Posted on 12/16/2015 3:32:44 PM PST by Kid Shelleen
Thirty years ago Wednesday, shots rang out in front of Sparks Steak House in Midtown, leaving then-Gambino crime boss Paul Castellano dead in the gutter, and signaling the rise to power of John Gotti who would soon become the most famous gangster in America.
It was also a development, according to mob experts, that ultimately speeded up the demise of the five mob families in New York City.
"It was one of the most singular acts that altered the existence of the New York Mafia," said Phil Scala the retired head of the FBI squad that investigated the Gambino family.
"John Gotti took the La Cosa Nostra rulebook and shot it full of holes on East 46th St. and Third Ave.," Scala said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
In color IIRC, Paul Castellano was wearing a very nice suit, and you could see his silk socks.
Something Gordon Gekko would wear at the time.
I wonder if Trump knew this guy as he was kind of a big deal back then.
I had just moved out to New Jersey right before this happened. For a guy from the Midwest it was sure an eye-opener. The more I worked there the more obvious it became how big the mob was. One time at a site I was in the tall brush underneath the freeway by Newark Airport. I was just about to pop out of the brush onto a dirt trail but spied two limos parked side by side. I took the long way around instead!
Sterling Hayden was a war hero, served this country honorably, yet he admired the Soviets.
I still can't get over Burl Ives and Burgess Meredith being such pinkos, either.
Great actors, but WHY be commies?
Every time I see Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, I can't believe Sam the Snowman leaned so far to the left.
Ruins such a wonderful classic.
Yeah, you DO have to go back 30 years to find examples of Letterman being funny.
Interesting that Gotti & his hitmen wore Russian style ushanka fur hats as they approached Castellano’s limo.
They wanted to look as un-Italian as possible, and it worked.
Agree - I think both are in the top ten ever produced, actually.
That being said, III is an abomination.
Another great movie, featuring Bruno Kirby, as well as Marlon Brando, and Matthew Broderick, was “The Freshman.” It’s also a “mafia movie.”
Mark
I remember Abe Vigoda being interviewed by Johnny Carson, and when asked about filming The Godfather, said that people watching the filming were frightened, because the cast really did look like a bunch of mafiosi.
I really don’t remember Abe Vigoda doing anything other than The Godfather, Barney Miller, and the short-lived spin-off show...
Mark
And being a staple on David Letterman.
That is not Paul Castellano. It is his driver/body guard/underboss Thomas Bilotti who was also whacked at the same time. Notice that the body appears to be in the street and you are looking at the driver's side of the Lincoln. Castellano was on the passenger's side of the car and fell on the sidewalk with his head still inside the car. Bilotti died with his feet pointing towards the car, Castellano with his feet pointing away.
I wonder if Trump knew this guy as he was kind of a big deal back then.
Given Trump's profession and the mob involvement in the building trades back then, probably. I don't think Trump was mobbed-up in any sense but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that he had contact with Castellano who often ran in legitimate business circles.
Thanks for the info.
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