Meyer Lansky was born on July 4th 1902 in Grodno Poland. While in school Meyer met a boy named "Lucky Luciano" who tried to shake Meyer down for protection money. Meyer refused to pay him any money and a brawl started, yet Meyer put up a good fight. After the altercation, Luciano became impressed with Meyer's fighing abilities and the two became very good friends.
In the 1920's Meyer met Ben "Bugsy" Siegel who eventually joined Meyer and Luciano to form the Five Points Gang. In 1931 Meyer helped Luciano kill his boss and allowing Luciano to hold the top position in the Masseria Crime Family. Luciano went on to form the National Crime Syndicate which had a board of directors including Meyer. Meyer made many friends within the circle and was a excellent negotiator who could always swing things his way.
Throughout the 1930s, Meyer set up many gambling operations in Florida, New Orleans, and Cuba. Although many other criminals tried to muscle in on his territory, Meyer was always able to crush their attempts using his strong connections all over the United States.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Chicago & Al Capone
Al Capone is argueably one of America's best known gangsters. During the prohibition era of the 1920's, Capone played a leading role in the illegal activities that labeled Chicago as a city of lawlessness. Al Capone was born January 17, 1899 and although he was intellegent, he quit school at the age of fourteen. He eventually became a member of the notorious Five Points gang in Manhattan and worked in gangster Frankie Yale's Brooklyn dive, the Harvard Inn.
While working at the Harvard Inn as a bouncer and bartender he recieved his infamous facial scars that eventually give him the nickname "Scarface." He recieved these wounds after insulting a patron and ultimatly was attacked by her brother who sliced his face with a knife.
Al Capone first arrest was for disorderly conduct and he was also investigated for murdering two men while in New York, but the charges never panned out. He was sent back to Chicago where he went to work for Yale's old mentor John Torrio. Torrio reconized Capone's potential and soon Capone was helping manage Torrio's bootlegging business. By 1922 Capone was Torrio's number two man and soon became a full partner in the saloons, gambling houses, and brothles. This would ultimatly lead to his rise as a mafia powerhouse in the heart of Chicago.
While working at the Harvard Inn as a bouncer and bartender he recieved his infamous facial scars that eventually give him the nickname "Scarface." He recieved these wounds after insulting a patron and ultimatly was attacked by her brother who sliced his face with a knife.
Al Capone first arrest was for disorderly conduct and he was also investigated for murdering two men while in New York, but the charges never panned out. He was sent back to Chicago where he went to work for Yale's old mentor John Torrio. Torrio reconized Capone's potential and soon Capone was helping manage Torrio's bootlegging business. By 1922 Capone was Torrio's number two man and soon became a full partner in the saloons, gambling houses, and brothles. This would ultimatly lead to his rise as a mafia powerhouse in the heart of Chicago.
John Gotti and New York
New York raised many ruthless and dangerous mafia gangsters over the years. Yet, John Gotti became a mafia don that loved the spotlight and evaded the police for many years giving him the nickname the Teflon Don" However it was his love for the spotlight and his carelessness that ultimatly lead to his downfall.
John Gotti grew up in a poor, poverty ridden section of the South Bronx. Yet by the age of ten his family had saved enough money to move them to an area of Brooklyn known as East New York. At an early age John Gotti learn to use his fists and developed a reputation on the streets. John wanted to do better than his family and move up in society. Yet instead of wanting to become a doctor or a lawyer. John dreamed of being a wiseguy, who he would see standing on the street corneers of Brooklyn. This dream proved to be a choice that would propell him into the spotlight and ultimatly the "Don" of an organized crime family.
John Gotti grew up in a poor, poverty ridden section of the South Bronx. Yet by the age of ten his family had saved enough money to move them to an area of Brooklyn known as East New York. At an early age John Gotti learn to use his fists and developed a reputation on the streets. John wanted to do better than his family and move up in society. Yet instead of wanting to become a doctor or a lawyer. John dreamed of being a wiseguy, who he would see standing on the street corneers of Brooklyn. This dream proved to be a choice that would propell him into the spotlight and ultimatly the "Don" of an organized crime family.
The Real Beginning
The beginning of organized crime takes us away from the United States, and to the country of Italy, mainly Sicily. The mafia was formed in Sicily to help and protect farmers from beginning terroized by French and Spanish looters. It was not until the 19th century that organized crime made it's way across the Altantic and to the shores of the United States.
By the 19th century the mafia began to show up in major cities like New Orleans, New York, and Chicago. The mafia may not have ever taken control had it not been for the 18th amendment of the the constitution which made prohibition the law. Prohibition made it illegal to buy, sell, or transport alcoholic beverages. Prohibition was ratified on January 29, 1919 but didn't take hold until 1920.
Prohibition began with the sale of foreign booze that was smuggled into the country. After several raids and many thousands of dollars lost, the mob turned to more producing of their own illegal alcohol. Bootlegged whiskey was known as "white lightning." Illegal alcohol could be sold in two ways: you could put it in bottles or it was sent to the taverns in tin cans. This opened a new market for illegal booze to those who would risk it. Prohibition also proved to be filled with murder and corruption. Men like Lucky Luciano, Dutch Schultz, Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, and Vito Genovese would see the opportunity and get their start during this time.
By the 19th century the mafia began to show up in major cities like New Orleans, New York, and Chicago. The mafia may not have ever taken control had it not been for the 18th amendment of the the constitution which made prohibition the law. Prohibition made it illegal to buy, sell, or transport alcoholic beverages. Prohibition was ratified on January 29, 1919 but didn't take hold until 1920.
Prohibition began with the sale of foreign booze that was smuggled into the country. After several raids and many thousands of dollars lost, the mob turned to more producing of their own illegal alcohol. Bootlegged whiskey was known as "white lightning." Illegal alcohol could be sold in two ways: you could put it in bottles or it was sent to the taverns in tin cans. This opened a new market for illegal booze to those who would risk it. Prohibition also proved to be filled with murder and corruption. Men like Lucky Luciano, Dutch Schultz, Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, and Vito Genovese would see the opportunity and get their start during this time.
The Beginning in Chicago
Organized crime's glory days have long since passed, however the legacy that they left behind is forever solitifided in American history and folk lure. Chicago is one of the most memorable organized crime spots with many famous gangsters including Al Capone. Yet, ultimatly it was "the great fire" that demoralized the city of Chicago and lead to public drunkeness as a major moral problem. "Conditions were so bad that a group of leading citizens and clergymen formed the Committee of Seventy to battle crime and the liquor industry." Their efforts were entirely supported by reform Mayor Joseph Medill who welcomed Sunday tavern closing laws and worked to close the gambling houses. It was this effort at reform that set the stage for the eventual development of organized crime in Chicago.
Organized crime in Chicago had its beginning in the 1870s with the activities of Michael Cassius McDonald. McDonald made a name for himself by owning and operating a taven at Clark and Monroe known as the Store which reportedly was the largest liquor and gambling house in downtown Chicago.
McDonald was also active in politics. In an effort to overcome the reform activities of Mayor Medill, McDonald organized Chicago’s saloon and gambling interests. "Mike McDonald’s Democrats," as they were called, elected their own candidate, Harvey Colvin, as Mayor of Chicago in 1873. With Colvin in office, McDonald organized the first criminal syndicate in Chicago composed of both gamblers and compliant politicians.
Organized crime in Chicago had its beginning in the 1870s with the activities of Michael Cassius McDonald. McDonald made a name for himself by owning and operating a taven at Clark and Monroe known as the Store which reportedly was the largest liquor and gambling house in downtown Chicago.
McDonald was also active in politics. In an effort to overcome the reform activities of Mayor Medill, McDonald organized Chicago’s saloon and gambling interests. "Mike McDonald’s Democrats," as they were called, elected their own candidate, Harvey Colvin, as Mayor of Chicago in 1873. With Colvin in office, McDonald organized the first criminal syndicate in Chicago composed of both gamblers and compliant politicians.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
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