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It quoted the FBI’s legal attaché in Madrid, who said that Gosch admitted that his movie script about Luciano had been largely “made up out of the whole cloth” and bore little resemblance to anything that actually happened. Apparently, Gosch had already approached the FBI in 1972 for their help in transforming his script into book form. He told them that he was being assisted by Hammer and they already had access to the files of the New York City police department. “As regards Hammer,” said the FBI, “Bureau files show only that he is a successful author and reporter who may, or may not, be aware of the fraudulent nature of Gosch’s manuscript.
“An in-depth analysis of [the] book,” concluded the FBI, “indicates that the material contained therein consists of old information gleaned from the hearings of the McClellan Committee [investigating criminal infiltration of labor unions] and other Congressional groups, plus a number of unverified allegations to the effect that Luciano dabbled in the political campaigns of Al Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt, paid $90,000 into Tom
Dewey’s gubernatorial coffers, and once turned down a $5,000 offer from Director Hoover if he would tell the FBI where Louis Lepke Buchalter was hiding. For these reasons, and the description of how it came to be written in the first place, it is not believed that this book has any value to the FBI, or to anyone else for that matter.”
Dewey’s gubernatorial coffers, and once turned down a $5,000 offer from Director Hoover if he would tell the FBI where Louis Lepke Buchalter was hiding. For these reasons, and the description of how it came to be written in the first place, it is not believed that this book has any value to the FBI, or to anyone else for that matter.”
The FBI review was made in secret in October 1974 and had little impact on the publicity for the book, which spiraled upward. Aside from its serialization in
Penthouse,
paperback rights were sold for $800,000 and it was chosen as the main selection by the Book-of-the-Month Club and the
Playboy
Book Club.
New York Times
journalist Nicholas Gage was determined to prick this bubble. He took exception to the publisher’s main claim on the book jacket: “Dictated during the final months of his life to film producer Martin G. Gosch, this powerful inside chronicle is literally the ‘last testament’ of America’s most notorious gangster.”
Penthouse,
paperback rights were sold for $800,000 and it was chosen as the main selection by the Book-of-the-Month Club and the
Playboy
Book Club.
New York Times
journalist Nicholas Gage was determined to prick this bubble. He took exception to the publisher’s main claim on the book jacket: “Dictated during the final months of his life to film producer Martin G. Gosch, this powerful inside chronicle is literally the ‘last testament’ of America’s most notorious gangster.”
In a substantial article published in the
New York Times
on December 17, 1974, Gage declared that the tapes had never existed and most of the information published in the book had appeared elsewhere. He also pointed out that some of the events described would have been impossible for Luciano to witness as he was in prison at the time. The publisher struck back by saying they had two sworn affidavits and three signed letters from close friends and relatives of Luciano testifying to the truth of his interviews with Gosch. One of these was Rosario Vitaliti, then in his seventies, who declared that “everything [Mr. Gosch] says is true.” Five percent of the book’s royalties were said to be shared among members of Luciano’s family, Vitaliti, and former girlfriend Adriana Rizzo.
New York Times
on December 17, 1974, Gage declared that the tapes had never existed and most of the information published in the book had appeared elsewhere. He also pointed out that some of the events described would have been impossible for Luciano to witness as he was in prison at the time. The publisher struck back by saying they had two sworn affidavits and three signed letters from close friends and relatives of Luciano testifying to the truth of his interviews with Gosch. One of these was Rosario Vitaliti, then in his seventies, who declared that “everything [Mr. Gosch] says is true.” Five percent of the book’s royalties were said to be shared among members of Luciano’s family, Vitaliti, and former girlfriend Adriana Rizzo.
Richard Hammer was very forthcoming about the faults of the book, telling Gage, “while there are some inaccuracies in it, the work is what it purports to be—the life story of Lucky Luciano as he told it.” Gosch’s widow said that her husband made tapes for Hammer in which he discussed the notes and
subsequently didn’t think it was worth keeping the actual notes. Hammer said there would never have been a moment when Luciano would have consented to be recorded. “Luciano would have had to be out of his mind to sit with a tape recorder,” he said.
subsequently didn’t think it was worth keeping the actual notes. Hammer said there would never have been a moment when Luciano would have consented to be recorded. “Luciano would have had to be out of his mind to sit with a tape recorder,” he said.
Gage spoke to Peter Maas, the author of
The Canary That Sang: The Valachi Papers,
published in 1969, who said
The Last Testament
was “almost an exact compilation of all the available published material on organized crime in general and Luciano in particular.” He said it paralleled much of what Mafia informer Valachi had already said. Luciano’s former lawyer, Moses Polakoff, read a selection of the book featuring him and said “not 5 percent of the accounts bear any resemblance to reality.”
The Canary That Sang: The Valachi Papers,
published in 1969, who said
The Last Testament
was “almost an exact compilation of all the available published material on organized crime in general and Luciano in particular.” He said it paralleled much of what Mafia informer Valachi had already said. Luciano’s former lawyer, Moses Polakoff, read a selection of the book featuring him and said “not 5 percent of the accounts bear any resemblance to reality.”
As a direct result of Gage’s article, New American Library suspended its plans to publish the paperback, but Little, Brown was undaunted and proceeded with the publication of the hardcover in January 1975. The publisher was, however, forced to make a public statement in which it clarified its position, saying that the original interviews with Luciano were written down, but these handwritten notes were “not completely legible to anyone” and so Gosch read them out to his collaborator, Hammer. “The whole process was tape recorded,” asserted the publisher.
It then explained that the bulk of the original notes was burned after his death—leaving only thirty-seven pages, which were in the possession of the publisher. Neither these nor the supposed dictated tapes have survived. In March, Gage revealed the existence of the FBI’s own damning comments on the book, telling its agents not to trust it. Little, Brown made no comment on the FBI memorandum. As one commentator wrote, Luciano must be “enjoying the last laugh from beyond the grave.”
A year later came another major book on Lucky Luciano. Written by Tony Scaduto, a former
New York Post
journalist noted more for his show-business biographies, he did his best to
puncture any myths about the mobster. Perhaps annoyed at
The Last Testament
stealing attention away from his work, Scaduto furiously denounced the book, devoting a twelve-page appendix to its demolition. Not only was the book a fraud, he declared, but Gosch was a hustler and con man. “[Gosch] did not even make notes of those so-called conversations with Luciano until long after the talks were supposed to have taken place,” alleged Scaduto. He said the original film script belonged to Barnett Glassman, who had sued the publishers when Gosch went ahead with the book based on Glassman’s conversations with Luciano. Glassman apparently received a substantial sum of money as a result and would have received a large percentage of the receipts of any movie made from the book.
New York Post
journalist noted more for his show-business biographies, he did his best to
puncture any myths about the mobster. Perhaps annoyed at
The Last Testament
stealing attention away from his work, Scaduto furiously denounced the book, devoting a twelve-page appendix to its demolition. Not only was the book a fraud, he declared, but Gosch was a hustler and con man. “[Gosch] did not even make notes of those so-called conversations with Luciano until long after the talks were supposed to have taken place,” alleged Scaduto. He said the original film script belonged to Barnett Glassman, who had sued the publishers when Gosch went ahead with the book based on Glassman’s conversations with Luciano. Glassman apparently received a substantial sum of money as a result and would have received a large percentage of the receipts of any movie made from the book.
Hammer, in turn, is scathing in his criticism of Scaduto. “When I was approached to collaborate with Gosch,” says Hammer, “Glassman went on a search to have a book of his own written, begged several writers to do it, all of whom refused because he told them they would have to do the research because he had nothing. Finally, he found Scaduto and Scaduto was a gun for hire. Almost all of Scaduto’s claims and charges were refuted by people close to Luciano who were aware of the mobster’s feelings and relationship with Gosch.”
A film was eventually made about Luciano, but it had nothing to do with Gosch, his script, or the book. It came from the Naples-born film director Francesco Rosi, who had made a name for himself with realistic portrayals of the Italian underworld, most notably his award-winning movie about the Sicilian bandit,
Salvatore Giuliano,
in 1962.
Salvatore Giuliano,
in 1962.
Rosi’s
Lucky Luciano
(1973) was a good attempt at depicting the reality of Luciano’s life, concentrating mainly on his period in Italy. It showed vividly how Vito Genovese dominated the black market in stolen American goods at the end of the war and worked closely with corrupt American officers. Its great triumph of veracity was to have FBN agent Charles Siragusa play himself, some twenty years after the event, and some of the dialogue
parrots the Narcotic Bureau’s view of events. Gian Maria Volonté played the part of Luciano well; his most famous roles before this were a leading villain in Sergio Leone’s
A Fistful of Dollars
and
For a Few Dollars More.
But because it was essentially an Italian movie that was dubbed and cut for the English-language market in 1975, Rosi’s film had limited impact.
Lucky Luciano
(1973) was a good attempt at depicting the reality of Luciano’s life, concentrating mainly on his period in Italy. It showed vividly how Vito Genovese dominated the black market in stolen American goods at the end of the war and worked closely with corrupt American officers. Its great triumph of veracity was to have FBN agent Charles Siragusa play himself, some twenty years after the event, and some of the dialogue
parrots the Narcotic Bureau’s view of events. Gian Maria Volonté played the part of Luciano well; his most famous roles before this were a leading villain in Sergio Leone’s
A Fistful of Dollars
and
For a Few Dollars More.
But because it was essentially an Italian movie that was dubbed and cut for the English-language market in 1975, Rosi’s film had limited impact.
“Unfortunately one can only recommend the picture with reservations,” said London film critic Philip French. “I doubt if it ever was as good as Rosi’s other work, and
Godfather II
has stolen a lot of its thunder.” This was true, the
Godfather
movies have been the most successful versions of Mob activities in recent decades and still set the standard for such depictions. Their fictional characters, first created by Mario Puzo in his 1969 novel
The Godfather,
are based on elements of the most notorious real-life mobsters. The character of Michael Corleone is the closest to Luciano. Scenes are set on the Lower East Side in the 1910s and then in Las Vegas and Havana in the 1950s, all charting the history of the American Mafia as directed by Lansky, Costello, and Luciano.
Godfather II
has stolen a lot of its thunder.” This was true, the
Godfather
movies have been the most successful versions of Mob activities in recent decades and still set the standard for such depictions. Their fictional characters, first created by Mario Puzo in his 1969 novel
The Godfather,
are based on elements of the most notorious real-life mobsters. The character of Michael Corleone is the closest to Luciano. Scenes are set on the Lower East Side in the 1910s and then in Las Vegas and Havana in the 1950s, all charting the history of the American Mafia as directed by Lansky, Costello, and Luciano.
Luciano has been played by several notable actors over the years, including Telly Savalas in the 1960s TV series
The Witness,
Andy Warhol star Joe Dallesandro in
The Cotton Club
(1984), and Stanley Tucci in
Billy Bathgate
(1991). In 1981, thriller writer Jack Higgins published
Luciano’s Luck,
heavily elaborating on the mobster’s help during the Allied invasion of Sicily. In 1991, the film
Mobsters
portrayed the rise to power of Luciano and his criminal comrades, Lansky, Siegel, and Costello, in the 1920s. Christian Slater played Luciano, while F. Murray Abraham took on the role of Arnold Rothstein; Anthony Quinn was Joe Masseria, and Michael Gambon played a Maranzano character.
The Witness,
Andy Warhol star Joe Dallesandro in
The Cotton Club
(1984), and Stanley Tucci in
Billy Bathgate
(1991). In 1981, thriller writer Jack Higgins published
Luciano’s Luck,
heavily elaborating on the mobster’s help during the Allied invasion of Sicily. In 1991, the film
Mobsters
portrayed the rise to power of Luciano and his criminal comrades, Lansky, Siegel, and Costello, in the 1920s. Christian Slater played Luciano, while F. Murray Abraham took on the role of Arnold Rothstein; Anthony Quinn was Joe Masseria, and Michael Gambon played a Maranzano character.
Bugsy
(1991) focused on Siegel and the founding of Las Vegas, with Warren Beatty well cast as the handsome hoodlum and Bill Graham playing Luciano. In the same year, a TV movie was made called
White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd
. In 1997,
Hoodlum
concentrated on the gang rivalry in Harlem
between Dutch Schultz, played by Tim Roth, and Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, played by Laurence Fishburne. The story plays loose with history, having Johnson as the main author of Schultz’s murder and DA Thomas Dewey on the take from the Mob. Andy Garcia starred as Luciano.
(1991) focused on Siegel and the founding of Las Vegas, with Warren Beatty well cast as the handsome hoodlum and Bill Graham playing Luciano. In the same year, a TV movie was made called
White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd
. In 1997,
Hoodlum
concentrated on the gang rivalry in Harlem
between Dutch Schultz, played by Tim Roth, and Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, played by Laurence Fishburne. The story plays loose with history, having Johnson as the main author of Schultz’s murder and DA Thomas Dewey on the take from the Mob. Andy Garcia starred as Luciano.
Recently, interest has been sparked in making a film based on
The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano
. Joe Isgro, a music promoter sentenced to several months in jail for extortion and loansharking, claimed he had the rights to the book. “Rights to what?” said Richard Hammer. “There are no rights.” Since then, film producer Bob DeBrino said he had the movie option and was pressing ahead with the project and looking at George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, or Johnny Depp for the lead role. It seems the legend of Lucky Luciano is destined to carry on for many more years.
The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano
. Joe Isgro, a music promoter sentenced to several months in jail for extortion and loansharking, claimed he had the rights to the book. “Rights to what?” said Richard Hammer. “There are no rights.” Since then, film producer Bob DeBrino said he had the movie option and was pressing ahead with the project and looking at George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, or Johnny Depp for the lead role. It seems the legend of Lucky Luciano is destined to carry on for many more years.
For their help in the research and production of this book, I would like to thank the following:
Leonora A. Gidlund, director of the Municipal Archives, and her helpful staff at Chambers Street, New York; Mary M. Huth of the Rush Rhees Library, University of Rochester, New York; Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty of the Herbert H. Lehman Suite and Papers, Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library, New York; Eric van Slander and Timothy K. Nenninger at the National Archives and Record Administration, College Park, Maryland; David M. Hardy and David P. Sobonya of FBI Records Management Division; Richard L. Baker of the U.S. Army Military History Institute, Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Michael E. Gonzales of the 45th Infantry Division Museum; Edward Dojutrek and Carl Q. Topie of the 3rd Infantry Division Society; Charles T. Pinck of the OSS Society; Charles Radcliffe Haffenden Jr.; in London, the staff of the National Archives,
Kew, and the British Library; in Sicily, Giada Platania, Salvatore Cabasino, Maia Mancuso, and the staff of the Biblioteca Centrale della Regione Siciliana; Charles McCall, for IRS advice; Peter Newark, for his extensive crime archive; Lucy Wildman, for research assistance; Robert Miller, for lunch at Patsy’s; Vicky Newark, for her good company on research trips; crime historians Richard Hammer, John Dickie, John Follain, James Morton, David Critchley, and Robert A. Rockaway, for their advice and help; and my excellent editor, Peter Joseph, and my first-class agent, Andrew Lownie.
Kew, and the British Library; in Sicily, Giada Platania, Salvatore Cabasino, Maia Mancuso, and the staff of the Biblioteca Centrale della Regione Siciliana; Charles McCall, for IRS advice; Peter Newark, for his extensive crime archive; Lucy Wildman, for research assistance; Robert Miller, for lunch at Patsy’s; Vicky Newark, for her good company on research trips; crime historians Richard Hammer, John Dickie, John Follain, James Morton, David Critchley, and Robert A. Rockaway, for their advice and help; and my excellent editor, Peter Joseph, and my first-class agent, Andrew Lownie.
Mafia Allies
INTRODUCTION
My lunch with Richard Hammer on April 3, 2009. Quotes from T. Scaduto,
Lucky Luciano,
London: Sphere Books, 1976, and Lacey, R.,
Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life,
London: Century, 1991. For a thorough analysis of
The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano,
see Rick Porello’s
AmericanMafia.com
, Web site article in two parts in issues 8-26-02 and 9-2-02, and the final chapter of this book
Lucky Luciano,
London: Sphere Books, 1976, and Lacey, R.,
Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life,
London: Century, 1991. For a thorough analysis of
The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano,
see Rick Porello’s
AmericanMafia.com
, Web site article in two parts in issues 8-26-02 and 9-2-02, and the final chapter of this book
CHAPTER 1: LUCKY IN NAZI GERMANY
Diamond’s failed trip to Germany is covered extensively in contemporary newspapers. The reference to Lucania accompanying him is in “Ireland Will Refuse Landing to Diamond,”
New York Times,
August 30, 1930. The reference to Del Grazio appears in “Seized in Germany on Narcotic Charge,”
New York Times,
December 6, 1931. The Kefauver Del Grazio reference comes from E. Kefauver,
Crime in America,
London: Victor Gollancz, 1952. The FBI memorandum that quotes Federal Bureau of Narcotics information on Diamond and Luciano visiting Germany is dated August 28, 1935; and is kept in FBI files 39-2141 section 1.
New York Times,
August 30, 1930. The reference to Del Grazio appears in “Seized in Germany on Narcotic Charge,”
New York Times,
December 6, 1931. The Kefauver Del Grazio reference comes from E. Kefauver,
Crime in America,
London: Victor Gollancz, 1952. The FBI memorandum that quotes Federal Bureau of Narcotics information on Diamond and Luciano visiting Germany is dated August 28, 1935; and is kept in FBI files 39-2141 section 1.
An early description of the dangers of drug addiction in New York appears in C. B. Towns,
Habits that Handicap,
New York: The Century Company, 1915. Luciano quote about smoking opium is from Scaduto. Brewster
testimony is in “Hearings before the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives on HR7079, a Bill Prohibiting the Importation of Crude Opium for the Purpose of Manufacturing Heroin, April 3, 1924,” Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office. Russell Pasha’s report on the international drug trade appears in “Illicit Drug Trade–Poison Factories,” London
Times,
January 23, 1930. For “junkie” derivation see M. Booth,
Opium: A History,
London: Simon & Schuster, 1996. Booth also makes the point that opium was referred to as “junk” at the turn of the twentieth century and “hop,” derived from Chinese slang, in the late nineteenth century, hence
Habits that Handicap,
New York: The Century Company, 1915. Luciano quote about smoking opium is from Scaduto. Brewster
testimony is in “Hearings before the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives on HR7079, a Bill Prohibiting the Importation of Crude Opium for the Purpose of Manufacturing Heroin, April 3, 1924,” Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office. Russell Pasha’s report on the international drug trade appears in “Illicit Drug Trade–Poison Factories,” London
Times,
January 23, 1930. For “junkie” derivation see M. Booth,
Opium: A History,
London: Simon & Schuster, 1996. Booth also makes the point that opium was referred to as “junk” at the turn of the twentieth century and “hop,” derived from Chinese slang, in the late nineteenth century, hence
“hophead.” British Ministry of Health report on European meeting on heroin, dated November 21, 1923, London National Archives: HO 45/24817.
CHAPTER 2: HOW TO BECOME A GANGSTER
Dates for Luciano’s arrival in New York vary. The FBI files claim both 1905 and 1907 as dates for his entry. Accounts of the Lower East Side and the crime associated with it appear in contemporary newspapers, especially “The Bands of Criminals of New York’s East Side” by Frank Marshall White,
New York Times,
November 8, 1908, and “Black Hand Crimes Doubled in Year Just Ended,”
New York Times,
December 31, 1911. The Dopey Benny quote comes from H. Asbury,
The Gangs of New York,
New York: Garden City Publishing, 1927. The Jewish quote about living in a tenement block comes from H. Roskolenko,
The Time That Was Then,
New York: The Dial Press, 1971. For an impression of life in a typical tenement block, visit the Lower East Side Tenement Museum at 97 Orchard Street, New York, and see their associated publications.
New York Times,
November 8, 1908, and “Black Hand Crimes Doubled in Year Just Ended,”
New York Times,
December 31, 1911. The Dopey Benny quote comes from H. Asbury,
The Gangs of New York,
New York: Garden City Publishing, 1927. The Jewish quote about living in a tenement block comes from H. Roskolenko,
The Time That Was Then,
New York: The Dial Press, 1971. For an impression of life in a typical tenement block, visit the Lower East Side Tenement Museum at 97 Orchard Street, New York, and see their associated publications.
Luciano quotes from Scaduto; Lansky quotes from D. Eisenberg, U. Dan, and E. Landau,
Meyer Lansky: Mogul of the Mob,
New York and London: Paddington Press, 1979. For failed Masseria shooting, see “Gunmen Who Shot Down 8 Elude Police,”
New York Tribune,
August 9, 1922. The shooting of Valenti is reported in “Gang Kills Gunman, 2 Bystanders Hit,”
New York Times,
August 12, 1922, and “Mystery in Rum Street Battle Near Solution,”
New York Tribune,
August 12, 1922. Several anecdotes relating to Luciano’s early life come from Siragusa letter to Anslinger, January 5, 1954, cited in detail in chapter 15.
Meyer Lansky: Mogul of the Mob,
New York and London: Paddington Press, 1979. For failed Masseria shooting, see “Gunmen Who Shot Down 8 Elude Police,”
New York Tribune,
August 9, 1922. The shooting of Valenti is reported in “Gang Kills Gunman, 2 Bystanders Hit,”
New York Times,
August 12, 1922, and “Mystery in Rum Street Battle Near Solution,”
New York Tribune,
August 12, 1922. Several anecdotes relating to Luciano’s early life come from Siragusa letter to Anslinger, January 5, 1954, cited in detail in chapter 15.
CHAPTER 3: UPTOWN GAMBLER
L. Katcher’s
The Big Bankroll,
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1958, still stands as a good account of Rothstein’s life, as he claimed to have spoken to many principals involved with Rothstein, including his widow and Luciano while in prison, although he does not attribute any quotes directly to him. “The Rothstein Case: An Underworld Tale,”
New York Times,
October 6, 1929, is an interesting feature-length profile.
The Big Bankroll,
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1958, still stands as a good account of Rothstein’s life, as he claimed to have spoken to many principals involved with Rothstein, including his widow and Luciano while in prison, although he does not attribute any quotes directly to him. “The Rothstein Case: An Underworld Tale,”
New York Times,
October 6, 1929, is an interesting feature-length profile.
Luciano quotes from Scaduto; Lansky quotes from Eisenberg et al. The Bendix jewelry fencing story comes from trial testimony dated June 2, 1936, in the New York City Department of Records, Luciano closed-case files, box 13,
file 9; Joseph Corbo hijack case in box 11, file 5. Secret Canadian police reports on narcotics smuggling into Canada and the United States. by Howe and Deleglise in 1923 and 1924 are contained in Metropolitan Police file in British National Archives: MEPO 3/425. “Big Six” informant quote from FBI report on Longy Zwillman, dated June 7, 1950.
file 9; Joseph Corbo hijack case in box 11, file 5. Secret Canadian police reports on narcotics smuggling into Canada and the United States. by Howe and Deleglise in 1923 and 1924 are contained in Metropolitan Police file in British National Archives: MEPO 3/425. “Big Six” informant quote from FBI report on Longy Zwillman, dated June 7, 1950.
CHAPTER 4: SURVIVING THE RIDE
J. Bonanno’s
A Man of Honour: The Autobiography of a Godfather,
London: Andre Deutsch, 1983, is a good source for quotes on Maranzano and Castellammarese War; Lansky quotes from Eisenberg et al. Transcript and digest of Luciano’s testimony at Richmond County Court on October 29, 1929, police memorandum on the ride, May 27, 1936, and memorandum on pheasant shooting, June 2, 1936, all are in the New York City Department of Records, Luciano closed-case files, box 11, file 5; 1931 police photograph in box 11, file 4. Costello’s version of the ride is quoted in G. Wolf, with Dimona, J.,
Frank Costello: Prime Minister of the Underworld,
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1975; Vizzini’s account of the ride is in S. Vizzini,
Vizzini: The Secret Lives of America’s Most Successful Undercover Agent,
London: Futura, 1974.
A Man of Honour: The Autobiography of a Godfather,
London: Andre Deutsch, 1983, is a good source for quotes on Maranzano and Castellammarese War; Lansky quotes from Eisenberg et al. Transcript and digest of Luciano’s testimony at Richmond County Court on October 29, 1929, police memorandum on the ride, May 27, 1936, and memorandum on pheasant shooting, June 2, 1936, all are in the New York City Department of Records, Luciano closed-case files, box 11, file 5; 1931 police photograph in box 11, file 4. Costello’s version of the ride is quoted in G. Wolf, with Dimona, J.,
Frank Costello: Prime Minister of the Underworld,
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1975; Vizzini’s account of the ride is in S. Vizzini,
Vizzini: The Secret Lives of America’s Most Successful Undercover Agent,
London: Futura, 1974.
It has been claimed that it was in the early 1920s, as Lucania worked for Rothstein, Diamond, and Masseria, that he first acquired his famous nickname: Lucky. Biographer L. Katz quotes Frank Costello as saying it was Lucania himself who adopted it: “He felt that people are attracted to a guy when he’s lucky. Everyone wants to be with a winner.” It was Lucania who pushed others to use it, he says, and had “Lucky” tattooed on his arm. But this flies in the face of other accounts. People close to him say he hated it, claiming there was no luck in what he did. “I never heard nobody call him Lucky,” said Frank Costello to his attorney, “not even behind his back.” This directly contradicts Katz’s quote. Generally, it is believed the moniker came later after he survived a terrible beating in 1929. In the light of seeing the actual court transcript of Luciano’s statement just two weeks after the ride, and the
New York Times
article the day after, this all now seems wrong. Luciano was already known as “Lucky” and was happy to use the name. See “‘Ride’ Victim Wakes on Staten Island,”
New York Times,
October 18, 1929, and Katz, L.,
Uncle Frank: The Biography of Frank Costello,
London: W.H. Allen, 1974.
New York Times
article the day after, this all now seems wrong. Luciano was already known as “Lucky” and was happy to use the name. See “‘Ride’ Victim Wakes on Staten Island,”
New York Times,
October 18, 1929, and Katz, L.,
Uncle Frank: The Biography of Frank Costello,
London: W.H. Allen, 1974.
CHAPTER 5: WAR OF THE SICILIAN BOSSES
Descriptions of the Castellammarese War shootings of Morello, Masseria, and Maranzano are from contemporary newspaper coverage. For the death of Masseria, see “Racket Chief Slain by Gangster Fire”
New York Times,
April 16, 1931, “Rivals Here Kill ‘Joe the Boss,’ Capone’s Agent,”
New York Herald Tribune,
April 16, 1931, and “Police Mystified in Slaying of ‘Boss,’”
New York Times,
April 17, 1931. One authority claims that Luciano wasn’t even at the lunch meeting, but sent his assassins to carry out the hit; see D. Critchley,
The Origin of Organized Crime in America,
London: Routledge, 2008, on this and the myth of Luciano’s modernizing of the Mafia. Valachi’s testimony of events is published in P. Maas,
The Canary That Sang: the Valachi Papers,
London: MacGibbon & Kee, 1969.
New York Times,
April 16, 1931, “Rivals Here Kill ‘Joe the Boss,’ Capone’s Agent,”
New York Herald Tribune,
April 16, 1931, and “Police Mystified in Slaying of ‘Boss,’”
New York Times,
April 17, 1931. One authority claims that Luciano wasn’t even at the lunch meeting, but sent his assassins to carry out the hit; see D. Critchley,
The Origin of Organized Crime in America,
London: Routledge, 2008, on this and the myth of Luciano’s modernizing of the Mafia. Valachi’s testimony of events is published in P. Maas,
The Canary That Sang: the Valachi Papers,
London: MacGibbon & Kee, 1969.
Alongside Bonanno and Valachi, the third great witness to the Castellammarese conflict is Nick Gentile. His memoirs were published as
Vita di capomafia,
Rome: Editori Riunti, 1963, but an earlier unpublished translated transcript of this has survived. It is little different from the book and appears to have been produced in Palermo, Sicily, in 1947. Gentile was a senior mafioso in New York in the 1930s and became a major narcotics dealer, but he felt betrayed and ignored by the other chief mobsters of the period, and this may explain why it is alleged that he became a U.S. government agent in the mid-1940s. This typescript—a copy of which was supplied to me by crime historian James Morton—looks like an intelligence report and may well have been typed up by OSS agents in Palermo at the time. In the 1950s, Gentile carried on with his narcotics dealing but was turned by an FBN agent in 1958 and was subsequently ostracized from the Mafia.
Vita di capomafia,
Rome: Editori Riunti, 1963, but an earlier unpublished translated transcript of this has survived. It is little different from the book and appears to have been produced in Palermo, Sicily, in 1947. Gentile was a senior mafioso in New York in the 1930s and became a major narcotics dealer, but he felt betrayed and ignored by the other chief mobsters of the period, and this may explain why it is alleged that he became a U.S. government agent in the mid-1940s. This typescript—a copy of which was supplied to me by crime historian James Morton—looks like an intelligence report and may well have been typed up by OSS agents in Palermo at the time. In the 1950s, Gentile carried on with his narcotics dealing but was turned by an FBN agent in 1958 and was subsequently ostracized from the Mafia.
For death of Maranzano, see “Alien-Smuggler Suspect Slain in Park Av Office,”
New York Herald Tribune,
September 11, 1931; for his people-smuggling business, see “Seek Official Link in Alien Smuggling,”
New York Times,
September 12, 1931. For interesting analysis of sources for the Castellammarese War, see Rick Porello’s
AmericanMafia.com
Web site articles beginning 6-10-02, including the suggestion that “Buster from Chicago” was in fact Valachi; for other identification of Buster, see M. Dash,
The First Family,
New York: Random House, 2009.
New York Herald Tribune,
September 11, 1931; for his people-smuggling business, see “Seek Official Link in Alien Smuggling,”
New York Times,
September 12, 1931. For interesting analysis of sources for the Castellammarese War, see Rick Porello’s
AmericanMafia.com
Web site articles beginning 6-10-02, including the suggestion that “Buster from Chicago” was in fact Valachi; for other identification of Buster, see M. Dash,
The First Family,
New York: Random House, 2009.
CHAPTER 6: TOP OF THE PILE
Peter Ross’s homecooking Barbizon-Plaza anecdote comes from interview memorandum dated April 3, 1936, in the New York City Department of Records, Luciano closed-case files, box 11, file 7; the police memo on Luciano’s family home is in box 11, file 5. Description of the May 1933 Park Avenue convention comes from Scaduto, forming the opening chapter of his book and defining Luciano’s character as a master criminal. Scaduto credits Nick Gentile and Joe Valachi as sources for it, but I have not been able to corroborate this. For Broadway gunfight, see “2 Women Wounded as Gangs Open Fire,”
New York Times,
May 25, 1933.
New York Times,
May 25, 1933.
Dewey quotes from R. Hughes,
Thomas E. Dewey: Attorney for the People,
London: Constable, 1940; Dewey and Schultz story in B. B. Turkus, and S. Feder,
Murder, Inc.: The Story of the Syndicate,
London: Victor Gollancz, 1952. Fabrizzo/Waxey Gordon assassination attempt on Lansky and Siegel described in FBI profile of Siegel dated July 22, 1946; its details vary from those related in
Mogul of the Mob
. Gang warfare between Waxey Gordon and Luciano reported in “Held in Shooting of 3 Pedestrians,”
New York Times,
September 11, 1933.
Thomas E. Dewey: Attorney for the People,
London: Constable, 1940; Dewey and Schultz story in B. B. Turkus, and S. Feder,
Murder, Inc.: The Story of the Syndicate,
London: Victor Gollancz, 1952. Fabrizzo/Waxey Gordon assassination attempt on Lansky and Siegel described in FBI profile of Siegel dated July 22, 1946; its details vary from those related in
Mogul of the Mob
. Gang warfare between Waxey Gordon and Luciano reported in “Held in Shooting of 3 Pedestrians,”
New York Times,
September 11, 1933.
CHAPTER 7: LUCKY IN HOLLYWOOD
Numerous reports on Thelma Todd’s death from the
Los Angeles Times,
including “Body of Thelma Todd Found in Death Riddle,” December 17, 1935, “Miss Todd Reported Seen Long After ‘Death Hour,’” December 19, 1935, and “Hotel Left by Di Cicco,” December 20, 1935. See also Associated Press reports from Los Angeles in the
New York Times,
December 17, 18, 25, and 26, 1935. The definitive study of the case is A. Edmonds,
Hot Toddy: The True Story of Hollywood’s Most Shocking Crime—the Murder of Thelma Todd,
London: Macdonald, 1989; see also T. Adler,
Hollywood and the Mob,
London: Bloomsbury, 2007. California drug problem articles published in
Los Angeles Times,
November 6 and 8, 1926.
Los Angeles Times,
including “Body of Thelma Todd Found in Death Riddle,” December 17, 1935, “Miss Todd Reported Seen Long After ‘Death Hour,’” December 19, 1935, and “Hotel Left by Di Cicco,” December 20, 1935. See also Associated Press reports from Los Angeles in the
New York Times,
December 17, 18, 25, and 26, 1935. The definitive study of the case is A. Edmonds,
Hot Toddy: The True Story of Hollywood’s Most Shocking Crime—the Murder of Thelma Todd,
London: Macdonald, 1989; see also T. Adler,
Hollywood and the Mob,
London: Bloomsbury, 2007. California drug problem articles published in
Los Angeles Times,
November 6 and 8, 1926.
CHAPTER 8: CITY OF SEX
All accounts in this chapter taken from primary evidence held within the sixty-six Luciano closed-case file document boxes in the New York City Department of Records: July 3, 1931, informant’s letter to Sixty-seventh Precinct and related telephone conversation of September 1, 1931, contained in box 2, files 2 and 1; July 7, 1935, letter about homosexual prostitutes in box 3, file 19; Balsam & Co. brokers protection racket case, box 11, file 5; Danny Brooks and Flo Brown record of Fredericks, Davie, and Luciano conversations, summary of all pretrial testimonies in box 13, file 3; further Flo Brown testimony in box 14, file 13; Al Weiner complaint of extortion, box 12, file 7; statement of Mildred Curtis, box 5, file 36; testimony of Thelma Jordan in box 15, file 5; story of Pauline Burr in box 4, file 2. FBI memorandum on Luciano dated August 28, 1935. See also E. Poulsen,
The Case Against Lucky Luciano,
New York: Clinton Cook, 2007, for a good summary of the vice context of the trial. Gentile quotes from previously cited source.
The Case Against Lucky Luciano,
New York: Clinton Cook, 2007, for a good summary of the vice context of the trial. Gentile quotes from previously cited source.
CHAPTER 9: LUCKY ON TRIAL
All primary evidence for trial taken from Luciano closed-case files in the New York City Department of Records: setting of bail court transcript in box 12, file 4; trial summary of examination and cross-examination of Luciano, box 13, file 2; Dewey’s copy of transcript of trial minutes, June 3, 1936, box 56. Testimony on Luciano’s tax returns in box 20, file 32; letter about Madges brothel in box 3, file 19. Dewey quotes from R. Hughes,
Thomas E. Dewey: Attorney for the People,
and numerous contemporary newspaper accounts, including “Lucania Convicted with 8 in Vice Ring on 62 Counts Each,”
New York Times,
June 8, 1936.
Thomas E. Dewey: Attorney for the People,
and numerous contemporary newspaper accounts, including “Lucania Convicted with 8 in Vice Ring on 62 Counts Each,”
New York Times,
June 8, 1936.
CHAPTER 10: NAZIS IN NEW YORK
All primary sources for trial appeals in this chapter taken from Luciano closed-case files in the New York City Department of Records: recantation of Flo Brown in box 16, files 9 and 13; Thelma Jordan’s testimony, March 1939, box 15, file 5; Dewey’s testimony about retrial, box 15, file 12; 1938 judge’s
report on trial, box 20, file 24. Lansky quotes from Eisenberg et al; Zwillman quote from FBI memorandum dated November 30, 1938; Costello quoted from Wolf. Katcher quotes from
New York Post
article, 1938; Resko quotes from
Reprieve,
London: MacGibbon & Kee, 1959.
report on trial, box 20, file 24. Lansky quotes from Eisenberg et al; Zwillman quote from FBI memorandum dated November 30, 1938; Costello quoted from Wolf. Katcher quotes from
New York Post
article, 1938; Resko quotes from
Reprieve,
London: MacGibbon & Kee, 1959.
Accounts of Fascist activity in New York appear in: “27 Hurt as NY Fascisti Invade Socialist Hall,”
New York Herald Tribune,
August 17, 1925; “Six Men Stabbed in a Fascist Riot,”
New York Times,
August 17, 1925; “Green Warns Labor of Fascist Menace,”
New York Times,
December 23, 1925; Tucker, M., “Carlo Tresca,”
Greenwich Villager,
April 22, 1922; link between Tresca and Mob mentioned in “Carlo Tresca Assassinated on Fifth Avenue,”
New York Herald Tribune,
January 12, 1943; “Mussolini Foes Kill 2 in Bronx Fascist Feud,”
New York Herald Tribune,
May 31, 1927, and “Kill Two Fascisti in Bronx Street,”
The World,
May 31, 1927. See P. V. Cannistraro,
Blackshirts in Little Italy,
Bordighera, 1999, for an excellent short account of the Fascist politics in New York. On Nazis in America see A. Stein, “More Fond Memories of Menahan Street,”
Times Newsweekly,
Ridgewood, N.Y., July 29, 2004, and Max Hinkes’s story in R. Rockaway,
But He Was Good to His Mother: The Life and Crimes of Jewish Gangsters,
Jerusalem, 2000.
New York Herald Tribune,
August 17, 1925; “Six Men Stabbed in a Fascist Riot,”
New York Times,
August 17, 1925; “Green Warns Labor of Fascist Menace,”
New York Times,
December 23, 1925; Tucker, M., “Carlo Tresca,”
Greenwich Villager,
April 22, 1922; link between Tresca and Mob mentioned in “Carlo Tresca Assassinated on Fifth Avenue,”
New York Herald Tribune,
January 12, 1943; “Mussolini Foes Kill 2 in Bronx Fascist Feud,”
New York Herald Tribune,
May 31, 1927, and “Kill Two Fascisti in Bronx Street,”
The World,
May 31, 1927. See P. V. Cannistraro,
Blackshirts in Little Italy,
Bordighera, 1999, for an excellent short account of the Fascist politics in New York. On Nazis in America see A. Stein, “More Fond Memories of Menahan Street,”
Times Newsweekly,
Ridgewood, N.Y., July 29, 2004, and Max Hinkes’s story in R. Rockaway,
But He Was Good to His Mother: The Life and Crimes of Jewish Gangsters,
Jerusalem, 2000.
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