Gangster New York: A Guide to the City's Underworld
New York City is known for many things: its skyscrapers, its diversity, its culture, and its history. But it is also known for something else: its gangsters. For more than a century, New York has been home to some of the most notorious and influential criminals in American history, from bootleggers and racketeers to drug lords and hitmen. These gangsters have shaped the city's identity, leaving behind a legacy of violence, corruption, and glamour.
But what exactly is a gangster? And how did New York become a hub for gangster culture? In this article, we will explore the origins, evolution, and impact of New York's gangster culture, and how it has influenced the city's art, music, fashion, and slang. We will also look at some of the most famous gangster movies that were inspired by New York's underworld. Whether you are a fan of The Godfather, Goodfellas, or The Sopranos, you will find something to interest you in this guide to Gangster New York.
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History: How New York Became a Breeding Ground for Organized Crime
New York's gangster culture has its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when waves of immigrants from Europe and Asia arrived in the city in search of a better life. Many of them settled in overcrowded and impoverished neighborhoods like the Lower East Side, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Harlem. These neighborhoods became fertile ground for crime and violence, as gangs formed along ethnic lines to protect their interests and exploit their rivals.
Some of the earliest gangs in New York were the Irish Forty Thieves, the Italian Black Hand, the Chinese Tong Wars, and the Jewish Kosher Nostra. These gangs engaged in various illegal activities such as extortion, gambling, prostitution, robbery, and murder. They also clashed with each other and with the police, often resulting in bloody riots and shootouts.
However, the most significant development in New York's gangster history came during the Prohibition era (1920-1933), when the federal government banned the production and sale of alcohol. This created a huge demand for illegal liquor, which was supplied by bootleggers who smuggled alcohol from Canada or Europe or produced it in secret distilleries. The bootlegging business was extremely lucrative and competitive, leading to the emergence of powerful crime syndicates that controlled different territories and markets.
The most famous of these syndicates were the Five Families: the Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Bonanno, and Colombo families. These families were part of a larger network of Italian-American crime groups known as La Cosa Nostra (Our Thing), which had a hierarchical structure and a code of honor. The Five Families were led by charismatic and ruthless bosses such as Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Frank Costello, Vito Genovese, Carlo Gambino, Joe Bonanno, Tommy Lucchese, and Joe Colombo. They also had allies and enemies among other ethnic groups such as the Irish-American Westies, the Jewish-American Murder Inc., and the African-American Numbers Racket.
The Five Families dominated New York's underworld for decades, expanding their operations into various rackets such as gambling, loan-sharking, labor unions, construction, garbage collection, and narcotics. They also wielded considerable political influence, bribing or blackmailing officials, judges, lawyers, and journalists. They also faced challenges from law enforcement, rival gangs, and internal conflicts. Some of the most notorious events in their history include the Castellammarese War (1930-1931), the formation of the Commission (1931), the assassination of Dutch Schultz (1935), the Apalachin Meeting (1957), the French Connection ( 1961-1962), the Valachi hearings (1963), the Mafia-CIA plot to kill Fidel Castro (1960-1963), the Gallo-Profaci War (1961-1963), the Pizza Connection (1975-1987), the Bonanno War (1964-1968), the Colombo War (1971-1975), the Lufthansa heist (1978), the Donnie Brasco infiltration (1976-1981), the RICO Act prosecutions (1980s-1990s), and the Gotti trials (1986-1992). These events have been dramatized in books, documentaries, and movies, making the Five Families household names in American culture.
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Culture: How Gangster Culture Influenced New York's Art, Music, Fashion, and Slang
New York's gangster culture has not only shaped the city's history, but also its culture. Gangsters have been a source of inspiration and fascination for artists, musicians, writers, and filmmakers, who have portrayed them in various ways, from realistic to romanticized, from tragic to comedic, from heroic to villainous. Gangsters have also influenced the city's fashion and slang, creating a distinctive style and language that reflects their identity and lifestyle.
One of the most prominent forms of art influenced by gangster culture is rap music. Rap originated in the Bronx in the 1970s, as a way for African-American and Latino youths to express their social and political grievances through rhymes and beats. Rap was also influenced by the street culture of hustling, drug dealing, and gang violence, which gave it a gritty and rebellious edge. Some of the early rap artists who referenced gangster themes in their lyrics were Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Kool G Rap, Boogie Down Productions, and N.W.A. Rap music soon became a global phenomenon, spawning various subgenres such as gangsta rap, hardcore rap, East Coast rap, West Coast rap, and Southern rap. Some of the most famous rap artists who have been influenced by or associated with gangster culture are The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Jay-Z, Nas, 50 Cent, Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Big L, Big Pun, DMX, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Scarface, Outkast, and Lil Wayne. These artists have used rap as a medium to tell stories about their lives, their struggles, their successes, and their conflicts, often drawing parallels between themselves and the gangsters of the past.
Another form of art influenced by gangster culture is literature. Many writers have used gangster characters and themes as a way to explore the dark side of human nature, the moral ambiguity of crime, the allure of power, and the American dream. Some of the most acclaimed books that feature gangster elements are The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925), The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969), The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe (1987), American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis (1991), Clockers by Richard Price (1992), The Sopranos by Alan Warner (1995), Gangster by Lorenzo Carcaterra (2001), The Power Broker by Robert Caro (1974), The Westies by T.J. English (1990), Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi (1985), Donnie Brasco by Joseph Pistone (1988), Underboss by Peter Maas (1997), and Gomorrah by Roberto Saviano (2006). These books have provided insight into the psychology, sociology, and politics of gangster culture, as well as its impact on society at large.
A third form of art influenced by gangster culture is cinema. Movies have been one of the most popular and influential mediums for depicting gangster stories, creating some of the most memorable characters and scenes in film history. Movies have also been a way for filmmakers to comment on social issues, such as immigration, racism, corruption, violence, family, loyalty, and betrayal. Some of the most iconic movies that feature gangster elements are The Public Enemy (1931), Scarface (1932), Little Caesar (1931), Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), The Roaring Twenties (1939), White Heat (1949), On the Waterfront (1954), The Godfather trilogy (1972-1990), Mean Streets (1973), The French Connection ( 1971), Serpico (1973), The Godfather Part II (1974), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Taxi Driver (1976), The Deer Hunter (1978), Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), The Departed (2006), American Gangster (2007), and The Irishman (2019). These movies have showcased the talents of some of the greatest actors and directors in Hollywood, such as James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Sidney Lumet, and Quentin Tarantino. These movies have also influenced the style and aesthetics of other genres, such as action, thriller, comedy, and drama.
Gangster culture has also had an impact on New York's fashion and slang. Gangsters have created a distinctive look that reflects their status, personality, and mood. Some of the common elements of gangster fashion are suits, hats, coats, shoes, jewelry, and weapons. Gangsters have also developed a unique vocabulary that expresses their values, emotions, and actions. Some of the common terms of gangster slang are boss, capo, soldier, rat, hit, whack, clip, rub out, ice, bump off, take out, make an offer he can't refuse, sleep with the fishes, fuhgeddaboudit, wise guy, mook, goombah, and forget about it. These terms have become part of the everyday language of many New Yorkers and Americans in general.
Movies: How New York's Gangster History Inspired Some of the Most Iconic Films of All Time
As we have seen, New York's gangster culture has been a rich source of material for cinema. In this section, we will take a closer look at some of the most iconic movies that were inspired by New York's gangster history. We will also examine how these movies portray the gangster lifestyle, the moral dilemmas they face, and the consequences they suffer. We will also compare and contrast these movies with each other and with reality.
The Godfather Trilogy (1972-1990)
The Godfather trilogy is widely regarded as one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time. Based on the novel by Mario Puzo, the trilogy tells the saga of the Corleone family, a powerful Italian-American crime dynasty that operates in New York and other parts of the country. The trilogy spans from 1945 to 1980, covering three generations of Corleones and their rise and fall in the underworld. The trilogy also explores themes such as family, loyalty, power, corruption, violence, and tragedy.
The first film, The Godfather (1972), introduces us to Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), the aging patriarch of the family and one of the most respected and feared bosses in New York. He is also a loving father to his four children: Sonny (James Caan), the hot-headed eldest son who is next in line to take over the family business; Fredo (John Cazale), the weak and insecure middle son who is often overlooked; Connie (Talia Shire), the only daughter who is married to an abusive husband; and Michael (Al Pacino), the youngest son who is a decorated war hero and wants nothing to do with his father's criminal empire. The film follows the events that lead to Michael's involvement in the family business, after an assassination attempt on Vito by a rival gangster sparks a bloody war between the Five Families. Michael proves to be a ruthless and cunning leader, who avenges his father and consolidates his power by eliminating his enemies.
The second film, The Godfather Part II (1974), is both a sequel and a prequel to the first film. It interweaves two parallel stories: one that follows Michael's reign as the new Don in the 1950s and 1960s, and one that shows Vito's rise from a young immigrant to a powerful boss in the early 1900s. The film shows how Michael expands his empire into Las Vegas, Cuba, and Hollywood, but also faces challenges from his enemies, his allies, and his own family. The film also shows how Vito escapes from Sicily after his father is killed by a local mafia boss, arrives in New York as a poor orphan, and gradually builds his reputation and influence in Little Italy. The film explores the contrast between Michael and Vito's personalities and methods, as well as the similarities between their fates.
The third film, The Godfather Part III (1990), is set in 1979 and shows Michael's attempts to legitimize his business and redeem himself from his sins. He tries to sell his casinos and invest in a Vatican-owned company, but faces opposition from a corrupt cardinal and a ruthless mobster. He also tries to reconcile with his estranged wife Kay (Diane Keaton) and his children Anthony (Franc D'Ambrosio) and Mary (Sofia Coppola), who have their own ambitions and problems. The film culminates in a violent and tragic climax that ends Michael's saga.
The Godfather trilogy is widely praised for its epic scope, complex characters, realistic dialogue, stunning cinematography, memorable music, and powerful performances. The trilogy has won nine Academy Awards, including three for Best Picture, and is ranked among the greatest films of all time by various critics and publications. The trilogy has also influenced countless other films, TV shows, video games, and books that feature gangster elements.
Goodfellas (1990)
Goodfellas is another masterpiece of gangster cinema, directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi. The film tells the true story of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), a half-Irish, half-Italian kid who grows up in Brooklyn and becomes a mob associate of the Lucchese crime family. The film follows Henry's rise and fall in the underworld, from his teenage years in the 1950s to his downfall in the 1980s. Along the way, he meets and works with various colorful characters, such as Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro), a charismatic and ruthless robber; Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), a hot-tempered and psychotic killer; Paul Cicero (Paul Sorvino), the respected and feared boss of the crew; Karen Hill (Lorraine Bracco), Henry's loyal and feisty wife; and many others.
Goodfellas is a fast-paced, stylish, and violent film that depicts the gangster lifestyle in all its glory and horror. The film shows how Henry is seduced by the glamour, power, and money of the mob, but also how he pays the price for his greed, betrayal, and addiction. The film also shows how the mob operates as a family, with its own rules, rituals, and codes of honor, but also how it is plagued by paranoia, jealousy, and violence. The film uses various cinematic techniques to create a realistic and immersive experience for the viewer, such as voice-over narration, freeze frames, long takes, slow motion, jump cuts, and music. The film also features some of the most memorable scenes and quotes in film history, such as the Copacabana tracking shot, the "funny how?" scene, the "Layla" montage, the "You think I'm funny?" scene, the "As far back as I can remember..." line, and many others.
Goodfellas is widely regarded as one of Scorsese's best films and one of the greatest films ever made. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Pesci, Best Supporting Actress for Bracco, and Best Film Editing. It won one Oscar for Pesci's performance. It is also ranked among the top films of all time by various critics and publications. It has also influenced many other films, TV shows, video games, and books that feature gangster elements.
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
The Sopranos is not a movie, but a TV show that is often considered as one of the best and influential works of art of the 21st century. Created by David Chase, the show follows the life and career of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey-based mob boss who struggles to balance his family and business obligations. The show also features a large ensemble cast of characters, including Tony's wife Carmela (Edie Falco), his children Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and A.J. (Robert Iler), his mother Livia (Nancy Marchand), his uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese), his therapist Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), his consigliere Silvio (Steven Van Zandt), his nephew Christopher (Michael Imperioli), and many others.
The Sopranos is a groundbreaking and innovative show that revolutionized the medium of television. The show combines elements of drama, comedy, crime, thriller, and psychology, creating a complex and realistic portrait of the modern American society. The show explores themes such as identity, morality, family, loyalty, violence, corruption, mental health, religion, and death. The show also challenges the conventions and expectations of the gangster genre, presenting a more nuanced and humanized view of the mobsters and their families. The show also uses various cinematic techniques to create a cinematic and artistic experience for the viewer, such as music, symbolism, foreshadowing, flashbacks, dream sequences, and ambiguous endings. The show also features some of the most memorable scenes and quotes in TV history, such as the pilot episode, the "College" episode, the "Pine Barrens" episode, the "Whitecaps" episode, the "Long Term Parking" episode, the "Made in America" episode, the "I'm the motherfucking fucking one who calls the shots" line, the "What kind of animal smokes marijuana at his own confirmation?" line, the "Oh poor you" line, and many others.
The Sopranos is widely regarded as one of the best TV shows ever made and one of the most influential works of art of the 21st century. It won 21 Emmy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, two Peabody Awards, and many other accolades. It is also ranked among the top TV shows of all time by various critics and publications. It has also influenced many other TV shows, movies, video games, and books that feature gangster elements.
Conclusion: How New York's Gangster Culture Has Changed Over Time and What It Means for the City Today
New York's gangster culture has been a significant part of the city's history and culture for more than a century. It has produced some of the most notorious and influential criminals in American history, who have shaped the city's identity, politics, economy, and society. It has also inspired some of the most acclaimed and popular works of art in various mediums, such as rap music, literature, and cinema. It has also influenced the city's fashion and slang, creating a distinctive style and language that reflects its spirit and character.
However, New York's gangster culture has also changed over time, adapting to new circumstances and challenges. The heyday of the Five Families was in the mid-20th century, when they controlled most of the city's underworld and wielded considerable power and influence. However, since then, they have faced various setbacks and declines, such as law enforcement crackdowns, rival gangs, internal conflicts, and social changes. Today, the Five Families are still active and involved in various rackets and crimes, but they are much weaker and less visible than before. They have also diversified their membership and activities to include other ethnic groups and markets. They have also faced competition and threats from other criminal organizations such as Russian mobsters, Chinese triads, Mexican cartels, and street gangs.
New York's gangster culture has also evolved in its representation and perception in art and society. While gangsters were once seen as glamorous and heroic figures who embodied the American dream, they are now seen as more complex and flawed characters who face moral dilemmas and tragic consequences. While gangster stories were once seen as realistic and authentic depictions of the underworld, they are now seen as more stylized and fictionalized interpretations of the genre. While gangster art was once seen as a niche and controversial form of expression, it is now seen as a mainstream and influential form of culture.
New York's gangster culture is still alive and relevant today, but it is also different from what it used to be. It is a culture that reflects the city's past, present, and future. It is a culture that celebrates its achievements, but also acknowledges its failures. It is a culture that inspires admiration, but also criticism. It is a culture that is unique to New York, but also universal to humanity It is a culture that is both timeless and dynamic, both local and global, both familiar and exotic. It is a culture that is Gangster New York.
FAQs: Five Common Questions and Answers About New York's Gangster Culture
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers about New York's gangster culture:
1. Who are the Five Families and what are their names?
The Five Families are the five major Italian-American crime families that have dominated New York's underworld since the 1930s. They are named after their original bosses or founders, who were Salvatore Maranzano, Joe Masseria, Joe Profaci, Tommy Gagliano, and Vincent Mangano. However, over time, their names have changed according to their current or most famous bosses. Today, their names are the Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Bonanno, and Colombo families.
2. What is the difference between a gangster and a mobster?
A gangster is a generic term for a criminal who belongs to a gang or a group of criminals who engage in illegal activities. A mobster is a specific term for a criminal who belongs to a mob or an organized crime group that has a formal structure, a code of conduct, and a territorial claim. In other words, all mobsters are gangsters, but not all gangsters are mobsters.
3. What is the difference between La Cosa Nostra and the Mafia?
La Cosa Nostra (Our Thing) is the name of the Italian-American criminal network that consists of various crime families across the United States. The Mafia is the name of the Sicilian criminal network that originated in Sicily and has branches in other countries, including the United States. La Cosa Nostra and the Mafia are related but separate entities, with different histories, cultures, and rules. However, they often cooperate and collaborate with each other on various matters.
4. What are some of the common symbols and rituals of gangster culture?
Some of the common symbols and rituals of gangster culture are: - The Omertà: The code of silence and loyalty that forbids gangsters from cooperating with the authorities or betraying their associates. - The Kiss: The gesture of kissing another gangster on the cheek or the lips as a sign of respect, friendship, or allegiance. - The Ring: The accessory of wearing a pinky ring as a sign of status, wealth, or power. - The Pinch: The gesture of pinching another gangster's cheek as a sign of affection, admiration, or condescension. - The Initiation: The ceremony of becoming a made man or a full-fledged member of a crime family by taking an oath of loyalty and pricking one's finger with a needle. - The Meeting: The gathering of gangsters for discussing business or socializing in a safe and discreet location such as a restaurant, a club, or a basement. - The Hit: The act of killing another gangster for personal or professional reasons by shooting, stabbing, strangling, poisoning, or bombing.
5. What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of being a gangster?
Some of the benefits of being a gangster are: - Money: Gangsters can earn a lot of money from various illegal activities such as gambling, loan-sharking, extortion, drug trafficking, and robbery. - Power: Gangsters can wield a lot of power over other people, such as rivals, victims, allies, and officials. They can also enjoy a lot of respect, fear, and admiration from others. - Glamour: Gangsters can live a glamorous lifestyle, such as wearing expensive clothes, driving fancy cars, staying in luxurious hotels, and dating beautiful women. They can also have access to exclusive places, events, and people. Some of the drawbacks of being a gangster are: - Violence: Gangsters face a lot of violence from their enemies, their associates, and their own actions. They can be injured, maimed, or killed at any time and in any place. They can also lose their loved ones or their friends to violence. - Corruption: Gangsters face a lot of corruption from their environment, their peers, and their own choices. They can be bribed, blackmailed, or betrayed by others. They can also become greedy, cruel, or paranoid from their lifestyle. - Guilt: Gangsters face a lot of guilt from their conscience, their family, and their society. They can feel remorse, shame, or regret for their crimes. They can also face ostracism, condemnation, or prosecution from others. 44f88ac181
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