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.
Meyer Lansky: The Accountant of the Underworld
Some gangsters built reputations with bullets. Others built them with charisma, public violence, or political influence. Meyer Lansky built his with numbers.
Quiet,...
Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Shadow King of Havana and Tampa
Santo Trafficante Jr. rarely raised his voice. He did not need to. Men listened anyway.
Unlike the flamboyant gangsters who chased headlines...
Sam “Momo” Giancana: The Smiling Devil of Chicago
Sam Giancana looked less like a traditional Mafia don and more like a neighborhood businessman who happened to know everybody in town. He was compact,...
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....
