Installment 12: The East in the West Author’s Note: Before my last installment I took a poll to find out which Willie you wanted to see—Bioff or Moretti. Willie Moretti won the bout and appeared in NCS 11. Now you’ll get a taste of Bioff as well, so hopefully everyone’s happy. Keep on the look out for video clips from my recent panel on early Los Angeles mob activity at the Mob World Summit at…
Reading Time: Episode 17: Violence is Part of the Game I have been asked in a number of interviews about my most violent experience in “the life.” Honestly, for the most part, my criminal exploits rarely involved violence. Occasionally, I had to rough a guy up for being a deadbeat who fell behind on his vig or shark payments. Sometimes I just liked to beat the hell out of some “tough guy” at a club….
“The Mafia is oppression, arrogance, greed, self-enrichment, power and hegemony above and against all others. It is not an abstract concept, or a state of mind, or a literary term[…] It is a criminal organization regulated by unwritten but iron and inexorable rules[…] The myth of a courageous and generous ‘man of honour’ must be destroyed, because a mafioso is just the opposite.” — Cesare Terranova, Italian Magistrate murdered in 1979 La Cosa Nostra is…
Installment 11: The “Mercy” Hit on Willie Moretti Author’s Note: I had such a great time at the MobWorld Summit out in Las Vegas. Wonderful to finally meet some of my readers and the fine folks I’ve been working with at the NCS. I have to admit it was pretty fun running around with Meyer Lansky II and socializing with other panelists. Thanks again to Larry Henry for putting it all together, to Geoff Schumacher…
Just when you thought you had seen it all, we have put together a list of 20 must-have items for Mafia lovers. From the inspiring and unique, to the crazy and bizarre, right through to the jaw-dropping and amazing – we brought them into one place. So whether you are looking for yourself, or your partner – take a look at the top 20 Mafia gift hit list. 1. The Al Capone Whiskey Barrel Mug…
cbb0c363697184a05be51dd73cd60be961d4effdacd7f36122 The story of crime boss John Gotti and his son has a star-studded cast which features the likes of John Travolta as Gotti Sr, Kelly Preston as his Wife Victoria, Stacy Keach as the intimidating Neil Dellacroce, and William DeMeo as Sammy The Bull. What we really wanted to know, is what everyone thought of the new Gotti film (for those that have already had the chance to watch it).
Installment 10: A Truer LA Confidential James Ellroy’s four book noir series, the L.A. Quartet, offers an exceedingly dark look at post World War II Los Angeles. Ellroy’s own losses and demons no doubt fueled this seedy world of fiction that he, to this day, continues to craft. As a boy of ten, Ellroy faced the murder of his mother, Geneva. After being picked up by a stranger late one night at the Desert Inn…
Join us as we take a closer look at the woman that played a significant role in the gangster lifestyle. I have chosen the following ten based on no criteria other than trying to list the most infamous. Ma Barker The godmother of crime, Arizona Donnie Barker (aka Kate Barker), was merciless despite her sweet-sounding moniker of ‘Ma Barker’. Marrying George Barker at 19 they went on to have four sons; Herman, Lloyd, Arthur…
15 June – 17 June / Plaza Hotel & Casino The Las Vegas MobWorld Summit 2018, is just around the corner, and I for one am chomping at the bit to spend some time talking shop with, not only my stablemates from the NCS, Larry “the Headmaster” Henry, Gary Jenkins, and J Michael Niotta, but also the slew of other great attendees lined up for this event. The Summit is all about education, entertainment, as well as…
Installment 9: The Killing of Good Time Charlie Author’s Note: I’m looking forward to my panel on early Los Angeles mob activity at the soon coming MobWorld Summit happening this Father’s Day Weekend at the Plaza Hotel in the Las Vegas Fremont District. I hope to see you there. For the occasion of my two upcoming Vegas appearances (I will be lecturing at the Las Vegas Mob Museum as well; this September 22nd), I have…
Episode 3: Crew Expansion Reading Time: When Carmine saw his “goombadi” Sammy coming down the crowded hallway at school, he knew something was up. They had been best friends since as far back as he could remember. He loved the guy like a brother, but Sammy had issues. He was always up to something. Usually something nefarious, always getting in fights and starting drama. He was a ladies’ man, and a lot of guys at…
The stage is Sicily. On stage are men of the state and Mafia bosses. It is a tragedy of death, intrigue and mystery, but also of struggle, passion and life. The stage is set as we continue our look at The Sicilian Mafia in a land of secrets, shadow and myth that gave birth to the Mafia. As a child Giuseppe ‘Joe Bananas’ Bonnano grew up in Castellamare del Golfo, a town and commune in…
Installment 8: Mayor, Mayor on the Wall The level of corruption sanctioned in Los Angeles by way of the mayor’s office throughout the long stretch of prohibition, could easily fuel season after season of award winning television. From real estate scams and rigged elections, bootlegging and gambling houses, to bookmaking, prostitution, and alliances with criminals and shadowy organizations—every Los Angeles mayor who sat behind the desk during “the drought” dabbled in at least some form…
Finding a list of lavish properties proved to be as difficult as I thought, as Tony Accardo told his boys, to keep low level and below the radar. I have chosen these ten with the help of Rob Bailot Jr. who has also provided the pictures for this piece, thanks Rob. l. Al Capone’s Florida Mansion Bought For $40,000 in 1923 Now Worth $15,000,000 This is the Capone mansion, which he bought in 1923 for…