in the early ’60. The couple wed once Wojtowicz returned from serving in Vietnam in 1967. But overseas, John discovered that he liked having sex with men. This revelation turned out to be an obstacle for his marriage, which subsequently dissolved in 1969.
Soon after, he fell in love with Ernie Aron, who later changed her name to Elizabeth Eden. The pair married in 1971. Their relationship suffered as they argued over Aron’s desire to have a sex change surgery. But after Aron attempted suicide multiple times, Wojtowicz knew that in order to save his partner’s life, he needed to secure the money for the surgery.
To clarify: at this point Aron had yet to change her name to Eden. We are not trying to use a dead name. We are just telling the story chronologically.
Wojtowicz and two comrades he met in a bar set out to rob the Brooklyn branch Chase. What ensued was a highly publicized hostage crisis and media circus of which John was ringmaster, famously shouting “Attica!” at the brigades of police officers that beleaguered the bank - referencing the massacre that had taken place the previous year when the New York State Police retook the Attica Prison after it had been commandeered by the prisoners.
Wojtowicz was later captured as he attempted to escape, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. When Director Signey Lumet’s film Dog Day Afternoon - in which Wojtowicz was portrayed by Al Pacino - came out in 1975, Wojtowicz received a payment that he gave to Eden, who was finally able to undergo surgery. In 1978, Wojtowicz told Eden in a TV broadcast:
“I don’t regret doing it because it saved your life.”
Wojtowicz was released early in 1978, and spent the rest of his years in Brooklyn, where he occasionally reveled in his relative fame, and for the rest of his life referred to himself as “the Dog.” When he was diagnosed with cancer in the mid 2000s, he refused treatment and passed away in 2006, aged 60.
We’re debuting this limited run, totally not-suspiciousbalaclavato help you stay stealthy out in the big city. We encourage you not to wear it within 100 feet of a bank!
Bl CHASE MANHATTAN LA S
John Wojtowicz poses at the Brooklyn branch Chase Bank that he robbed in 1972 in an attempt to fund sexual reassignment surgery
for his lover Elizabeth Eden.
In an indirect way, Wojtowicz succeeded in his mission.
John Wojtowicz, of Brooklyn, New York, met his first wife, Carmen Bifulco, while working at the Chase Manhattan bank in the early
’60. The couple wed once Wojtowicz returned from serving in Vietnam in 1967. But overseas, John discovered that he liked having
sex with men. This revelation turned out to be an obstacle for his marriage, which subsequently dissolved in 1969.
Soon after, he fell in love with Ernie Aron, who later changed her name to Elizabeth Eden. The pair married in 1971. Their
relationship suffered as they argued over Aron’s desire to have a sex change surgery. But after Aron attempted suicide multiple
times, Wojtowicz knew that in order to save his partner’s life, he needed to secure the money for the surgery.
To clarify: at this point Aron had yet to change her name to Eden. We are not trying to use a dead name. We are just telling the
story chronologically.
Wojtowicz and two comrades he met in a bar set out to rob the Brooklyn branch Chase. What ensued was a highly publicized hostage
crisis and media circus of which John was ringmaster, famously shouting “Attica!” at the brigades of police officers that
beleaguered the bank - referencing the massacre that had taken place the previous year when the New York State Police retook the
Attica Prison after it had been commandeered by the prisoners.
ROB V1
ROB V2
Wojtowicz was later captured as he attempted to escape, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. When Director Signey Lumet’s film
Dog Day Afternoon - in which Wojtowicz was portrayed by Al Pacino - came out in 1975, Wojtowicz received a payment that he gave to
Eden, who was finally able to undergo surgery. In 1978, Wojtowicz told Eden in a TV broadcast:
“I don’t regret doing it because it saved your life.”
AL PACINO V1
AL PACINO V2
Wojtowicz was released early in 1978, and spent the rest of his years in Brooklyn, where he occasionally reveled in his relative
fame, and for the rest of his life referred to himself as “the Dog.” When he was diagnosed with cancer in the mid 2000s, he
refused treatment and passed away in 2006, aged 60.
We’re debuting this limited run, totally not-suspicious balaclava to help you stay stealthy out in the big city. We encourage you
not to wear it within 100 feet of a bank!
We're not liable!
DON'T DO CRIMES