Posted on 03/11/2019 11:38:15 AM PDT by Coleus
Jersey's real-life Sopranos By Ted Sherman | Posted February 10, 2019 at 11:30 AM | Updated February 10, 2019 at 06:11 PM 0 shares 56 Comments (Dwight J. Johnson | Star-Ledger file photo)
This is an updated version of a post that was originally published Aug. 13, 2015.
David Chase, who brought to life the fictional tale of a New Jersey crime family in “The Sopranos,” has a new story to tell.
Said to be a prequel to his HBO series of mob boss Tony Soprano, “The Many Saints of Newark," is set in the 1960s, during the Newark riots. It is right around the time there was a real godfather by the name of Ruggerio “Richie the Boot” Boiardo, who many believe inspired “The Sopranos.”
He was no saint.
Back in the 1960s and 70s, Boiardo was a ruthless and feared mob boss operating out of Newark. He had his hands in everything from gambling and loansharking to politics and labor unions, and had his hooks into the administration of Democratic Mayor Hugh J. Addonizio, who would be ultimately taken down in a major federal corruption investigation.
An associate of the Genovese crime family, the Boot was believed he was the model for the character Don Vito Corleone in Mario Puzo's book The Godfather.
But there are obvious nods to the Boiardo’s life that show up in the world of Tony Soprano.
Boiardo lived on an estate in suburban Livingston in a custom-build mansion that Life magazine once described as “'Transylvania traditional.” Tony lived in suburban North Caldwell, where he ambled down the long driveway in the morning to get The Star-Ledger.
(Excerpt) Read more at expo.nj.com ...
The New York families had funny names for the Jersey crews.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, which is a rather mobbed-up town.
Watching The Sopranos gave me this eerie, this stuff is all-too-familiar feeling.
and the mafia is still present and active in NJ, nothing changes, people just move up the ladder when positions open.
should have been written by Selwyn Raab, Mafia scholar.
I was living in North Jersey when they were getting rid of liquid toxic waste by mixing it in with everyone's home heating oil.
In Brockton, Mass they’d just put a 55 gallon drum of the stuff on a pickup truck with the dribbling spout hanging over the back.
I used to wonder where those long oily lines running down the middle of the street came from.
That's nasty though. Probably did it in the wee hours. Such nice people.
“where is jimmy hoffa? “
car trunk/car crusher/scrap metal furnace/deeetroit.
Or so my father sez.
lol. NO respect for them :)
You've seen Broadway Danny Rose, right? That scene where the guy's tearing up twenties is perfect. Always wondered how Woody Allen knew about that. Couldn't possibly have made it up.
These are the people lining the pockets of, or otherwise influencing, those in the GOP who oppose the wall.
The wall would significantly impact their fortunes.
GREAT movie
I’ve known wiseguys and man do they squander. :)
But the higher ups, a number of them don’t want to part with a nickel.
That is one of many reasons Castellano died in front of a steak house :)
That's true of a lot of people who's name ends with a vowel!
But you know dat. Fuhgeddaboudit.
I can see that steakhouse (Sparks) from the window of my office! I’ve gone to eat there a few times but only when I can pay with my corporate card!
I remember Tony “The Plumber” DeCavelcante as the NJ mob boss back in the 1960’s... we were invited to the wedding of his son but we had to take a pass.
Don’t forget Jimmy the Brute - Kellyanne Conway’s grandfather.....
bump
I never knew, thanks for the info.
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