Carlo Gambino vs Joe Bonanno/Carmine Galante

I have been very interested in the beef between these men. Joe Bonanno was said to have not liked Gambino at all and was heard calling him 'a squirrel of a man'. I no that Galante shared in this hatred.

But my question is where did all the hate stem from. I no that Albert Anastasia and Bonanno had somewhat of a friendship. It was told that Carlo was very scared of Anastasia and Albert supposedly smacked the shit out of him in front of others when Albert was boss. So I don't no if it this incident was at all relevant to their beef

But if Bonanno was a friend he didn't show at Anastasia funeral(not many did). Don't no if he was locked up or whatever.

Any insight to this would be greatly appreciated. Like I said this is very interesting to me. Thanks again people.

This question is on my mind as well ? any taker's out there ? just seem's odd that Bonnano at his peak in 57 - 60 , then is out by 63 .and ousted by Gambino who was a captain 4 year's earlier ?

Gambino would drink too much coffee and would call him Joe Banana and then would laugh hysterically

Something to keep in mind when analyzing the Bonanno/Commission situation is that although Gambino perfectly knew what was going on, he was in some way manipulated by Lucchese. Gambino fully manipulated Magaddino who in turn manipulated his brother in law Gaspar DiGregorio. Both Lucchese and Gambino wanted somebody else to do their fighting and Magaddino/DiGregorio was a perfect fit. It wasn´t til after the death of Lucchese that Gambino was willing to negotiate for peace. That´s why Bonanno, in his book, called Gambino "a squirel of a man" and in my opinion, rightfully so. Gambino was not cut out for fighting. At the end of the day though, Gambino outmanouvred Bonanno.

Carlo Gambino was never "beaten the shit out of him". If I remember correctly, Bonanno in his book, the original source for this, Gambino had bungled an assignment which made Anastasia furious. He raised his hand and almost slapped him. A normal man of honor would at least have left the room in anger. But Gambino answered with a passive grin.

PhillyMob,

I think Bonanno was in Sicily when Anastasia was killed and buried.

Gambino did not have to fight he was sly as a fox.

That's why "Vengeance is a dish BEST SERVED COLD"

Your right Don Cardi. I can never get enough of the barber shop pic.

Always wondered did the barber even finish with the shave or was his face half done when he was blasted?

His chest looked like it could use a wax as well.

Gambino was the master LCN boss, maneuver, deceit and smile...

The barber shop picture is a classic, has to be on the "Mount Rushmore" of mob hit pictures...

Castellano hit pic
Anastasia hit pic
Bruno hit pic
Galante hit pic

Agreed azguy.

That Bruno pic would be a hard one for the family to look at.

I love the Mount Rushmore analogy. What an image I have in my head.If we have room for one more,how about the St. Valentine's Day Massacre photo,or should we make that one the Crazy Horse statue and give it it's own mountain?

That's right he was in Sicily I forgot about that.

I believe Gambino waited until Bonanno was out of the country to assassinate Anastasia.

Also wasn't this at the same time that Genovese muscled Costello out as well?

As for Gambino, the man died at the absolute top of his game. Something which can be said about very few LCN figures.

Yea I think 'Chin' Gigante tried to hit Frank Costello about 2 weeks or so before Anastasia was gunned down in barbershop.

I believe Carlo Gambino to be one of if not the number one LCN figure in America dead or alive. You can prolly count on one hand how many days he spent in jail. The power that he had was just unprecedented. I also believe Tommy Luchesse to be the man to help catapult Gambino to that status.

The fox and the lion is what comes to mind when Carlo is talked about. Tony Accardo as well.

I no that Joe Bonanno was man of the old world and valued the old mafia traditions. He wasn't flashy and avoided the spotlight. I saw Carlo to be of that same mold and just never understood the beef.

Thank you very much for all the responses everyone.

Iceman, Costello almost got rubbed out at the same time but Bonanno was in the U.S when that one happened.

I always thought that Genovese was more or less behind the Anastasia hit because it destabilized Bonanno.

It was a few of them involved in this Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese and Magaddino.

Genoese helped Gambino take over. Then Gambino helped Genovese go to jail or drug charges. Lol. That's the wonderful life of LCN.

Yep it is funny the way that life is but then again not much different then us, I have helped people in the past that try to fuck me key word try to fuck me.

As a president in the Union this happens to me a lot.

Nice another union man. My father was business agent/ Vice President of my local in Philly.

Nice, are you involved in the Union PhillyMob?

Yes I am. Been in about 9 years.

Right on brother.

I'd imagine Genovese engendered a lot of bad blood on account of Appalachia.

Oh yea he lost a lot of clout after that as did Magaddino it was his idea to hold it there after being warned by many that this was not the right time or location to hold such a meeting.

Genovese was pure muscle as far as smarts and style he had none.

Yup Genovese was losing allies quick. Especially with the narcotics he was dealing with.

I have to admit that I was surprised that Joe Pesci played such a tough guy in Goodfellas but now that I am actually more knowledgeable about the real-life mob - most of the feared guys were of similar physical stature.... Galante, Gravano, Casso, Amuso, Pitera, Scarfo......

Inspired casting.

Gambino was a businessman, neil dellacroce was the attack dog.

The mix worked because neil dellacroce services to Gambino was the same as neil got back from Gambino himself.

The power was in the mix of the two men not one man on their own.

Did Carmine Galante really die smoking a cigar or did Joe Coffey put it there?

Yes he really did die smoking a cigar it was still in his mouth in the famous pic after he was whacked.

People thought Coffey done it as kind of a joke and/or to make the pictures better but I think I read that the autopsy proved that he did in fact die smoking a cigar.

Coffey talked about it on Greatest Hits I think.

Galante looks so bad ass in that picture. One eye, cigar in his mouth and a smirk on his face.

All the pain and suffering he unleashed and he looks like he died before he knew what was happening.

Ironic..

Joe never accepted Carlo as his equal. Gambino conspired with Three Finger Brown and Vito to have Albert dispatched. He also didn't like the fact that Tommy and Carlo were so close seeing how the liberal wing of the Commission now held major sway. There are a host of reasons but it really boils down to Old World traditions in sharp contrast to New World customs.

Don Carlo was a legend. So was Don Peppino. But let's be frank here, Gambino died in 76 and Bonanno "retired" in the 60s...they never had to face Rico. Rico was created in 1970 but wasn't used on a Cosa Nostra member until Funzi. So I don't care how careful Carlo Gambino was in regards to talking and being discreet he would have died in prison if he made it to the 1980s. But I am not trying to diminish either at all. Bonanno is a pure legend, a founding member of the commission and a Don of a powerful family at the age of 26. Not to mention, the Bonanno family were the last family to ever have a member turn informant and they went ~65+ years until they had someone flip. That is what I find so ironic. First ever Cosa Nostra member to ever flip was a Genovese. The Bonannos were the last one to have someone flip and also went 30 years since Valachi flipped for it to happen. And now look, the Genovese are the cream of the crop and the Bonannos are decimated due to informers and actually had a sitting boss turn rat.

For shame.

Actually, Joe Valachi was not the first made member to talk to the law, only the first one to speak openly after he was looking at more time, and feared for his life. There were associates that talked and for the Bonanno family, no one started to really talk until the first war. Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno was informing to the F.B.I during the Bonanno war, as well as another unknown Bonanno soldier in Florida who was verified by a few other members who were talking to the law.

I love Galante's ignorant quote about someone whacking him........."No one would ever dare!"

Well partially true, 1 individual never had the guts to take him out by themselves BUT, 3 had the audacity to show him that NO ONE is above the Commission.

I also wonder how much he was paying Amato and Bonventre? If I had to guess, it definitely was not enough. Maybe $200,000 a year.

Also surprised that how when they got Bonventre and Amato to go along with the plot, why is it that only Bonventre was elevated to Capo?
Amato remained a soldier if I am correct.

Was this also around the extremely brief time that Bonventre's superior took over as acting boss? His inability to speak proper English doomed his reign though.