Lucky Luciano in Naples

Excellent video! Never saw this before. Thanks for sharing.

Lucky Luciano/Hip Sing Tong 1930s

It's a historic covert surveillance video by Italian police.

Luciano in Naples is a good video, the one about the Chinese working with the Italians is just a bunch of baloney.

Awesome find! Thanks again.

I found one of my old posts from ten years ago regarding Lucky, although the link from which I received the info at the time doesnt work anymore...btw any truth to this?

"On February 9, Luciano was escorted by two agents of the U.S. immigration service onto the seven-thousand-ton freighter Laura Keene, which was shipping a consignment of flour. Reporters swarmed around the dockside, wanting a final picture of the king of the underworld. Fifteen journalists were refused admittance to the pier by a menacing guard of longshoremen armed with baling hooks. They’d been provided by the Mafia to keep the media at bay and their boss told the reporters to “beat it.”

Six police guards working in pairs watched Luciano twenty-four hours a day in eight- hour shifts during his period of custody on board the Laura Keene. Officially, they denied the presence of any liquor or extra food on board for Luciano, but Lansky told a different story.

On the evening before Luciano’s departure, all the city’s top mobsters gathered on board the freighter for a farewell party. They included Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, Albert Anastasia, Bugsy Siegel, William Moretti, Tommy Lucchese, Joe Adonis, and Stefano Magaddino. Someone must have bribed the police guards generously. Champagne corks popped and they laughed about old times. “We had a wonderful meal aboard,” said Lansky, “all kinds of seafood fresh from the Fulton Fish Market, and spaghetti and wine and a lots [sic] of kosher delicacies.” Luciano loved his Jewish food.

“Lucky also wanted us to bring some girls to take along with him on the ship to keep him company. I asked Adonis to do something about that . . . Joe found three showgirls from the Copacabana Club and there was no difficulty in getting them aboard. The authorities cooperated even on that. Nobody going into exile ever had a better [s]end- off.”

An FBI report gives yet another version of Luciano’s last days in America. An anonymous FBI agent visited him on board the Laura Keene.

“I had no trouble whatsoever with the stevedores on the pier or on board the ship,” he reported, “nor was I molested or threatened.” The stevedores, “chiefly Italians, looked upon Luciano as more or less a hero, and that any word from him requesting that the reporters be barred was all that was needed to have it carried out by the stevedores as an order . . . there would have been bloodshed if the reporters tried to storm the pier in an unauthorized entry.”

The agent flashed his ID to the steamship guard and was shown to Luciano’s cabin.

“When I entered Mr. Luciano’s cabin, I told him that I was stopped by the representatives of the press at the end of the pier and that they would like to interview him. He reacted unfavorably to the idea and he told me that since the press had not been too nice to him in the past, he had no desire to give any statements. “Mr. Luciano was quartered in a cabin known as the ‘gun crew quarters’ aft of amidship. In the cabin with Mr. Luciano was the first mate who informed Luciano that he would have to remain in the quarters assigned to him, until the ‘old man,’ meaning the captain, orders the change of quarters.”

The FBI agent contradicts Lansky’s story of a farewell feast. On Saturday evening, February 9, he was told by guards that Luciano had baked macaroni and steak for dinner. He asked for a cup of tea but was told there was none and he settled for a drink of milk. They stated there was “no evidence of any parties, drinking or visitors to Luciano during the time he was under their surveillance” from midnight to 8:00 a.m. on Saturday the ninth through Sunday the tenth. They denied he had been visited by Albert Anastasia.

The agent returned on Luciano’s last day in Brooklyn docks at the Bush Terminal at 6:00 a.m. “Upon my arrival there, I saw a gang or mob of 60 to 80 men and about 20 to 30 cars. I have no idea to their identity or their purpose for being on hand.”

When the ship left the pier at 8:50 a.m., a launch followed them for three miles. The agent guessed it was members of the press trying to get one final shot of Luciano. The agent left the ship at 2:00 p.m. when he caught a ride on a fishing ship returning to the Brooklyn docks."

Very interesting TD… I can see reasons for both sides pushing their narratives

Thats right and I agree, although if you ask me the most interesting thing is the launch of cars which followed the ship for 3 miles and the FBI agent GUESSED that it was probably reporters, but on the other hand it might've been Lucky's pals showing a sign of respect.

Nice detail there!

Heres another interesting read from one sociology project which again involves Lucky...

"What Charles "Lucky" Luciano's criminal history suggests to us about the nature of offending is that criminals, when adolescents, start offending as the result of a sort of hero worship. "In his world, the guys with the flashy clothes, the big cars, and the folding money never work" (Feder and Joesten, 44). Offending is not the result of being in dire straits and having neuropsychological deficits, rather it is a chosen lifestyle.

The nature of Luciano's crimes also suggest that more elaborate crimes hinder arrest and provide more benefits. Escalation served as a way to escape criminal prosecution. The prostitution case withstanding, Luciano was convicted for minor crimes such as shoplifting and drug dealing, but for more severe ones the networks were either too complex or did not provide sufficient evidence to permit prosecution.
Age was of little importance as a means of social control in Luciano's criminal career. Age at no point in his life served as a means of informal social control and offending was not hindered by an "attachment to the labor force and cohesive marriage (which)- explain variations in criminal behavior independent or prior differences in criminal propensity" (Sampson and Laub, 245).

In fact, in this case, Luciano's nature and onset was the direct result of rebellion against the social institutions, which are supposed to provide social control according to Sampson and Laub. He forfeited his job to seek out a more extravagant life; to live in the high-society that Petersilia described.

The onset of Luciano's criminal career is best described with strain theory. Luciano's goals were not being met when he was working and carrying an "adult" social role. His prospects for the future were bleak and did not provide him with the luxuries he desired. The whole concept of a "crum" is based on the premise that a working class lifestyle is not desirable and that the pressure to succeed is never relieved through these means. Lucky himself aimed to "prove that society alone was to blame for his life of crime" (Feder and Joesten, 308).

Upon entering the realm of "organized crime" it was Luciano's associations that provided him with the ability to attain his goals. Differential association perpetuated and advanced his criminal career. His associations landed him his job selling drugs and would later allow him to live in high-society. Luciano used tremendous agency and planning by learning ways of undermining conventional society.

Differential association theory is also supported by the fact that he escalated. The escalation resulted when he learned new forms of crime and made the necessary associations with other criminals to execute them. The associations grew to the point that they shielded him. Luciano remarked, "They talk about me and never come up with evidence. It's all politics and I'm the victim. It's about time to stop rapping me for all the bad things that happen in the US and in Europe." (Feder and Joesten, 312). Despite the great amount of prosperity that Luciano attained with differential association he always viewed himself as a victim of circumstance. Thereby ironically lamenting an argument of strain, that society could provide nothing but persecution and defeat."

http://www.collegetermpapers.com/Te...f_Charles_Lucky_Lucianos_LifeCourse.html

This is excellent ma, thanks!!

LUCIANO IS LINKED TO HEROIN ARRESTS; Narcotics Bureau Official Says Exiled Gangster 'Definitely' Is Behind Smashed Ring
Credit...The New York Times Archives
See the article in its original context from
March 9, 1952, Page 54Buy Reprints

Full text is unavailable for this digitized archive article. Subscribers may view the full text of this article in its original form through TimesMachine.
WASHINGTON, March 8 (UP) -- Charles (Lucky) Luciano, one-time New York vice overlord, was "definitely" behind an international narcotics smuggling ring cracked in San Francisco, a Government official said today

You're always welcome @Jimmy.



Thanks for the additional info @H.

That's a great observation from that sociologist Toodoped. I've been saying since time immemorial that many guys are still attracted to the lifestyle regardless if they have plenty of money or not. For many, it's in their DNA. DNA being figurative speech for anyone who's head it went over. All this talk that only impoverished people want to be involved is bullshit. Some of the biggest wannabe gangsters I know have or had everything. There's even been wealthy guys who joined the mob, and their wealth was their ticket in. That sociologist did a splendid job blowing one of the great myths straight out of the water with this line, "Offending is not the result of being in dire straits and having neuropsychological deficits, rather it is a chosen lifestyle." Bravo!

Wow this is good footage. Thank you for posting this

I completely agree with you and also regarding the guy who made this project and did a wonderful job on creating one good definition regarding the criminal mentality of individuals such as Luciano.

...in addition, I think I already posted this old ass documentary before but here it goes again since I believe that it fits perfectly with this thread...

Luciano didn't have any kids what was the reason?

Lucky Luciano - Mafia Murderer and Secret Agent ebook by Tim Newark


Charles 'Lucky' Luciano was a vicious mobster who rose to become the multimillionaire king of the New York underworld. He was a legend - but also a fake master criminal without real power, his reputation manipulated and maintained by the government agents who had put him behind bars.

Drawing on secret government documents from archives in America and Europe, this myth-busting biography tells Luciano's real story, from his early days as a top hit man for the mob to his exploits running sex and narcotics empires and revelations about his trip to Nazi Germany to set up a drugs importing racket. His career abruptly halted by imprisonment, Luciano's reputation was enhanced by rumours that he was helping to win the Second World War for the Allies in Sicily and the Mediterranean. Through painstaking research, Newark exposes the truth about what Luciano really did during the war.

Expelled from the US in 1946, Luciano returned to Italy, where he was reputed to head a massive transatlantic narcotics network. In a complex conspiracy, he became a victim of the far greater powers around him, and Newark provides evidence that, at one time, he was even working as a Cold War agent, helping the US government fight Communism in Sicily. Lucky Luciano: Mafia Murderer and Secret Agent turns accepted Mafia history on its head with an extraordinary story that has never been told before.

I personally dont know the reason behind it but I think that Costello also didnt have any kids. Even Chicago leader Gus Alex also didnt have kids, while being in numerous relationships with lots of beautiful women during his life time. Who knows, maybe "the playaz need no love"?! Lol

Thanks TD. Five men arrested in the prostitution case against Luciano, Meyer Berkman, Benny Spiller, Joseph 'Jo-Jo' Weintraub, Al Weiner and Jack Eller. Some of the men were loan sharks to the women.

He did have a long relationship with a neapolitan dancer Igea Lissoni.

The old links which I had, doesnt work anymore but anyways you ever heard of this story?? Dont know how true it is...

"Thelma Alice Todd was this beautiful blond actress from the 30's and she is one of Hollywood's greatest unsolved mysteries.She was found dead in her car inside her garage, from monoxide poisoning. The coroner ruled it an accident but rumors of fowl play flew around. She was divorced from shady businessman Pasquale "Pat" DiCicco, living with married director Roland West and rumored to be having an affair with mobster Charles "Lucky" Luciano.She also ran a bistro-type club,Lucky wanted her to let him use some rooms in the bistro as a gambling den and to invite her Hollywood friends to it,but she refused.

"Charles 'Lucky' Luciano, who got her hooked on amphetamines in order to keep her in line. He began persuading her to let him use an upper room at the Roadside Cafe as an illicit gambling den, but she persistently refused. At dinner one night in the Brown Derby, she screamed at him, "Over my dead body!," to which he is supposed to have replied, "That can be arranged.""

Awesome stuff guys. It’s really appreciated!

Again, you're always welcome bud

Heres another interesting story regarding Lucky and his stay in Napoli, and I think I already posted it back in the days but still, here it goes again...

Larry Ray of Gulfport, Mississippi spent some time in Naples many years ago and enjoys sharing his memories.....

"Great story that brought me back to Napoli and 1959, as a barely nineteen-year-old who had arrived fresh from a year of US Navy electronic and instructor schools for a posting to Naval Air Facility Capodichino. I have told you about my instant fascination with Napoli and making the transition from speaking Spanish to Italian facilitated by my taking a tiny apartment on Cupa Carbone, a stone's throw literally across a wooden fence from the American base which in a fenced off area just down from the Italian civilian airport facilities.

A large gray Mercedes bus shuttled us between the Capodichino air base and Piazza Municipio which was a central hangout with the enlisted Bluebird Club, and all sorts of other bars and even a huge pizzaria on the second floor of a large building on the corner of Via Medina and Piazza Municipio above where the entrance to Monte Dei Paschi di Siena bank is today.

Across the piazza roughly around where via Verdi comes into the piazza from Via Santa Brigida there was the California Bar which attracted lots of American sailors as well as locals. I was having a great time trying to communicate, learning Italian and, unwittingly, mimicking the strong local Neapolitan accent and vernacular. I had developed a friendly repartee with a waiter in the California Bar and he found it a novelty that an American was trying so hard to learn to speak Italian.

One afternoon I stopped in the California Bar and there was just one other person, an older man sitting alone at a table. As I bantered with the barrista, the man at the table smiled and motioned me over. He was nicely dressed, very friendly and he complimented me on my Italian. Really a nice old guy. I asked him how he learned his English so well and he allowed as how he "had lived in the states" and that he always liked meeting "you young fellows stationed here." Sort of like talking to a favorite old uncle.

I saw him a couple of more times and wrote my parents that I had met the nicest interesting old man, an Italian who had lived in the USA, a Mr. Luciano, but everyone called him "Lucky." I got a stern almost screaming letter from my father who told me to stay away from the man and not to talk to him ever again because he was a notorious gangster.

I was sure father had bad information, but after mentioning this to one of the guys who had been stationed there a couple of years he told me that Lucky Luciano did indeed hang out at the California Bar and that he had been deported by the US government and that it was best not to even be seen with him. So I quit going to the California Bar and never saw my friend "Lucky" again.

A few months before I was was discharged, ready to return to Texas and enter the University of Texas, all the newspapers had a photo of a well dressed man sprawled on the pavement at the entrance to Capodichino airport where the US Naval Air Facility was located . . . and, incidentally, just across the fence from Cupa Carbone and not far from my little apartment. In the photo he was being lifted into a plain wooden coffin. Someone had taken what looked like a cushion from a chair inside the airport lobby and thoughtfully placed it under the head and shoulders of the man who had collapsed and died. He was sixty-five years old.

As a gangly kid from Aransas Pass, Texas who knew nothing at all about gangster mobs, or for that matter, not about much of anything at all outside South Texas, it was one of many real life history lessons I got while living in bella Napoli."

I love your content bro. Lucky has always fascinated me. Much obliged.

When we discuss Luciano in Italy we also have to look at Joe Adonis.

In 1953 he was expelled to Italy following the discovery that he was not a naturalized American citizen, and settled in a villa outside Naples , from where he continued to maintain close contact with Luciano. In February 1958 he moved to Milan , to an apartment on the seventh floor in Via Albricci. He lived them as a great gentleman, frequenting fashionable venues and night clubs, displaying refined manners and dressing elegantly.

In 1965, in Milan, the Florentine painter Giovanni "Professore" Bruzzi met Joe Adonis during a meeting at the Club Morocco of all the gambling dealers in Italy, to define the strategies of clandestine gambling and on that occasion, the boss accepted to have his portrait taken by the artist (and it is the only portrait in existence).

Over time, the financially struggling Luciano grew angry at the wealthy Adonis for not helping him. On January 26, 1962, Luciano died of a heart attack in Naples at age 64. Adonis attended the funeral service in Naples, bringing a huge floral wreath with the words, "So Long, Pal".

He was summoned to the police station on 1 June 1963 to be heard in relation to the ambush set up for Angelo La Barbera , whom Adonis knew and with whom he had had some contact. Investigations conducted between 1970 and 1971 revealed that Adonis still had the functions of mafia "boss" and that the choice of Milan as his residence had been determined by precise strategic needs: the direction of the international trafficking of precious stones, especially diamonds, with ramifications in France and Switzerland and the coordination of drug smuggling.

In May 1971 Adonis was arrested and sent to Serra de' Conti , a small town in the province of Ancona : despite rigorous surveillance he managed to receive one of his trusted men, who probably continued to report to him about ongoing affairs. He maintained relationships with the mayor and the local parish priest, showing off elegance and generosity.

Adonis was one of 115 suspected mobsters relocated to Serra de' Conti after the assassination in May of Pietro Scaglione, the public prosecutor of Palermo, Sicily. In late November 1971, Italian police forces transported Adonis to a small hillside shack near Ancona, Italy, for interrogation. During the lengthy questioning and some abusive treatment, Adonis suffered a heart attack. He was taken to a regional hospital in Ancona, where he died several days later on November 26, 1971.

Adonis' passion for the musical world was never a mystery. Aside from nightclubs and singers, in the early 1960s there was also a rumor about his attempt to undermine the Sanremo Festival with a competing event.

This is good info Hollander. Interesting...Joe Doto was a sharp guy, all around it seems.

Good footage TD.

Giuseppe "Joe Adonis" Doto was definitely one of the more powerful and respected of Luciano's men. He was a half-a-boss in his own right.

After getting deported back to Italy, he was able to partially maintain his influence and NYC rackets through several devoted minions, the most important of which was probably Family soldier Joseph "Joe Shep" Schipani.

Schipani and Adonis' brother Tony were known to have been partners in several Italian restaurants, one in Brooklyn, another in Nassau County on Long Island.

An old Joe Adonis in Milan.

https://nl.pinterest.com/pin/65231894583145432/

Thanks for the additional info bud.

Lots of deported capos from different cities still maintained their connections to their old borgatas. Some Chicago capos like Tommy Morgano even continued to receive their cut, besides being deported to Italy.

I like Lucky Luciano, but he loses points in my book for going broke. Sounds like Joe Adonis was wealthy til the end.

From puparo's compilations.

Adonis
He operated originally out of Brooklyn as did Mangano, and he was on the board of directors of the Democratic Club, as was Mangano. Vincent, and especially Philip Mangano, was very close to Adonis.

Adonis's crew was based in Brooklyn, after deportation, his choice was Jimmy Blue Eyes Alo. Following Alo's retirement, although not an official one, in the late 1970s-the crew was then headed up by Matty The Horse Iannelo and moved to Manhattan, where the Genovese family has long held a presence.Iannello then had Jimmy "The Little Guy" Ida take over as capo. Ida would later serve as consigliere till he was given life. The crew is now headed up by his brother Joey Ida.

Joe Doto Jr. is listed by the FBI as a made member of the Genovese family.

In the footage where Adonis speaks his English is so perfect, he must have come to America when he was a baby. Unless that was a translator.

Article on Joe's only son Joe Doto Jr.

https://northjersey.newspapers.com/article/the-record-westside-soldier-joe-dote-jr/123536028/

Adonis belonged to the so-called Americanized group of mobsters, meaning he spoke english very well. Same as Luciano, Costello, Torrio or Capone (he was born in the US), while some other older immigrants like Ricca and Miranda kept their Italian accent.

Agreed, TD. Many guys continued to receive their cuts for years to come from interests they had stateside, especially the more influential ones.

I completely agree and I think that the best example regarding a deported capo or boss who received his cut for a very long time period might be Dominick Roberto, territorial boss for the Outfits Chicago Heights group. Roberto was deported to Italy sometime around the early 1930s and was constantly visited either by his brother John, or Frank LaPorte or Jim Ammiratto aka Emery or Joe Guzzino. Theres even one famous picture from Luzi's book of Dom Roberto, Emery and Luciano together in Italy (late 40s/early 50s). Roberto was later also visited by Accardo and LaPorte's successor Al Pilotto, until his death (Roberto died during early or mid 70s i think or maybe it was his brother, I dont remember). And in addition, some sources indicate that Roberto and Emery allegedly were important part of the national conspiracy in the dope trade at the time, which obviously also involved Luciano.

It took him 20 days to travel to Italy, unbelievable when you think about it in this day and age it will take about 8 hours.

Luciano arrived in Naples on February 28, avoiding the press as much as possible, commenting only that the voyage was“pleasant.”Rumors of “other” travel plans had begun circulating even before his arrival in Italy. Sure, there were the publicly known jaunts Luciano would make to Rome and Sicily, but law enforcement and the press were far more interested in whispers of a trip to Latin America, specifically Mexico.

LUCIANO HOUNDED BY SURVEILLANCE, PRESS
From the moment he set foot in Italy, Luciano tried to lay pretty low, and dropped out of public view for months. His name finally re-emerged in the same sensationalistic manner as it had back in New York. Stories surfaced alleging Luciano took the reins of a “Robin Hood” band of thieves known as the La Marca Gang, running a human trafficking ring. Gossip columns told of Lucky in Paris, rendezvousing with old flame and former showgirl Gay Orlova. In early September, the New York Daily News broke the story purporting Luciano had acquired passage to Mexico, information allegedly provided by “stool pigeons” within Italy’s underworld. Of all the gangland hearsay, that one turned out to be somewhat accurate. That October, Luciano made his way to Cuba via South America — but that is another story entirely.

True he became so desperate at the end he got into contact with an American producer about making a movie about his life lol.

One thing I’ve never heard about is luckys dealings with Camorra in Naples. Obviously this would’ve been extensive but we only hear about cosa nostra ties he had out there.

And why did he live in Naples of all places?!! I’ve been all over Italy and Sicily and although Naples done the best food (my opinion) all the other places were miles better.

There was a story about how some guy slapped lucky at a race track in Italy and he was whacked for the lack of respect (or was he just hurt badly?)

But I think that was a cosa nostra guy not a cammorista

Good question Adonis settled in the North, Milan was way better as Naples when it comes to La Bella Vita.

In the 1950s, Naples was still in the middle of the post-war recovery. Before the Second World War, the city had already been poor, but the socioeconomic situation became even worse afterward. Education was considered a luxury at the time: only two children out of ten actually made it to middle school, even though schooling was compulsory until the age of 14. The city, while rich in culture, was also a place of deeply-rooted organize crime. Violence was a daily thing to many people, both at home and outside.

Good info Hollander and it again highlights the question why did he settle in Naples?!!! Just a thought it may of been to get away from the cosa nostra ties?

Marseille was another tough city he visited. Luciano joined forces with the Corsican-Marseille clans to resume the heroin trade.

The 50s (especially the early 50s) seemed to be a busy time for lucky. Great point about the Corsican connection. Do you think the Camorra just wasn’t a strong enough entity for him to even
deal with let alone worry about?

He had the meeting at the hotel in Palermo (I’ve been there, some random woman thought I was photographing her lol) but this was all with CN and LCN. No Camorra considering he was living in Naples?

My guess he would stay in Naples because of the port. A lot was going there like smuggle cigarettes, the "blondes" as they were called in Naples. The smuggling of cigarettes originated in the post-war period, to revive local economies.

Good point actually. The port is massive. Last time I stayed there I actually had views of the port from the hotel. Long term though especially when he’s in his 60s all settled down with his chihuahua and long term girlfriend why didn’t he go to Sicily where he was from! Cefalu is beautiful on the coast and that’s one of many beautiful coastal places. I suppose when you’re old you sometimes stay where you know especially if he’s 10 years+ deep.

Did he see Joe Adonis out there? I’ve seen pictures where he met up with frank scalise and others but not Adonis

Also Vito Genovese was from Naples after the war in 1946 Genovese took part in the Havana Conference , where he clashed with Luciano and broke three ribs.

The alleged clash between Vito and Lucky is a myth.

IDK I know Luciano and Genovese were close back in the days In NYC, why would they fight?

Thats the point and the alleged "agendas" on that meeting are mainly based on the situations that occurred after that, meaning its all speculations.

If it were true, you'd figure a CI would've reported it. That's the kind of news that travels.

I agree and I think theres one nice video on youtube about it.

In 1946 old time Chicago Outfit associate and informant Paul Roland Jones gave the following info on Lucky....

Interesting TD what do you think about this?

On December 20, during the conference, Luciano had a private meeting with Genovese in Luciano's hotel suite. Unlike Costello, Luciano had never trusted Genovese. In the meeting, Genovese tried to convince Luciano to become a titular boss of bosses and let Genovese run everything. Luciano calmly rejected Genovese's suggestion:

There is no Boss of Bosses. I turned it down in front of everybody. If I ever change my mind, I will take the title. But it won't be up to you. Right now you work for me and I ain't in the mood to retire. Don't you ever let me hear this again, or I'll lose my temper.[45]

I think thats taken from one of those old fictional books about Luciano such as the Last Testament. Theres no shred of info regarding what they talked about, and even the Cubans who worked at the hotel at the time and understood English, werent able to hear a word on what went down while serving food and drinks.

My GUESS is that one of the agendas was probably Costello officially taking over as boss, while Genovese had to take a low profile or a step back because of his absence and also because all of the heat that was on him when he returned to the US at the time and remained as capo of his crew, and I personally believe that Vito had no problems with it.

...also, heres some additional info regarding the Havana meeting...i also think the year should be 1946 instead of 1947, meaning whoever made the report almost 15 years later or in 1961 made an honest mistake...

2 million in 1946 seems too much money $1,000,000 in 1950 has the same purchasing power as $12,482,987.55 today. Why would Chicago give Luciano so much money?

IF the situation really occurred, then I think that all of that cash wasnt for Luciano personally, but instead I believe that it was more regarding Chicago's investment in Havana casinos and other joints (and also for Batista) , mainly because Luciano/Genovese associate Meyer Lansky was the leading guy in that same operation, followed by Trafficante Sr. who in turn was allegedly also present at that same gathering. Who knows, maybe all of that cash was gathered from other families too?! Also maybe one part of that cash was for Lucky as a "farewell present" from the Chi boys, after all the Luciano/Genovese and the Chicago families were "first cousins", meaning they were in alliance since day one. For example when Ricca went to jail in 1943, besides the Chicago guys, one of the main players who was also involved in Riccas early release was allegedly Frank Costello who in turn used his own political connections, so maybe similar type of respect happened in Havana too....

I agree, it wasn't all for him, if it occurred.

As for the "where was the Camorra" question, looking at how powerful and sophisticated the Camorra has become recently, that didn't happen overnight. It took decades. I can't imagine the Camorra not being a factor in Naples in the 1950s and 60s.

Rome
Summer 1957 Joseph Bonanno arrives on Rome’s airport and get welcomed by Italy’s minister of foreign Affairs Bernardo Mattarella.

Bonanno in Rome’s Excelsior Hotel
10 october 1957 Bonanno was observed at the Excelsior Hotel in Rome and various nightclubs in Rome, in his company were 4 unidentified men.

Palermo meeting in Albergo delle Palmo (Hotel Des Palmes)
10 october 1957 arrived the biggest delegation ever of american mobsters to visit Sicily they stay in Palermo's Hotel Des Palmes also known as the Hotel Delle Palme it is the most famous hotel of palermo.

Palermo's Spano Restaurant
12 Octobre 1957 Bonanno is a guest of Luciano in Spano Restaurant in Palermo at a party which is also attended by Tommaso Buscetta, Carmine Galante, Salvatore "cicchiteddu" Greco, Gaetano Badalamenti, Angelo and Salvatore La Barbera.

Philip Brucola visits Luciano and Adonis
Philip Brucola visited in 1957 in Italy Charles Lucky Luciano and Joseph Doto Adonis.

Bonanno at Compani Airport
13 october 1957 Bonanno was observed with the other 4 unidentified men at the Compani Airport.

Palermo meeting in Albergo delle Palmo (Hotel Des Palmes)
14 Octobre 1957 Bonanno also attends a meeting at hotel “Des Palmes”, in Palermo accompanied by his underboss Carmine Galante and the americans John Bonventre, Frank Garofalo, John Priziola from Detroit, Santo Sorge (originally from Mussomeli and Genco Russo’s nephew), Vito Vitale (from Detroit), John Di Bella (originally from Montelepre), Antonio, Giuseppe and Gaspare Magaddino. From Sicily there are Giuseppe Genco Russo (boss of Mussomeli), Salvatore " cicchiteddu" Greco, Cesare Manzella and the Badalamenti brothers from Cinisi, Calcedonia Di Pisa, Gioacchino Pennino, Rosario Mancino, Filippo and Vincenzo Rimi (Alcamo), Antonio Minore (Trapani), "Mimi" La Fatta, Nicola Gentile (Siculiana and US deportee), Luciano Liggio (Corleone), Frank Coppola (Partinico and US deportee), Diego Plaia (Castellammare), Salvatore and Angelo La Barbera (Palermo Central). Luciano and Bonanno get the Sicilians so far they start La Cupola in Palermo with the American Commission as example. La Cupola gets presided by Salvatore "cicchiteddu" greco.

It was a time of changes within the US mob, meaning as I previously said Costello probably became official on that same meeting and there were also problems around the midwest at the time, especially in Chicago, and at the same time they were heavily invading both Cuba and Las Vegas. I know that some researchers will say that the US mob had ops or interests in Cuba since the 1920's and they are not far from the truth, BUT by the 1940s the situation became both quite serious and lucratuve at the same time.

Bernardo Mattarella was the father of Piersanti and Sergio Mattarella, who both went on to become important politicians in their own right; Sergio has been the President of the Italian Republic since 3 February 2015, and Piersanti was President of the Regional Government of Sicily prior to being assassinated in 1980 by Cosa Nostra.

Very powerful men in those days. Antonio Esposito (left) and Pasquale Simonetti (right)



Simonetti is often claimed to have slapped Lucky Luciano in the face at the race track of Agnano; however, the actual perpetrator was Francesco Pirozzi, one of the men of Camorra boss Alfredo Maisto.

Esposito ordered the murder of Simonetti in 1955, as revenge his wife Pupetta Maresca drove to Naples with her younger brother, Ciro. When they met Esposito, she reached into her handbag and pulled out a Smith & Wesson .38. Holding it with both hands ("I was afraid I would miss", she explained later), she opened fire, firing 29 bullets and killing Esposito in broad daylight.

I think that our forum member @Dwalin and also another poster known as @Motorfab (French) who has his own blog, made some good research on the whole Luciano-Corsican connection and according to the FBN at the time, Luciano was allegedly just a "middle man" or just one of the "connection guys" in the whole narcotics conspiracy, besides having his own dope peddling schemes and personal connections.

Also heres some additional info...

I'm sure that was the case TD. The French underworld had many many "connections" for both the "in" and the "out" for their drugs. The Luciano mob, and by extension, the U.S. Italian mob (although admittedly major outlets for them,) was nonetheless, just several distribution customers the Marseilles and Corsicans dealt with. They distributed across the world.

I completely agree.

Lucky, the secret US agent lol, played a big role in the French Connection drug smuggling ring.

If you ask me the main guys were like Detriot's Frank Coppola who had connections to Sicilian dope peddlers such as Ugo Caneba who in turn had some major contacts to Corsican drug traffickers with laboratories in Marseilles such as the Arnaci brothers. Large quantities of opium or morphine were diverted into heroin in the Schapparelli Pharmaceutical Co., in which Luciano was also a partner.

Yep Coppola "three fingers" was one of the biggest players.

Now this a thread that reminds me of the old days!

Haha !

Don't forget Sinatra and Luciano were both from Lercara Friddi (Palermo province).

Luciano had a special bond with the Jews throughout his life.

Heres some additional info regarding Lucky and the situation with Masseria and Maranzano...





---------------?----------------------------



--------------------------------------------



-------------------------------------------



--------------------------------------------



-------------------------------------------

That's interesting information. I've never heard of 30-40 leaders of the old mafia being killed after Maranzano. Good stuff TD. Thank you.

You're welcome bud.

Theres no credibility of that "30 to 40 leaders being killed" statement, but I can tell you the two most important things to remember is that after 1931 the "boss of bosses" position was nixed as official spot but in terms of power it was another story, and also regarding the existence of two factions the "greaseballs" and the "Americanized" guys. Also, "Toto Loverti" who was involved in the Masseria hit, was in fact Salvatore "Toto" Loverde who in turn was representative for the Chicago Mafia in 1930 but was killed that same year and so Capone became the new official Chicago boss and was also recognized by Maranzano.

Who killed Loverde?

I believe the ties between Genovese family and the Outfit goes even back to the Five Points gang.

Loverde was killed probably on Capone's orders. He was killed in November I think in 1930, in the Cicero area and also the same day when Ralph Capone (Cicero rep) was sentenced to jail.



Thats probably right.

...also heres some additional info regarding Loverde besides being the official rep, still Capone was considered the real power...

Love the FBI documents TD, many thanks for sharing them

Again, you're always welcome bud

Interesting to note or in other words, what we can learn from the situation regarding Loverde and Capone is that even though Loverde was considered the official rep for the Chi family in 1930, STILL or by the end of the day Capone was considered the real power. This info comes from Nick Gentile, old time member of the Mafia and also former representative whose life was once saved by Capone himself. So my point is that in some cases even though some member held the official spot, still there was someone more powerful then him and had all of the respect. In one of the previous threads we talked about the boss of bosses position being officially nixed after 1931, BUT in terms of power there was always someone during certain time periods who was more powerful then the rest of the reps on the commission and controlled most of the votes in his own favour. Sometimes there were alliances of two or three bosses who controlled the whole commission etc.

How was Loverde involved in the Masseria hit if he was killed in 1930?

I made a mistake on that one since I was thinking about another individual and forgot to edit my previous post. Tnx for the correction. I dont really remember but i think it mightve been Pollaccia instead of Loverde or something like that....ill check it out

Excellent points here. That info was really telling

Sorry, I just checked. Loverde was killed in November 1931. Sometimes I should stop talking off the top of my head. Again, tnx for the correction.



I agree since sometimes we forget that we are talking about guys who never reached second grade and so it was quite tough for many of those same street individuals to follow all official rules.

Here's some additional info on Loverde aka "Frank LaCort"...

This is from May 1930 regarding one huge raid...



This is also from 1930 regarding Loverde being arrested together with Ricca...



In November 1931, Loverde was killed...

Heres one Tribune report from 1935 regarding the situation after the murder of Dutch Shultz..."Charles Siegel" is probably Benjamin Siegel and "Louis Buckhouse" mightve been Louis Buchalter. John Torrio is also mentioned as possible accomplice in the Shultz murder, including Luciano who in turn was allegedly mentioned by Shultz as "the boss" during his pre-death unconscious ramblings, since when the cops asked the dying Shultz on who shot him, the victim allegedly replied "the boss himself". This was all speculation made by investigators at the time.

Great stuff! You are quite the historian my friend

Thanks a lot for the kind words buddy. Means a lot.

...btw, heres some additional info from March 1930, regarding a raid in Miami...

IMO Johnny Torrio is still underrated in the history of American Organized Crime/

I agree @H. After his adventures in Chicago, he probably went with Luciano, Adonis and the Genovese family, including with some of the old non-Ital leaders which in fact was a sign of the "Chicago way". And if you ask me, the best example regarding Torrio's respectability and stature is when he arrived in Chicago as peacemaker regarding the conflict between Ricca and Accardo (1954 i think).

Johnny Torrio, and to a lesser degree Paul Kelly, are the architects of modern organized crime in America. The James St gang, out of Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn, came to prominence utilizing Kelly's connections at Tammany Hall. Ironically, the Democratic political machine that dominated NYC politics from before the American Civil War, provided the political protection for the gangs political violence. Torrio, a boxing promoter met Kelly, a boxer who once fought Monk Eastman to settle ownership of the 5 Points, at local fights between the 2 boroughs after the City of New York formed in 1898 and the Willie B (Williamsburg Bridge) opened connecting the Lower East Side to Brooklyn. It was through this union, that Torrio, Yale, Vanella, Capone, Masseria, Luciano, Lansky, Siegal connected with each other. Evolving to eventually form the foundation from which rose the edifice of modern organized crime and the American Mafia. Torrio, Iole, Vanella, Capone all hung out in my neighborhood and Al was married at St Mary Shining Star of the Sea in Court St., ten blocks from my apartment in Carroll Gardens. Capone lived at 38 Garfield Pl between 4th and 5th Aves. He received the scars on his face very close to this location in the winter of 1918, in an altercation with Frank Gallucio after Capone insulted his older sister..

This didn’t actually happen. Only a couple people were killed that day and maybe 2 were tied with Maranzano.

We already said that theres no credibility regarding that claim, "Judge Stoner-field". Wow you're so smart by copying our stuff. Damn you simply showed up out of nowhere when someone said to me "You are quite the historian" lol. Im gald that Im still a thorn in your eyes and I hope you go blind because of it lol You and your friends will never discredit me or my peeps from around here! Please enlighten us with one of your boring articles and vids from 2 years ago with only 50 views. And also say "hi" to Shiny face for me.

Heres one convo between one Philly guy and one NY associate regarding what the media and government did to many alleged "innocent" mobsters and so they mentioned both Luciano and Capone as prime examples from the old days...and I think they were right, especially about Capone Lol

That’s a great conversation. I love seeing how these guys think. They weee pretty spot on.

I completely agree @Jimmy and as additional info, they previously also talked about the Apalachin meeting and on how Joe Barabara took all the heat..

Money and manpower talks and Capone had that

Great read thanks. They certainly were right. Capone as iconic as any ex president and will go down in history as much as any. How crazy is that. Who were the 2 people talking?

You're welcome pal.

The two guy talking were Mario Maggio (part owner of the Maggio Cheese Co. in Philly) and Lou Travaglini from NY who was also employed at Maggio's company.

Just commenting as I was reading the thread. And you’re still mad you got kicked off BHF? Once again I’m not any of the main posters on there but whatever makes you feel better bud. You’re the main reason that this forum will never be as good as BHF. I wasn’t even talking to u yet you still are insulting me, why so insecure? Are u insecure because you made up a hierarchy based on non-member sources and circumstantial evidence?

Im very insecure if you had your heroin shot this morning lol



In addition, they were previously talking about Profaci and also regarding the Apalachin meeting.

....heres the convo...

Some additional info...

The first one is taken from a senate hearing that occurred in 1961..




And the second one is taken from a testimony on Luciano and Gambino...

Interesting I read Andy Warhol bought the former HQ of Paul Kelly's gang in 1970.

It is a fascinating aspect of the American Mafia, its origins, and the transition from a street gang into the foundations of an enterprise that would impact American society profoundly for decades to come. Ironically, it was through interactions with Tammany Hall that the reigns of power to commit crime in the name of politics would be sanctioned by the establishment. Once that happened, the politicians were blackmailed and bribed into ignoring the many acts of crime perpetrated now for power and money.
Attached is an image of Robert Vanella's funeral home at 29 Madison St. in Manhattan, which is open and operating to this very day.
Also attached is a newspaper add placed by Robert (Roxie) Vanella searching for work.
The James St Gang origins trace back to the Patsy Conroys, a gang of pirates that operated off of Corlears Hook on the East River and hijack river traffic between the end of the American Civil War and the turn of the twentieth century a hundred years ago. Attached is an image of the Patsy Conroys under the boardwalks of Corlears Hook. Pirates are the first example of organized crime in history.
I stand corrected on my previous post, James St wasn't in Brooklyn but instead, in the the Fourth Ward and Corlears Hook area.

The unholy trinity of Frankie Ioele (Yale), Johnny Torrio and Robert ( Roxie) Vanella

Vanella returned to NY sometime around the early 1920's I think, meaning he obviously wasnt involved much in the conflicts during Prohibition, although he probably killed more than few people previously for Colosimo and Torrio.

Vanella is somewhat of a unique Italian surname. He may have been related, as a father, uncle, brother, cousin, to Antonio (Tony) Vanella, a notorious and deadly mafioso who hailed from Downtown New York and was active throughout the 1920s-1960s era.

Im not sure but I think that you and I already started this convo in the past but never made a final point. Can you dig up something about it?

57 Great Jones Street, former HQ of Paul Kelly

https://www.villagepreservation.org/2012/01/05/gansters-and-artists-on-great-jones-street/

Lol. (I thought the same thing, that we did bring it up already.) But lets' see if we can dig up a connection between them.

Lol +1

Some additional info on Luciano..

I never realised the Nazis had such a huge following in NYC, I know they had in Holland, UK and France.

https://nypost.com/2022/05/07/jewish-gangsters-once-took-on-nazis-in-the-streets-of-nyc/

My old man told me stories about when the Normandie caught fire and capsized in the Hudson on the Westside docks. He could see it from the car when my grandfather drove down the Westside Hwy during WWII.
Great Jones is still there, just a few blocks north of the intersection of Broadway and Houston, and near the intersection of Bleecker and Broadway. There was a brown historic designation sign for it on Broadway. It's connected to Shinbone Alley which also had a sign but I think it was taken down(maybe illegally).

Dont know regarding the credibility of this but still heres another quite interesting info on Luciano...

Interesting information, thanks! But in your opinion, who was this mafia boss who had Luciano kneel before him and kiss his hand? I thought Luciano was more respected in Italy. Even though I don't sympathize with gangsters, but to be honest it's a little disappointing that Luciano acted so subservient, if the story is true...

I can believe the story, the Mafia in Italy is the real thing, not the watered-down American story. Did it actually happen? I don't know.

You're welcome bud. To be honest I personally dont have a clue on who the Italian mob boss might've been or again, if the situation really occurred...but wasnt there also some story floating around that Luciano was allegedly once slapped in the face by some Italian mobster???

I posted about the incident ealier, it was reported in the NY Times in 1950. Francesco Pirozzi slapt him the public humiliation was ordered by Camorra boss Alfredo Maisto.

Alfredo Maisto is, together with Pasquale Simonetti and Vittorio Nappi , one of the last representatives of the old pre-Cutolian Camorra. These characters, much loved and feared by the local population, were also called Guappi . These are legendary figures around which the population builds anecdotes, sometimes without foundation.

Maisto is recalled several times by Raffaele Cutolo . Don Alfredo Maisto helps the father of the future head of the NCO, an episode that will allow Cutolo to establish a sort of connection between the boss and some figures of the Catholic imagination, in particular that of the Archangel Gabriel . It is possible to affirm that, on the basis of this imagery, filtered by a magical thought typical of the local culture, the personality of the bloodthirsty boss of Ottaviano is built .

Alfredo Maisto dies of a stroke in a clinic bed. In Giugliano the memory of his funeral which was attended by thousands of people.

Thanks for the additional info @H

It's also interesting that, although the story of Luciano being slapped by a camorrista in Italy is quite famous, but it's quite confusing who exactly was the one actually slapping him; almost every time I see this story, a different name is mentioned: Francesco Pirozzi, Vittorio Nappi, Pasquale Simonetti, to name a few.

This article in Italian:

https://www.stylo24.it/cosi-badalamenti-vendico-l-affronto-subito-ad-agnano-da-lucky-luciano/

even says that Gaetano Badalamenti had that man whacked by Salvatore Zaza, as late revenge for the insult against Luciano, according to Antonino Calderone, who doesn't specify a name though.

The versions of the event seem to be countless...

I agree that today the American Mafia is quite "watered-down", but at the time when Luciano was active, it wasn't weak at all, imo.

Incredible finds TD and Hollander! Lots of questions.

yes, at the time american mafia was stronger than italian mafia from italy

I don't believe Calderone really know what happened he may have heard some rumors Simonetti was maybe present as was Nappi but they were bosses themselves in 1950 a low level guy like Pirozzi seems more likely on orders of his boss Maisto.

Don Vittorio Nappi

Some additional info on Lucky from 1936....

Lucky in Nazi Germany
By Tim Newark

In his new biography of the legendary mobster, "Lucky Luciano: the Real and the Fake Gangster" (St Martin's Press), Tim Newark uses primary sources in US and European archives to reveal new truths about the gangster and puncture old myths. In this extract, he exposes for the first time Luciano's trip to Nazi Germany.

https://www.americanmafia.com/Feature_Articles_464.html

Thomas Dewey questioning Luciano...

Thanks TD ! In two pictures Luciano appears to have a tattoo on his right arm.

Rare color pic.

Love the second pic. Thanks @H

Part of the testimony of Outfit informer Willie Bioff who in turn helped in imprisoning most of the Outfits leadership regarding the Hollywood extortion scheme but he also mentioned Luciano...

Frank Scalise with Lucky in Italy.

This pic was taken from my old mobile phone more then ten years ago from Luzi's book but these guys placed a watermark on it like its theirs lol lol lol anyways....

Chicago Outfit heavyweights Jim Ammiratto aka Emery and Dominick Roberto together with Lucky Luciano in Italy...

Was Dominck Roberto one of the "3 Doms?"

Nope. Dom Roberto was Chicago capo or territorial boss for Chicago Heights, Calumet City, Blue Island, Joliet, East Chicago and northwest Indiana. He helped Capone and Masseria in eliminating the second Sicilian Mafia family from those same areas. During the early 1930's Roberto was deported to Italy and was replaced with Ammiratto aka Emery. Besides that, Roberto was constantly visited in Italy by his Outfit peers until his death.

This connection began back on the Lower East Side, when a sixteen-year-old kid shot a policeman and was destined for the electric chair. His mother was a cousin of Lucky Luciano and begged him to help her boy escape justice. The mobster intervened and had him smuggled out of the country via Canada to Sicily. There, with his America connections, he became head of his local Mafia family. It was this criminal that Alfieri made contact with in Licata, and the code word he was to give him was “Lucky Luciano.”

Any idea who the future mafia boss was?

As always, great info. Merry Christmas, pal.

Thank you bud and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Another interesting article from the 1940s...

Lucky Luciano was like a John Gotti or Joey Merlino, you get too charismatic and powerful and prosecutors get jealous and take notice.

I agree to an extent since the same thing happened to Capone, Nitti and others, although I dont think that the prosecutors became "jealous" but instead that same negative emotion belonged to the people around them or from their own crime families who secretly filled the brains of investigators with all type of info, including lies, and thats when the prosecutors usually take "notice".

Btw, heres another interesting article from 1954 regarding Dewey and the Luciano case...

Paul Ricca was born 1897 Nov 14
Lucky Luciano was born 1897 Nov 11

Thats interesting, thanks

I kinda doubt that Luciano was as broke or impoverished in his last years as he's been made out to be. Have you guys seen his fancy-pants funeral? I don't know who paid for it, but it's definitely not the funeral of a poor or a broke man.

When Luciano died of an apparent heart attack at Capodichino airport the United States and Italian authorities prepared to arrest him in a crackdown on an international narcotics ring. Some even suspected foul play in his death.

Luciano was actually born on November 24, 1897. Many sources, including the FBI get this wrong. He came to America on June 22, 1906

source:https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/366261 Informer is getting this from the Lercara Friddi birth records.

The main and obvious point was that they were both born in November 1987. Dont act like "bugz on our nutz" lol

---------

Btw, thanks again @H for the info.

You guys are totally rocking this thread.

Lol, just correcting some common misconceptions, as i imagine you would if i made the same mistake.

Thanks Jimmy.

In 1928 Luciano was picked up on a false charge just to be questioned regarding the murder of Arnold Rothstein....



Also heres another report regarding Genovese from 1944...




And another one regarding Costello from 1943...

From 1947....