Podcast appearances and mentions of Frank Costello

True Crime Tuesday presents: Mafia Secrets: Untold Tales From The Hollywood Godfather with Actor/Singer/Movie Producer/Businessman/Author, Gianni Russo!The Kennedys, Marilyn, the Vatican, Vegas, The Godfather, the Mob, and more . . .During a cursed childhood in a Manhattan neighborhood teeming with Italian immigrants, Gianni Russo fended for himself at an early age. It was a quality that didn't go unnoticed by Frank Costello—father figure, mentor, and legendary crime boss. Thanks to Costello, Gianni was only twelve when his luck would change for a lifetime. All of it charmed—and thrilling. With it came Hollywood glamor, Vegas risk-takers, political conspiracies, sex, murder, shadow governments, and secrets. The stories Gianni Russo could tell . . .Now he does in this bombshell confessional. This is the inside account of the Sicilian Mafia, Cosa Nostra, what really transpired in those Mulberry Street clubs, and who whacked whom—including how mobster Tony Spilotro and his brother really died, finally revealed for the first time. This is Gianni, buddy of Frank Sinatra, and intimately more with Marilyn Monroe. What's the cover-up behind her death, JFK's, and Jimmy Hoffa's? It's all here. So is the clandestine role of the pope as the sacred boss of bosses, the glory days and downfall of Las Vegas, and the colorful behind-the-scenes tales of Gianni's role in the greatest movie ever made, The Godfather.On Today's TCT, Gianni returns to spill it all! Inside stories on Marilyn, The Kennedys, Vatican money laundering, Elvis, His remember on Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton, and he even tells us the staggering amount of money that flowed through his hands in just five years of running nightclubs in Las Vegas! (IT IS STAGGERING!)Get your copy of Mafia Secrets: Untold Tales From The Hollywood Godfather here: https://www.amazon.com/Mafia-Secrets-Untold-Hollywood-Godfather-ebook/dp/B0DYWKL3Z7?ref_=ast_author_mpbLearn more about Gianni here:  https://www.giannirusso.com/PLUS AN ALL NEW DUMB CRIMES AND STUPID CRIMINALS W/ JESSICA FREEBURG!!A naked Wisconsin man stole an ambulance with a patient in it and took Police for a joyride!  See the video here:  https://www.wsaw.com/2026/02/19/suspect-identified-stolen-ambulance-chase-with-patient-still-inside/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&utm_campaign=fark&ICID=ref_fark#A Florida man smashes a random SUV with a hammer in a Publix parking lot after thing it is his ex's! See his reaction when he is caught, arrested, and informed:  https://www.wesh.com/article/florida-man-smashes-suv-hammer-publix-parking-lot/70393741?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&utm_campaign=fark&ICID=ref_farkCheck out Jessica Freeburg's website and get tickets to her events here:  https://jessicafreeburg.com/upcoming-events/and check out Jess on Tik Tok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicafreeburgwritesFor the first time, get ALL NEW TRUE CRIME TUESDAY GEAR!  Represent your favorite true crime podcast in style! There are new and different (and really cool) items all the time in the Darkness Radio Online store at our website! . check out the Darkness Radio Store!   https://www.darknessradioshow.com/store/Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps!and subscribe to the Darkness Radio You Tube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennis#crime #truecrime #truecrimepodcasts #truecrimetuesday #giannirusso #mafiasecrets #untoldtalesfromthehollywoodgodfather #carlo #thegodfather #carlogambino #frankcostello #joekennedy #johnfkennedy #bobbykennedy #kennedyassasination #deathofmarilynmonroe #deathofjimmyhoffa #franksinatra #calnevalodge #lasvegas #meyerlansky #pabloescobar #shahofIran #popejohnpaul2 #vatican #vaticanmoneylaundering  #dumbcrimesstupidcriminals #TimDennis  #jessicafreeburg #ghoststoriesink #paranormalauthor #massshooting #shootings #stabbings #murder #dismemberment  #drugsmuggling #bribery #publicsex  #floridaman #drugcrimes #foodcrimes #stupidcrimes #funnycrimes  #sexcrimes #dumbcrimes

True Crime Tuesday presents: Mafia Secrets: Untold Tales From The Hollywood Godfather with Actor/Singer/Movie Producer/Businessman/Author, Gianni Russo!The Kennedys, Marilyn, the Vatican, Vegas, The Godfather, the Mob, and more . . .During a cursed childhood in a Manhattan neighborhood teeming with Italian immigrants, Gianni Russo fended for himself at an early age. It was a quality that didn't go unnoticed by Frank Costello—father figure, mentor, and legendary crime boss. Thanks to Costello, Gianni was only twelve when his luck would change for a lifetime. All of it charmed—and thrilling. With it came Hollywood glamor, Vegas risk-takers, political conspiracies, sex, murder, shadow governments, and secrets. The stories Gianni Russo could tell . . .Now he does in this bombshell confessional. This is the inside account of the Sicilian Mafia, Cosa Nostra, what really transpired in those Mulberry Street clubs, and who whacked whom—including how mobster Tony Spilotro and his brother really died, finally revealed for the first time. This is Gianni, buddy of Frank Sinatra, and intimately more with Marilyn Monroe. What's the cover-up behind her death, JFK's, and Jimmy Hoffa's? It's all here. So is the clandestine role of the pope as the sacred boss of bosses, the glory days and downfall of Las Vegas, and the colorful behind-the-scenes tales of Gianni's role in the greatest movie ever made, The Godfather.On Today's TCT, Gianni returns to spill it all! Inside stories on Marilyn, The Kennedys, Vatican money laundering, Elvis, His remember on Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton, and he even tells us the staggering amount of money that flowed through his hands in just five years of running nightclubs in Las Vegas! (IT IS STAGGERING!)Get your copy of Mafia Secrets: Untold Tales From The Hollywood Godfather here: https://www.amazon.com/Mafia-Secrets-Untold-Hollywood-Godfather-ebook/dp/B0DYWKL3Z7?ref_=ast_author_mpbLearn more about Gianni here:  https://www.giannirusso.com/PLUS AN ALL NEW DUMB CRIMES AND STUPID CRIMINALS W/ JESSICA FREEBURG!!A naked Wisconsin man stole an ambulance with a patient in it and took Police for a joyride!  See the video here:  https://www.wsaw.com/2026/02/19/suspect-identified-stolen-ambulance-chase-with-patient-still-inside/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&utm_campaign=fark&ICID=ref_fark#A Florida man smashes a random SUV with a hammer in a Publix parking lot after thing it is his ex's! See his reaction when he is caught, arrested, and informed:  https://www.wesh.com/article/florida-man-smashes-suv-hammer-publix-parking-lot/70393741?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&utm_campaign=fark&ICID=ref_farkCheck out Jessica Freeburg's website and get tickets to her events here:  https://jessicafreeburg.com/upcoming-events/and check out Jess on Tik Tok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicafreeburgwritesFor the first time, get ALL NEW TRUE CRIME TUESDAY GEAR!  Represent your favorite true crime podcast in style! There are new and different (and really cool) items all the time in the Darkness Radio Online store at our website! . check out the Darkness Radio Store!   https://www.darknessradioshow.com/store/Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps!and subscribe to the Darkness Radio You Tube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennis#crime #truecrime #truecrimepodcasts #truecrimetuesday #giannirusso #mafiasecrets #untoldtalesfromthehollywoodgodfather #carlo #thegodfather #carlogambino #frankcostello #joekennedy #johnfkennedy #bobbykennedy #kennedyassasination #deathofmarilynmonroe #deathofjimmyhoffa #franksinatra #calnevalodge #lasvegas #meyerlansky #pabloescobar #shahofIran #popejohnpaul2 #vatican #vaticanmoneylaundering  #dumbcrimesstupidcriminals #TimDennis  #jessicafreeburg #ghoststoriesink #paranormalauthor #massshooting #shootings #stabbings #murder #dismemberment  #drugsmuggling #bribery #publicsex  #floridaman #drugcrimes #foodcrimes #stupidcrimes #funnycrimes  #sexcrimes #dumbcrimes

In this episode of Gangland Wire, host Gary Jenkins, retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective, continues his deep dive into organized crime history with prolific Mafia author Jeffrey Sussman. Sussman, the author of eight books on organized crime, joins Jenkins for a wide-ranging conversation that spans the rise, violence, prosecutions, and survival tactics of La Cosa Nostra in America. Drawing from works like Backbeat Gangsters and his latest release Mafia Hits, Misses Wars and Prosecutions, Sussman offers sharp insight into how the Mafia enforced silence, eliminated enemies, and adapted to government pressure. The discussion opens with omertà, the Mafia's infamous code of silence, and how mob warfare enforced loyalty through fear. Sussman recounts notorious hits and mob wars that shaped organized crime, then shifts to landmark prosecutions led by Thomas Dewey, whose relentless pursuit of Murder Incorporated dismantled the mob's most feared execution squad. Jenkins and Sussman examine the disastrous Appalachian Conference, where Vito Genovese overplayed his hand, drawing national attention to the Mafia and setting the stage for informants like Joe Valachi to break decades of secrecy. The episode also explores the Mafia's darkest execution methods, including lupara bianca—murders designed to leave no body and no evidence—along with chilling stories involving Mad Sam DeStefano. The assassination attempt on Joe Colombo, and its ties to Joey Gallo, highlight how ego and publicity often proved fatal in the mob world. The episode concludes with Sussman previewing his upcoming book on the Garment District, blending personal family history with organized crime's grip on American industry. Together, Jenkins and Sussman deliver a sweeping, chronological look at how the Mafia rose, fractured, and endured—leaving a permanent mark on American culture. Get his book Mafia Hits, Misses, Wars, and Prosecutions. ⏱️ Episode Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and Jeffrey Sussman's Mafia work 03:45 – Omertà and enforcing silence 07:30 – Mafia hits and internal wars 12:10 – Thomas Dewey and Murder Incorporated 18:40 – St. Valentine's Day Massacre 23:30 – Formation of the Five Families 28:50 – Italian and Jewish mob alliances 34:20 – Capone, Lansky, and Luciano 39:45 – Appalachian Conference fallout 45:10 – Vito Genovese and Joe Valachi 50:30 – Lupara blanca and body disposal 55:20 – Mad Sam DeStefano's brutality 59:40 – Joe Colombo assassination 1:05:30 – Betrayal and mob survival 1:10:50 – Sussman's upcoming Garment District book   [0:00] Hey, welcome, all you Wiretipers, back here in the studio of Gangland Wire, as you can see. This is Gary Jenkins, retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective and later sergeant. I have a guest today. He is a prolific author about the mob in the United States. We have several interviews in the archives with Jeffrey Sussman. Welcome, Jeffrey. Thank you, Gary. It’s a pleasure to be with you once again. All right. How many mob books you got? Eight or nine, I think. Eight or nine. I know you’ve covered Tinseltown, the L.A. Families, the crime in L.A., the Chicago. What are some of those? I did Las Vegas, which had a number of the Chicago outfit members in it. I did Big Apple Gangsters. Oh, yeah. My last one was Backbeat Gangsters about the rock music business. Oh, yeah. And then I did also one about boxing and the mob, how the mob controlled boxing. And then my new book is Mafia Hits, Misses Wars and Prosecutions. The update is February 19th. All right. Guys, when I release this, we’re doing this, actually, we’re doing this before Christmas. But when this comes out, while you’ll be able to go to the Amazon link that I’ll have in there, get that book, we’ll have, you’ll see a picture of it as we go along. So you’ll know what the cover looks like. It sounds really interesting, especially about the Mafia Misses. But I’m sure that’s interesting. [1:29] Well, the mob, that’s their way of enforcing their rules. The omerta, somebody talks, they’re going to rub you out, supposedly. And by mob, we’re talking about primarily La Cosa Nostra, Sicilian-based organized crime in the United States. Yeah. The five families particularly have brought this up front. The five families have really perfected this as an art, killing their rivals, killing people that threaten them in any way, killing people that they even had a contract on Tom Dewey, the prosecutor, I believe, at one time. That would be a bomb miss, wouldn’t it? Yeah, actually, what happened with that is Dutch Schultz wanted the commission to take out a contract on Tom Dewey, and they said, no, we can’t do that, because if we do that, it’ll bring down too much heat on us. And so the mob wound up killing Dutch Schultz because he was too much of a threat to them in some ways. But the irony was that if they had killed him, Lucky Luciano never would have been prosecuted. He was prosecuted by Thomas Dewey. Lucky Bookhalter never would have been prosecuted and gone to the electric chair, several others as well. So, by not killing Dewey, they set themselves up to be arrested and get either very long prison terms or go to the electric chair. [2:57] Yeah, Dewey sent, I think it was four members of Murder Incorporated to the electric chair and the head of it, the Lepke book halter. And then he arrested and got a conviction against Lucky Luciano for pimping and pandering, which should have been a fairly short sentence, just a couple of years. But he had him sentenced to 50 years in prison, which is amazing, the pimping. [3:20] So if they had killed Thomas Dewey, they probably would have been better off. But that’s 2020 hindsight. Yeah, hindsight’s always 2020. And a cost-benefit analysis, if you want to apply that, why the cost of killing Tom Dooley might have been much less than the actual benefit was. That’s right. Exactly. And they came to realize that, but it was too late for them. I think they always do a cost-benefit analysis in some manner. How much heat’s going to come down from this? Can we take the heat? Because I know in Kansas City, our mob boss, Nick Savella, was in the penitentiary. He was about to get out, and he sent word out, said I want all unfinished business taken care of by the time I get out. Because when I get out, I do not want all these headlines, because murder generates headlines. And so there was like three murders in rapid succession right after that. [4:13] So they worry about the press and hits, murders generate press. So let’s go back and talk about some particular ones. One of the most famous ones was the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Do you cover that? [4:26] Yeah, I start with the assassination of Arnold Rothstein in 1928, and then I go right into the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. I go into the Castel Marari’s War, the birth of the five families. They had a famous meeting at the Franconia Hotel where the Jewish and Italian gangsters decided to form an alliance rather than fight one another. I went through the trial and conviction of Al Capone, the Bug and Meyer gang. Which evolved into Murder Incorporated, and then how Mayor LaGuardia went after the mob in New York and drove out Frank Costello, who had all the slot machines in New York, drove him down to Louisiana, where Frank Costello paid Huey Long a million dollars to let him operate slot machines all around New Orleans and the rest of Louisiana. And then there was William Dwyer, O’Dwyer, and Burton Turkus, who prosecuted the mob, other members of Murder Incorporated, and then how the federal government was using deportation to get rid of a lot of the mobsters, and how the mafia insinuated itself with entertainers and was controlling entertainers like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and others. [5:44] And then the Appalachian Conference, and what an embarrassment that was to Vito Genovese, who wanted to declare himself the boss of bosses. Instead, he became the schmuck of schmucks because the FBI invaded this. And there was a theory that this was really set up, Meyer Lansky, Carl Gambino, and Lucky Luciano, because they didn’t want Vito Genovese to become the boss of bosses because Vito Genovese was responsible for the attempted murder of Frank Costello, and they wanted to get rid of him. After they embarrassed him with Appalachian, And then they set him up for a drug buy. Which is ridiculous because you don’t have the head of a mafia family going out on the street and buying heroin from someone. But that’s what they got him for. And they sent him off to prison for 15 years where he died. But in the realm of unintended consequences, which we just heard some, he goes down to Atlanta and a guy named Joe Valacci is down there. And he thinks that Vito Genovese is given to the fisheye and maybe wants to have him killed. [6:52] If Vito Genovese is not in Atlanta, Joe Valacci does not turn and become the first big important witness against the mob in the United States that couple that with Appalachian. And embarrassment to the FBI and then this Joe Valacci coming out with all these stories explaining what all that meant, the organized crime in the United States, why we may not have the investigation that subsequently came out of all that. It’s crazy, huh? Yeah, exactly. In terms of unintended consequences, because if Vito Genovese hadn’t given the kiss of death, supposedly, to Joe Valacci, you never would have had Joe Valacci’s testimony about how the mob operates. He opened so many doors and told so many secrets. It was a real revelation to the world. [7:42] Now, what about these murders? And I understand they call them a lupara blanca, where the body is never found. Did you talk about any of those or look into that at all? [7:53] We’ve had them in Kansas City, where it’s obviously a mob murder. They even will send a message to the family. We had one where the guy disappeared. Nobody ever found his body. But somebody called the family and said, hey, go up on Gladstone Drive and check this trash can. And then they find the guy’s clothes and his driver’s license, everything in there. Now, did you go into any of those blanks? Yeah, there were a number of mob hits, especially during the murder ink era where they would dispose of the bodies and no one would ever find them. But they would leave clues around for members of the family just so they would know that their father or their son or their brother, whoever was no longer in this world. [8:39] Yeah, that was done quite a bit. And when the Westies, which was an Irish gang that operated on the west side of New York, they believed that if you never found the corpse, you could never convict them of murder. So they used to take their dead bodies out to an island in the East River and chop them into little pieces and then dump them in the river and no one would ever find them. And supposedly they did that with dozens and dozens of bodies. Yeah. Interesting. Yeah, and it is. It’s hard to prosecute without the body. It’s been done, but it’s really hard to do. You’ve got to have a really lot of circumstantial evidence to approve a murder without a body. And when Albert Anastasia and Leffy Foucault, who were running Murder Incorporated, they believed two things. One, that if you didn’t find the body, it would be hard to prosecute. And if you couldn’t show a motive, that would be the other thing that would make it difficult. So there would be absolutely no connection between the person who killed the victim and the victim. There was no connection whatsoever. So it was almost as if it was a stranger. In fact, it was a stranger who would commit the murder and then disappear and make sure that the body also disappeared. So you’d have neither motive nor body. Interesting. Pretty stiff penalty for murder. So I understand why you take some extra. Exactly. [10:08] Yeah, that tried to disassociate yourself from any motive for the body. There’s a guy in Chicago named Mad Sam DeStefano. Oh, sure. Lone shark and particularly egregious person when it came to collecting and was responsible for some murders and tortures. And they claim that he would buddy up to the person he knew he wanted to have killed and give him a watch. So then when the police came back around, he’d say, he was my friend. I gave him a present. I gave him that watch. Look and see. Ask his wife. I gave him a watch. Yeah. And I think it was Anthony Spolatro who was charged by the outfit of getting rid of Sam DiStefano because he was a friend. He had been like a protege of Crazy Sam. And so Sam didn’t suspect him as the person who would come and kill him. Yeah, that’s common clue. They say, look out. When a friend comes around and it seems a little bit funny and they want her particularly nice to you and you know you’re in trouble, anyhow, look out. Because that’s the guy that’s going to get you. Exactly. At least set you up. Maybe they have somebody else come in and pull the trigger, somebody that’ll leave town or whatever, but your friend’s going to set you up, make you comfortable. [11:24] Yeah, I think that’s exactly how it happened. We talked a little bit about the Joe Colombo murder. Did you look at that? Yes. [11:31] Tell us about that, because I’m really interested in that. I’d kind of like to do a larger story, just focusing on that, what really happened there, because that’s a mystery. Did this Jerome Johnson, this black guy, do it? Why would he do it? Nobody ever came out and connected him directly to Joey Gallo, and that’s the claim. So talk about that one. What happened is Joe Colombo formed the Italian Anti-Defamation League because he thought Italians were being blamed for too many things. And Colombo was responsible for having the producers of the movie The Godfather never use the word mafia in the movie, never use La Cosa Nostra in the movie. And he was making a big splash for himself. And this was driving a lot of people in the mafia a little crazy. They’re getting nervous because he was getting so much attention for himself, and it’s not the kind of attention they wanted. And Gambino was particularly upset about this. And Joey Gallo had been in prison, and he had been involved in the war against Profaci earlier on. And when he got out of prison, he felt that the new head of the Profaci family, who was Joe Colombo, should honor him with the amount of time that he spent in prison. And Joe Colombo offered him $1,000. [12:57] And Gallo was incensed by that. He expected $100,000. [13:02] And so he started another war with Colombo. [13:09] This would be good for Carlo Gambino because then he could use Joey Gallo to get rid of someone and his hands wouldn’t appear to be anywhere near this. And when Joey Gallo was in prison, he befriended a lot of black gangsters who were drug dealers and showed them how to succeed in the drug dealing business. And his attitude was that the mafia was very prejudiced against black people, but he thought that was stupid. He thought that we should use black criminals the same way we use any other criminals. And so he befriended a lot of blacks when he was in prison. And no one really knows how exactly he came in contact with Jerome Johnson. But anyway, Jerome Johnson was given the mission of assassinating Joe Colombo at a demonstration where Joe Colombo would be speaking about the Italian American Anti-Defamation League, which had attracted a lot of entertainers. Frank Sinatra was on the board of it. They raised a lot of money. I spoke to some Italian friends of mine at the time, and they said that people from the Italian Anti-Defamation League went around to small Italian-run stores, pizza parlors, shoe repair stores, whatever, and had them closed down for that day so that these people should attend the rally. And the rally was being held, I believe, in Columbus Circle. [14:36] And Jerome Johnson was there, and he had a press pass. So he was permitted to get very close to Joe Colombo because it appeared that he was a reporter or a photographer for a newspaper. And as soon as he got close enough, he pumped a couple of bullets into Joe Colombo’s head. Immediately, three or four gangsters descended on Jerome Johnson and killed him immediately. [15:02] And those three or four people who killed him, they disappeared into the crowd. No one ever found them again. I know. I wish we’d had cell phone footage from that. No one wouldn’t have gotten away if everybody had their cell phones out that day when they would have seen everything that happened. [15:21] Exactly. Columbo existed in a vegetative state. I think it was for about seven years before he finally died. I didn’t realize it was that long. Wow. Yeah, but he was semi-conscious. He couldn’t communicate. He was paralyzed. But the The Colombo family believed that it was Joey Gallo who was responsible for this. Joey Gallo and his new wife had been having a dinner with friends at the Copacabana nightclub in New York. They were joined at their table by Don Rickles, who had been performing that night. Comedian David Steinberg, who had been the best man at Joey Gallo’s wedding to a second wife, was there. And he suggested to them that they left the Copacabana about three o’clock in the morning. And he suggested to them that they all go down to Little Italy, go to Chinatown, and we’ll have a late dinner there. So Rick Olson and Steinberg said, it’s too late for us. You go and enjoy yourself and we’ll see you another time. Joey Gallo, his bodyguard, a Greek guy, I can’t remember his name exactly. Peter Dacopoulos. That’s it. And his wife, and Decapolis’ girlfriend and Joey Gallo’s stepdaughter. They all drove downtown. They couldn’t find anything open in Chinatown, so they drove over to Little Italy, and they went into Umberto’s Clam House. [16:49] And it was very strange, because supposedly a gangster would never do this. Joe Colombo was sitting with his back to the door. [16:58] Usually, your back is to the wall, and you’re facing the door. Oh, Joey Gallo was sitting with his back to the door. Yeah, I meant Joey Gallo. Yeah. Go ahead. And there was kind of a lonely guy sitting at the bar having a drink, and no one paid any attention to him. He was a mob wannabe, and he recognized Joey Gallo, and he went to a mob social club that was a few blocks away that was a hangout for Colombo gangsters. And when he came in and told them that joey gallo was there and the one of the guys there called a capo from the colombo family and told him who they saw and so forth and apparently he instructed them to go and get rid of him and so they took the mob wannabe guy and they got in two cars and they drove down to or around the block whatever it was to umberto’s clam house they went in and they immediately started shooting. And Colombo flipped over the table. I’m sorry, Joey Gallo flipped over the table and had his wife and girlfriend in the step door to get behind the table. And he and Peter were firing back at these guys. [18:07] Peter got shot in the ass and complained about it for many months afterwards, and Joey Gallo ran out onto the street chasing them, and he got shot in the neck, and I think it hit his carotid artery, and he bled to death on the sidewalk. And the guys from the Columbo and the Columbo wannabe guy, they quickly drove up to an apartment on the Upper East Side where the Columbo capo was. And he told them to go to a safe house in Nyack, New York, where they went. And meanwhile, the mob wannabe guy who had fingered Columbo, he’s getting very nervous. He feels that his life isn’t worth too much. He’s in over his head. [18:51] Right. So he sneaks out in the middle of the night and takes a plane to California to live with his sister. And he tries to get into the witness protection program, but they don’t believe him. They don’t believe he has enough evidence to make it worthwhile. No one knows exactly what happened to him afterwards. And the guys who supposedly killed Gallo, nothing really happened to them either. There was a huge funeral for Joey Gallo in Brooklyn. And it was like one of those old mob funerals that you see in a movie with a hundred flower cars and people lining the streets. And I think it was Joey Gallo’s mother who threw herself into the grave on top of the coffin. Oh, really? And Joey Gallo’s. [19:38] He had two brothers, one of whom had died of cancer, and the other one wound up going into another mob family. That was part of the peace deal. I can’t remember if it was the Gambino family or the Genovese family. He went into one of those two families. I think it was Gambino family, that Albert Kidd Twist gallo, I think was his name. And I think it was the Gambino family. He just kept a low profile until he died of natural causes. I think he’s dead now. He never heard from him again, basically. Exactly. [20:06] Interesting. That’s a heck of a story. A lot more stories like that in there, too. I bet. What was your favorite story out of that, or the one that shocked you or you learned something? Maybe something that you learned that you didn’t know or cut through some myth. [20:20] Probably, I’m just looking at my notes here to see what really fascinated me the most. I think the evolution of the Bug and Meyer gang. This guy, Ralph Salerno, who was a fascinating guy who headed the New York Prime Strike Force, Mafia investigators He’s been dead for about I think 10 or 15 years But I spent about Two or three hours Interviewing him A long time ago Didn’t he write a book Didn’t he write a book Called The Crime Confederation Or something like that Yes he did Yeah And it’s excellent So he knew Meyer Lansky He had met Bugsy Siegel Back once In the early 1940s He knew Frank Costello He knew all of these people And it was fascinating To, to hear his stories. And he said that during the time of the Bug and Meyer gang, they were the most vicious gang in New York. And they had a complete menu for crimes that they would commit on your behalf. Burglaries, murders, throwing people out of windows, breaking arms and legs, killing by stabbing, killing by shooting, killing by knifing. And each one had a price. And he said they actually had it printed. It was like a menu and you could check off what you wanted. [21:40] Crazy. And then he said, as they got more and more involved in prohibition, they got out of this and it evolved into Murder Incorporated, which had about 400 members, primarily Jewish and Italian gangsters. And it was run by Albert Anastasia and Lepke Bookhalter. [22:05] And when Thomas Dewey came into power, he wanted very much to convict these guys, but, Murder Incorporated had this fascinating idea that every member of Murder Incorporated would receive a monthly retainer and then it paid a special price for committing murders. And the more ambitious the member was, the more murders he would commit. So there were a couple who were really very ambitious and did a lot of murders. And each one had a specialty. So there was this one guy named Abe Hidtwist Relis, who only killed people with an ice pick in the back of the neck. And then he would leave the body in a car, talking about getting rid of bodies, and he would burn the body and leave it in the car and let other people know who were the relatives that he had been done away with. And then there was a guy named Pittsburgh Phil, who was the most ambitious of them, who supposedly committed about 100 to 150 murders because he just loved getting money for each one that he committed. [23:15] Then there was a guy named Louis Capone, who’s no relation to Al. He worked with a partner named Mendy Weiss, and the two of them went out and killed people together. They thought it was a fun event for them. It was like a boy’s night out. Who we’re going to kill today. Weren’t they two of them that got the electric chair? Yes, they did. And there’s a picture of them on the train up to Singh on their way to the electric chair. And they’re laughing. This is nothing. This is just another fun time for us. And yeah, I think there were four of them who finally went to the electric chair. And then one member of this was a guy named Charlie the Bud Workman, who finally got indicted for the murder of Dutch Schultz. He was the one who carried out the murder of Dutch Schultz for the mob. And he got, I think he was 30 years in prison. But according to his son… [24:13] Who is a PGA golfer, who is well-known in PGA circles as a very good golf competitor, said that the mob took care of his family for the entire time that Workman was in prison because he never spoke about anybody else. He really observed the rules of a murder, and they appreciated him for that. So that whole episode was like a corporation murder, which is why they called it Murder, Inc., that would go out and kill people on orders only from the mafia. They only worked for the mafia. You couldn’t hire them if you weren’t a member of the mafia. And it had to go through a mafia boss for the instructions to come down to them. A soldier couldn’t tell them what to do. Even a capo couldn’t tell them. It had to go up to a boss, the boss had to approve it, and then assign someone to do it. And they all worked out of a candy store in Brooklyn called Midnight Roses because it was open 24 hours a day. And the phone would ring there from giving whoever it was instructions about who was to be killed, where they were to be killed, how they were to do it, and so forth and so on. [25:27] So what was also interesting is even though Bugsy Siegel had left the Bug and Meyer gang, he still loved participating in murder. He liked killing people. And his partner in these murders was a guy named Frankie Carbo, who became a big deal in boxing. He controlled most of the boxing in America up until at the time of Sonny Liston. And his partner in this was a man named Blinky Palermo. [25:59] And according to Ralph Natale, who for a while had been the boss of the Philadelphia crime family, it was Frankie Carbo who was sent by the mob to kill Bugsy Siegel. Because if he was caught or Bugsy Siegel saw him around, he wouldn’t suspect that he was his killer because they were friends and they had operated as partners together. So this goes back to what we were talking about earlier. It’s your friend who comes closest to you and then arranges you to be assassinated. So I found that whole story just fascinating. Interesting. I’ll tell you what. And there’s those and a whole lot more stories in this, isn’t there, Jeff? Yes, there are. I think that the book covers pretty much the mob history, beginning with the founding of the five families, going all the way up through Sammy the Bulgurvano’s testimony against John Gotti and the commission trial, where they decapitated the heads of the five families. Not literally, folks. Not literally. Not literally. We didn’t literally decapitate. Rudy Giuliano, he tried to. He tried to. He tried to. Metaphorically, he decapitated the heads of the five families. Exactly. [27:15] You know, what was interesting, though, is in the 1930s, you had Thomas Dewey. In the 1960s, you had Robert Kennedy, who went after the mob. And then later on, you had Rudy Giuliani going after the mob. And the mob always managed to reorganize itself and figure out a new way of existing. They were very opportunistic and they always managed to find a way to keep going, even if it was very low key, which is what it is now, where they operate in the shadows and they don’t have any John Gottis or Al Capone’s out there getting a lot of attention for themselves. They’re still out there doing things. Yeah. Yeah. They finally learned something about that getting publicity. And most recently, they put together a whole scheme, and this goes way back, of cheating people. Big whales, I call them whales, of rich men that like to gamble and brush up against kind of the dark side and cheat them at cards. They’ve been doing that for years. They just do it under goes to clear black to the Friars Club scam in Los Angeles where Ronnie Roselli and some others had a spotter, would see who had what cards in what’s hands, then would tell another player. And so now there’s just more electronic, but the same game just upgraded to electronics. [28:30] That’s right. What someone I spoke to interviewed said, he said they’re very involved in electronic gambling poker machines and that kind of thing. And a lot of offshore gambling and offshore money laundering. And to some extent, even drug dealing now. And they’re still very involved in New York in the construction business. Oh, really? Yeah. Union business. They’re still in it, huh? And I know in Kansas City, there’s a couple of examples where they put money into a buy here, pay here car dealership into a title loan place because there’s a huge rate of interest on those things. And there’s a lot of scams that go down out of those places, especially the old crap cars and put them together and sell them to poor people for they’ve got $500 in the car and they sell it to them for $2,000. They charge them a 25% interest and then go repo it when the car breaks down, turn around and patch it up and sell it again. So there’s always schemes going on out there to mob will put their money into. Oh, it’s incredible. I knew of one scheme where they would They would sell trucks to people and give them a special route. And so on that route, they could make enough money to pay off the loan on the truck. But then they would take away the route from them. They couldn’t pay off the truck. So they would repossess the truck and sell it to someone else and do it all over again. [29:50] Oh, I know. They got to tell you that. And Joey Messino and the Bananos, they organized the tow main wagons, the lunch truck, the snack wagons. Right, exactly. Organize them. And then they start extorting money, formed an association. And then to get to good spots, then you had to kick money to them. And just to be part of the organization, that was kicking money to them. There’s always something. They always manage to find a place where they can make money. And it’s like whack-a-mole. You can stop them here, you can stop them there, and then they pop up in three other places. [30:24] Really all right jeffrey susman i’m so happy to talk to you again i haven’t talked to you for a while and i hope everything else is everything’s going okay for you in new york city yep i’m working on a new book uh what are you working on now oh my god you are so prolific i look on your amazon page just when i was getting ready to do this trying to think of some of those other titles Oh, my God. I’m working on a book about the Garment Center. Ah, interesting. Only because my family was involved in that business, and they had to deal with the mob in various ways, with trucking companies, unions, and so forth. And since I knew that, and I had a lot of information, a lot of contacts, I thought I would tackle that next. I remember when I had my marketing PR business back in the 1970s. [31:16] I had a client who was in the fitness business, and I had a cousin of my mother’s who was a very famous dress designer at the time, and he had a big showroom on 7th Avenue, which is in the garment center. I went to see him because I wanted to see if I could get a deal for my client to manufacture exercise clothes and brand it with her name. I made a date to have lunch with this cousin of mine, and he said, come up to my showroom. we’ll meet for lunch, And so I got to the showroom, and I called out his name when I walked in. It was empty. And this guy comes running out of the back, and he just has a shirt on, and he has a shoulder holster, .38 caliber gun in it. And he says to me, who the F are you? I said, I’m so-and-so’s cousin. I’m here to have lunch with him. He disappeared into the back. And a couple of minutes later my mother’s cousin comes out and i said who was that what was that about he says i don’t want to talk about it now i’ll tell you all for lunch so we go down to a restaurant around the corner and i asked him again and he says he said he couldn’t have his dresses delivered to any department store unless he made a deal with yeah i forgot if it was the gambinos or the lucasies that he had to take this guy on as a partner otherwise the trucks wouldn’t deliver his garments. And there was nothing he could do about it. It was either that or go out of business. [32:45] I’ll tell you what, they’re voracious. They’re greedy and voracious and don’t care. Just give me those, show me the money. That’s all it is. It’s all about money and any way to get it. And then there’s always a threat of murder behind it. If you don’t cooperate, think of the worst thing that can happen to you. And that’s what’ll happen. Yeah. I’ve had guys over the years tell I’m like, oh, you ought to throw in with one of those ex-mobsters that’s doing podcasts and try to do something with them. I say, I ain’t doing business with them. They play by their rules. I play by society’s rules. And I don’t have time to mess with that. Yeah. And that was a smart thing to do. Because also, when I had this fitness client, I met someone who was… I didn’t know what was connected to the mob, but a mutual friend, this guy said that he wanted to set up fitness centers all around the country for my clients. So I mentioned this to a mutual friend and he said, whatever you don’t go into business with this guy, I said, regret it for the rest of your life. So I advised my client not to do it. [33:49] Yeah. Cause initially before we knew that it sounded like a great opportunity. And then when you investigate, it’s not such a great opportunity. Yeah, really. Speaking of that, we tell stories for hours. I just heard a story. We had a relocated mobster, a guy that testified against Gigante, came here to Kansas City. And he was, of course, under witness protection and he’s got an assumed name. And he befriends a guy that has a fitness center. He has a franchise of Gold’s Gym or something. And he has a fitness center. And he talks this guy into taking him on, investing a little money in it, taking him on as his partner. Within the next couple of years, this mobster, he’s got two of his kids working there and neither one of them are really doing anything, but they’re drawing a salary and the money’s trickling out. And the guy, the local guy, he just walks away from it because this guy’s planned by the mob’s rules. So he just ended up walking away from it, did something else. So it’s do not go into business with these guys. No, never. Never. [34:48] Jeffrey Suspett, it’s a pleasure to have you back on the show. Thank you so much. It’s a pleasure to be with you again, Gary. It’s always a pleasure. Thank you very much.

A Mafia insider and authentic Hollywood tough guy reveals the explosive secrets he's learned (and kept) for decades in this shocking tell all that unveils the hidden worlds of film and organized crime-from who shot JFK and murdered Jimmy Hoffa to the truth about Marilyn Monroe's death.The Kennedys, Marilyn, the Vatican, Vegas, The Godfather, the Mob, and more .During a cursed childhood in a Manhattan neighborhood teeming with Italian immigrant Gianni Russo fended for himself at an early age. It was a quality that didn't go unnoticed by Frank Costello-father figure, mentor, and legendary crime boss. Thanks to Costello, Gianni was only twelve when his luck would change for a lifetime. All of it charmed-and thrilling. With it came Hollywood glamor, Vegas risk-takers, political conspiracies, sex, murder, shadow governments, and secrets. The stories Gianni Russo could tell . .. Now he does in this bombshell confessional. This is the inside account of the Sicilian Mafia, Cosa Nostra, what really transpired in those Mulberry Street clubs, and who whacked whom-including how mobster Tony Spilotro and his brother really died, finally revealed for the first time. This is Gianni, buddy of Frank Sinatra, and intimately more with Marilyn Monroe. What's the cover-up behind her death, JFK's, and Jimmy Hoffa's? It's all here. So is the clandestine role of the pope as the sacred boss of bosses, the glory days and downfall of Las Vegas, and the colorful behind-the-scenes tales of Gianni's role in the greatest movie ever made, The Godfather. The go-getter Frank Costello once called "The Kid" shares his shocking, exhilarating, sometimes violent, and always riveting life with the dealmakers of Hollywood and the Mob. Gianni Russo lives to tell, and spills it all.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

In this explosive episode of Gangland Wire, host Gary Jenkins sits down with actor, entrepreneur, and mob insider Gianni “Johnny” Russo, best known for his unforgettable role as Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather. Russo pulls back the curtain on a lifetime of stories that stretch from Frank Costello and Joe Colombo to Las Vegas skimming, the Vatican Bank, Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Hoffa, and even Pablo Escobar. Russo discusses his new book, Mafia Secrets: Untold Tales from the Hollywood Godfather, co-written with Michael Benson—an unfiltered account of power, violence, politics, and survival inside the criminal underworld and Hollywood royalty. This is not recycled mythology—this is Gianni Russo's personal version of history from the inside. Whether you believe every word or not, the stories are raw, violent, and utterly fascinating. This episode discusses: The Godfather, The Kennedy assassinations, Vegas skimming, Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Hoffa, the Chicago Outfit, Pablo Escobar

In the final episode of the year, We look into the controversial death of Marilyn Monroe. Co-hosts Gianni and Jeanie discuss the release of Russo's latest book, 'Mafia Secrets,' and James Patterson's 'The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe,' which both address the circumstances surrounding Monroe's death. Russo shares personal recollections from 63 years ago, emphasizing his role as an informant for Frank Costello. He reveals that Monroe's death was a cover-up involving figures like Bobby Kennedy and the Chicago mob, contradicting her official suicide verdict. The hosts reflect on the implications of Patterson's findings, which validate Russo's long-held assertions and recount Monroe's relationships and final days. They also share future plans for the podcast and Russo's upcoming events, while highlighting their determination to have Monroe's cause of death reclassified from suicide to homicide by her 100th birthday.

In this episode of Gangland Wire, Gary Jenkins interviews bestselling author Mark Shaw about his explosive new research into the JFK and RFK assassinations — and the hidden role of New Orleans Mafia boss Carlos Marcello. Shaw breaks down newly uncovered FBI documents, including Marcello's alleged 1985 prison confession claiming involvement in JFK's murder. We explore Marcello's long-running war with Robert Kennedy, the suspicious death of journalist Dorothy Kilgallen, and significant inconsistencies in the official story of RFK's assassination. This conversation challenges the lone-gunman narrative and exposes how organized crime, politics, and government investigations may have collided to shape American history. Subscribe to get notified about new content. 0:10 The Kennedy Connection 21:37 Sirhan’s Background Uncovered 31:56 The Role of Marcello in Assassinations 44:54 The Quest for Justice

A Mafia insider and authentic Hollywood tough guy reveals the explosive secrets he's learned (and kept) for decades in this shocking tell all that unveils the hidden worlds of film and organized crime-from who shot JFK and murdered Jimmy Hoffa to the truth about Marilyn Monroe's death.The Kennedys, Marilyn, the Vatican, Vegas, The Godfather, the Mob, and more .During a cursed childhood in a Manhattan neighborhood teeming with Italian immigrant Gianni Russo fended for himself at an early age. It was a quality that didn't go unnoticed by Frank Costello-father figure, mentor, and legendary crime boss. Thanks to Costello, Gianni was only twelve when his luck would change for a lifetime. All of it charmed-and thrilling. With it came Hollywood glamor, Vegas risk-takers, political conspiracies, sex, murder, shadow governments, and secrets. The stories Gianni Russo could tell . .. Now he does in this bombshell confessional. This is the inside account of the Sicilian Mafia, Cosa Nostra, what really transpired in those Mulberry Street clubs, and who whacked whom-including how mobster Tony Spilotro and his brother really died, finally revealed for the first time. This is Gianni, buddy of Frank Sinatra, and intimately more with Marilyn Monroe. What's the cover-up behind her death, JFK's, and Jimmy Hoffa's? It's all here. So is the clandestine role of the pope as the sacred boss of bosses, the glory days and downfall of Las Vegas, and the colorful behind-the-scenes tales of Gianni's role in the greatest movie ever made, The Godfather. The go-getter Frank Costello once called "The Kid" shares his shocking, exhilarating, sometimes violent, and always riveting life with the dealmakers of Hollywood and the Mob. Gianni Russo lives to tell, and spills it all.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

In this episode, Gianni and Jeannie discuss a variety of topics, ranging from the show's longevity and dedicated fanbase to Gianni's varied career and personal anecdotes. The duo answers fan questions from their mailbag, touching on characters like Sister Helen Travis and James Files, and detailing Gianni's familial ties to Sicily. They share amusing personal stories, including Gianni's experiences in Las Vegas, his different business ventures, and his time working as a private messenger for Frank Costello. They also reflect on historical events like the significant fires in Las Vegas hotels. Adding a nostalgic touch, they recount Gianni's roles and experiences on the set of 'The Godfather,' enriched with behind-the-scenes tales.

A "fictional memoir" from Jack O'Halloran. ("Non" in Superman movies 1 and 2)Jack Pagano has always felt he is different. Smart and physically talented, the normal pursuits of youth--women and sports--have always come a little too easy to him and left him unfulfilled. At age seventeen, Jack is eager to leave high school and begin his college career.But the schooling that lies ahead of him is of a far different variety than he could have ever imagined.Albert Anastasia, the notorious leader of Murder, Inc., appears and claims Pagano as his son. But before Jack can make heads or tails of his new-found father, Anastasia is gunned down at the Park Sheraton Hotel.Under the tutelage of his late father's associates, Meyer Lansky and Frank Costello, Jack enters a world where crime and politics, money and murder, and the American way of life are all but a hand's breadth apart and inextricably linked.At the same time, another father is grooming his son to further his plans: Joseph Kennedy, the patriarch of what will become American's ruling dynasty, has set his sights on the White House--and with the help of some old friends in Chicago, his son, also Jack, will rise to power.Then, one autumn day in Dallas…“Renaissance man, Jack O'Halloran—prizefighter, actor, and now author—has written a shocking and fast-paced novel of Mafia intrigue. This book is packed with all the twists and turns of a carnival ride.” — Dan E. Molde a, best-selling author of Evidence Dismissed“A stellar debut. Deftly plotted and expertly executed, Family Legacy is a gripping yarn that transcends the traditional crime novel or mob thriller. Jack O'Halloran is a fresh voice in a crowded genre. Highly recommended.” — Sheldon Siegel, New York Times Best Selling Author of Perfect Alibihttps://amzn.to/3IIzkU1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

In this episode of the Hollywood Godfather, hosts Gianni and Jeanie dives into their favorite segment, the mailbag, where they answer listener questions about Frank Costello's mob involvement, Gianni's interactions with various Hollywood legends like Tony Curtis and Jack Benny, and anecdotes from Gianni's personal experiences in the mob and entertainment industry.

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/Michael Franzese was pulling in $10 million a week from a gas tax scheme that made him one of America's most powerful mobsters. Then he did something almost nobody survives: he walked away alive.In this conversation, Franzese strips away the Hollywood mythology and breaks down what real power looks like when your life depends on reading people correctly. We unpack the brutal stress of criminal operations, why most "tough guys" don't last, and how the negotiation tactics that kept him alive now close business deals.00:00 Introduction to Michael Franzese03:49 First arrests and early surveillance from law enforcement06:08 Building businesses and the multimillion-dollar gas tax scam08:00 Knowing it wouldn't last and how the scheme eventually collapsed11:04 What he misses about mob life and the lifestyle12:40 Cleaning millions in cash and dealing with foreign banks15:30 Whether the mob still operates in New York and Italy today18:10 Reputation, respect, and fearing the people above you19:33 Reflections on Frank Costello and doing business without violence22:02 Applying mob skills to legitimate business and negotiation23:31 Taking a plea deal and liquidating assets before prison26:30 Solitary, diesel therapy, and finding faith behind bars29:06 Rumours, witness lists, and suspicion after leaving the life32:14 The few mobsters who actually walked away successfully34:49 Becoming a global speaker and finding purpose in storytelling39:20 Pizza, vending machines, and building a new empire51:05 How the Armenian wine business unexpectedly took off57:16 Delegation, treating people well, and earning respect01:02:51 Missed opportunities, like skipping Starbucks stock early on01:05:46 Wanting peace, purpose, and more freedom in his 70s01:11:36 The weight of regret, purpose, and giving advice to youth01:16:44 Faith, fear of hell, and the path to redemption01:29:47 Beating the odds while nearly everyone else ends up dead or jailed» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life - https://www.digitalplaybook.net/» Transform your physique - https://www.thrstapp.com/» My clothing brand, THRST - https://thrstofficial.com» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/» Join @WHOOP and get your first month for free - join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst» Follow Michael«YouTube: @michaelfranzeseInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelfranzese_/?hl=enWine: https://franzesewine.com/Community: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/

In this episode of the podcast, I'm joined by author Ron K. Fried for a deep dive into one of the most compelling figures in organized crime history: Frank Costello, the mob boss who rose to power during Prohibition and later became known as the “Prime Minister of the Underworld.” We discuss Ron's novel Frank Costello: A Novel—a carefully researched work of historical fiction that vividly brings Costello's complex character to life. Together, we explore the real-life events behind the book and how Ron approached writing about a man who straddled the worlds of organized crime and political power.We start with Costello's early years—his immigration from Sicily, his upbringing in East Harlem, and how he gravitated toward petty crime and gang life. In this environment, he met future legends like Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, and Vito Genovese—key figures in the creation of a national crime syndicate.During Prohibition, Costello built his fortune and reputation through bootlegging, running extensive liquor operations, and leveraging alliances that would shape the mob's future. We discuss the bloody 1931 power shift following the assassinations of Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano, which led to the formation of the Five Families. As Luciano's trusted associate, Costello rose in the ranks of what would become the Genovese Crime Family.We explore the mid-1930s transition period when Luciano was imprisoned and Genovese fled to Italy to avoid a murder charge. This opened the door for Costello to become acting boss, a position he would hold for nearly 20 years. During this time, he built a reputation as a refined, politically connected mobster who favored influence over brute force—garnering real sway in political and judicial circles.We delve into Costello's political entanglements, including the wiretap involving Judge Thomas Aurelio, in which Costello was caught influencing judicial appointments. We also examine his ties to New York Mayor William O'Dwyer and his suspected involvement in the mysterious death of Abe Reles, a Murder, Inc. informant who “fell” from a window while under police protection.One major focus is Costello's appearance at the 1951 Kefauver Committee hearings, a turning point in his career. His decision to only allow his hands to be filmed became a media sensation and diminished his power and mystique. The public scrutiny weakened his position and empowered rivals—most notably, Vito Genovese, who sought to reclaim the top spot in the family.We look at the 1957 assassination attempt on Costello, carried out by Vincent “The Chin” Gigante on Genovese's orders. Though Costello survived, he chose to step down. We also discuss the murder of Albert Anastasia later that year, and the theory that Costello may have had a hand in framing Genovese, leading to his 1959 conviction on narcotics charges.From there, we examine Costello's final years, during which he remained influential behind the scenes but largely retired from active leadership. We reflect on his complex legacy: a ruthless gangster who carefully curated an image of legitimacy and respectability. Ron shares how he explored that duality in his novel—bringing humanity to a man who lived in both the criminal underworld and the corridors of political power.We also discuss mob portrayals in film and television, and look ahead to the upcoming 2025 gangster film Alto Knights, a much-anticipated movie featuring dramatizations of several key historical figures we covered. Our conversation touches on why the Mafia continues to fascinate the public and how Frank Costello's story stands apart as one of strategy, survival, and power.

This episode of the Hollywood Godfather Podcast, hosted by Gianni and Jeannie, discusses a variety of topics ranging from upcoming appearances at the Fanboy Expo in Orlando, Florida, to sharing personal stories and upcoming releases. Gianni talks about past memories with celebrities like Frank Costello and Elvis Presley, recounting anecdotes such as buying his parents a house at 16 and his time spent with Elvis in Las Vegas. There are also mentions of their new book, 'Mafia Secrets,' its pre-sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and its upcoming release events. The hosts read and respond to listener comments and questions, appreciating fans' engagement and sharing updates on public appearances. They also discuss recent events and reminisce about friends and celebrities no longer alive. The episode concludes with a promise to consider featuring Paul Anka on the podcast.

Hinweis: Diese Folge entstand gemeinsam mit Niklas & Hannes von Tatort Geschichte, zu denen ihr hier kommt!Elegant, charmant - und tödlich: Bugsy Siegel gilt als einer der bekanntesten amerikanischen Mobster des 20. Jahrhunderts. Als Gründungsmitglied der Kosher Nostra, dem jüdischen Pendant zur italienischen Mafia, bewegt sich Siegel in einer Welt aus Gewalt, Macht und Luxus. Zusammen mit seinem engen Vertrauten Meyer Lansky baut er ein Unterwelt-Imperium auf und wird von anderen Mafiagrößen wie Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Vito Genovese und Frank Costello geachtet und gefürchtet. Doch während Lansky strategisch und kontrolliert agiert, verliert Siegel zunehmend die Bodenhaftung. Sein Traum: ein Casino-Imperium mitten in der Wüste Nevadas. Das "Flamingo" in Las Vegas sollte nicht nur ein Hotel, sondern ein Denkmal seines Größenwahns werden. Die Baukosten explodieren, Gelder werden veruntreut und damit der Sturz eines Gangsters eingeläutet, der mit Stil tötete und mit Arroganz verlor. Bugsy Siegel - der Gentleman-Gangster, der sich verzockte und schließlich als Vorlage in Mario Puzos “Der Pate” landete.…….WERBUNGDu willst dir die Rabatte unserer Werbepartner sichern? Hier geht's zu den Angeboten!.......Jetzt His2Go unterstützen für tolle Vorteile - über Steady!Klick hier und werde His2Go Hero oder His2Go Legend.......Das Folgenbild zeigt Bugsy Siegel........LITERATURMichael Shnayerson: Bugsy Siegel: The Dark Side of the American Dream. New Haven 2021.Robert A. Rockaway: Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel & Co. Lebensgeschichten jüdischer Gangster in den USA, Hamburg 1998........UNTERSTÜTZUNG & KONTAKTSupportet uns! Folgt und bewertet uns bei Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podimo oder über eure Lieblings-Podcastplattformen.Wir freuen uns über euer Feedback, Input und Vorschläge zum Podcast, die ihr uns über das Kontaktformular auf der Website, his2go.de, Instagram und unsere Feedback E-Mail: kontakt@his2go.de schicken könnt. An dieser Stelle nochmals vielen Dank an jede einzelne Rückmeldung, die uns bisher erreicht hat und uns sehr motiviert, noch lange weiterzumachen!…….COPYRIGHTMusic from https://filmmusic.io: “Sneaky Snitch” by Kevin MacLeod and "Plain Loafer" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hinweis: Unsere Folge als Gäste beim Podcast His2Go findet ihr ab dem 30.05.2025 auf dem Kanal von His2GoElegant, charmant - und tödlich: Bugsy Siegel gilt als einer der bekanntesten amerikanischen Mobster des 20. Jahrhunderts. Als Gründungsmitglied der Kosher Nostra, dem jüdischen Pendant zur italienischen Mafia, bewegt sich Siegel in einer Welt aus Gewalt, Macht und Luxus. Zusammen mit seinem engen Vertrauten Meyer Lansky baut er ein Unterwelt-Imperium auf und wird von anderen Mafiagrößen wie Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Vito Genovese und Frank Costello geachtet und gefürchtet. Doch während Lansky strategisch und kontrolliert agiert, verliert Siegel zunehmend die Bodenhaftung. Sein Traum: ein Casino-Imperium mitten in der Wüste Nevadas. Das "Flamingo" in Las Vegas sollte nicht nur ein Hotel, sondern ein Denkmal seines Größenwahns werden. Die Baukosten explodieren, Gelder werden veruntreut und damit der Sturz eines Gangsters eingeläutet, der mit Stil tötete und mit Arroganz verlor. Bugsy Siegel - der Gentleman-Gangster, der sich verzockte und schließlich als Vorlage in Mario Puzos "Der Pate” landete.

The Godfather 1 & 2, Any Given Sunday Rush Hour 2I just read on impactful book called : Hollywood Godfather: My Life in the Movies & The Mob! I read it cover to cover because it was intense & fascinating.Actor Gianni Russo has led an intriguing life.Gianni Russo was a handsome 25-year-old mobster with no acting experience when he walked onto the set of The Godfather and entered Hollywood history. He played Carlo Rizzi, the husband of Connie Corleone, who set her brother Sonny—played by James Caan—up for a hit. Russo didn't have to act—he knew the mob inside and out: from his childhood in Little Italy, where Mafia legend Frank Costello took him under his wing.Along the way, Russo befriended Frank Sinatra, who became his son's godfather, and Marlon Brando, who mentored his career as an actor after trying to get Francis Ford Coppola to fire him from The Godfather. Russo had passionate affairs with Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minelli, and scores of other celebrities. He went on to become a producer and starred in The Godfather: Parts I and II, Seabiscuit, Any Given Sunday and Rush Hour 2, among many other films.Hollywood Godfather is a no-holds-barred account of a life filled with violence, glamour, sex—and fun.Gianni Russo Wines launched nationally in 2009. And he has an expanded product line coming out this year.Born in Manhattan and raised in Little Italy and Staten Island, Russo overcame polio as a child to start his first “business” at the tender age of twelve, selling pens and erasers on the street corners. At eighteen Russo made his first trip to Miami, where he began to dabble in show-business, working in nightclubs and hotspots before deciding to pursue acting and move to Hollywood.His Book: Hollywood Godfather: My Life in the Movies & the Mob is an eye-opening read.All Rights Reserved © 2025© 2025 Building Abundant Success!!Join Me on ~ iHeart Media @ https://tinyurl.com/iHeartBASSpot Me on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yxuy23baAmazon Music ~ https://tinyurl.com/AmzBASAudacy:  https://tinyurl.com/BASAud

The writer and podcaster Will Sloan returns for a show about Robert De Niro's latest film, Barry Levinson's The Alto Knights, where he plays two parts on screen, the mob boss Frank Costello and his hotheaded rival Vito Genovese, and their decades-long struggle for control of the New York mafia.The Alto Knights was the pet project of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who brought this expensive vanity production to the screen seemingly as a personal favour to the veteran screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi, a film made by elderly creatives that flopped hard at the box office on release. So why this project? And why is Robert De Niro playing both lead parts? This is what Will and I wanted to know, and so we discuss the failures of The Alto Knights along with a look at De Niro's public persona as one of Trump's biggest haters and how he can still deliver as a great actor from time to time, depending on the director. Over 30% of all Junk Filter episodes are only available to patrons of the podcast. To support this show directly and to receive access to the entire back catalogue, consider becoming a patron for only $5.00 a month (U.S.) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/junkfilterFollow Will Sloan on Twitter and Bluesky and subscribe to his wonderful podcasts The Important Cinema Club and Michael and Us.Will's new book Ed Wood: Made in Hollywood USA (OR Books) can be purchased now! Trailer for The Alto Knights (Barry Levinson, 2025)

On The Mark with Howard Mark Rubin, Episode 7 In this episode of On The Mark, Howard Mark Rubin speaks with Gianni Russo, an actor, singer and author. Gianni is best known for his role as Carlo in "The Godfather." Tune in to the episode to hear about: Gianni's philanthropy, diverse career, and contributions to entertainment industry Fascinating stories about Gianni's connections with notable figures like Frank Costello, Marlon Brando, and Frank Sinatra, and how these relationships influenced his life and career The dramatic circumstances around Gianni's casting in "The Godfather" and his subsequent friendship with Marlon Brando, who initially tried to have him fired from the film The mob's impact on entertainment and business, including Gianni's personal experiences with organized crime figures and events The importance of adaptability and change, concluding the podcast with a motivational quote from baseball legend Nolan Ryan about the necessity of being open to change for success Learn more about Gianni Russo: Visit Gianni's website: https://www.giannirusso.com *********************************** On The Mark with Howard Mark Rubin: This podcast series addresses our rapidly changing world and how it is affecting industries and people in unique and interesting ways. As John F. Kennedy once said, change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. The business leaders and personalities who are interviewed in these podcasts all look to the future. We hope our listeners and viewers come away with information and inspiration that help them adapt in both their business and personal lives. Watch more episodes of On The Mark: YouTube:    / @goetzplatzer   Website: https://goetzplatzer.com SoundCloud:   / 6tkws6vb8khev7um6   Connect and learn more from your host, Howard Mark Rubin: Connect with Howard on LinkedIn:   / howardrubingf   Call: 212-695-7753 Email: hrubin@goetzplatzer.com

Send us a textBrothers Paul & Pete review "Snow White", the controversial remake of the Disney animated classic. This film stars Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Emilia Faucher and directed by Marc Webb.Next, they review "Novocaine", an action dark comedy starring Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder.Then, Paul reviews the newest Steven Soderbergh and David Koepp collaboration, "Black Bag". This CIA spy thriller stars Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, and Pierce Brosnan.Next, they review the big budget Netflix movie "The Electric State", directed by the Russo Brothers and written by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, and Simon Stalenhag. The movie stars Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Woody Harrelson, and Ke Huy Quan.Then, Paul reviews "Alto Knights", a new gangster film from the makers of Goodfellas, Director Barry Levinson and Producer Irwin Winkler. The film stars Robert DeNiro playing the dual roles of Frank Costello and Vito Genovese.Next, Pete reviews "In the Lost Lands", starring Milla Jovovich, Dave Bautista, and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.Then, Paul reviews "Magaizine Dreams", winner of the Sundance Film Festival and starring Jonathan Majors.Next, Paul reviews "Ash", a mind-bending Sci-fi thriller directed by White Lotus and starring Eiza Gonzalez and Aaron Paul.And lastly, Pete give his review of "Last Breath", based on a true story, and starring Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, and Finn Cole.To listen on Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aaaction-podcast/id1634666134To listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1L78fn3C6RlKKdUihtiLyR?si=f31450db95724290Please make sure to like and subscribe to the Aaaction Podcast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzJFoiUHvdbaHaiIfN37BaQ#aaactionpodcast #podcast #film #movie #moviereview #moviepodcast #newmovie  #amc #amctheatres #alist #amcpass #snowhite #disney #snowwhiteandsevendwarfs #novocaine #blackbag #thriller #electricstate #netflix #Altoknights #gangster #robertdeniro #inthelostlands #magazinedreams #bodybuilding #Ash #scifi #lastbreath 

In this bonus episode of Gangland Wire, I follow up on my interview with Mafia historian Anthony DeStefano to discuss New York City's organized crime more. One of the most significant topics Anthony and I covered was the Alto Nights social club. This was not only the title, but also the central character in the recent Mafia film written by Goodfellas scribe Nicholas Pileggi, who starred Robert De Niro in dual roles. Gary sets the record straight on two pivotal New York crime hangouts—the Ravenite Social Club and the Alto Knights Social Club—which the media frequently confuse. The Ravenite at 247 Mulberry, tied to Carlo Gambino, played a crucial role in his rise to power after Albert Anastasia's assassination. Meanwhile, the Alto Knights Social Club, at 86 Kenmarre, emerged from the old Cafe Royale, a well-known bookmaking hub, solidifying its place in Genovese family history. Only three blocks separated these clubs, but they were miles apart in Mafia history. Listeners will hear about notorious gangsters who frequented the Alto Knights, including Vito Genovese, Michael Miranda, and infamous enforcer Buster Ardito. Through historical anecdotes and law enforcement surveillance records, this episode paints a vivid picture of mob life—its power struggles, criminal enterprises, and the relentless pursuit by federal authorities. Click the link on Anthony DeStefano's name to see his mob books. Subscribe to get gangster stories weekly Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to "buy me a cup of coffee" To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent Brothers against Brothers, the documentary, click here.  To rent Gangland Wire, the documentary, click here To buy my Kindle book, Leaving Vegas: The True Story of How FBI Wiretaps Ended Mob Domination of Las Vegas Casinos. To subscribe on iTunes click here. Please give me a review and help others find the podcast. Donate to the podcast. Click here! Transcript [0:00] Well, hey, all you wiretappers. Good to be back here in Studio Gangland Wire. A little bonus episode here. Hopefully, you just listened to or watched my interview with Anthony DeStefano, who had these books about Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, and from which Nick Pileggi researched to write his screenplay for the most recent movie that's just released, Alto Nights, It's a pretty interesting movie. We haven't seen a movie about the mob in the 50s since the 50s or the 60s, I don't think. And they talk about the Alto Knight Social Club. That's what this was all about, the Alto Knight Social Club. It was a Genovese social club. But what I've noticed is there's a lot of discussion about where was this club? And there's a whole school of thought, thanks to the New York Times or another New York newspaper, were obviously conflating the Ravenite Social Club and the Alto Knights Social Club. Two different clubs. So let's look at the Ravenite, which was at 247 Mulberry Street. And what the papers are saying, that the Alto Knights name was changed by Carlo Gambino when he inherited it from Albert Anastasia after he was killed. Barbershop Quartet, if you remember, murdered him in the Barbershare most famous mob photos ever, I think. Bosley Gambino changed it to the Raven Knights, Raven Knights, like, you know. [1:26] Knights with a sword and the raven, because he loved the Edgar Allan Poe poem so much, the one called the Raven, you know, the Raven, quote, the Raven nevermore. Now, it seems kind of weird that Gambino must have been a pretty erudite, sophisticated mob boss. If you read Edgar Allan Poe and poems, you know, I remember it because it's just so immensely popular. It got to, you know, quote the Raven nevermore. It's such a great line that, you know, you've heard of it. I don't think I ever read the whole thing. It's certainly not for fun, maybe in school.

In this episode, we discuss the upcoming film ALTO KNIGHTS and the real history behind the legendary mob bosses it portrays. Frank Costello and Vito Genovese-two of the most powerful figures in organized crime- are both played by Robert De Niro. We explore their rivalry, their impact on the Mafia, and how Hollywood is bringing their story to the big screen.

In this episode of Gangland Wire, I sit down with award-winning journalist and Mafia historian Anthony DeStefano to discuss New York City's organized crime. We discuss his meticulous research on New York's most infamous mobsters and how his background in newspaper journalism has shaped his storytelling. One of the most significant topics we cover is Alto Nights, the highly anticipated Mafia film written by Goodfellas scribe Nicholas Pileggi and starring Robert De Niro in dual roles. Anthony shares how his books Top Hoodlum, which focuses on Frank Costello, and The Deadly Don: Vito Genovese Mafia Boss played a crucial role in Pileggi's research. He also gives us an inside look at the film's development, including how real-life mob history is translated to the big screen. We explore the legendary rivalry between Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, diving into their power struggles, assassination attempts, and Costello's efforts to legitimize himself while staying deeply tied to organized crime. Anthony reveals new details from unseen FBI interviews, shedding light on Costello's complex underworld dealings. We also discuss Costello's mentorship under Lucky Luciano, the infamous Manhattan meeting that escalated tensions with Genovese, and how Vincent “Chin” Gigante played an unexpected role in Costello's fate. Beyond the mobsters, we also examine the women behind the Mafia men, discussing how the personalities of Costello's and Genovese's wives influenced their rise and fall. Anthony breaks down the casting choices for Alto Nights and the creative liberties taken to heighten the drama. Finally, we reflect on why the public remains fascinated with Mafia history, from books to films to documentaries. If you love true crime, mob history, and behind-the-scenes Hollywood insights, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Click the link on Anthony DeStefano's name here to see his mob books. Subscribe to gangster stories weekly Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to "buy me a cup of coffee" To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent Brothers against Brothers, the documentary, click here.  To rent Gangland Wire, the documentary, click here To buy my Kindle book, Leaving Vegas: The True Story of How FBI Wiretaps Ended Mob Domination of Las Vegas Casinos. To subscribe on iTunes click here. Please give me a review and help others find the podcast. Donate to the podcast. Click here!   Transcript [0:00] Well, welcome, all you wiretappers out there. Good to be back here in the studio of Gangland Wire. We have a show today with Anthony DeStefano. Now, any of you guys that read my books, and especially about the New York Mafia families, you probably know this name, Anthony DeStefano. And welcome, Anthony. I'm really glad to have you on the show, because you have been a huge contributor to the knowledge base of Mafia history in this country. Welcome. Well, thank you. Thank you for having me, and thank you for that very kind word. You know, I've read some of those books, and you're a good writer. You're like an old newspaper guy, right? [0:38] Well, yeah, I still am. That's right. You still are. You and, well, Nick Pileggiis an old newspaper guy. Larry McShane is a newspaper guy. There's several of you guys in New York that kind of cut your teeth on the mob news, and there's a lot of news there. And speaking of Nick Pileggi, you got involved with this movie that he's written a screenplay for called Alto Knights. It's creating quite a stir among mob fans right now. They're really anxiously waiting for this movie to come out with Robert De Niro playing two parts of [1:13] all things. I don't know how that works, but we'll see when the movie comes out. So how did you get involved with this? I'm sure you know Nick Pileggi and known him for quite a while.

Es 1957, en Nueva York. Más de 60 capos de la mafia estadounidense se reúnen para una ocasión especial: Vito Genovese está por ser nombrado el jefe absoluto. A lo lejos se escuchan sirenas acercándose con rapidez, la policía recibió una llamada y prepara una redada. A la distancia y desde su auto se encuentra el aún líder de la mafia, Frank Costello, quien decide tomar venganza contra ellos. ¿Qué ocurrió? Te lo vamos a compartir en este episodio edición especial.

Acaba de llegar a las pantallas españolas “The Alto Knights”, una película en la que Robert De Niro interpreta a dos capos de la Mafia de Nueva York, Frank Costello y Vito Genovese. Dos personajes que se vienen a sumar a la larga lista de gángsters que De Niro a interpretado en el cine y que en este episodio repasamos. Recordamos también el 60 aniversario del fallecimiento de Ladislao Vajda, un director nacido en Hungría que se convirtió en uno de los realizadores más importantes del cine español de los años 50 del siglo pasado, responsable de películas como “Marcelino, pan y vino” o “El cebo”. Charlamos con el profesor y crítico cinematográfico Fernando Molero sobre cine y educación y en la sección de Jack Bourbon dedicada al cine del Oeste tenemos esta semana un western de John Ford: “El hombre que mató a Liberty Balance” con James Stewart, John Wayne y Lee Marvin de protagonistas.

Acaba de llegar a las pantallas españolas “The Alto Knights”, una película en la que Robert De Niro interpreta a dos capos de la Mafia de Nueva York, Frank Costello y Vito Genovese. Dos personajes que se vienen a sumar a la larga lista de gángsters que De Niro a interpretado en el cine y que en este episodio repasamos. Recordamos también el 60 aniversario del fallecimiento de Ladislao Vajda, un director nacido en Hungría que se convirtió en uno de los realizadores más importantes del cine español de los años 50 del siglo pasado, responsable de películas como “Marcelino, pan y vino” o “El cebo”. Charlamos con el profesor y crítico cinematográfico Fernando Molero sobre cine y educación y en la sección de Jack Bourbon dedicada al cine del Oeste tenemos esta semana un western de John Ford: “El hombre que mató a Liberty Balance” con James Stewart, John Wayne y Lee Marvin de protagonistas.

A little birdie told us you were looking for a new episode of our Breakfast All Day podcast, so we whipped one up for you (and whistled a happy tune while we did it). We have a full slate of reviews for you this time. "Snow White" is the big movie of the week: the latest live-action reimagining of a Disney animation classic. Rachel Zegler stars as the O.G. princess, with Gal Gadot playing the Evil Queen. Lots of people are mad at this movie for a variety of ridiculous reasons. If you decide to see it for yourself, let us know what you think. It's in theaters. Also opening this week, finally, is "Magazine Dreams." This is the film that was supposed to cement Jonathan Majors' status as a major talent of our time -- then he was arrested and convicted of assault and harassment. He gives an incredible performance in a film filled with craft, if you can separate the art from the artist, and we don't blame you if you can't. It's tough. In theaters. We also catch up with the indie baseball movie "Eephus," which is a delightfully shaggy hang. Carson Lund fills the screen with eccentric characters and a rich sense of place, inspired by his baseball-obsessed youth in Nashua, NH. We both loved this movie. In limited release; find out here when it's playing near you: https://www.eephusfilm.com/ Finally, we review a movie you probably had no idea existed: "The Alto Knights," starring Robert De Niro in dual roles as New York gangsters Frank Costello and Vito Genovese. Director Barry Levinson goes through the motions in trotting out mob tropes. It's also in theaters, but you can miss this one. Thanks for hanging out with us! * Subscribe to Christy's Saturday Matinee newsletter: https://christylemire.beehiiv.com/

Hope Hopkinson talks to director Barry Levinson about his new film, The Alto Knights. Directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert De Niro, The Alto Knights follows two of New York's most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, and how their separate paths to power place them on a deadly collision course. If you'd like to send us a voice memo for use in a future episode, please email podcast@picturehouses.co.uk. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Follow us on Spotify. Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with @picturehouses. Find our latest cinema listings at picturehouses.com.  Produced by Stripped Media. Thank you for listening. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate, review and share with your friends. Vive le Cinema.

The incredible Robert De Niro and producer Irwin Winkler talk about their new movie 'The Alto Knights'.De Niro tells Dave about how Irwin Winkler came up with the brilliant idea of Robert De Niro playing both mob bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese and how he hitchhiked in Cork when he was a teenager.

Sen. Chuck Schumer joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss the new Israeli strikes on Gaza, his leadership in the Senate and his new book, "Antisemitism in America: A Warning." In the book, he calls the surge in antisemitism a "five-alarm fire" that threatens democracy. "The White Lotus" heads to Thailand for season three, where luxury and drama collide. Leslie Bibb stars as Kate Bohr, a woman navigating rekindled friendships that aren't as picture-perfect as they seem. She breaks down the season's rising tensions and what fans can expect. Emmy-winning actor Debra Messing, best known for "Will & Grace," takes on a dramatic new role in "The Alto Knights." She stars as Bobbie Costello, the wife of notorious crime boss Frank Costello, played by Robert De Niro. Messing talks about the film and her experience working with the legendary actor. According to the IRS, 61.4 million tax returns have been received and more than 60.7 have been processed. CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss how to get your refund quickly, this year's average refund amount and how to invest it. Universal Music Group is asking a judge to throw out Drake's defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar's hit song "Not Like Us." The label's court filing uses strong language to defend Lamar's lyrics, escalating the ongoing feud between the hip-hop stars. Adriana Diaz reports. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We meet with Fox News anchor and reporter, Eric Shawn. to discuss the series Frank Costello-The Real-Life Godfather. We dive into Costello's powerful influence, his connections to the Mafia and politics, and the lasting legacy of the man they called the Prime Minister of the Mafia. Don't miss this fascinating look at one of organized crime's most notorious figures.

In this episode, Gary Jenkins interviews Kansas City-based screenwriter and author John Sanders, who brings compelling insights into the life of Owney Madden—a notorious figure in organized crime. As a former Kansas City police detective, I've always been fascinated by mob history, and John's unique perspective, intertwined with personal family stories, provides a captivating look into Madden's life. We trace Madden's journey from his early days with the Gophers gang in New York City to his days as a respected citizen in Hot Springs, Arkansas. John shares gripping tales of Madden's resilience, including surviving multiple gunshots, which underscore the brutal realities of the gangster lifestyle. Madden's transformation from street thug to savvy businessman during Prohibition paints a picture of a man whose rise to power was fueled by sharp business instincts and connections with major players like Frank Costello. Our conversation explores Madden's partnerships with colorful characters, including Big Frenchy DeMange, Lucky Luciano, and Meyer Lansky, as he navigated the cutthroat world of organized crime. From his ownership of the famed Cotton Club to his brewery, Madden's ventures reveal the strategic moves that solidified his influence in 1920s New York. We also discuss Madden's eventual downfall and the power struggles that led to dramatic events, such as Mad Dog Coll's kidnapping of Big Frenchy. This episode ultimately sealed Coll's fate. These stories shed light on the treacherous nature of mob alliances, where loyalty is fleeting and betrayals are often fatal. Finally, John delves into Madden's later years in Hot Springs, where he became a respected figure in the community. His transition from notorious gangster to local businessman highlights redemption themes and human behavior's complexities. Alongside John's family anecdotes, we discuss Hot Springs as a place of historical intrigue—a resort town with a darker past as a haven for mobsters. Tune in to this fascinating conversation on Owney Madden's life and legacy as we unravel the cultural and historical threads that make his story unforgettable. Subscribe to get new gangster stories every week. Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to "buy me a cup of coffee" To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent Brothers against Brothers, the documentary, click here.  To rent Gangland Wire, the documentary, click here To buy my Kindle book, Leaving Vegas: The True Story of How FBI Wiretaps Ended Mob Domination of Las Vegas Casinos. To subscribe on iTunes click here. Please give me a review and help others find the podcast. Donate to the podcast. Click here! Transcript [0:00] Well, hey, welcome all you wiretappers out there. It's good to be back here [0:03] in the studio of Gangland Wire. You know, this is Gary Jenkins, your host and producer of Gangland Wire podcast. I am a former retired, not former, retired Kansas City police detective and sergeant. I was in the intelligence unit for 13 years, 14 maybe altogether. [0:21] And, you know, after I left, I got into making documentary films and i made three documentary films you can find on amazon just search for my name and mafia you'll find all kinds of stuff about me and what i've done so we won't belabor that but i let's get on to the show i have a man that i recently met a kansas city man is john sanders he's a kansas city based screenwriter and author welcome john thanks carrie i appreciate it all right well john got hold of me and he just wanted to meet and talk about the mob because he had this big interest in it so we met the coffee shop here close to me and had a had a nice long conversation and and he was telling me in particular he's been working on something about only madden and i hadn't done anything on only madden or if i did it was a long time ago and the early begin...

Anthony "Little Augie" Carfano was a powerful figure in New York's mafia, rising through the ranks during Prohibition and establishing himself as a key player in the Luciano crime family, running lucrative gambling operations in New York and Miami. His loyalty to Frank Costello and refusal to align with Vito Genovese during a power struggle in the late 1950s marked him as a threat. On September 25, 1959, Carfano and socialite Janet Palermo were executed in a mafia hit likely orchestrated by Genovese. Carfano's murder symbolized the end of the old guard in the mafia and the rise of a more ruthless generation of mobsters. Despite being a significant mafia hit, the case remains unsolved, and Carfano's death is remembered as a turning point in the violent evolution of organized crime.(commercial at 9:38)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Anthony "Little Augie" Carfano was a powerful figure in New York's mafia, rising through the ranks during Prohibition and establishing himself as a key player in the Luciano crime family, running lucrative gambling operations in New York and Miami. His loyalty to Frank Costello and refusal to align with Vito Genovese during a power struggle in the late 1950s marked him as a threat. On September 25, 1959, Carfano and socialite Janet Palermo were executed in a mafia hit likely orchestrated by Genovese. Carfano's murder symbolized the end of the old guard in the mafia and the rise of a more ruthless generation of mobsters. Despite being a significant mafia hit, the case remains unsolved, and Carfano's death is remembered as a turning point in the violent evolution of organized crime.(commercial at 9:38)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Anthony "Little Augie" Carfano was a powerful figure in New York's mafia, rising through the ranks during Prohibition and establishing himself as a key player in the Luciano crime family, running lucrative gambling operations in New York and Miami. His loyalty to Frank Costello and refusal to align with Vito Genovese during a power struggle in the late 1950s marked him as a threat. On September 25, 1959, Carfano and socialite Janet Palermo were executed in a mafia hit likely orchestrated by Genovese. Carfano's murder symbolized the end of the old guard in the mafia and the rise of a more ruthless generation of mobsters. Despite being a significant mafia hit, the case remains unsolved, and Carfano's death is remembered as a turning point in the violent evolution of organized crime.(commercial at 9:38)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

The Godfather I & II , Seabiscuit,  Any Given Sunday Rush Hour 2Gianni's impactful book called : Hollywood Godfather: My Life in the Movies & The Mob! I read it cover to cover because it was intense & fascinating.Actor Gianni Russo has led an intriguing life. The Movie The Godfather was young Gianni's debut as an actor.The Godfather is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made, as well as a landmark of the gangster genre. It was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1990, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and is ranked the second-greatest film in American cinema (behind Citizen Kane) by the American Film Institute.Gianni Russo was a Mid- Twenties handsome  mobster with no acting experience when he walked onto the set of The Godfather and entered Hollywood history. He played Carlo Rizzi, the husband of Connie Corleone, who set her brother Sonny—played by James Caan—up for a hit. Russo didn't have to act—he knew the mob inside and out: from his childhood in Little Italy, where Mafia legend Frank Costello took him under his wing.Along the way, Russo befriended Frank Sinatra, who became his son's godfather, and Marlon Brando, who mentored his career as an actor after trying to get Francis Ford Coppola to fire him from The Godfather. Russo had passionate affairs with Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minelli, and scores of other celebrities. He went on to become a producer and starred in The Godfather: Parts I and II, Seabiscuit, Any Given Sunday and Rush Hour 2, among many other films.Hollywood Godfather is a no-holds-barred account of a life filled with violence, glamour, sex—and fun.Gianni Russo Wines launched nationally in 2009. And he has an expanded product line coming out this year.Born in Manhattan and raised in Little Italy and Staten Island, Russo overcame polio as a child to start his first “business” at the tender age of twelve, selling pens and erasers on the street corners. At eighteen Russo made his first trip to Miami, where he began to dabble in show-business, working in nightclubs and hotspots before deciding to pursue acting and move to Hollywood.His Book: Hollywood Godfather: My Life in the Movies & the Mob is an eye-opening read.All Rights Reserved © 2024© 2024 Building Abundant Success!!Join Me on ~ iHeart Media @ https://tinyurl.com/iHeartBASSpot Me on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yxuy23baAmazon Music ~ https://tinyurl.com/AmzBASAudacy:  https://tinyurl.com/BASAud

Vincent "The Chin" Gigante was a notorious mob boss who led the Genovese crime family, one of the most powerful Mafia organizations in the United States, from the early 1980s until his arrest and conviction in the 1990s. Born in 1928 in New York City's Lower East Side, Gigante rose through the Mafia ranks by carrying out violent enforcement tasks, including a famous assassination attempt on mob boss Frank Costello in 1957.Gigante became infamous not only for his control over the Genovese family but also for his bizarre public behavior, which earned him the nickname "The Oddfather." He would often wander the streets in a bathrobe, appearing mentally unfit, which was later revealed to be a calculated act to avoid prosecution. For decades, this ruse successfully kept him out of prison as his lawyers argued he was too mentally ill to stand trial.Despite his efforts to evade justice, Gigante was eventually convicted of racketeering and other charges in 1997 and sentenced to prison, where he continued his insanity act until finally admitting it was a ruse in 2003. He died in 2005, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most enigmatic and cunning figures in organized crime history.(commercial at 11:52)to contact me:bobbyapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Today's episode of "We the 66" is with none other than "The Godfather" actor Gianni Russo, who played the drunken, abusive son Carlo Rizzi in the iconic film. Russo overcame insurmountable odds to land that role: First, he was a child with with polio, and second he had never had a movie role in his entire life. He went from zero acting experience to starring in what many consider to be the greatest movie of all time. How did he get there? Well, he would tell you it came down to his mob connections. He started working for Frank Costello as a kid and gradually rose the ranks, beating his polio and allegedly sleeping with Marilyn Monroe along the way. After starring in "The Godfather," he became a successful nightclub owner in Vegas. On one fateful eve in 1988, he shot and killed a man in his club. The bad news, Russo says, is that the guy was an underboss for Pablo Escobar. Among many others, Russo recounts the outlandish tale of going down to Colombia to see Pablo Escobar and ask for forgiveness. He says Escobar only granted him forgiveness because he loved the Godfather. We discuss the mafia's involvement with various the most important figures and events of the mid-20th century, from JFK to Ronald Reagan.

THE DEPARTED Undercover cop Billy Costigan infiltrates gangland chief Frank Costello's organization, while career criminal Colin Sullivan acts as a spy in the State Police for his syndicate boss. As both sides discover a mole, Billy and Colin must uncover each other's identities to survive. Craig, Alan and guest Brendan Agnew talk about Boston food, nasty weather, bloody falls and the movie “The Departed” on this week's Matinee Heroes! Show Notes 0:51 Craig, Alan and Brendan Agnew talk about the nasty weather down south. 7:53 Craig, Alan and Brendan discuss "The Departed" 32:04 Recasting 54:54  Double Feature 58:14 Final Thoughts 1:02:40 A preview of next week's episode "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" Next week, we talk alternative history with Quinton Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time In Hollywood" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELeMaP8EPAA

Jack O'Halloran : Family LegacyJack Pagano has always felt he is different. Smart and physically talented, the normal pursuits of youth―women and sports―have always come a little too easy to him and left him unfulfilled. At age seventeen, Jack is eager to leave high school and begin his college career.But the schooling that lies ahead of him is of a far different variety than he could have ever imagined.Albert Anastasia, the notorious leader of Murder, Inc., appears and claims Pagano as his son. But before Jack can make heads or tails of his new-found father, Anastasia is gunned down at the Park Sheraton Hotel.Under the tutelage of his late father's associates, Meyer Lansky and Frank Costello, Jack enters a world where crime and politics, money and murder, and the American way of life are all but a hand's breadth apart and inextricably linked.At the same time, another father is grooming his son to further his plans: Joseph Kennedy, the patriarch of what will become American's ruling dynasty, has set his sights on the White House―and with the help of some old friends in Chicago, his son, also Jack, will rise to power.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Renowned for his expertise in 19th-century history, Nevada & Las Vegas welcomes a distinguished historian to the show to delve into the rich history of Tropicana. Beginning our discussion with his experiences in Las Vegas and his tenure at The Valley Times, which intersected with organized crime, we segue seamlessly into his initial impressions upon hearing the name "Tropicana."Set to become the new home of the Las Vegas A's baseball stadium, Tropicana has a storied past intertwined with the city's underworld. Initially touted as "The Tiffany of the Strip," its true colors were revealed following a failed assassination attempt on Frank Costello in New York.From Joe Agosto's oversight of the Folies Bergere, operating without a license, to Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal's residence at the Tropicana, which sparks anecdotes about Michael's father's views on Sharon Stone's portrayal of Geri in "Casino," the property has navigated a complex path to the present day, often contending with larger competitors.The integration of a new resort alongside the baseball stadium prompts reflections on past events, such as the 1984 labor dispute that culminated in a bomb explosion in the Tropicana's parking lot. The venue has hosted a myriad of legendary performers, from Ernie Kovacs and Benny Goodman to contemporary acts like Wayne Newton and productions like "Mamma Mia." Notably, the Tropicana also served as a backdrop for iconic television shows like "Charlie's Angels" and the filming of "The Godfather" in 1972.Contemplating the announcement of the Tropicana as the stadium site, concerns arise about preserving the essence of old Las Vegas amidst the city's rapid evolution. The fate of the iconic stained-glass ceiling in the casino is pondered, along with reminiscences of what will be missed about the Tropicana.In summary, the discussion illuminates Tropicana's multifaceted history and its role in shaping the identity of Las Vegas, while also raising questions about the city's future direction and the preservation of its nostalgic landmarks.Michael Green Link:https://www.unlv.edu/people/michael-greenTropicana Links:Hotel Site (if still operational): https://casinos.ballys.com/tropicana-las-vegas/Folies Bergere Last Dance Video: https://bit.ly/4bXpRSlPhoto of Iconic Stained-Glass Ceiling: https://www.casino.org/vitalvegas/say-aint-tropicana-casino-lose-stained-glass-ceiling/Before the Lights Links:A Heartbeat & A Guitar: Johnny Cash & the Making of Bitter Tear Docuseries: https://www.beforethelightspod.com/docuseries/bitter-tearsHire Tommy to Speak: https://www.beforethelightspod.com/public-speakingBecome a BTL Member: https://www.beforethelightspod.com/supportBefore the Lights Website: https://www.beforethelightspod.com/Get Tommy a Glass of VinoSupport the showFollow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforethelightspodcast/Follow the show on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/beforethelightspodcast/Follow the show on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beforethelightspodcast?lang=enFollow Tommy on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/tcanale3Rate & Review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-the-lights/id1501245041Email the host: beforethelightspod@gmail.com

One of the most famous mobsters in the history of the United States, Costello rose to the top and knew went to retire at the right time.

Our guest at this time made his name on the set of Godfather, but the life of Gianni Russo is a film of its own. During our conversation, Gianni told us stories about characters like Frank Costello, Frank Sinatra, and Robert De Niro while uncovering the history of organized crime in the United States and giving us snippets of his upcoming book "Mafia Secrets". Enjoy!

À l'assaut de la Maison Blanche ! Assassinats politiques, corruption massive, chantages sexuels, fraudes électorales, menaces de mort, pactes machiavéliques, la Cosa Nostra a appliqué des méthodes impitoyables pour infiltrer le sommet de l'État. Dans la deuxième partie de cet épisode, Gaël et Geoffroy dévoilent les relations secrètes des présidents Roosevelt, Truman et Kennedy avec la pègre et relatent les innombrables complots mafieux qui ont influé sur l'exercice du pouvoir pendant quatre décennies. Une relecture fascinante de l'histoire des Etats-Unis qui éclaire la part d'ombre de la démocratie américaine sous un nouveau jour. Musique : Thibaud R.  Habillage sonore / mixage : Alexandre Lechaux Facebook  Instagram  Twitter www.toutsavoir.fr Contact : tousparano@gmail.com  

The Godfather I & II , Seabiscuit,  Any Given Sunday Rush Hour 2Gianni's impactful book called : Hollywood Godfather: My Life in the Movies & The Mob! I read it cover to cover because it was intense & fascinating.Actor Gianni Russo has led an intriguing life. The Movie The Godfather was young Gianni's debut as an actor.The Godfather is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made, as well as a landmark of the gangster genre. It was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1990, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and is ranked the second-greatest film in American cinema (behind Citizen Kane) by the American Film Institute.Gianni Russo was a Mid- Twenties handsome  mobster with no acting experience when he walked onto the set of The Godfather and entered Hollywood history. He played Carlo Rizzi, the husband of Connie Corleone, who set her brother Sonny—played by James Caan—up for a hit. Russo didn't have to act—he knew the mob inside and out: from his childhood in Little Italy, where Mafia legend Frank Costello took him under his wing.Along the way, Russo befriended Frank Sinatra, who became his son's godfather, and Marlon Brando, who mentored his career as an actor after trying to get Francis Ford Coppola to fire him from The Godfather. Russo had passionate affairs with Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minelli, and scores of other celebrities. He went on to become a producer and starred in The Godfather: Parts I and II, Seabiscuit, Any Given Sunday and Rush Hour 2, among many other films.Hollywood Godfather is a no-holds-barred account of a life filled with violence, glamour, sex—and fun.Gianni Russo Wines launched nationally in 2009. And he has an expanded product line coming out this year.Born in Manhattan and raised in Little Italy and Staten Island, Russo overcame polio as a child to start his first “business” at the tender age of twelve, selling pens and erasers on the street corners. At eighteen Russo made his first trip to Miami, where he began to dabble in show-business, working in nightclubs and hotspots before deciding to pursue acting and move to Hollywood.His Book: Hollywood Godfather: My Life in the Movies & the Mob is an eye-opening read.All Rights Reserved © 2024© 2024 Building Abundant Success!!Join Me on ~ iHeart Media @ https://tinyurl.com/iHeartBASSpot Me on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yxuy23baAmazon Music ~ https://tinyurl.com/AmzBASAudacy:  https://tinyurl.com/BASAud

(***TIMESTAMPS in Description Below) ~ Gianni Russo is an actor, businessman, and author. He is most well known for playing Carlo Rizzi in the greatest movie ever made, “The Godfather.” EPISODE LINKS: - BUY GIANNI'S BOOK IN MY AMAZON STORE: https://amzn.to/3RPu952  - Julian Dorey PODCAST MERCH: https://juliandorey.myshopify.com/  - Support our Show on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey  - Join our DISCORD: https://discord.gg/QD7VhWWV  JULIAN YT CHANNELS: - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@UChs-BsSX71a_leuqUk7vtDg  - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily  - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP  GIANNI LINKS: - INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/realgiannirusso/  - WEBSITE: https://www.giannirusso.com/  ***TIMESTAMPS*** 0:00 - Gianni's childhood; Battling Polio  9:22 - Gianni Assassination attempt; Gianni gets Stems 15:32 - Gianni meets Mafia Boss Frank Costello 23:31 - Carlo Gambino; JFK 28:05 - The 5 Families of New York; Joe Bonanno; John Gotti 34:22 - Gianni never “made”; The Vatican & the Underworld 40:33 - Sicily; Owning rights to Marlon Brando's Don Corleone from “The Godfather” 49:11 - The Sopranos backstory; Gianni's Nightclub Killing Incident 59:13 - Gianni meets Pablo Escobar 1:09:43 - Gianni in his 20s working with Frank Costello; JFK Thoughts 1:16:46 - The Mob & New York Skyscrapers; Who really got Kennedy; Fidel Castro 1:23:32 - Week before JFK; Gianni has a lot of kids 1:31:31 - Behind the scenes stories of “The Godfather 1:40:46 - Little Italy & the Mob during “The Godfather” Days 1:44:50 - Did Gianni think “The Godfather” would be as big as it was?; Gianni & Marlon Brando Story 1:54:45 - Carlo gets beat up scene; Crazy Joe Gallo 2:02:04 - Gianni helped on set of “The Godfather”; Hanging out w/ Marlon Brando 2:12:40 - Gianni's relationship with Frank Sinatra 2:18:49 - Marilyn Monroe & Gianni 2:27:50 - Gianni remembers Marilyn Monroe's death 2:36:21 - Kennedy Family & Bootlegging; The Copacabana Yankees Altercation 2:44:37 - Gianni's fame after “The Godfather” 2:53:30 - Gianni's Next Move CREDITS: - Hosted & Produced by Julian D. Dorey - Intro & Episode Edited by Alessi Allaman ~ Get $150 Off The Eight Sleep Pod Pro Mattress / Mattress Cover (USING CODE: “JULIANDOREY”): https://eight-sleep.ioym.net/trendifier Julian's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey ~ Music via Artlist.io ~ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 184 - Gianni Russo

Jimmy Hoffa, Detroit, labor unions, Teamsters, Syndicate, New Orleans mafia. the Five Families, the Chicago Outfit, the Detroit Partnership, Frank Costello, Krogers, labor violence, mafia infiltration of labor movement, Kennedy family, JFK, RFK, Joseph P Kennedy, Joseph P in Hollywood, JFK assassination, RFK assassination, "Get Hoffa," Richard Nixon, Hoffa's role in drug trafficking, 1948 Italian elections, Gladio, the forces behind Hoffa's disappearance, Frank Sheeran, Russell Bufalino, Atlantic City, Pennsylvania mafia, "The irishman", why Hoffa still matters, Marilyn Monroe, conspiracy theories about Monroe/Kennedys & Monroe's death, Jack Clemmons, Frank Capell, Sovereign Order of Saint JohnMusic by: Keith Allen Dennishttps://keithallendennis.bandcamp.com/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gianni Russo (The Godfather, Any Given Sunday, Seabiscuit, Super Mario Bros, and host of The Hollywood Godfather podcast) joins SOMETHIN' CRUNCHY to discuss playing Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather, losing his virginity to Marlyn Monroe, life in Hollywood, his days in the mob working for Frank Costello, stories with Elvis Presley & Frank Sinatra, escaping Pablo Escobar, his latest ventures, and more! Sponsored by: Magic Mind (Discount Code = CRUNCHY20)

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history with his unique perception of the mafia. Gary interviews author Ronald Fried about his book on Frank Costello. Mr. Fried researched Costello and crafted a novel using actual situations and Costello's exact language taken from newspapers, court proceedings, and transcripts from the famous … Frank Costello – The Underworld's Prime Minister Read More » The post Frank Costello – The Underworld's Prime Minister appeared first on Gangland Wire.