Early Pittsburgh Hill District Gambling Kingpins

[The Greek]

You were/are a musician that played at all these different venues? Those hard workin' Greeks played as hard as they worked.
They made good money and weren't bashful about spending it. By and large, a good bunch guys

Yes. My Dad had a very popular Greek band in the 60's- 90's.. We always did Greek Night at the Pines, Zorba's in Akron and Anesto's in Niles.. Many others in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and my own teenage rock band at RJ's Holiday House. Hung out at the All American Club a few times obviously oblivious to what was going on there. Great times and an incredible education

[sdeitche]

Are you sure it was Lenny that recruited the black drug dealers to his All American Club in Campbell. I believe it was Bernie the Jew's idea and he recruited/invited them. It was a natural fit as a lot of their customers were the Greek bridge painters who were also customers of the blacks

The Greek bridge painters are singlehandedly responsible for every piece of musical equipment I bought as a teenager.. During the painting season they would come to the nightclubs in Campbell, Niles, Akron and Pittsburgh and it would rain down one dollar bills all night. Sometimes I'd walk out of there at 6 am w $200 in $1 bills covered in smashed plate dust. Some of my greatest memories...

As an aside, the company I work for does quite a bit of bridge painting inspection throughout the US. 90% of the contractors are Greeks from either Tarpon Springs (down here near Tampa) or Youngstown. Very interesting subculture.

[PolackTony]

Did the Greeks in Youngstown/Pitt/Cleve run any barbooth games (Greek dice game)? In Chicago back in the day (when Gus Alex proclaimed himself “King of the Greeks”) the Outfit used to control these games through their Greek associates that ran them out of their diners and taverns.

[FriendofHenry]

Did the Greeks in Youngstown/Pitt/Cleve run any barbooth games (Greek dice game)? In Chicago back in the day (when Gus Alex proclaimed himself “King of the Greeks”) the Outfit used to control these games through their Greek associates that ran them out of their diners and taverns.

To the best of my knowledge, the Greeks didn't run any barbooth games in Youngstown except for may an occasional stag party. Barbooth was the mainstay of The All American Club that was run by a Jew and owned by an Italian. I'd be surprised if the Youngstown/Pitts/Cleve Greeks were involved in these games operated by Gus Alex in Chicago.

[The Greek]

Are you sure it was Lenny that recruited the black drug dealers to his All American Club in Campbell. I believe it was Bernie the Jew's idea and he recruited/invited them. It was a natural fit as a lot of their customers were the Greek bridge painters who were also customers of the blacks

The Greek bridge painters are singlehandedly responsible for every piece of musical equipment I bought as a teenager.. During the painting season they would come to the nightclubs in Campbell, Niles, Akron and Pittsburgh and it would rain down one dollar bills all night. Sometimes I'd walk out of there at 6 am w $200 in $1 bills covered in smashed plate dust. Some of my greatest memories...

As an aside, the company I work for does quite a bit of bridge painting inspection throughout the US. 90% of the contractors are Greeks from either Tarpon Springs (down here near Tampa) or Youngstown. Very interesting subculture.

Yeah it really is they have a lock on that business

[The Greek]

Did the Greeks in Youngstown/Pitt/Cleve run any barbooth games (Greek dice game)? In Chicago back in the day (when Gus Alex proclaimed himself “King of the Greeks”) the Outfit used to control these games through their Greek associates that ran them out of their diners and taverns.

To the best of my knowledge, the Greeks didn't run any barbooth games in Youngstown except for may an occasional stag party. Barbooth was the mainstay of The All American Club that was run by a Jew and owned by an Italian. I'd be surprised if the Youngstown/Pitts/Cleve Greeks were involved in these games operated by Gus Alex in Chicago.

My cousin's husband used to run a Barbut game in The Phoenix Restaurant in downtown Sharon. Bernie the Jew and Frankie Lentine used to come. She told me that once Bernie came w 600k in a suitcase and every time she filled his coffee cup he gave her $100. She made sure he had 20 cups that night.

[FriendofHenry]

Bernie was infected with the same disease he made his money...He was a degenerate gambler. Hell, he tipped everyone $100s but me

[FriendofHenry]

BTW: The Phoenix had great Scampi

[PolackTony]

Did the Greeks in Youngstown/Pitt/Cleve run any barbooth games (Greek dice game)? In Chicago back in the day (when Gus Alex proclaimed himself “King of the Greeks”) the Outfit used to control these games through their Greek associates that ran them out of their diners and taverns.

To the best of my knowledge, the Greeks didn't run any barbooth games in Youngstown except for may an occasional stag party. Barbooth was the mainstay of The All American Club that was run by a Jew and owned by an Italian. I'd be surprised if the Youngstown/Pitts/Cleve Greeks were involved in these games operated by Gus Alex in Chicago.

My cousin's husband used to run a Barbut game in The Phoenix Restaurant in downtown Sharon. Bernie the Jew and Frankie Lentine used to come. She told me that once Bernie came w 600k in a suitcase and every time she filled his coffee cup he gave her $100. She made sure he had 20 cups that night.

Thanks. Were any of the Greeks running these barbut games LCN associates, or did LCN receive a cut or impose street taxes? Or were these pretty much completely independent operations?

[FriendofHenry]

Did the Greeks in Youngstown/Pitt/Cleve run any barbooth games (Greek dice game)? In Chicago back in the day (when Gus Alex proclaimed himself “King of the Greeks”) the Outfit used to control these games through their Greek associates that ran them out of their diners and taverns.

To the best of my knowledge, the Greeks didn't run any barbooth games in Youngstown except for may an occasional stag party. Barbooth was the mainstay of The All American Club that was run by a Jew and owned by an Italian. I'd be surprised if the Youngstown/Pitts/Cleve Greeks were involved in these games operated by Gus Alex in Chicago.

My cousin's husband used to run a Barbut game in The Phoenix Restaurant in downtown Sharon. Bernie the Jew and Frankie Lentine used to come. She told me that once Bernie came w 600k in a suitcase and every time she filled his coffee cup he gave her $100. She made sure he had 20 cups that night.

Thanks. Were any of the Greeks running these barbut games LCN associates, or did LCN receive a cut or impose street taxes? Or were these pretty much completely independent operations?

I guess I should have added that if Bernie and "Baseball Bat Frankie" ran a game at the Phoenix, who know if anyone but them got a cut.
BTW: They must have been too early to open the club. The $600k. in the briefcase was the cash bank at The All American Club on any given night.

[The Greek]

Bernie was infected with the same disease he made his money...He was a degenerate gambler. Hell, he tipped everyone $100s but me

[The Greek]

BTW: The Phoenix had great Scampi

I was in 8th grade when my parents opened it. I washed dishes like a slave for no money and I loved it! Our cooks were legit Greeks off the boat so they could definitely cook that's for sure

[The Greek]

Did the Greeks in Youngstown/Pitt/Cleve run any barbooth games (Greek dice game)? In Chicago back in the day (when Gus Alex proclaimed himself “King of the Greeks”) the Outfit used to control these games through their Greek associates that ran them out of their diners and taverns.

To the best of my knowledge, the Greeks didn't run any barbooth games in Youngstown except for may an occasional stag party. Barbooth was the mainstay of The All American Club that was run by a Jew and owned by an Italian. I'd be surprised if the Youngstown/Pitts/Cleve Greeks were involved in these games operated by Gus Alex in Chicago.

My cousin's husband used to run a Barbut game in The Phoenix Restaurant in downtown Sharon. Bernie the Jew and Frankie Lentine used to come. She told me that once Bernie came w 600k in a suitcase and every time she filled his coffee cup he gave her $100. She made sure he had 20 cups that night.

Thanks. Were any of the Greeks running these barbut games LCN associates, or did LCN receive a cut or impose street taxes? Or were these pretty much completely independent operations?

I'm not sure. I do know my cousin was a degenerate gambler who bought his house w 100k in a paper bag. His restaurants were all cash operations, and he was friends w Frankie L and Lennie Strollo. I guess in some peoples eyes it would make him an associate, but he was really just a typical greek diner owner and good timer. He did get called to testify once in a gambling operation and he pretended he couldn't speak English and had my little cousin as his "translator"... hilarious story

[The Greek]

Did the Greeks in Youngstown/Pitt/Cleve run any barbooth games (Greek dice game)? In Chicago back in the day (when Gus Alex proclaimed himself “King of the Greeks”) the Outfit used to control these games through their Greek associates that ran them out of their diners and taverns.

To the best of my knowledge, the Greeks didn't run any barbooth games in Youngstown except for may an occasional stag party. Barbooth was the mainstay of The All American Club that was run by a Jew and owned by an Italian. I'd be surprised if the Youngstown/Pitts/Cleve Greeks were involved in these games operated by Gus Alex in Chicago.

My cousin's husband used to run a Barbut game in The Phoenix Restaurant in downtown Sharon. Bernie the Jew and Frankie Lentine used to come. She told me that once Bernie came w 600k in a suitcase and every time she filled his coffee cup he gave her $100. She made sure he had 20 cups that night.

Thanks. Were any of the Greeks running these barbut games LCN associates, or did LCN receive a cut or impose street taxes? Or were these pretty much completely independent operations?

I guess I should have added that if Bernie and "Baseball Bat Frankie" ran a game at the Phoenix, who know if anyone but them got a cut.
BTW: They must have been too early to open the club. The $600k. in the briefcase was the cash bank at The All American Club on any given night.

Sheesh.. I'm sure your right

[FriendofHenry]

Did the Greeks in Youngstown/Pitt/Cleve run any barbooth games (Greek dice game)? In Chicago back in the day (when Gus Alex proclaimed himself “King of the Greeks”) the Outfit used to control these games through their Greek associates that ran them out of their diners and taverns.

To the best of my knowledge, the Greeks didn't run any barbooth games in Youngstown except for may an occasional stag party. Barbooth was the mainstay of The All American Club that was run by a Jew and owned by an Italian. I'd be surprised if the Youngstown/Pitts/Cleve Greeks were involved in these games operated by Gus Alex in Chicago.

My cousin's husband used to run a Barbut game in The Phoenix Restaurant in downtown Sharon. Bernie the Jew and Frankie Lentine used to come. She told me that once Bernie came w 600k in a suitcase and every time she filled his coffee cup he gave her $100. She made sure he had 20 cups that night.

Thanks. Were any of the Greeks running these barbut games LCN associates, or did LCN receive a cut or impose street taxes? Or were these pretty much completely independent operations?

I guess I should have added that if Bernie and "Baseball Bat Frankie" ran a game at the Phoenix, who know if anyone but them got a cut.
BTW: They must have been too early to open the club. The $600k. in the briefcase was the cash bank at The All American Club on any given night.

Sheesh.. I'm sure your right

So you know that "skimming" from Lenny got Ernie Biondillo clipped? So Sheesh for sure