Study of the American Mafia

One of my all time favorites movies is The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972. It seems every year around this time, I'm influenced by it's premise (see Godfather Phase) It's a story about an Italian mafia and their ruthless dealings set in New York City, 1940s-1950s. This crime story is loosely based on the real-life syndicate of the Five Italian Crime Families from New York City.

To me the film is rich in culture, history and dramatic quality. It is also very violent and depicts a negative light towards Italian culture. As violent as the film is, it only vaguely hints at the underground criminal dealings of these organized gangs. In this post I'd like to study the historic criminal syndicates of the Italian and Jewish Crime Organizations.

Please note this study is not meant to stereotype the incredibly rich Italian and Jewish cultures. It's rather a focus on the select few within the culture, that do not represent their people as a whole. This post is in no way meant to justify the actions of these mobs, which led to a century of ruthless crime and violence. It is merely a study of interest, as to how these organizations were able to rise from nothing, to become more powerful than the government itself.

The Immigrant Gangs

This study on American organized crime is a continuation of my previous post that focused on immigration and the rise of Irish gangs in the 1860s. Immigration from Europe into America continued in heavy numbers throughout the the late 1800s and into the early 1900s. From 1860 to the onstart of WW1, nearly 9 million Italians immigrated to America in search of better work wages. Also during this time nearly 3 millions Jews immigrated from Eastern Europe, the majority of which were escaping persecutions and pogroms within the Russian Empire. A majority of these Jewish  and Italian immigrants settled into poverty stricken ghettos in New York City.

Just as the Irish immigrants of New York City developed gangs, so did the Jewish and Italian immigrants. However the Jewish and Italian gangs were different than the Irish gangs, in that they were much more organized. Part of this organized crime structure came from their homelands, such as the Black Hand of the Sicilian Mafia, which dated back to 1812 (the start of Italian Unification). Thru their native connections, some of these gangsters already had significant muscle and influence within their neighborhood districts.

By the late 1890s, the Jewish, Irish, and Italian gangs were fighting each other for control of the Five Points district. By 1901 it was Paul Kelly's Italian Gang, the Five Points Gang, that had become the dominant power of Manhattan. Paul Kelly's Italian Five Points Gang was rivaled by Monk Eastman's Jewish Eastman Gang. Both of these gangs became the early predecessors to the American Mafia format of organized crime. Both Al Capone and Lucky Luciano were youth members of the Five Points Gang, and would both go on to establish two of the most infamous Italian crime organizations during the Prohibition Era.

The Prohibition Syndicates

With the passing of the 18th Amendment in 1920, the United States government made it illegal to trade, manufacture or sell any alcohol whatsoever. This new regulation became a new booming market for the underground world, most notably the crime syndicates. Bootlegging rackets become one of the primary sources of profits for mafia organizations based in New York City and Chicago. Al Capone became one of the most infamous of these bootlegger's thru his organized gang known as the Chicago Outfit.

To add to the rise of organized crime during the 1920s, was a 2nd wave of Italian Immigration. This was due to the fact that Benito Mussolini had began a strict dictatorship in Italy, with a strong opposition against mafia in his country. Many members of the Sicilian Mafia and Black Hand organizations fled to New York City to partake in the rising influence of organized crime.

By the late 1920s some of these mafia organizations had become so powerful, they began to fight with each other, rather than against the law. This was mostly territory disputes among Jewish, Irish, and Italian bootlegging gangs. By 1930 New York City had been dominated by two major Italian-American mafia gangs; Joe Masseria's faction and Salvatore Maranzano's faction. Their struggle for total control of the New York City underworld lead to the infamous Castellammarese War. This bloody gang war marked a turning point in organized crime, when Charles Lucky Luciano established the Commission to avoid any further territorial disputes.

The Organized Commission

In 1931 Charles Lucky Luciano murdered the boss of all bosses, Maranzano, and established a new underworld governing body known as the Commission. This committee enabled the major bosses of organized crime to discuss their disputes and avoid violent confrontation with one another.

The Commission consisted of the Five Italian Crime Families of New York City, as well as Al Capone's Chicago Outfit. Luciano also opened the door to new relations with the Jewish Mafia, most notably Meyer Lansky. By the 1950s the Commission had 26 organized mafias spread across America. The media referred to this network of crime as the National Crime Syndicate.

The Gambling Boom

By the 1930s Meyer Lansky had paved the way for the Jewish Mafia, thru his spurring of the gambling industry. He established powerful business relations in Cuba, Florida, New Orleans, and Las Vegas. By the 1940s these sites all became booming markets for casinos, hotels, and entertainment. In 1946 he partnered with Bugsy Siegel to launch a hotel in the desert of Las Vegas, known as the Flamingo, which would become the first landmark of a gold-mine.

In 1952 Lansky's friend Fulgencio Batista became president of Cuba, which enabled him to run his casinos without any interference. However by 1959 these relations came to an abrupt end due to the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro. Batista as well as the American-Mafia casinos were driven out of Cuba. However by this point Lansky had already reaped the rewards of Las Vegas, Florida, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. By this point many crime organizations were able to turn legit thanks to their casino and hotel businesses.

The Crackdown

By 1960 the US government, led by president John F. Kennedy, began to crack down on organized crime. He was also aided by the FBI, under the proud leadership of John Edgar Hoover, who despised non-American gangsters. In 1970 the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act was passed to prosecute mafia mobsters. From that point the Italian/Jewish mafias no longer had the stronghold on crime. The underground business was dispersed among smaller gangs and drug cartels. However organized crime still exists today due to it's longstanding family structures and codes.

Italian Crime Families

• The Five Families (based in New York City; these 5 Italian families have dominated the organized crime syndicate since the 1930s)
• Bonnano: Following the Castellammarese War, boss Salvatore Maranzo was murdered at the hands of the Joe Masseria. Maranzo's underboss Joseph Bonnano went on to continue Maranzo's organization by establishing his own powerful crime family
• Colombo: This crime family was based out of Brooklyn, NY and established by boss Joseph Profaci. He went on to lead the family for over three decades. He was later replaced by Joseph Colombo who changed the organization's family name to it's present day form. 
• Gambino: This family was formed by Vincent Mangano who ruled for twenty years until he was disposed by the notorious Albert Anastasia aka "the executioner". Few years later Anastasia was murdered by his underboss Carlo Gambino, of which the family took it's present day name. 
• Genovese: Perhaps one of the most powerful of the five families, it was founded by Charles Lucky Luciano, after the death of Boss Joe Masseria following the Castellammerese War. Based in Manhattan, it was Luciano who established the Commission, to maintain diplomatic relations between the five families. He was however later charged in court, and his power was handed over to his under boss, Frank Costello aka "the Prime Minister". Costello was later replaced by Vito Genovese of which the family took its present day form.  
• Luchese: One of the oldest of the five families, it was formed in the early 1920s by Gaetano Reina, based in the Bronx. Following a string of murders the role of head boss was later assumed by Tommy Gagliano who ruled for 20 years. He was later replaced by Tommy Lucchese of which the family took it's present day form.  
• Chicago Outfit 
  
• Based out of Chicago, IL this Italian Mafia organization was founded in the 1920s by Al Capone and Johnny Torrio. It was one of the most influential gangs of the Midwest, thru it's illegal distribution of alcohol during the Prohibition. Al Capone was considered the epitome of a ruthless gangster, as he openly waged war on any of his underground competitors. One of the most infamous of these conflicts took place at the St. Valentine's Day Massacre where Capone had 7 Irish-American gangsters killed. Capone was able to dominate the city of Chicago thru his corrupt power for nearly 10 years, until he was finally arrested on tax evasion. The organization went to the leadership of Frank Nitti and Paul Ricca, however following the repeal of the Prohibition, the Outfit had lost much of it's profit. It continues to operate to this day, however nowhere near as influential as it was in the 1920s and 30s. 

Italian Mobsters

• Paul Kelly

• He was a very influential Italian immigrant from New York City. Thru his powerful relations with Tammany Hall, he was able to establish one of the first organized street gangs, known as the Five Points Gang. Many notorious gangsters made their start in Kelly's gang, such as Johnny Torrio, Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, and Charles Luciano. 
• Charles Luciano (Lucky)
• He was perhaps one of the most influential Italian mafia bosses of New York City. He established the Commission as a means to govern the crime network, and also made new partnerships with notable Jewish mobsters such as Meyer Lansky. In 1930 he took over Joe Masseria's organization to establish his own crime family, which he lead for nearly 20 years. In 1946 he was deported by the US government, however he continued to play an influential role on the organizations business from Italy as well as Cuba. 
• Johnny Torrio (The Fox, The Immune)
• Torrio was one of the earliest Italian gangsters of New York City, and helped Paul Kelly establish the Five Points Gang in 1901. He later went on to establish the Chicago Outfit with his protege Al Capone in 1920. Following some conflicts with the Irish North Side Gang, he stepped down as boss, and moved back to New York City to council the Genovese Crime Family. 
• Albert Anastasia (The Executioner, The Mad Hatter)

• He was perhaps one of the most famous "soldiers" of the organized crime syndicate, who was able to use his ruthless grit to climb the ranks. He established Murder Inc, which became Luciano's (as well as the the Commission's) enforcement agency. Anybody who got out of line within the syndicate had to answer to Anastasia. In 1951 Anastasia disposed of Boss Vincent Mangano to assume control of the family, however much to the resentment of Vito Genovese, who saw this as a break of mafia code. This almost resulted in another gang war, however by 1957 Anastasia was assassinated in a barber shop most likely by Genovese' men. Anastasia was replaced by Carlo Gambino as the new boss and head of their family. 
• Al Capone
• He was born in New York to Italian Immigrants and as a youth he became a member of Paul Kelly's Five Points Gang. At the age of 20 he followed his mentor, Johnny Torrio, to Chicago where he helped him run his newly established bootlegging racket. Capone took over for Torrio, after he stepped down following an assassination attempt. He was constant war with the Irish North Side Gang. By the mid 1920s he had a strong influence over political elections as well as the police force of Chicago. In 1929 he became nationally recognized following the St. Valentine's Day Massacre of 7 Irish gang members. Several years later he was finally convicted and imprisoned for tax evasion. He spent the last of his years suffering from mental illness and died at the age of 48.
• Frank Costello (Prime Minister)
• He was the consigliere to Charles Luciano, and took the helm in 1946 after Luciano was deported. Costello's regime underwent smooth profits thru their new gambling investments in New Orleans, Miami, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. He was often considered the Boss of Crime Bosses, and nicknamed the Prime Minister of the Underworld. However in 1957 he went into retirement following an assassination attempt coordinated by Vito Genovese. Vito felt he should be rightful boss of the family, since he was the underboss to Luciano. Costello renounced his leadership role to Vito who changed the family name to Genovese. Costello retired from the crime family yet still played an influential role on underground dealings and profit.   

Jewish Mobsters

• Arnold Rothstein (The Brain)
• He was one of the first Jewish Americans to achieve wealth thru racketeering and sports gambling. He established an organization very similar to the Italian mafia, where crime was conducted in an organized business model. By 1910 he became one of the top Jewish Mobsters in New York City. After fixing the 1919 World Series he became an infamous kingpin of the Jewish Mob. In 1920 he shifted his business to bootlegging and narcotics and worked with Charles Luciano and Meyer Lansky. He was shot and murdered at the age of 46 for a debt he owed at a poker game. 
• Meyer Lansky (Mob's Accountant)

• He was the most influential leaders of the Jewish Mob and played a pivotal role in the National Crime Syndicate from the 1920s until his death in the 1980s. He worked closely with the Italian Mafia, thru his close relationship with Charles Lucky Luciano. Unlike the Italian Mafia however Lansky stuck mostly to gambling, and made his fortune in hotel resorts in Cuba, Florida, New Orleans, and Las Vegas. In the mid 1940s, he worked with Bugsy Siegel to turn the city of Las Vegas into a booming marketplace of gambling. However by 1959 his casino empire took a major hit as a result of the Cuban Revolution. He spent the last of his years living quietly in Miami Beach, and was never found guilty of any major crimes, however his fortune was nearly diminished by the time of his death. 
• Benjamin Siegel (Bugsy)
• He was recruited at a young age by Meyer Lansky to form an organization in Brooklyn that could compete with the Italian gangs. Together they first formed the gang, Bugs and Meyer Mob in 1920, specializing in car thefts and gambling. By the late 1920s they got involved with Charles Luciano, and helped form Murder Inc, which became the armed muscle of the Mafia. Siegel is often credited with a number of big name hits, which brought him his nickname Bugsy. However his big break came out west in California and later Los Angeles. In 1945 he came up with the idea to create an oasis of gambling in hotels in Las Vegas. With financing from Lansky, and help from LA gangster Mickey Cohen, he was able to launch the Flamingo Hotel in 1946. It was the first major hotel of the Las Vegas strip, still in business today. Siegel was murdered that same year by fellow mobsters, most likely for the debt he incurred on the hotel. 
• Mickey Cohen
• He began his career as a professional boxer, however eventually moved to Chicago to work for Al Capone's Chicago Outfit. He was arrested for a brief time in Chicago and eventually relocated to California by Meyer Lansky. It was here that Cohen began to thrive in the underground criminal world of Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He worked under Bugsy Siegel to launch the Flamingo in 1946. Following the assassination of Siegel, Mickey Cohen took the helm of organized business on the west coast and became a kingpin of Las Vegas. He was eventually convicted of tax evasion in 1951 and 1961. He died in 1976 from stomach cancer.

Movies about the Mafia

• On the Waterfront (1954) This film gives a portrayal of the mafia's influence on union workers at the docks of New Jersey. It has one of cinema's most famous lines from Marlon Brando, "You don't Understand, I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could have been somebody instead of a bum. Which is what I am." 
  
• The Godfather I and II (1972, 1974) This masterful film gives a fictional portrayal of the five crime families of New York City. The first film makes references to the Sicilian influence of these organizations as well their hierarchical structure. The second film makes reference to their expansion into gambling. These films also make reference to real life mobsters such as Frank Sinatra, Bugsy Siegel, and Meyer Lansky. It is without question one of the greatest crime films in history.
• Once Upon a Time in America (1984) It's a fictional portrayal of the rise of Jewish mobsters, Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky in the streets of Brooklyn New York. 
• The Untouchables (1987) It is a portrayal of the FBI's crackdown against Al Capone's bootlegging gang in Chicago. 
• Goodfellas (1990) It is a portrayal of an Irish-Italian-American who gets caught up in the Italian crime syndicate of New York City based in the 1970s. 
• Bugsy (1991) It is a biographical portrayal of Bugsy Seigel's venture out west into California and his vision for Las Vegas where he works along side Mickey Cohen and Meyer Lansky. 
• Casino (1995) It is a fictional portrayal of a mafia run hotel in 1970s Las Vegas, and it's influence from Mafia organizations such as the Chicago Outfit. 
• Donnie Brasco (1997) It is a portrayal of an undercover agent, known as Donnie Brasco, who infilitrated the Bonanno and Colombo crime families for 6 years. 
• Road to Perdition (2002) It is a portrayal of the Prohibition Gang Wars, set in Chicago, between the Irish mob and Al Capone's Italian Mafia. 
• Gangster Squad (2013) It is a portrayal of the LAPD crackdown on Mickey Cohen's corrupt influence over the city of Los Angeles.