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Paul Castellano hit, 30 years later: The gruesome assassination of New York mob boss
NY Daily News ^ | 12/15/2015 | JOHN MARZULLI

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 ...


TOPICS: History; Society
KEYWORDS: castellano; east46thstandthird; fbisquad; gambino; gambinofamily; gambinos; glorification; gotti; johngotti; johnmarzulli; lacosanostra; mafia; midtown; mob; newyork; newyorkcity; newyorkdailynews; paulcastellano; philscala; sparkssteakhouse
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To: SamAdams76
I remember seeing photos from another angle.

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.

41 posted on 12/16/2015 10:23:49 PM PST by boop ("That's a hell of a price to pay for being stylish" -Dirty Harry)
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To: SamAdams76

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!


42 posted on 12/16/2015 10:34:08 PM PST by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts It is happening again.)
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To: minnesota_bound
I always hate to see such talented actors and finding out later that they were commies.

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.

43 posted on 12/16/2015 10:40:06 PM PST by boop ("That's a hell of a price to pay for being stylish" -Dirty Harry)
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To: pogo101
"Letterman — back when he was still funny"

Yeah, you DO have to go back 30 years to find examples of Letterman being funny.

44 posted on 12/16/2015 10:50:37 PM PST by boop ("That's a hell of a price to pay for being stylish" -Dirty Harry)
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To: SamAdams76

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.


45 posted on 12/17/2015 5:09:26 AM PST by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: trisham

Agree - I think both are in the top ten ever produced, actually.

That being said, III is an abomination.


46 posted on 12/17/2015 5:17:05 AM PST by day10 (You'll get nothing and like it!)
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To: trisham

Another great movie, featuring Bruno Kirby, as well as Marlon Brando, and Matthew Broderick, was “The Freshman.” It’s also a “mafia movie.”

Mark


47 posted on 12/17/2015 8:21:07 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: MarkL

Yes! I saw that one.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099615/


48 posted on 12/17/2015 8:25:25 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: boop

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


49 posted on 12/17/2015 8:27:55 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: MarkL

And being a staple on David Letterman.


50 posted on 12/17/2015 9:29:37 AM PST by OddLane
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To: boop
I remember seeing photos from another angle.

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.

51 posted on 12/17/2015 9:58:17 AM PST by CommerceComet (Ignore the GOP-e. Cruz to victory in 2016.)
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To: CommerceComet

Thanks for the info.


52 posted on 12/17/2015 11:03:49 AM PST by boop ("That's a hell of a price to pay for being stylish" -Dirty Harry)
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