Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in New York
The great founding figures of organized crime in the 20th century were born and bred in New York City, and the city was the basis of their operations. Beginning with Prohibition and going on through many illegal activities the mob became a major force and its tentacles reached into virtually every enterprise, whether legal or illegal: gambling, boxing, labor racketeering, stock fraud, illegal unions, prostitution, food service, garment manufacturing, construction, loan sharking, hijacking, extortion, trucking, drug dealing – you name it the mob controlled it.

The men who organized crime in America were the sons of poor immigrants. They were hungry for success and would use whatever means available to achieve their goals. They were not interested in religious identity and ethnic identity. Their syndicate of criminals was made up, primarily of Italians and Jews, but also Irish and black gangsters who could further their ambitions. Their sole objective was always the same – money. It began with Arnold Rothstein, who not only helped to fix the 1919 World Series, but who also mentored and financed the individuals who would control organized crime for decades. Individuals such as Frank Costello, Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, Joe Adonis, and Meyer Lansky, who would then follow suit setting up other criminal organizations. They established rules of governance, making millions of dollars for themselves and their cohorts. All the organized crime bosses and their cohorts had the same modus operandi: they were far-seeing opportunists who took advantage of every illegal opportunity that came their way for making money.

Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in New York reveals just how influential the mob in New York City was during the 20th century. Jeffrey Sussman entertainingly digs into the origins of organized crime in the 20th century by looking at the corporate activity that dominated this one city and how these entrepreneurial bosses supported successful criminal enterprises in other cities. He also profiles many of the colorful gangsters who followed in the footsteps of gangland’s original founders. Throughout the book Sussman provides fascinating portraits of a who’s who of gangland. His narrative moves excitingly and entertainingly through the pivotal events and history of organized crime, explaining the birth, growth, maturation, and decline of various illegal enterprises in New York. He also profiles those who prosecuted the mob and won significant verdicts that ended many careers, responsible for bringing many organized crime figures to their knees and then delivering a series of coups de grace – such as Burton Turkus, Thomas Dewey, Robert Kennedy, and Rudolph Giuliani.
1137058486
Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in New York
The great founding figures of organized crime in the 20th century were born and bred in New York City, and the city was the basis of their operations. Beginning with Prohibition and going on through many illegal activities the mob became a major force and its tentacles reached into virtually every enterprise, whether legal or illegal: gambling, boxing, labor racketeering, stock fraud, illegal unions, prostitution, food service, garment manufacturing, construction, loan sharking, hijacking, extortion, trucking, drug dealing – you name it the mob controlled it.

The men who organized crime in America were the sons of poor immigrants. They were hungry for success and would use whatever means available to achieve their goals. They were not interested in religious identity and ethnic identity. Their syndicate of criminals was made up, primarily of Italians and Jews, but also Irish and black gangsters who could further their ambitions. Their sole objective was always the same – money. It began with Arnold Rothstein, who not only helped to fix the 1919 World Series, but who also mentored and financed the individuals who would control organized crime for decades. Individuals such as Frank Costello, Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, Joe Adonis, and Meyer Lansky, who would then follow suit setting up other criminal organizations. They established rules of governance, making millions of dollars for themselves and their cohorts. All the organized crime bosses and their cohorts had the same modus operandi: they were far-seeing opportunists who took advantage of every illegal opportunity that came their way for making money.

Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in New York reveals just how influential the mob in New York City was during the 20th century. Jeffrey Sussman entertainingly digs into the origins of organized crime in the 20th century by looking at the corporate activity that dominated this one city and how these entrepreneurial bosses supported successful criminal enterprises in other cities. He also profiles many of the colorful gangsters who followed in the footsteps of gangland’s original founders. Throughout the book Sussman provides fascinating portraits of a who’s who of gangland. His narrative moves excitingly and entertainingly through the pivotal events and history of organized crime, explaining the birth, growth, maturation, and decline of various illegal enterprises in New York. He also profiles those who prosecuted the mob and won significant verdicts that ended many careers, responsible for bringing many organized crime figures to their knees and then delivering a series of coups de grace – such as Burton Turkus, Thomas Dewey, Robert Kennedy, and Rudolph Giuliani.
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Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in New York

Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in New York

by Jeffrey Sussman
Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in New York

Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in New York

by Jeffrey Sussman

Hardcover

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Overview

The great founding figures of organized crime in the 20th century were born and bred in New York City, and the city was the basis of their operations. Beginning with Prohibition and going on through many illegal activities the mob became a major force and its tentacles reached into virtually every enterprise, whether legal or illegal: gambling, boxing, labor racketeering, stock fraud, illegal unions, prostitution, food service, garment manufacturing, construction, loan sharking, hijacking, extortion, trucking, drug dealing – you name it the mob controlled it.

The men who organized crime in America were the sons of poor immigrants. They were hungry for success and would use whatever means available to achieve their goals. They were not interested in religious identity and ethnic identity. Their syndicate of criminals was made up, primarily of Italians and Jews, but also Irish and black gangsters who could further their ambitions. Their sole objective was always the same – money. It began with Arnold Rothstein, who not only helped to fix the 1919 World Series, but who also mentored and financed the individuals who would control organized crime for decades. Individuals such as Frank Costello, Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, Joe Adonis, and Meyer Lansky, who would then follow suit setting up other criminal organizations. They established rules of governance, making millions of dollars for themselves and their cohorts. All the organized crime bosses and their cohorts had the same modus operandi: they were far-seeing opportunists who took advantage of every illegal opportunity that came their way for making money.

Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in New York reveals just how influential the mob in New York City was during the 20th century. Jeffrey Sussman entertainingly digs into the origins of organized crime in the 20th century by looking at the corporate activity that dominated this one city and how these entrepreneurial bosses supported successful criminal enterprises in other cities. He also profiles many of the colorful gangsters who followed in the footsteps of gangland’s original founders. Throughout the book Sussman provides fascinating portraits of a who’s who of gangland. His narrative moves excitingly and entertainingly through the pivotal events and history of organized crime, explaining the birth, growth, maturation, and decline of various illegal enterprises in New York. He also profiles those who prosecuted the mob and won significant verdicts that ended many careers, responsible for bringing many organized crime figures to their knees and then delivering a series of coups de grace – such as Burton Turkus, Thomas Dewey, Robert Kennedy, and Rudolph Giuliani.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781538134047
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date: 11/30/2020
Pages: 240
Product dimensions: 6.36(w) x 9.35(h) x 0.83(d)

About the Author

Jeffrey Sussman is the author of fourteen nonfiction books, as well as numerous articles and short stories about boxing. He is a regular writer for the premier boxing website www.boxing.com and the author of Max Baer and Barney Ross: Jewish Heroes of Boxing (2016) Rocky Graziano: Fists, Fame, and Fortune (2018); and Boxing and the Mob: The Notorious History of the Sweet Science (2019), all three published by Rowman & Littlefield. Sussman is the president of a public relations and marketing firm based in New York City. Visit his website at www.powerpublicity.com.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Arnold Rothstein- Mentor to the Mob

Chapter 2: The New Leaders:
  • CE's: Frank Costello, Meyer Lansky. and Lucky Luciano
  • VPs: Joe Adonis, Bugsy Siegel, Longy Zwillman

Chapter 3: Prohibition and the Making of Great Fortunes
  • Owney Madden: brewer, distributor, and night club owner
  • Eliminating Threats and Disruptions: The Ends of Legs Diamond and Dutch Shultz

Chapter 4: The End of Prohibition and New Sources of Money
  • Gambling Meyer Lansky’s Domain: Carpet Joints in Saratoga and Florida
  • Boxing: The New Game in Town for Owney Madden
  • Frankie Carbo, Blinky Palermo, and Madison Square Garden

Chapter 5: The Advent of the Labor Racketeers and Murder Incorporated
  • Louis Lepke and Jacob “Gurrah” Shapiro
  • Murder Was His Business: Albert Anastasia, “The Mad Hatter” of Murder Inc.
  • The Canary Who Could Fly, but Couldn’t Sing: Abe “Kid Twist” Reles
  • Burton Turkus and the Death of Murder Inc

Chapter 6: Tom Dewey: Racket Buster

Chapter 7: Friendship and Betrayal: Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, and Lucky Luciano

Chapter 8: The Kefauver Committee Investigation of Organized Crime

Chapter 9: Criminal Unions and The Teamsters: Johnny Dio

Chapter 10: Attempt on the Life of Frank Costello, the Murder of Albert Anastasia, and the Jailing of Vito Genovese.

Chapter 11: Man with a Mission: Robert Kennedy and the Prosecution of the Mob

Chapter 12: The Mafia Commission Trial and Convictions

Chapter 13: The Rise and Fall of John Gotti

Chapter 14: Shrinking Organized Crime

Chapter 15: The End of Luciano’s Dream
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