General Chicago Outfit Info Dumping Ground

[Patrickgold]

It's pretty incredible these guys getting together. Wonder if they have an actual connection or Merlino and co reached out simply because. Does it seem like they are familiar or just meeting?

Scalise seemed pretty comfortable around Merlino, but this guy was also a "technical advisor" for a film, so it's not surprising that he was a little more talkative than Bellavia. It wouldn't surprise me if Scalise had some media contacts from that time that he used to connect with Merlino but that's total speculation on my part. Bellavia did have a more dangerous aura about him that came out when he was talking about his case. Like, "I wouldn't want to owe this guy money 40 years ago" vibe.

Scalise is very articulate and you can tell he has a high IQ. I have been told that Alex Dana made the introduction between Merlino and Scalise and Bellavia. Scalise and Bellavia obviously know Dana from Taylor street. Merlino had previously talked about having Dana on his show. They know each other from the South Florida scene. Dana recently opened a Rosebud down there and I think he even filmed an episode there. I have not watched this new episode yet, but I did think when Merlino started this podcast that Bellavia would be a perfect person to interview bc of how he got really screwed by the Feds with all the time he got despite not being convicted of the murder. Merlino likes talking about how the Feds are cheats and liars.

[NorthBuffalo]

Yeah, the dart story was funny. They stole a dart gun from the zoo, ostensibly to use in crimes. They tested it on "hobos" but all it did was sent them running down the street with the dart stuck in them so they'd have to chase them down to get it back lol

I really think when Scalise said 'we are the last of the 42s' he's giving a nod to being the last of the 'Outfit' - or at least what it was - that's my view. He is really well-spoken and his remarks on Esposito and Capone were even interesting - bc you know some of this stuff is what he's heard from real guys, not read online like us.

He sounds like he knows the history, but it seems like a Wikipedia-level of history, if you know what I mean. Like how every Outfit guy in the Giancana-era was a 42

Scalise was born in 1937 in that neighborhood - I kind of give him the benefit of the doubt and wonder if he was affiliated with whatever remnants of that gang were still going into the 40s and 50s. He knew that Joe Esposito organized them when they were young kids (which I believe is true). The stories about guys taking Capone's money for example I felt were things he's been told in-person by guys. He was definitely around guys like Ferrriola, Carlisi and Aiuppa and Cerone etc. at various points.

[NorthBuffalo]

A good source of mine identified someone interesting in the photo with Bellavia and Tony Ducks: Anthony Pipito out of Milwaukee, who I am not familiar with but that's another interesting midwest connection. I also think Gerry Langella is in that photo.

Also I do hope Scalise gets that book written - hell a few of you guys could write that and help him put the pieces together. We should pitch him.

[Patrickgold]

A good source of mine identified someone interesting in the photo with Bellavia and Tony Ducks: Anthony Pipito out of Milwaukee, who I am not familiar with but that's another interesting midwest connection. I also think Gerry Langella is in that photo.

Also I do hope Scalise gets that book written - hell a few of you guys could write that and help him put the pieces together. We should pitch him.

Is there a prison photo of the three? I have seen the attached photo with Pippito and Tony Ducks but none with Bellavia