Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

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Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by InCamelot » Mon Nov 08, 2021 8:18 pm

PolackTony wrote: Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:32 pm
aleksandrored wrote: Sun Nov 07, 2021 6:58 pm I think the Lucchese are underrated, I see more people talking about the other families, with guys like Luciano, Costello, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, Galante, Persico and etc... I think the Lucchese are very discreet and less known in general. Until the 90's with Amuso and Casso.
I feel like most discussion of the Luccheses, apart from some attention to the Vario crew and the NJ faction, I see is focused on the Vic and Gas era forward. I just haven’t seen as much of the deep dives with them as I’ve seen with the other NY fams and I find them one of the more interesting, especially for those earlier decades.

One thing that I would personally love to know more about was their narcotics links with Chicago. I believe that Frank Rappa, a Sicilian guy who was a major narcotics trafficker for Chicago and liaison to the Sicilian/Italian mafia, was connected to the Luccheses? Maybe their zip faction?
Was Jimmy Lapietra also connected to the Luccheses?

I'd also love to know more about Tommy Brown's history and connection to California, especially if he intersected with any Outfit members since Chicago was heavily present out there. More than anything I guess I'd like to figure out how Lucchese's California connections withered away when Corallo took the throne.

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by InCamelot » Mon Nov 08, 2021 8:12 pm

B. wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 7:23 pm Nobody else has mentioned it so no idea but it makes sense given not many members were well-known to other informants.
By the way, was it just legend or actually suggested by FBI intelligence that New Orleans didn't have to clear their proposed members with The Commission first?

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by bababooey » Mon Nov 08, 2021 5:47 am

PolackTony wrote: Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:32 pm
aleksandrored wrote: Sun Nov 07, 2021 6:58 pm I think the Lucchese are underrated, I see more people talking about the other families, with guys like Luciano, Costello, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, Galante, Persico and etc... I think the Lucchese are very discreet and less known in general. Until the 90's with Amuso and Casso.
I feel like most discussion of the Luccheses, apart from some attention to the Vario crew and the NJ faction, I see is focused on the Vic and Gas era forward. I just haven’t seen as much of the deep dives with them as I’ve seen with the other NY fams and I find them one of the more interesting, especially for those earlier decades.

One thing that I would personally love to know more about was their narcotics links with Chicago. I believe that Frank Rappa, a Sicilian guy who was a major narcotics trafficker for Chicago and liaison to the Sicilian/Italian mafia, was connected to the Luccheses? Maybe their zip faction?
Joseph Abate one of the original bosses of NJ for the Lucchese family was an enforcer for Al Capone in the 1920s. So id love to see what connections they have to the city if any.

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by CabriniGreen » Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:11 pm

PolackTony wrote: Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:32 pm
aleksandrored wrote: Sun Nov 07, 2021 6:58 pm I think the Lucchese are underrated, I see more people talking about the other families, with guys like Luciano, Costello, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, Galante, Persico and etc... I think the Lucchese are very discreet and less known in general. Until the 90's with Amuso and Casso.
I feel like most discussion of the Luccheses, apart from some attention to the Vario crew and the NJ faction, I see is focused on the Vic and Gas era forward. I just haven’t seen as much of the deep dives with them as I’ve seen with the other NY fams and I find them one of the more interesting, especially for those earlier decades.

One thing that I would personally love to know more about was their narcotics links with Chicago. I believe that Frank Rappa, a Sicilian guy who was a major narcotics trafficker for Chicago and liaison to the Sicilian/Italian mafia, was connected to the Luccheses? Maybe their zip faction?
I've always thought it was Detroit.... also..Luchesse might have smuggled opium from Mexico, and created a heroin refinery... read it in a book about the FBN....

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by PolackTony » Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:32 pm

aleksandrored wrote: Sun Nov 07, 2021 6:58 pm I think the Lucchese are underrated, I see more people talking about the other families, with guys like Luciano, Costello, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, Galante, Persico and etc... I think the Lucchese are very discreet and less known in general. Until the 90's with Amuso and Casso.
I feel like most discussion of the Luccheses, apart from some attention to the Vario crew and the NJ faction, I see is focused on the Vic and Gas era forward. I just haven’t seen as much of the deep dives with them as I’ve seen with the other NY fams and I find them one of the more interesting, especially for those earlier decades.

One thing that I would personally love to know more about was their narcotics links with Chicago. I believe that Frank Rappa, a Sicilian guy who was a major narcotics trafficker for Chicago and liaison to the Sicilian/Italian mafia, was connected to the Luccheses? Maybe their zip faction?

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by PolackTony » Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:26 pm

Grouchy Sinatra wrote: Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:11 pm
PolackTony wrote: Fri Nov 05, 2021 8:45 am

Tangential question. What exactly was the relation between Vicent Rao and the Raos from the restaurant? Was there a direct and substantial relation or were they just cousins of some sort going back to Corleone? Additionally, was it actually the case that Joe Rao of the Genovese fam was Vincent Rao's brother?
According to the restaurant's website the family is from Polla, which is about 90 miles from Naples. I would guess Rao is just a popular name all over Italy, and it's just coincidence.

Image
Good catch. Rao is not common all over Italy, just in the south, and it’s more common in Sicily than Campania, though it is present in the latter. I know the family of an old guy from the neighborhood who was close friends with the Rao family, and he was Napolitan’, so that would make sense.

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by Grouchy Sinatra » Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:11 pm

PolackTony wrote: Fri Nov 05, 2021 8:45 am

Tangential question. What exactly was the relation between Vicent Rao and the Raos from the restaurant? Was there a direct and substantial relation or were they just cousins of some sort going back to Corleone? Additionally, was it actually the case that Joe Rao of the Genovese fam was Vincent Rao's brother?
According to the restaurant's website the family is from Polla, which is about 90 miles from Naples. I would guess Rao is just a popular name all over Italy, and it's just coincidence.

Image

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by aleksandrored » Sun Nov 07, 2021 6:58 pm

I think the Lucchese are underrated, I see more people talking about the other families, with guys like Luciano, Costello, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, Galante, Persico and etc... I think the Lucchese are very discreet and less known in general. Until the 90's with Amuso and Casso.

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by B. » Sat Nov 06, 2021 7:23 pm

Nobody else has mentioned it so no idea but it makes sense given not many members were well-known to other informants.

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by InCamelot » Sat Nov 06, 2021 7:20 pm

B. wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:52 pm
InCamelot wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:50 pm
B. wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:39 pm One of the interesting aspects of the Luccheses is their secrecy. Taglialatela said the Lucchese Family had a guideline about not introducing its members to the other Families (so did the DeCavalcantes according to LaRasso). Interesting they kept this up even though they didn't care about sticking to their Sicilian/Corleonesi roots.
They didn't have to clear who they were making with the Commission first?
And was there indication that the family actually functioned that way? Surprised the Genovese didn't do this.
They would have passed the list, but he meant formal introductions (i.e. "this is Carmine, Amico Nostra"). Not that they never did it, only that they avoided doing it if it wasn't necessary.

The lists would be more secure since they were passed between captains.
Fascinating. Any idea when this Lucchese practice might've ended? If at all?

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by B. » Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:52 pm

InCamelot wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:50 pm
B. wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:39 pm One of the interesting aspects of the Luccheses is their secrecy. Taglialatela said the Lucchese Family had a guideline about not introducing its members to the other Families (so did the DeCavalcantes according to LaRasso). Interesting they kept this up even though they didn't care about sticking to their Sicilian/Corleonesi roots.
They didn't have to clear who they were making with the Commission first?
And was there indication that the family actually functioned that way? Surprised the Genovese didn't do this.
They would have passed the list, but he meant formal introductions (i.e. "this is Carmine, Amico Nostra"). Not that they never did it, only that they avoided doing it if it wasn't necessary.

The lists would be more secure since they were passed between captains.

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by InCamelot » Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:50 pm

B. wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:39 pm One of the interesting aspects of the Luccheses is their secrecy. Taglialatela said the Lucchese Family had a guideline about not introducing its members to the other Families (so did the DeCavalcantes according to LaRasso). Interesting they kept this up even though they didn't care about sticking to their Sicilian/Corleonesi roots.
They didn't have to clear who they were making with the Commission first?
And was there indication that the family actually functioned that way? Surprised the Genovese didn't do this.

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by B. » Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:39 pm

Joe Bonanno's book goes on and on about Lucchese's influence. He said Lucchese was the power behind Carlo Gambino and when Lucchese got sick Gambino heavily dialed back his influence over politics.

I've never known Lucchese to be particularly overlooked or "underrated". If it applies to anyone, it's Tom Gagliano. He was an enigma when you consider he was a business partner of Giuseppe Morello, main player in the 1930-1931 war, and boss for two decades.

One of the interesting aspects of the Luccheses is their secrecy. Taglialatela said the Lucchese Family had a guideline about not introducing its members to the other Families (so did the DeCavalcantes according to LaRasso). Interesting they kept this up even though they didn't care about sticking to their Sicilian/Corleonesi roots.

Another Lucchese power who is mostly overlooked is Steve Rannelli. He was killed early on but Joe Bonanno named him as one of the top three leaders in the Family along with Gagliano and Lucchese.

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by Ivan » Sat Nov 06, 2021 3:12 pm

bababooey wrote: Fri Nov 05, 2021 7:12 pm
Extortion wrote: Fri Nov 05, 2021 1:48 pm He’s pretty famous and he was low key powerhouse. Don’t know if he was underrated per se.
Underrated might not be the best wording, but i def feel he isn't as respected (i know we arent suppose respect them since they are killers etc, but you get the context) as he should be. I think he was way more important to the whole of cosa nostra than people like profaci or even bonanno.
He's arguably as well-known as Profaci at least. The fact that he is not a big star is testimony to his efficacy as boss; i.e., he did it right and didn't become a celebrity of sorts.

By the way your screen name makes me think of this (watch to the end): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cuf8YlL3H8

Re: Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

by bababooey » Fri Nov 05, 2021 7:17 pm

Shellackhead wrote: Fri Nov 05, 2021 1:03 pm I wish I had the skills that Eboli or Gohn have in researching I would of dissected the Lucchese family by now
the website thenewyorkmafia has a ton of good articles but they turned into a paid service now :/ . They had a few good write ups on Joe bikini, Vincent Rao, Joe Brown Lucchese, Anthony Corallo, Joe Beck, etc etc

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