He would go out to fancy restaurants and consume entire meals by simply tipping back the bowl or plate and eating everything at once.

would he really do this in a fancy restaurant? or is someone down the line having a laugh?

I thought it was consigliere, hence "diplomatic skill", it seems to fit the description from the OP.

Ya i heard he was underboss too under gribbs, but once corallo took over a new administration was put into place and he was bumped back down to captain. But im not 100% about that.

He was a very powerful capo but I've never heard this, perhaps he was "acting UB" for a short while.



Vario was the Lucchese "owner" of JFK, they ran it together with Gambinos in a sort of partnership. I forget who ran the Gambino end of the action, but I remember reading that John Gotti got a cut of the Lufthansa heist because JFK was ran jointly between the families, makes sense since JFK isn't too far from Ozone Park.

I totally agree with that opinion, being european myself. I have always found American OC and the LCN history within it mythical and far more interesting than anything we have had in this part of the world, including the Italian mob organizations. With that said Im not a fanboy, just find it very, very interesting and always has.

Gold, I don´t know how old you are. But do you remember "The Gangster Chronicles" aired over here in the early 1980s? That show sparked my interest in the American Mafia.

Hairy: Im 37, so I was still in my diapers when they aired that show

My grandpa emigrated from Småland and allegedly had a restaurant and a speakeasy in Seattle during prohibition. Among his remainings were a pair of brass knuckles, that kinda got me interested in the era of prohibition. And from there the step to LCN isnt that far. My grandpa was not a gangster, but a tough guy. Died before I met him. Sorry for OT.

Great thread!

This was briefly discussed on another thread here....did Paulie really give up Tommy DeSimone over the Billy Batts murder because he tried to rape Karen Hill?

I read somewhere that Paulie knew that this would have caused a lot of internal problems with his crew. And since Paulie was dating Karen for a while, he might have felt protective over her. It seems that Paulie appeased the Gambinos, while keeping Jimmy and Henry out of harm's way.

I believe this version because it helps explain why Tommy got clipped over Batts, but Jimmy and Henry were given a pass....even though they participated. In the Jimmy Burke biography (Mobsters), I believe that he took over Batts' loansharking business while he was in the can. And after Batts got released from prison, he wanted it back, while Jimmy wanted to keep it.

I believe the story about tommy trying to rape karen and thats why paulie served him up to the gambinos was only from henry hills book. I dont think its ever been confirmed so "take it with a grain of salt."

Yes, Henry was prone to exaggeration. However, I'm curious as to why Tommy was whacked, while Henry and Jimmy were given a pass?

I've never heard a reason given. But Henry was put on notice about drugs by Paulie, maybe it was just a matter of time. Jimmy was probably going to kill him anyway over the Lufthansa heist like he did everyone else.

Jimmy pulled in a ton of money, so maybe Paul was willing to overlook it in his case. Paul died in prison and never said a word, so we can only guess at his motives. Maybe he was just a sentimental bastard about those two.

Doubt it. Jimmy already finished his killing spree. Hill was arrested almost a year after the last killing.

Did Paul have som connections with Murder inc,being that he was from that neighbourhood and had his HQ there before moving to Pine st and Pitkin ave?Accross the street from Henry Hill.In 1955

Don't hear much about Rugsy. He's mentioned a few times in Mob Boss.

Ive also heard another reason Tommy Desimone was killed because he killed Ronald " foxy " Jerothe.. Foxy was a protege of Gotti.. Gotti along with the whole Bergin Crew were devastated when he got killed. That was prob one of many reasons that fuckin maniac got killed

Does anyone know the exact address where Hill grew up?

This was Tommys gift to Carlo when their kids or whoever it was got married wasn't it?

start a new thread, someone will probably know...

Yes,pine st just of Pitkin ave..East New york,Brooklyn..The green house right accross the street from the cab stand

Thanks! I see it. Really interesting stuff. I can imagine that street being filled with wiseguys and the whole Bronx tale feeling.