Characteristics Of The Five Families

Let's talk about the general impressions about the five families, i'm starting:

*Genovese: impeccable organization, everything's secret, no flip, no glitch. The greatest family, but to me, they're very boring.

*Gambino: The most hilarious crime family. Castellano hit, Gotti's rise, Sam's flip. This family brought many funny stories, i like 'em. Now the new administration is all Zips, which means there will be more action from Gambinos

*Bonanno: My favorite family. They're bloody, ruthless and always capable for inner wars. They didn't give a f*ck about the commission's drug ban. Lilo was a legendary boss. Then the three capos murder, Massino's rise, Sonny Black, Sonny Red, Tommy ''Karate'' Pitera etc. This family contain many colours and they're always cool with the Sicilian Mafio. I think they're the toughest.

*Lucchese: They're reputed with Jimmy Burke and Vario Crew. Then Vic Amuso and Tony Casso came up and turned the family into wild west. But still, to me, they're always the insignificant one.

*Colombo: Due to their small amount of membership, in my opinion they're the liveliest of all. They've been through three civil war, they're the smallest and the latest but they still kick ass !

Genovese Characteristic:

They have no Roy Demeo, Pitera, Burke or Casso type members. No psychopaths. They are group of racketeers who occaasionally resort to murder, as opposed to a group of murderers who occasionally make a few bucks.

Genovese Family. Well organized. Least amount of rats. Still a Powerhouse. Always well respected by The Outfit.

if you asked me they learned how to have a fall guy from chicago

Ivy pointed out all your negative nasty comments earlier about New York. Why do you continue? More attention needed? Did you not get enough attention at home when you were growing up?

Any success the genovese family has had must be attributed to Vincent Gigante, not Chicago

Always had an advantage from starting out on top. Best organized, has the deepest bench. Also said to be the worst dressed and more likely to drive Buicks than Cadillacs.



Strong #2 but less sophisticated than the Genovese; more willing to get into the drug and sex rackets.



The "odd family out" when it comes to the 5 NY families. Very little involvement in labor racketeering after the 1960's. Clanish.



The Amuso and Casso era aside, traditionally the most stable of the three smaller families.



At each other's throats for decades. Most confined geographically. Still underestimated by many on these forums.



It's always been a dick measuring contest with cook county. His entire MO is about protecting the rep of his hometown crime family. However, since you got here, he apparently feels he can't get away with over-hyping the Outfit so he's turned to simply taking shots at New York when he can.

123JoeSchmo, Of course the Genovese's success has nothing to do with Chicago. I only said Chicago always RESPECTED the Genovese's. Mooch Eboli was related to Tommy Eboli.

It's good to see someone who can realistically and rationally discuss the relationship between the Genovese and the Outfit. I would imagine that there was a great deal of mutual respect, the two families worked together on a ton of joint ventures in Vegas, Cuba, Florida, etc. They were also the main forces with the Teamsters and other national unions.

In one of the FBI transcripts on the Mary Ferrell website Tommy Eboli is complaining about going to a commission meeting on behalf of Gerry Catena, and one of his complaints was that Catena did not make sure that the Genovese and Chicago were on the same page before the meeting. He said something to the effect of when Vito Genovese was boss before every Commission meeting he would send someone to Chicago to discuss issues with Chicago that would be coming up at the meeting so that they would present a united front.

Chicago, I believe that Mooch Eboli was Tommy Eboli's son. I think that Mooch Eboli's mom was Tommy Eboli's wife at one time, and that after they split up she went back to Chicago, where she was from originally, with her sons.

Even today the Genovese and Chicago families are very close

Genovese capo Danny Pagano is the brother in law of Chicago capo Johnny matassa jr

Of course Chicago, my comment was directed towards cook county not you. My apologies for the mix up

While I think the Genovese family and the Chicago Outfit had plenty of reasons to communicate year ago (the reason they had the position of il messaggero), I don't think there would be much reason today; even if a couple guys are related through marriage. There are no intersecting union interests on a national level. Nor does there seem to be any overlapping interests in open areas like Florida or out west.

123JoeSchmo, No problem. I know, this Guy Cook County makes a lot of ridiculous comments for attention which sometimes gets in the way of intelligent men having a discussion. No worries.

What guys are related through marriage?

I believe Ivy was talking about Mooch Eboli (Chicago) being related to Tommy Eboli (Genovese Family) and the other relation in the above posting.


Years ago, Jack Cerone would occasionally go to New York with his driver Bodyguard Willie Messino. He would talk to the top echelon of the Genovese Family about Union matters.

I have to agree with Ivy, in 2013, I don't see anybody from Cicero going to New York to talk to the Genovese people about Union Matters or Las Vegas.

If John DiFronzo were still involved today, then that could be a different story. But, the way things are presently, there would be no need for anyone to talk to the Genovese Family like they used to do years ago.
Whatever Union stuff goes on in Chicago is handled locally by guys like Pete DiFronzo or Leo and Bruno Caruso.

Look at Louiebynochi's post above.

or maybe the guys that taught gigante how to be gigante

the Genovese has had a long history of being top tier of the mafia

you're kidding right? I'm sure Gigante was in contact with Chicago guys but no fuckin way did they "teach" him anything. That guy was as smart as they come, the bathrobe, muttering and slippers was all him. So don't delude yourself. He's the reason why the west side is number 1, not your damn homeboys

I want to point out about the Colombo maybe to most they are the smallest and weakest but they are the smartest family in my opinion they keep their membership low and family tight that way they stay out of the spotlight. They will survive the longest out of the five unless one high in the ranks decides to flip in the future.

His success can be traced to lombardo and genovese.

That family was already a well-oiled machine when Vince took over. I'm not taking anything away from the guy, he was sharp and ruthless (when he had to be).

To make an analogy (at the risk of sounding like the oldest fanboy in the world), Gigante taking over was like Casey Stengel taking over the Yankees. He did a great job, but the team he took over was already class of the league.

Nothing succeeds like success. When you've always been in the lead, it's that much easier to stay in the lead.

Chicago was the first family to use front bosses

during a meetings chicago could have advised them to insulate themselves more

meaning during the 60s, 70s

That's what I was trying to say, but Skinny took the short route. It's been a succession of great leadership in that family. To suggest that Gigante singlehandedly built that organization is ludicrous. But he did do a great job while he was at the helm.

just watching nat geo. a new special will air july 28th

bronx did you see my message i sent u?

HA. That's funny.
"Smartest.... Last longest."
You're a funny guy. How you tell that story n all...

Got it, thanks.

Pretty interesting inter-marriage relationship there.

Hey guys, the topic is not about the relations between Genovese and The Outfit, you better talk it at some other topic please ...

The Colombos will outlast any family outside New York but to think they could outlast the other NY families doesn't make much sense.

Whats the special going to be about?

Its going to be a six part series called inside the american mob, the previews for it didnt really reveal to much about what its gonna be about, guess youll have to whatch it to find out.

Here's my summary of leadership requirements

Genovese: Mobility scooter, Thick Glasses, Breathing tank, Always wearing Pj's
Gambino: Be from the old country
Lucchese: Business wise Boss
Bonanno: Drug dealing tough Bastard
Colombo: Behind Bars

That whole slippers and robe crazy act of Gigante probably brought more attention onto him than it took away. Nobody in law enforcement was fooled. The guy walks around Sullivan Street muttering to himself, then goes into the Triangle Social Club and meets with a bunch of Genovese capos all day.

The Genovese must be doing things right because we don't know a lot about them compared to the other 4 families.
They are also the one family that you really DONT want to fuck with.

It gave his whole claim of being insane credibility. Law enforcement wasn't fooled but what mattered was what the courts believed. His crazy act was a big reason why he spent relatively little time in prison, especially when you consider he became a NY boss in 1981. It wasn't until 16 years later that he saw the inside of a prison cell.

Has Chin's brother Father Louis ever made a statement on Chin since he admitted in court it was just an act? Father Louis Gigante used to vouch for him and say it wasn't an act and his brother had serious mental problems. Just wondering if he's changed his tune about that?

Father Louis answers to a higher power, he doesn't have to say shit lol

You nailed it dude.....lol



Ivy you hit it on the head with that one. I agree 100%. The Chin would have spent MORE years behind bars without the crazy claim.

It's just like Vito Rizzuto getting his son to be a lawyer then having him help in his defense, they can talk business on the phone and the feds can't do anything due to the laws.

True but one day he's going to have to answer for it. He was one of the guys who's testimony kept Chin free on the street to further kill, steal and all the rest.

It's one thing if he really believed Chin was insane but another thing if he really knew the truth and lied about it. I'm really not sure what the truth is though thats why i asked if Father Gigante has commented on it after Chin admitted in court it was just an act.

You're right, el diablo himself is gonna have fun with father louis, at least he'll be with his brother though.

In addition to Rev. Gigante, you also had all the psychiatrists that claimed he was nuts. Makes you wonder if Chin was just that good of an actor or if they were paid off.

I always liked Father Gigante to tell you the truth. I'm just curious what he really knew. He might of really believed Chin was nuts. Like Ivy said even some pretty good psychiatrists bought into it over the years.

I think both. Some bought the act and maybe a few along the way were paid off.