Paul Ricca and Al Capone

Does anyone know if these two crossed paths much? How close were they if at all? Nitti was close to Capone and so was Accardo that much is known but I've never heard too much about Paul Ricca having much to do with Capone? It doesn't seem to me at least that he was really ever in Capones inner circle...

Al was the best man at Ricca's wedding...also Ricca managed a striptease joint which was owned by Capone,named The World Playhouse. He even got rid of his mentor Joe Esposito for Capone because Joe became a political rival of the Capone gang.Ricca and Capone took over every criminal operations and political connections that Joe left behind.Story goes that Ricca had a very good reason to kill Joe because he was in Joe's debt big time. After that Ricca became Al's messanger and connection with the rest of the national crime families.

Thanks Toodoped for that. I always wondered that myself. How or when (or both if you know) did Ricca kind of become a "power"? From what point did he kind of move into the next in line spot or did he just take over after Nitti or was he the actual power behind him?

I knew he was the conduit to New York, was that just a right place right time thing when he was younger or does anyone know if there was reasoning behind RIcca being Chicago's man in New York for meetings as in a possible literal family relations out there? Have always been curious myself to this as info on Ricca with New York is somewhat unclear

@dixie Ricca gained power by being close to Esposito and by just going back and forth to New York.Ricca was the one that they often saw and he was the one that they trusted the most because they knew him even before Nitti's rise up. So when big things had to be done they called upon Ricca and not Nitti. So i think that Ricca became power during the Capone era, especialy after the murder of Esposito. Ricca and Capone inherited Esposito's criminal empire. When Al was sent to jail, Ricca was the one who inherited everything. Also after Capone the newspaper men needed a new target because the stories about gangsters were selling like crazy so they targeted Nitti and Paul played it smart by staying behind the scene.

@AllDay27 Most of the old Chicago bosses started their careers in New York Esposito, Torrio, Capone, Ricca, Campagna etc. Esposito was very close to Masseria,Costello and Luciano and since Ricca worked for him, thats how he got close to thouse individuals. When Capone and Ricca killed Esposito,the New York faction needed a new guy who flew under the radar so they contuined their associations to Chicago through Ricca. So my point is that Esposito was the main reason for Ricca's connections to the Big Apple. Also dont forget that when Ricca first arrived in New York he was already a Camorra associate and a murderer so maybe he already established some criminal connections over there. And as additional info, Esposito was also the main reason for Chicago's and New York's connections to Cuba since he was importing and selling sugar to every big time bootlegger. Esposito was a very smart,influental and powerful individual but his problem was that he wasnt a very violent person but Ricca was...

Thanks man

You're welcome dixie

Yes thanks Toodoped knew you'd have the info on anything Chicago related.
Didn't know they were that interconnected.

No problem joey_doves, its my pleasure

Any pics of them together Paul Ricca & Al Capone ? Toodoped

Not that I know of ricky

There is only one that I wish I had scanned when I had the chance. Not sure if it is on the net somewhere. It was at a wedding and the photo had Capone, Accardo, Ricca, and Nitti in it. Pretty sure.

Damn, that would've been a good photo

Agreed - where did u see that Snakes?

It was in a Chicago Crime Commission book from about 20 years ago. I might be able to get my hands on it again. It's been a while since I've seen it, so the guys I listed above may not be entirely accurate. I know for sure that a very young Accardo is in the photo.

I believe the book is "Friend And Foe," Chicago Crime Commission, Page 114. I believe this may be the book. Frank Nitti and Ralph Capone are also in the picture which was made at Ricca's wedding reception. I have a copy.

I believe this may be the picture you guys (Snakes & Toodoped) were discussing.

wow many many thanks GaryMartin for the great photo!

As for Accardo in the picture, the person more looks like Charles Fischetti but I might be wrong

Good pic don't think that Accardo tho

Yeah! That's it but mine was from a different book. At least it had Capone and Ricca in it so I wasn't crazy. The book I saw had it captioned with Accardo being the possible one instead of Nitti. Thanks, Gary.

I have no idea if the picture is accurate. I can see Nitti, Capone and Ricca. Not sure about Accardo and Ralph Capone. Maybe we can get additional input from other members. I bet Prof. Binder would know.

Toodoped - I appreciated all the great pics you have posted. I share some of them from time-to-time.