From the Boys
Ya ever take notice when a big-shot mobster kicks the bucket and The Boys put on his fancy funeral? The size of the crowd that shows up to pay their respects says it all, my friend. It’s a reflection of the man’s stature, see? And let’s not forget those funeral wreaths, are a display of his importance. The more wreaths, the more influential the guy. And you know what those wreaths say? “From the Boys,” loud and clear.
But let’s face it, pal. The mob life ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a world of murder, chaos, and spilled blood. Each of these guys left their mark on The Life, for better or worse. I ain’t here to pass judgment, just giving you the cold, hard facts or who they were, and where you can go and pay your respects.
Frank “The Dasher” Abbandando: Murder, Speed, and the Machinery of Murder, Inc.
Frank “The Dasher” Abbandando looked like the kind of man who enjoyed violence.
That terrified people.
He was handsome in...
Anthony Strollo: The Smiling Traitor Who Vanished Into the Night
Anthony “Tony Bender” Strollo smiled like a man who knew secrets.
And he knew plenty.
In the smoky back rooms of New York’s underworld,...
Martin “Buggsy” Goldstein: The Quiet Killer of Murder, Inc.
The most dangerous gangsters are not always the loudest men in the room. Some command attention with flashy suits, expensive cars,...
Louis “Little New York” Campagna: Chicago’s Quiet Executioner
Louis Campagna never needed headlines. That was one of the reasons he lasted so long.
While louder gangsters turned themselves into newspaper...
Johnny “The Fox” Torrio: The Professor of the Underworld
Johnny Torrio did not look like a gangster. That was part of his genius.
He dressed conservatively, spoke calmly, avoided unnecessary violence,...
Joe Valachi: The Man Who Broke Omertà
Joseph Valachi did something the Mafia considered unforgivable.
He talked.
Not in whispers behind closed doors. Not secretly to save himself during a quiet plea negotiation....
Emanuel “Mendy” Weiss: The Quiet Butcher of Murder, Inc.
Emanuel “Mendy” Weiss did not look frightening.
That made him frightening.
He appeared soft-spoken, almost forgettable at times—a stocky man with...
Frankie Yale: The Elegant Butcher of Brooklyn
Frankie Yale looked like success. Tailored suits. Diamond rings. Perfect grooming. Expensive restaurants. Luxury cars gliding through Brooklyn streets...
Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno: The Last Old-School Boss of East Harlem
Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno looked more like a neighborhood shopkeeper than one of the most powerful gangsters...
