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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#991320
05/15/20 10:50 PM
05/15/20 10:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 305
mchang93
Capo
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Capo
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 305
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#991321
05/15/20 10:58 PM
05/15/20 10:58 PM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
NYMafia
OP
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OP
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#991326
05/16/20 04:12 AM
05/16/20 04:12 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,180
GangstersInc
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,180
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The Shoot-Out on Troutman Street: The Mafia at War By Thom L. Jones for Gangsters Inc. In January 1966, a civil war broke out. Not between different people in a country, but within a family. A family of criminals that operated across the five boroughs of New York. It had been brewing for a while, and now it was time. Between instinct and action, there is no edit function. This would cause a lot of pain and suffering before the final body fell. Unlike Sicily, where they really know how to carry out mob wars, this one would be an itty-bitty affair. However, it would occupy a lot of people over the years it rumbled along. http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-shoot-out-on-troutman-street-the-mafia-at-war
The best website about global organized crime & the Mafia: http://www.gangstersinc.org - Since 2001 - Want to write for us? Drop me a DM/mail!
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994556
07/26/20 10:51 PM
07/26/20 10:51 PM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
NYMafia
OP
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OP
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
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Giuseppe (Joe Bananas) Bonanno was one of the 5 originators of what was to become the ruling hierarchy of organized crime in America. The "Board of Directors" if you will who governed big time crime and industry infiltration as had never before been seen in the United States or anywhere else for that matter.
But the very same qualities that catapulted him to the top of the mob heap, would eventually become his Achilles Heel and downfall.
His greed, ambition, and unending sense of entitlement would lead to the destruction of himself, as well as the borgata he worked so hard to build up over the course of 30 + years.
This child of Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, home to so many future top mafiosi in the United States, had the world by the balls... but he let it slip through his fingers like so many grains of sand.
But maybe in the end he got the last laugh.... Bonanno lived to the ripe old age of 97, and lived a life of comfort and mob splendor to the end. And no doubt left many untold millions to his children and grandchildren as his legacy.
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994564
07/27/20 05:59 AM
07/27/20 05:59 AM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
Dob_Peppino
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
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On a human level, getting pushed out the mob was the best the that happened to Joe B. He out lived his main opposition Luchesse, Gambino and Magaddino. He got to watch the beneficiaries of his demise (Joe Colombo, Paul Castellano, Tony Duck Corallo and Rusty Rastelli) go out in a ball of flames.... and was still able to live, probably in the same fashion if he had retired in the first place. The only difference is that he would've still had some influence over the ongoing in Ny and the drug trade (which is what I believe everyone was trying to avoid). He would've gotten bullets with Galante or more like pulled into a R.I.C.O. I often wonder if Di Gregorio had been promoted, could that have at least stopped him from rebelling?
Last edited by Dob_Peppino; 07/27/20 06:01 AM.
"Joe Bananas went after Carlo Gambino, the war went on for seven years..... When guys go to the mattresses, they're not out earning" -Tony Soprano
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994577
07/27/20 09:54 AM
07/27/20 09:54 AM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
Dob_Peppino
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
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As an avid researcher I know that there is more to the story that is lost to history, but i often wonder what was the origin of Bonanno/Di Gregorio split (as far as on a personal level). It had to have happened long before 1964. If I had to guess, Gaspare must've been left out of the drug money.... I wonder what his relationship was like with Galante?
"Joe Bananas went after Carlo Gambino, the war went on for seven years..... When guys go to the mattresses, they're not out earning" -Tony Soprano
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994594
07/27/20 06:11 PM
07/27/20 06:11 PM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
Dob_Peppino
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
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@NYmafia Interesting incite. Aside from Bonanno taking huge tribute, were there any huge earners in Ny specifically? (Because it always seemed to an extend, Bonanno got most of his personal wealth from his operations outside NY. And the other Families seem to have guys who made crazy money no matter what the "kick-up" was)
Do you have any info on Frank Labruzzo?
"Joe Bananas went after Carlo Gambino, the war went on for seven years..... When guys go to the mattresses, they're not out earning" -Tony Soprano
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: Dob_Peppino]
#994595
07/27/20 06:47 PM
07/27/20 06:47 PM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
NYMafia
OP
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OP
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
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Its funny you say that because I always felt the same way about Bonanno guys. not too many big earners (that we know about anyway).
Mike Sabella was a solid earner I believe. Joe Zicarelli earned well. I'm sure others did as well. But as far a HUGE earners with multimillion businesses or rackets. I really can't name any!
I have zero info on La Bruzzo, other than what is commonly known about him already.
*** I take that back. I believe that his underboss before Galante, Francesco (Frankie Carroll) Garofalo, was indeed a very wealthy guy. But who really knows? He lived in midtown Manhattan in a big townhouse, owned some RE, and a "packing company" out in California, etc. He later retired to Sicily with his assets (supposedly).
I can most certainly tell you this, John Tartamella, Paul Sciacca, Gaspare DiGregorio, Nicholas DiStefano, Mike Adamo, among many, many others were DEF NOT wealthy. Again, I personally knew Tartamella (father and son), Sciacca, and Di Gregorio... and their families. They each lived in a nice but modest LI home. Each had food on the table. But NO fancy cars, or extensive property holdings, or even big businesses to speak of.
Tartamella was a union official (never had businesses per se), Di Gregorio had a small dress factory (end of story), Sciacca had several dress factories and was a bit more stable.... but nothing that you'd imagine a mafioso to have (especially that each of the guys I've mentioned were top, top guys; consigliere, underboss, top skippers, etc)...and rose into the boss spot after that. WTF??
You can imagine what the average soldier had (or didn't have) if the hierarchy was that lean.
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994597
07/27/20 06:59 PM
07/27/20 06:59 PM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
Dob_Peppino
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
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@NYmafia Wow, this is great info. One last question and here's the kicker. Was the Family better off (financially speaking) once Bonanno was out of the picture?
"Joe Bananas went after Carlo Gambino, the war went on for seven years..... When guys go to the mattresses, they're not out earning" -Tony Soprano
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: Dob_Peppino]
#994599
07/27/20 07:13 PM
07/27/20 07:13 PM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
NYMafia
OP
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OP
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
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I really couldn't answer that. But my guess? Probably not. Because it largely depends upon the action the borgata has to begin with. Joe B has ALL the cash. I don't know but I get the feeling that he sucked up 99% of anything good. He left his men the crumbs (a fact that many a mob boss or capo are guilty of),.
A small crew like Lucchese, smallest in NYC, was a very wealthy family pound for pound. I'd match their wealth and influence with any other crew - again man for man. Proportionately speaking, they may have been the wealthiest back in the 1950s or so. NOT TODAY of course.
But guys like Profaci, Bonanno, and many others were NOT sports. Tommy Brown was singular in that regard. His men LOVED him.
Even nowadays, Joe Massino was a cheap prick (a rat too as it turns out). Natale Evola didn't live long enough for us to find out. Rastelli was NEVER a wealthy guy. He was a boss, yet didn't know how to make four cents. Spent half his life in the jug. And I know guys who loved Rusty, but I'm calling it like I know it.
When we read these mob history books they often glamorize these guys as big spenders. But Believe when I tell ya (first hand), for every 1 guy who was a sport. 50 were tight asses. And thats whether they had wealth or didn't.
THAT is the cold hard truth. Many would find what I just said hard to believe, but it's true.
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994606
07/27/20 08:32 PM
07/27/20 08:32 PM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
Dob_Peppino
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
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@NYmafia you just keep on intriguing me (obviously by the name, you know I'm Bonanno fanatic). Whats your impression of Nicky Glasses Marangello?
"Joe Bananas went after Carlo Gambino, the war went on for seven years..... When guys go to the mattresses, they're not out earning" -Tony Soprano
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994609
07/27/20 09:57 PM
07/27/20 09:57 PM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
Dob_Peppino
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
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@Nymafia you are very knowledgeable sir. I find the (what I call) the "original" Bonanno Family guys (1931-1970 and of course they guys who came from that era) to be the most fascinating, simply because they are probably the least talked about or the least glamorous (as far as how people perceive mob lore). Everyone is into the other Families generally.
"Joe Bananas went after Carlo Gambino, the war went on for seven years..... When guys go to the mattresses, they're not out earning" -Tony Soprano
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994611
07/27/20 10:43 PM
07/27/20 10:43 PM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
NYMafia
OP
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OP
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
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Peppino, on that note, I do not know how much you have zipped around our website but if you visit, you can also click links that run across the entire top of the homepage. They are all interesting, there is a link to in-depth biographies of each of the six NY/NJ metro families, but again there is a "Bonanno" link that provides over 30-40 profiles on many of the little known as well as the more notorious Bonanno members; Bonanno, Galante, Garofalo, Tartamella, Rastelli, etc etc..... also, Bonomo, Casale, Adamo, Genna, etc.,... names that are important if little known to the public as well. Ok
*** I also resurrected a thread/link on "The Cotroni Regime of Montreal, Canada" about the Bonanno wing operating up that way.
Hope you enjoy them and that there is some new info for you. Let me know ok
Last edited by NYMafia; 07/27/20 11:02 PM.
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994614
07/27/20 11:31 PM
07/27/20 11:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,544 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,544
AZ
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But maybe in the end he got the last laugh.... Bonanno lived to the ripe old age of 97, and lived a life of comfort and mob splendor to the end. And no doubt left many untold millions to his children and grandchildren as his legacy.
I think Rudy Giuliani helped him to have the last laugh. He read "A Man of Honor" [sic], When he was US Attorney for the Southern District of NY, and saw in Bonanno's description of the Commission a good example of a "Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization" as defined under the RICO Act. That's what launched him into the Commission case. BTW: Was Cesare Bonventre, one of the Sicilian Bonannos, related to Joe B? He was a Bonventre on his mother's side, I believe.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994621
07/28/20 10:27 AM
07/28/20 10:27 AM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
Dob_Peppino
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
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@NYMafia To piggy-back on what was said earlier in the thread, Would you say Galante was a wealthy Guy? And secondly, Do you think the Bonannos would have been more powerful under Galante if that hit never happened?
(And I've look at your site, obviously it will take awhile for me to really go through it, but I'm a fan already)
Last edited by Dob_Peppino; 07/28/20 10:29 AM.
"Joe Bananas went after Carlo Gambino, the war went on for seven years..... When guys go to the mattresses, they're not out earning" -Tony Soprano
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994629
07/28/20 01:17 PM
07/28/20 01:17 PM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
Dob_Peppino
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
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@NYMafia I enjoy your perspective. So how would you compare the Colombos during Profaci's era with The Bonanno's under Joe B. Historically, they say Profaci was greedy also. Which crew had it worse off Financially? Secondly, which of the Families do you think had had the better earners? Whichever Families was in worse shape, was it more because of the boss's greed or the lack of ability to earn?
"Joe Bananas went after Carlo Gambino, the war went on for seven years..... When guys go to the mattresses, they're not out earning" -Tony Soprano
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: Dob_Peppino]
#994632
07/28/20 02:12 PM
07/28/20 02:12 PM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
NYMafia
OP
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OP
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 9,641
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I'd say the Profaci Family and Bonanno Family were close in legitimate assets, wide far-flung multimillion dollar enterprises, and street rackets alike. Profaci was a master. And both Joes were "compare" ...those 2 families were so intrenched in legitimate industry its not even funny. If you read my bios on Profaci and Bonanno it'll bear out what I'm saying.
In order of $$ generated. IMO: #1 Luciano/Genovese #2 Gagliano/Lucchese ....Tied... Mangano/Anastasia #3 Profaci .....Tied .... Bonanno
Note: even though Lucchese was by far the seamiest crew in NYC, it was also ALWAYS known as a money crew: political influence, connections, labor unions, heroin, policy, crap games, garment industry control, construction, shylock,...at one time they were the most cohesive and wealthiest crew (pound for pound) against anybody. TODAY? no
But overall then, as today, the Luciano/Genovese were strong! Remember that Lucky was THE MAN. and his crew (the old Masseria borgata) was nationally influential.
Thats where I'd bet my money if I were to stake a bet
In fairness, ALL the crews were in great shape. The WORST Family back then is still heads and shoulders above ANY family today. THAT WAS WHEN THEY RULED NYC WITH AN IRON FIST! .....
Last edited by NYMafia; 07/28/20 02:24 PM.
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: Dob_Peppino]
#994755
07/30/20 10:12 PM
07/30/20 10:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 283
Njein
Capo
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Capo
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 283
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@NYMafia I enjoy your perspective. So how would you compare the Colombos during Profaci's era with The Bonanno's under Joe B. Historically, they say Profaci was greedy also. Which crew had it worse off Financially? Secondly, which of the Families do you think had had the better earners? Whichever Families was in worse shape, was it more because of the boss's greed or the lack of ability to earn? Did Bonanno ever use the $25 monthly "tax" that Profaci used? From what I'm reading, Bonanno's greed is what brought him down, as it did with Masseria, Maranzano, Genovese, etc., and it will do so with Galante, Castellano, Amuso, Gotti, Persico, etc.
Last edited by Njein; 07/30/20 10:12 PM.
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Re: The “BANANA WAR†of 1966-1969
[Re: NYMafia]
#994997
08/03/20 03:55 PM
08/03/20 03:55 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,544 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,544
AZ
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I think "greed" is indeed why most of these leaders have fallen. Either directly or indirectly, their greed and drive helped get them to the top. But in the end spelled their doom!
The more intelligent and less greedy bosses mostly died in bed instead in a jail cell or the gutter bleeding out. So true. One of the reasons Meyer Lansky lived into his eighties and died peacefully in bed was that he wasn't greedy--house odds were good enough for him. His biographer, Robert Lacey, also notes that Lansky was never as rich and powerful as he was described in news media and in FBI files. That's why he never incurred the jealousy and resentment of more powerful Mob figures--always fatal. Re. Bill Bonanno: I read somewhere that he went away for a long time on "wire fraud" for using a credit card belonging to a Family member. That was a slam-dunk conviction. He was a world-class BS artist in the same league as Henry Hill. He mesmerized Gay Talese, who swallowed all the "honored society" BS in his book, "Honor thy Father."
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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