by gohnjotti » Fri Mar 17, 2023 12:09 am
B. wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:41 pm
Not counting the guys like Persico, Langella, Agro, and Ruggiano who grew facial hair to hide their faces on the lam, here is a list of guys who had mustaches while they were active made members:
Biagio Passanante (1930s-40s)
Angelo Bruno (1950s/60s)
Sam DeCavalcante (1950s/60s)
Joe Ciancaglini (1970s)
Greg Scarpa (1970s)
Phil Testa (1950s-1980s)
Joe Ida (Genovese family) (1980s)
No doubt more.
Many members pre-1920s had mustaches, hence "Mustache Pete". Seems the 1920s are when the mafia moved away from mustaches as you rarely see photos of members with mustaches by then.
We can tell from the pejorative "Mustache Pete" and the general rule against facial hair that it was Americanized members who pushed for the facial hair rule, but at the same time it looks like the Sicilian mafia stopped growing facial hair (with some exceptions) so it may not be as simple as the US mafia wanting to of appear like "Americanized businessmen" or whatever lore has told us.
Surprised Tom Farese for the Colombos hasn't been mentioned. We also have Dennis "the Beard" DeLucia (haven't seen any photos of him with facial hair so who knows) and also Joe Competiello just prior to his arrest. Funnily enough Dino Calabro tried to grow a beard but apparently couldn't.
[quote=B. post_id=177177 time=1607902890 user_id=127]
Not counting the guys like Persico, Langella, Agro, and Ruggiano who grew facial hair to hide their faces on the lam, here is a list of guys who had mustaches while they were active made members:
Biagio Passanante (1930s-40s)
Angelo Bruno (1950s/60s)
Sam DeCavalcante (1950s/60s)
Joe Ciancaglini (1970s)
Greg Scarpa (1970s)
Phil Testa (1950s-1980s)
Joe Ida (Genovese family) (1980s)
No doubt more.
Many members pre-1920s had mustaches, hence "Mustache Pete". Seems the 1920s are when the mafia moved away from mustaches as you rarely see photos of members with mustaches by then.
We can tell from the pejorative "Mustache Pete" and the general rule against facial hair that it was Americanized members who pushed for the facial hair rule, but at the same time it looks like the Sicilian mafia stopped growing facial hair (with some exceptions) so it may not be as simple as the US mafia wanting to of appear like "Americanized businessmen" or whatever lore has told us.
[/quote]
Surprised Tom Farese for the Colombos hasn't been mentioned. We also have Dennis "the Beard" DeLucia (haven't seen any photos of him with facial hair so who knows) and also Joe Competiello just prior to his arrest. Funnily enough Dino Calabro tried to grow a beard but apparently couldn't.