In a tale as unexpected as it was fascinating, the infamous Los Angeles racketeer Mickey Cohen and the renowned evangelist Billy Graham formed an unlikely friendship. At the heart of their relationship lay a question that gripped both the media and the faithful: Would Cohen, a man steeped in the shadowy world of organized crime, […]
Mickey Cohen and Billy Graham: A Friendship Tested by Faith Read More »
Few figures in the annals of criminal history have embodied the cunning audacity and moral bankruptcy of John Factor, infamously known as “Jake the Barber.” While his brother, Max Factor, achieved fame as a cosmetics mogul, Jake carved out a legacy as a master swindler who left ruin and devastation in his wake. For over
I’ve Been Kidnapped… How Inconvenient Read More »
Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller was no stranger to the spotlight. Born on May 21, 1904, in Harlem, New York, Waller became a towering figure in the jazz and swing eras, known for his electrifying performances and pioneering work in the Harlem stride piano style. His compositions, including “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Honeysuckle Rose,” are timeless classics,
On January 10, 1952, an event steeped in grandeur and divine reverence unfolded in Rome. Pope Pius XII blessed two gold crowns encrusted with 500 diamonds and other precious stones. These opulent symbols of faith, destined for the Regina Pacis Votive Shrine in Brooklyn, were not merely artifacts; they were beacons of hope and devotion
The Dark Tale of the Regina Pacis Robbery and the Shadows of Joe Profaci Read More »
On a grim autumn night in October 1954, the shadow of judgment loomed over Albert Anastasia as the Newark courtroom pulsed with tension. Presided over by the stern Honorable Alfred E. Modarelli, the trial began, cloaked in the dry technicalities of tax law. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick B. Lacey delivered a mechanical dissection of finances—gross
A Doorbell to Doom: Anastasia’s Wrath and the Disappearance of the Ferris Read More »
48th Street In the shadowy world of Prohibition-era New York, Owney “The Killer” Madden reigned as a kingpin of nightlife, his fingers in more clubs than anyone could count. Fresh out of Sing Sing in 1923, Madden carved out a niche far above the city’s lower criminal circles, distancing himself from the likes of the
The Silver Slipper Read More »
Address: Somewhere in Gramercy Park Nestled in the Gramercy Park Historical District, Pete’s Tavern is a living relic of New York City’s storied past, proudly wearing its title as “the Tavern that O. Henry made famous.” This iconic establishment, dating back to 1829, has seen more than its fair share of history, including a Civil
Address: W. 52nd Street Place Piqualie, nestled on West 52nd Street, was a curious gem of New York City during the Prohibition era. Unlike the bustling speakeasies of the time, this bar operated with a rare license, but paradoxically, it often found itself short on liquor. Perhaps it was the limited supply of booze, or
Address: 58th Street Near Broadway Step into the Park Avenue Club at 128 E. 58th Street, a glittering jewel in the heart of Manhattan’s nightlife. Owned by the infamous Owney “The Killer” Madden and fronted by the ever-charming George LaMaze, this is where high society mingles with the underworld, all under the glow of a
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