Both were instrumental, but I'd actually lean towards Genovese. Lucky gets credited with alot, and deservedly so, but if you think about it, he wasn't on the street all that long. Commission was formed in the early 30s, and he was off to jail by the late 30's, then off to Italy. Obviously he held heavy influence, but Genovese was mostly here in the states, with his eyes on everything going on. He had a short stint in Italy as well, and held enough power to cozy up to Mussolini. I will say, I think that Genovese is to blame for Apalachin getting busted, but the guy saw and presided over the Genovese family when the mob ran everything. For my money, I'm taking Costello over both.

I can't wait to see where this goes. I'll chime in later when I can sit down and put some thought into my response. The both of them have so many similar pros and cons.

Both were instrumental, but I'd actually lean towards Genovese. Lucky gets credited with alot, and deservedly so, but if you think about it, he wasn't on the street all that long. Commission was formed in the early 30s, and he was off to jail by the late 30's, then off to Italy. Obviously he held heavy influence, but Genovese was mostly here in the states, with his eyes on everything going on. He had a short stint in Italy as well, and held enough power to cozy up to Mussolini. I will say, I think that Genovese is to blame for Apalachin getting busted, but the guy saw and presided over the Genovese family when the mob ran everything. For my money, I'm taking Costello over both.

Luciano was boss before Vito...Luciano was in the narcotics biz before Vito, although it is possible that later Vito took it to another level while in Italy but still, Lucky was one of the prime players during the 50s....Lucky also had interests in Cuba since the 30s...so Ill go with Luciano

A really good thought provoking question NYM… my compliments!

...in addition to my previous post, according to two prison guards who were watching Luciano in jail on daily basis, said that whenever some of the inmates visited Lucky, after finishing their comvo, they never turned their backs at him but instead they exited his cell walking backwards like saluting a "King".

Also (I already posted this in a different thread), when Lucky was placed on a ship to Italy, at least a dozen of cars filled with Luckys associates followed the ship on the docks as a last farewell. Thats RESPECT.

Thats true, TD. I remember reading that too.

Luciano is often pegged as the architect of the modern day mafia. He eventually gets put away for serious time based on some trumped up charges. He takes his time like a man. Eventually receiving a pardon by the same douche that put him away. This happens after aiding the US Military in WW2. While deported, he still remains on top and is influential around the world. He later dies of a heart attack.
Well, until recently, I thought a certain scene in Boardwalk Empire was fiction. The scene is where Luciano sets up some others with heroin. Toodoped recently posted an article with a transcript of Dewey questing questioning Luciano about ratting during a narcotics bust. Fucking devastating!
That's strike one. Strike two comes with the fucking guy fixing to sell his story?
Genovese. An individual that demonstrated he was a force to be reckoned with. He stood by Lucky since the beginning. It was Genovese,Costello, and Lucky that headed that family for almost 4 decades (30's - 60's). When things got too hot in the US, he went to Italy. He helps out the US military in WW2. He gets extradited, comes home, and makes his witness disappear. While Lucky is overseas and Costello is doing the political thing, Genovese is keeping their family protected. The only one with the balls to take on Genovese is Anastasia. For whatever reason, Anastasia didn't go after Genovese following the Costello hit. Strike 1. Going after Costello. Bad for business and total lack of respect. Strike 2. Appalachian? Was it all his fault? I'm sure the meeting was for more than just acknowledging Genovese as boss. Strike 3. The ultimate fuckup. Valachi.
At the end of the day, Genovese never ratted or sold his story. His drug charges were trumped up but put him away until he died. Nobody ever challenged him before or after he became boss. But there's the Havana story where Lucky breaks the ribs of Genovese. The boss shouldn't be laying his hands on another made man. Genovese respected the boss and didn't fight back. But that story has been called a lie in recent times. My answer is Genovese. Two months ago, it would've been Lucky hands down. But that story about him snitching, really bothers me.

Don't forget during the war Vito played both sides the allied forces as well as Mussolini.

Italian bandit Salvatore Giuliano posing with Italian-born American mafioso Vito Genovese wearing a US army uniform. Sicily, 1940s . (Photo by Enzo Brai/Mondadori via Getty Images)

https://www.gettyimages.no/detail/n...-born-news-photo/186175230?adppopup=true

She was an American-born countess, Dorothy DiFrasso, who had connections to Mussolini. Siegel was one of her many lovers. The story (unverified) is that he had a scheme to use her to get close enough to Mussolini to whack him. Here's a link to her bio:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/177989689/dorothy-cadwell-dentice_di_frasso

Mussolini's Fascist Party was interesting although Benito hated the influence the Mafia had and drove many to the US in the 20s, some former blackshirts became very powerful men in post-war Italy.

Thats very correct, Hollander. In fact, Mussolini became a major catalyst for the Mafia's mass exodus from Sicily and immigration to America.

Yes Mussolini was like a Ceasar LOL..