Do you think it's true Terranova was really the getaway driver for the Masseria hit, and all the rest about him being so excited that he couldn't start the engine?
In the book "Gangster City: The History of the New York Underworld 1900-1935" by Patrick Downey there is the following quote though:
Who was there that day has also been up for much speculation. The only four the author feels were present for sure are the men named by Joe Valachi: Charles Luciano, Vito Genovese, Frank Livorsi, and Joe Stracci. Although some claim Valachi was wrong, he was part of the underworld at the time. That Ciro Terranova was driving the car is pure fiction. Not only did witnesses say that the two men arrived by themselves, which means there was no wheelman , but even if there was, would a top Mafia boss relegate himself to such a low job? That “Bugsy” Siegel was part of the hit squad also seems unlikely. Masseria was killed by those close to him.
A. Downey makes a good point. Obviously we don't know for sure, but it's pretty doubtful.
B. That was the Vitale dinner robbery in 1929. The police came with that theory based on some documents they found, but I'm pretty sure they arrived at the wrong conclusion. Masseria, Carfano and Capone were the ones who orchestrated the Yale hit.
By the way, has anyone watched the "Artichoke king" episode form the TV series "The Untouchables" from the 50s? After that, I can't take Ciro Terranova's character seriously anymore, they painted him like almost a good guy abused by underlings; he whacks them and then is abused in the same manner by the hitman he used to whack the previous blackmailer.
And that scene with the hired robbers stealing back the contract: take your jackets and the trousers off!
Terranova: I won't take the trousers off.
Leading robber: for you, we will make an exception then.
Felix Burke, target of the robbery: TWO exceptions then!
(why Felix and not Fred, I wonder?)
Really, the show provides a good laugh and cheers you up, although I really doubt that was the authors' original intention: the Italians even protested for being discriminated against by this show and so the authors eliminated all Italian gangster surnames, starting from half the 2nd season. I wonder what would have happened if Irish, Jews and Anglo-Saxon Americans would have protested as well. Would have they given Russian or Chinese surnames to the gangsters?
CIRO TERRANOVA, ARREST, MURDER OF GIUSEPPE DeMARCO & CHARLES LOMBARDI - July 20, 1916
Please find attached the notebook entry of one of the arresting officers of Ciro Terranova (aka Ciro Morello) for the above-captioned crime. By this time, the "Artichoke King" had been arrested for: Rape (1907), Possn. Handgun (1910), Dis. Con (1916), Material Witness/Homicide), and Vagrancy (1917).
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"With good intentions, fewer words are enough" - La Mana Nera
P.C. Marino, Retired Law Enforcement
Descendant of a Det. Sgt. from the post-Petrosino era Italian Squad, PDNYC
A face only his mother could love. Source Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Photo circa 1930.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
"With good intentions, fewer words are enough" - La Mana Nera
P.C. Marino, Retired Law Enforcement
Descendant of a Det. Sgt. from the post-Petrosino era Italian Squad, PDNYC
The Artichoke King's residence in 1930 as it appears today
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"With good intentions, fewer words are enough" - La Mana Nera
P.C. Marino, Retired Law Enforcement
Descendant of a Det. Sgt. from the post-Petrosino era Italian Squad, PDNYC
Thanks for the information and the photos! Even being rather interested in the character, I didn't have much information about Terranova apart from the usual wikipedia stuff and several articles.
PCMarino wrote:A face only his mother could love. Source Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Photo circa 1930.
Westchester County? Salut! I've been doing alot of early research (pre-1920's) and alot of stuff has lead me to Westchester (which in turn lead me to OH, MN and several other areas. White Plains, Mineola, Port Chester, Newburgh were all connected, OC speaking.
Welcome to the board. I think you could stand to become one of the best posters here.
PCMarino wrote:A face only his mother could love. Source Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Photo circa 1930.
Westchester County? Salut! I've been doing alot of early research (pre-1920's) and alot of stuff has lead me to Westchester (which in turn lead me to OH, MN and several other areas. White Plains, Mineola, Port Chester, Newburgh were all connected, OC speaking.
Welcome to the board. I think you could stand to become one of the best posters here.
Yeah, welcome Marino. You seem like a solid guy who can add a lot to the discussion.
I apologize for my lapse in participation,but thanks to Solilai's going the extra mile and reaching out to me, I now have a better understanding of how the forum works. One source of frustration though that someone may be able to help me with is the ability, or lack of the same, to attach more than one image to a post/reply/comment. Is there a way to do this? I have more on Ciro that I posted in another page here. Thanks
"With good intentions, fewer words are enough" - La Mana Nera
P.C. Marino, Retired Law Enforcement
Descendant of a Det. Sgt. from the post-Petrosino era Italian Squad, PDNYC
You´ll have to use a photo hosting site. For example Photobucket.com which is the one I use. Once the photo is uploaded there, copy its URL address and put it in a post here between the "Img" brackets. You can attach multiple URL addresses in one and same post, by putting the URL addresses beneath eachother.
Can anyone explain his artichoke racket to me? I've read First Family but I can't say I understand this part. Any idea how long it went on? From what I remember from the book it seemed once he got the racket going he was pushed out.
DPG wrote:Can anyone explain his artichoke racket to me? I've read First Family but I can't say I understand this part. Any idea how long it went on? From what I remember from the book it seemed once he got the racket going he was pushed out.
Really, that I didn't expect. I always imagined the character as a relatively "moderate" gangster compared to what came later...
