Any good books on the pre-Casso era

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Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by Lucchese81 » Fri Oct 06, 2017 5:35 am

HairyKnuckles wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 11:38 pm
Lucchese81 wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:16 pm Going back to the original question, I've always wanted various books on the early years of the Lucchese family. They are strangely absent from before the Casso/Amuso era. Particularly, Lucchese himself who remains one of the most secretive and less written about bosses from the 'golden era' and as someone who was present and involved in all the big happenings in the first half of the century. Arguably, under his rule, I think it's entirely possible that the family held the 1 or 2 spot for periods of time given the respect and power he had on the panel, and how clever he was in creating new sources of income.


Lucchese was a master manipulator and pulled strings behind the scenes. For example, there are indications that he was the one who put the idea for the Appalachin meeting of 1957 into motion.

I think there is a book on the Luccheses pre Casso written by Ernest Wolkman. I can´t remember the name of it but if you google Wolkman you may find it. Another tip would be that you read the "Researching the Mafia" thread in this section and start looking for info yourself. There is plenty of information on Lucchese on the Mary Ferrell site for example and articles on him can be found if you search online newspaper´s archives. Reports can be found at hathitrust.com. etc start digging! Researching is fun!
I automatically dismissed the Volkmann book due to aforementioned inaccuracies, but thank you very much for that other info. I may start my own digging, tbh, I was tempted a good six odd years ago to embark on a book project relating to Lucchese and the family early years but never really got going with it because of well life and other such things. Maybe I'll try to compile at least an in depth gathering of sources

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by Chaps » Fri Oct 06, 2017 3:49 am

HairyKnuckles wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 11:38 pm
Lucchese81 wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:16 pm Going back to the original question, I've always wanted various books on the early years of the Lucchese family. They are strangely absent from before the Casso/Amuso era. Particularly, Lucchese himself who remains one of the most secretive and less written about bosses from the 'golden era' and as someone who was present and involved in all the big happenings in the first half of the century. Arguably, under his rule, I think it's entirely possible that the family held the 1 or 2 spot for periods of time given the respect and power he had on the panel, and how clever he was in creating new sources of income.
Lucchese was a master manipulator and pulled strings behind the scenes. For example, there are indications that he was the one who put the idea for the Appalachin meeting of 1957 into motion.

I think there is a book on the Luccheses pre Casso written by Ernest Wolkman. I can´t remember the name of it but if you google Wolkman you may find it. Another tip would be that you read the "Researching the Mafia" thread in this section and start looking for info yourself. There is plenty of information on Lucchese on the Mary Ferrell site for example and articles on him can be found if you search online newspaper´s archives. Reports can be found at hathitrust.com. etc start digging! Researching is fun!
Volkman wrote a book called Gangbusters in 1998 which went through the Amuso/Casso era. I will say that Volkman's books, and this one is no exception, are known to be highly inaccurate. That means that anyone on this board who has a good knowledge of mob history, could pick out his mistakes in an instant. I can't say it was horrible and it did have a good historical background on the Lucchese's, but he obviously had lousy editors.

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by HairyKnuckles » Thu Oct 05, 2017 11:38 pm

Lucchese81 wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:16 pm Going back to the original question, I've always wanted various books on the early years of the Lucchese family. They are strangely absent from before the Casso/Amuso era. Particularly, Lucchese himself who remains one of the most secretive and less written about bosses from the 'golden era' and as someone who was present and involved in all the big happenings in the first half of the century. Arguably, under his rule, I think it's entirely possible that the family held the 1 or 2 spot for periods of time given the respect and power he had on the panel, and how clever he was in creating new sources of income.
Lucchese was a master manipulator and pulled strings behind the scenes. For example, there are indications that he was the one who put the idea for the Appalachin meeting of 1957 into motion.

I think there is a book on the Luccheses pre Casso written by Ernest Wolkman. I can´t remember the name of it but if you google Wolkman you may find it. Another tip would be that you read the "Researching the Mafia" thread in this section and start looking for info yourself. There is plenty of information on Lucchese on the Mary Ferrell site for example and articles on him can be found if you search online newspaper´s archives. Reports can be found at hathitrust.com. etc start digging! Researching is fun!

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by Lucchese81 » Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:16 pm

Going back to the original question, I've always wanted various books on the early years of the Lucchese family. They are strangely absent from before the Casso/Amuso era. Particularly, Lucchese himself who remains one of the most secretive and less written about bosses from the 'golden era' and as someone who was present and involved in all the big happenings in the first half of the century. Arguably, under his rule, I think it's entirely possible that the family held the 1 or 2 spot for periods of time given the respect and power he had on the panel, and how clever he was in creating new sources of income.

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by yatescj7781 » Thu Aug 31, 2017 12:22 am

Pogo The Clown wrote: Sun Aug 27, 2017 11:28 am
JeremyTheJew wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2017 5:41 pm I never understood why Viro wasn't charged with Murder?
What was be Rizzuto charge with that have him only 10 years?

He took a plea deal for his role in the 3 Capos murder.


Pogo
That's correct Pogo. Vito would only admit his role in the 3 capos murder was to say "This is a Hold Up". A few Bonanno guys got hammered in that RICO back then but a lot of them i.e. Rizzuto took pretty good plea deals considering the options they had.

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by Frank » Tue Aug 29, 2017 4:26 pm

Crea was official underboss when Madonna was on the street. Madonna was street boss.

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by JeremyTheJew » Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:50 pm

The lukes whole admin is locked up rn and I don't think they're #3 anymore....

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by TommyNoto » Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:13 pm

Luchesse imo have generally been # 3 and especially now
As they have always had big interests in union and construction and have a large gambling presence in NJ to keep bringing in $ to the admin that also helps fund the legit side, an area the other 2 don't have . The Columbos seem more localized to BK and LI and the Bonnanos are big in the violent blue collar , and drug stuff but that keeps them as easy prey to LE and informants and making guys easy to flip and cease their assets . They def have violent and active crews. Old school shit but you can't keep building that way as they keep getting popped and rolled on . WS are just real pros , seem to keep building and getting stronger and have little interest bragging about how bad they are etc Just my opinion tho . The Columbos are kind of a mystery today but seem to be shrinking

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by Pogo The Clown » Sun Aug 27, 2017 11:28 am

JeremyTheJew wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2017 5:41 pm I never understood why Viro wasn't charged with Murder?
What was be Rizzuto charge with that have him only 10 years?

He took a plea deal for his role in the 3 Capos murder.


Pogo

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by JeremyTheJew » Sat Aug 26, 2017 5:41 pm

I never understood why Viro wasn't charged with Murder?
What was be Rizzuto charge with that have him only 10 years?

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by Wiseguy » Sat Aug 26, 2017 5:10 pm

Dwalin2014 wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2017 4:42 pm I remember time ago people were talking about the Lucchese family being almost "re-born" and slowly re-gaining real power, when Crea was supposed to have been put in charge (somebody even said Vic Amuso gave up the official boss title to him, so promising he was; later they said though Amuso is still boss and Madonna is acting). But now Crea risks a life sentence with the whole hierarchy, for "just" 1 murder and 1 attempted murder....At the "golden age", 30 or 40 murders weren't enough to keep a mafioso in custody for a week even; now, even if they get off, they will have to "cool their heads" for 2 or 3 years in jail before and during the trial maybe (look at Ligambi in Philly, even though he was acquitted).

Shame on the Mafia in the US, all amateurs today! Should take example from Montreal at least! :)
Put those Montreal mob guys here in the US, with American law enforcement and RICO, and it's a different story.

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by Dwalin2014 » Sat Aug 26, 2017 4:42 pm

I remember time ago people were talking about the Lucchese family being almost "re-born" and slowly re-gaining real power, when Crea was supposed to have been put in charge (somebody even said Vic Amuso gave up the official boss title to him, so promising he was; later they said though Amuso is still boss and Madonna is acting). But now Crea risks a life sentence with the whole hierarchy, for "just" 1 murder and 1 attempted murder....At the "golden age", 30 or 40 murders weren't enough to keep a mafioso in custody for a week even; now, even if they get off, they will have to "cool their heads" for 2 or 3 years in jail before and during the trial maybe (look at Ligambi in Philly, even though he was acquitted).

Shame on the Mafia in the US, all amateurs today! Should take example from Montreal at least! :)

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by SonnyBlackstein » Sat Aug 26, 2017 12:41 pm

Columbo's and Bonnano's have been in rebuild since the 1st Gallo war and the Bananna war.

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by johnny_scootch » Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:45 am

gohnjotti wrote: Fri Aug 25, 2017 3:22 pm
Pogo The Clown wrote: Fri Aug 25, 2017 10:07 am These thing are always fluctuating on the forums. When I first started the Luccheses were considered #5. Then it was the Bonannos. Now it is the Colombos. If I had to predict I'd say the Bonannos are #3 now.


Pogo
Yeah, Bonannos are in rebuild mode.
You're agreeing with Pogo they are 3rd most powerful family but think they are rebuilding? Are they?

Seems like they've been very stable. They have an official boss for years now plus an acting boss on the street and a shitload of captains and acting captains. Those meetings at the barbershop and the christmas party says they are fully functioning and a very long way from when they were rebuilding after massino and then bascaino went down.

Re: Any good books on the pre-Casso era

by SonnyBlackstein » Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:07 am

Pogo The Clown wrote: Fri Aug 25, 2017 10:07 am If I had to predict I'd say the Bonannos are #3 now.
I'd say the order will be based HEAVILY on the outcome of the Crea et al trial.

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