by B. » Mon Feb 03, 2020 4:31 pm
Along the lines of informal names for the organization:
- All of the midwest US families called themselves the "outfit". This was a casual term, though public perception incorrectly believes it to be a unique and semi-formal term for Chicago (which it might have become later, just like "Cosa Nostra"). The Milwaukee member CI (believed to be Augie Maniaci) said that the Milwaukee organization was initially referred to as the "mafia" and over time it became more common to call it the "outfit" but there was no essential difference. It should be noted, too, that most of the midwest families outside of Chicago were almost entirely traditional Sicilian groups, so use of the term also had nothing to do with Chicago becoming less traditional.
- The early Philadelphia family was referred to by both members and outsiders as the "greasers", which to the public became semi-formalized as the "Greaser Gang". It's hard not to think of 1950s teenage greasers when you hear this, but this predated that and was no doubt based on the early membership being mostly Sicilian- and Italian-born (i.e. "greaseballs").
- I don't know what the sources are for other unique "regional" names for specific families, i.e. "the Office" / New England, "Partnership" / Detroit, "Arm" / Buffalo, etc. Given that the name "outfit" was a casual term used by many families in the midwest, I suspect these were casual terms as well, assuming they were used at all within the organization.
^ I haven't seen anyone on the Patriarca or Magaddino tapes refer to their organizations using these terms.
^ The Scarfo regime in Philly referred to the leadership of the family as "the arm" according to Caramandi, but it wasn't a formal name for the group, just a casual way of referring to the admin and captains. I imagine a journalist or author could have ran with that phrase if they wanted, and I suspect that's what was done for these other "unique" names for each organization. It makes for catchy headlines and book hype to give each organization its own unique / formal name.
Along the lines of informal names for the organization:
- All of the midwest US families called themselves the "outfit". This was a casual term, though public perception incorrectly believes it to be a unique and semi-formal term for Chicago (which it might have become later, just like "Cosa Nostra"). The Milwaukee member CI (believed to be Augie Maniaci) said that the Milwaukee organization was initially referred to as the "mafia" and over time it became more common to call it the "outfit" but there was no essential difference. It should be noted, too, that most of the midwest families outside of Chicago were almost entirely traditional Sicilian groups, so use of the term also had nothing to do with Chicago becoming less traditional.
- The early Philadelphia family was referred to by both members and outsiders as the "greasers", which to the public became semi-formalized as the "Greaser Gang". It's hard not to think of 1950s teenage greasers when you hear this, but this predated that and was no doubt based on the early membership being mostly Sicilian- and Italian-born (i.e. "greaseballs").
- I don't know what the sources are for other unique "regional" names for specific families, i.e. "the Office" / New England, "Partnership" / Detroit, "Arm" / Buffalo, etc. Given that the name "outfit" was a casual term used by many families in the midwest, I suspect these were casual terms as well, assuming they were used at all within the organization.
^ I haven't seen anyone on the Patriarca or Magaddino tapes refer to their organizations using these terms.
^ The Scarfo regime in Philly referred to the leadership of the family as "the arm" according to Caramandi, but it wasn't a formal name for the group, just a casual way of referring to the admin and captains. I imagine a journalist or author could have ran with that phrase if they wanted, and I suspect that's what was done for these other "unique" names for each organization. It makes for catchy headlines and book hype to give each organization its own unique / formal name.