5 Jaw-Dropping Tales of Notorious Mob Bosses

The mysterious world of mobsters is filled with intrigue, power, and unexpected stories. These underworld figures have inspired countless movies, books, and TV shows, but the real-life escapades of some mob bosses are stranger than fiction. Let’s unravel five such astonishing tales from the annals of mafia history:

1. A Father’s Wrath: John Gotti, one of the most formidable mob bosses, faced personal tragedy when his youngest son was tragically killed by a neighbor’s car. This accident would seal the neighbor’s fate, for he mysteriously disappeared shortly after. It’s widely believed that Gotti avenged his son’s death by having the neighbor’s body dissolved in a 55-gallon drum of acid.

2. The Invisible Boss: Despite being one of the world’s top ten most wanted criminals and holding the title of ‘boss of all bosses’ within the Italian Mafia, this mastermind has eluded authorities for over 26 years. What’s even more baffling is that there isn’t a single photograph of him from this period of evasion.

Mugshot of Messina Denaro taken after his arrest in 2023
Mugshot of Messina Denaro taken after his arrest in 2023

3. The Patriotic Mobster: During the tumultuous times of World War II, “Lucky” Luciano, from behind his prison bars, played an unexpected role. He commanded his mafia men to shield the East Coast from any foreign threats. Further showcasing his strategic prowess, Luciano persuaded his Italian mafia connections to back the Allies during their invasion of Sicily.

4. The Peculiar Act of the Oddfather: Deception and theatrics aren’t uncommon in the mob world. One particular Mafia boss took this to another level, feigning insanity for three decades. He roamed Greenwich Village, dressed in pajamas and murmuring nonsensically, all to sidestep legal prosecution. This eccentric act earned him the nickname “the Oddfather”.

5. The Devout Assassin: Loyalty to traditions can manifest in the unlikeliest of ways. “Red” Levine, reputedly Lucky Luciano’s preferred hitman, was an Orthodox Jew with a unique modus operandi. He never conducted his dark deeds from Friday evening to Saturday evening, observing the Shabbat. However, if circumstances demanded an assassination during this holy period, Levine would don a prayer shawl, offer his prayers, and then proceed with his grim task.

Five Unbelievable Stories from the Gangster Underworld

Plunging into the thrilling and often murky depths of the criminal underworld, let’s uncover five jaw-dropping tales about infamous gangsters.

John Gotti just after his arrest in 1990
John Gotti just after his arrest in 1990
Photo by Wikipedia

1. Hymie Weiss, the notorious gangster from Chicago, was known for his audacious encounters with the formidable Al Capone, earning him the unique distinction of being “the only man Al Capone feared.” Weiss’s fatalistic approach to his own life can be traced back to his terminal cancer diagnosis. Fearlessly embroiling himself in gang wars against Capone, he even assaulted Capone’s car and lodging place. However, Weiss’s brazen actions led to his demise, as he was assassinated on October 11, 1926.

2. Famously known as ‘The Teflon Don’ for his uncanny ability to evade legal charges, John Gotti was a notorious figure in the criminal world. Yet, his brutal and conspicuous methods eventually led to significant crackdowns on the Gambino crime family. In 1992, Gotti was convicted, and by the start of the new millennium, half of the made men in the Gambino family found themselves behind bars.

3. Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, once the underboss of the Gambino family and instrumental in Gotti’s downfall, now freely shares his mafia tales on a YouTube channel. Gravano, with his self-proclaimed immunity from testifying against the mob, unabashedly discusses his involvement in numerous murders. His stories, while always taken with a pinch of skepticism due to the notorious unreliability of mob members, often bear an uncanny resemblance to a Martin Scorsese script. Gravano’s exploits dwarf the characters of “Goodfellas,” affirming him as a genuine figure in the mafia world.

4. In a peculiar turn of events in 1926, acclaimed jazz pianist Fats Waller was abducted by gangsters and held for three days in Chicago. The surprising reason? To perform as the “surprise guest” at Al Capone’s birthday celebration. Waller was eventually discovered in a state of extreme fatigue and intoxication, his pockets bulging with thousands of dollars he had received as tips from Capone and other party guests.

5. In a chilling display of gangster loyalty, Frank Gusenberg, a mobster riddled with 14 bullets during the infamous St Valentine’s Day massacre, steadfastly refused to reveal his attacker. His final defiant words, “I ain’t no copper,” went down in underworld history.

Behind the Bada Bing: 9 Fascinating Facts About ‘The Sopranos’

“The Sopranos” remains one of the most influential and gripping TV dramas ever created. The intricate tales of Tony Soprano and his crime syndicate offered a thrilling glimpse into the organized crime world of New Jersey. This article unveils nine fascinating facts about the acclaimed series.

Sopranos
Photo by Flickr

1. The Permit Scandal

During its production, “The Sopranos” faced opposition from a New Jersey county commissioner who denied them a permit to film in a state park, criticizing the show as a “disgrace to Italians”. Ironically, this commissioner was later dismissed due to corruption charges.

2. Furio’s Artful Eye

Actor Federico Castelluccio, who portrayed Furio, wasn’t just an accomplished actor but also an art connoisseur. Castelluccio spotted a misidentified Renaissance painting and purchased it for $140,000. He later discovered its true worth, which was possibly $10 million more than what he paid.

3. Gandolfini’s Method Acting

To evoke the desired levels of anger in his character, James Gandolfini would place a stone in his shoe during filming. To add to the discomfort, he’d sometimes hit his head against a wall or deprive himself of sleep to capture Tony Soprano’s often irritable demeanor authentically.

4. A Legal Confrontation

The Illinois-based “American Italian Defense Association” filed a lawsuit against the show’s producers in 2001, alleging that the show violated the state’s Constitution’s protection of individual dignity.

5. Strikingly Authentic Portrayal

The show was lauded for its uncanny authenticity. FBI wiretaps revealed that real mobsters would discuss the series, amazed by its accurate representation of their world. They were convinced there was an insider on the show.

6. Inspired by a Real-life Mob Boss

The character Tony Soprano wasn’t entirely a work of fiction. He was loosely based on Vincent Palermo, a real-life organized crime boss who later turned into a government witness.

7. Title Misconceptions

HBO initially feared that audiences might mistake “The Sopranos” for a show about opera. They proposed changing the title to “Made in New Jersey” before settling for a smoking gun in the title logo to convey the true nature of the series.

8. Real-Life Locations

Tony Soprano’s house is a real property in North Caldwell, New Jersey. Interestingly, one of the nearby homes was the site of a murder committed by the Unabomber in 1994. Many of the show’s locations, including the pizza place in the intro and the Bada Bing club, are genuine New Jersey locations.

9. James Gandolfini: A Jersey Boy

James Gandolfini, the actor who brilliantly embodied Tony Soprano, was a New Jersey native who tragically died in Italy. Furthermore, Steve Perry of Journey allowed his song “Don’t Stop Believin'” to be used in the final scene of the show, but only after being assured that it wouldn’t be associated with Tony Soprano’s death.

Decoding La Cosa Nostra: 10 Intriguing Facts About the Mafia

I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse,” goes the iconic line from The Godfather. Well, consider this article our irresistible offer: a guided tour through the secretive, and often surprising, world of the Mafia. In the shadowy corridors of power and influence, few organizations have intrigued, horrified, and fascinated the public quite like the Mafia. Let’s delve into ten engrossing facts about these notorious syndicates that have left an indelible mark on world history.

Mobsters meeting around pool table
Photo by depositphotos.com

1. During the tumultuous period of World War II, the Italian mafia played an unexpected role as a silent ally to the US government. They provided crucial intelligence for the pivotal invasion of Sicily and ensured uninterrupted dock operations, eliminating any potential for strikes throughout the war.

2. Ever wondered why members of the New York Mafia families are often clean-shaven? As part of their unique code of conduct, these mobsters are explicitly forbidden from growing facial hair.

3. The Mafia’s reach in the 20th century was pervasive and not limited to traditional criminal activities. Up until the mid-1990s, the Italian-American mafia maintained a stranglehold on New York City’s garbage collection business. By extorting, eliminating, or co-opting competitors, they orchestrated a price-fixing cartel. However, an undercover operation eventually led to the conviction of the Mafia leaders and resulted in a staggering $600 million drop in trash collection costs.

4. The critically acclaimed series “The Sopranos” has been lauded for its authenticity, so much so that real Mafia members feared they were under surveillance. These suspicions, ironically overheard through actual FBI surveillance, testify to the show’s eerily accurate representation of the Mafia life.

5. The Sicilian Mafia’s influence is still keenly felt, with an estimated 70% of local businesses reportedly continuing to pay protection money. Similarly, the Five Families of New York maintain their power and are structured along the same family or faction lines that were established more than a century ago.

6. The Mafia’s influence extended to popular culture, particularly in the making of the iconic film “The Godfather.” The actual Mafia influenced the production so profoundly that they prohibited the use of the word ‘Mafia’ in the movie, monitored filming on set, and even got involved in script modifications. This influence wasn’t limited to cinema; Marvel Comics referenced the Mafia as the ‘Maggia’ to avoid offending them, given the Mafia’s control over comic distribution in those days.

7. The longevity of Mafia’s members can be as astonishing as their criminal careers. Take, for instance, mob boss John Franzese, who, after serving nearly 60 years in prison, was released in 2017 at the ripe old age of 100. He holds the unique distinction of being the oldest inmate in the US and the only prison inmate to reach centenarian status.

8. The existence of the Mafia remained an unacknowledged secret in the public sphere until 1963. It was Mafia member Joseph Valachi who broke the code of silence in dramatic fashion. After mistakenly killing a fellow inmate, Valachi confessed to Congress about the existence of ‘La Cosa Nostra.’

9. American mob boss Vincent Louis Gigante took subterfuge to another level, feigning insanity for 30 long years to evade legal action. Famously dubbed “The Oddfather” and “The Enigma in the Bathrobe” by the media, Gigante would wander New York’s Village streets in a bathrobe and slippers, seemingly mumbling gibberish to himself.

10. The saga of FBI agent “Donnie Brasco” infiltrating the Mafia ranks encapsulates the dangerous allure of this underworld. For six years, Brasco lived a double life, becoming so deeply embedded that he was on the verge of being officially inducted into the Mafia. However, sensing the increasing risk, his superiors pulled him out, ending one of the most daring operations against the Mafia.

Defending Liquor with Machine Guns: The Byron’s Warehouse Story in Oklahoma

Established by Byron Gambulos, Byron’s Liquor Warehouse stands as one of Oklahoma’s largest liquor outlets. This Oklahoma City landmark came into existence in 1959, soon after the state’s legalization of alcohol.

The infancy of the legal alcohol era in Oklahoma was marked by chaos and confusion. “The system was haphazard. Both wholesalers and retailers seemed to operate according to their own rules,” Gambulos explained.

In an era when many retailers attempted to inflate market prices to maximize profits, Gambulos held his ground against such practices. This didn’t sit well with some in the liquor industry, a few with alleged connections to the mafia, who viewed his stance as unwelcome competition.

Tensions escalated to the point where an unidentified individual hurled a homemade bomb into Byron’s Liquor Warehouse, causing damage to a small section of the establishment. Upon a second bombing shortly after, Gambulos decided to take measures to ensure his, his employees’, and his property’s safety.

In response, he erected a rectangular, fortified wooden structure with windows on all sides, essentially a watchtower, atop the business premises. Gambulos, along with a group of his friends that included off-duty police officers and dedicated employees, kept vigil from this tower during the night. They were armed with various weapons, from handguns to shotguns, with Gambulos himself wielding a World War II-era machine gun.

The presence of the watchtower proved effective in deterring further attacks. Threats towards Gambulos and his family gradually decreased, and one of his team members successfully prevented at least one bombing attempt.

a tower atop Byron's liquor store, 1964
A tower atop Byron’s liquor store, 1964
Photo by Oklahoma Historical Society

However, after about a year, officials from Oklahoma’s Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission requested that Gambulos dismantle the tower. Subsequently, some of the individuals suspected to have been involved in the earlier bombings were reportedly apprehended by the police.