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.
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...
Charles “Lucky” Luciano: The Man Who Organized the Underworld
New York in the early twentieth century was a city built on appetite. Men wanted liquor, gambling, sex, protection, influence,...
Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel: The Gangster Who Built Neon Dreams in the Desert
Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel looked like a Hollywood leading man who had wandered into the underworld by accident. He was...
Abner “Longie” Zwillman: The Phantom Boss of New Jersey
Abner “Longie” Zwillman did not fit the Hollywood image of a gangster. He was not loud like Al Capone. Not theatrical like John Gotti. And not openly...
Albert Anastasia: The Lord High Executioner of Murder Incorporated
Albert Anastasia terrified other gangsters.
That alone says something.
The Mafia during the mid-twentieth century was filled with violent...
John Gotti: The Dapper Don Who Brought the Mafia Into the Spotlight
John Gotti did not hide from attention.
He chased it.
While older Mafia bosses operated quietly through back rooms, social clubs, and...
