The allure of famous mobsters will probably never fade; our collective pop culture mindset has enabled master criminals like Capone, Gotti, Bulger and Frank Lucas to become household names. And of course this year will see it’s share of gangster-themed movies, biopics and books. But… what if there was a gangster more powerful, more suave [...]
Can’t get enough of The Godfather saga? Then you’re in for a real treat on May 8th, as the backstory of the Corleone family is unveiled in the new book by author Ed Falco. What? No Mario Puzo? Well, the late Puzo penned a screenplay that essentially filled in the history not covered during the [...]
This is the first in a series of photographs, I will be posting periodically, that feature a moment or character from mob history. With a dose of photojournalism, I shall offer a brief explanation of each original picture – the who, what, where, when, and if applicable – why. Today’s subject: Virginia Hill. To simply [...]
New York rapper Ron Braunstein, aka NECRO – whom we’ve profiled here before – has recently unleashed a new music video for the a track on his upcoming Murder Murder Kill Kill EP. The song – “Tough Jew/Rabbi Holding Guns” is actually under Necro’s long-discussed side-project called the Jewish Gangsters. The video has already reached [...]
Tales of twentieth century organized crime, particularly the evolution of the American Mafia, are loaded with folklore and theories. Although gangster Alphonse Capone may be the most prevalent in our collective pop culture psyche… more stories have surrounded the man known as “Lucky” Luciano. Many of the accounts behind New York’s most infamous master criminal [...]
Not all organized criminals are created equal. Nor should anyone believe all the ladies involved were mere arm-candy. Just as intelligence, prowess and business savvy were skills necessary for the top echelon of history’s male gangsters to be bosses – so too was the case for more than a few powerful female figures. Call them [...]
Monday night on the History Channel’s reality series Pawn Stars – a would-be seller walked in and claimed to have Charles “Lucky” Luciano’s signet ring. In case you missed this episode, here’s the lowdown: Pawn shop owner Rick Harrison was approached by a man holding an ornate gold ring, and ready to give an elaborate [...]
Brooklyn’s Ron Braunstein – better known as Necro – is as controversial, offensive, and outlandish as they come in the world of independent music. Yet… he’s also extremely skilled in his art. A DIY guy to the core, he’s built a cult-like following that adores the gory lyricism, horrorific sampling, and unique self-produced beats that [...]
Ol’ Blue Eyes, Chairman of the Board… and Boudoir Singer? An icon, Frank Sinatra will always have a place in the collective hearts of music, film an pop culture fans. Nobody had a voice like that and few held the power-of-association the kid from New Jersey grew up wielding. Many rumors have circulated throughout his [...]
There are probably enough books written about Alphonse “Scarface” Capone to fill an entire small library. This, however, is not a book about Capone per se. Think of it more as a first-person account, by an emotionally torn spouse, of man that allegedly participated in the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Gus Winkeler is the [...]
