0:00
imagine growing up in 1920s Brooklyn
0:02
where the aroma of bootleg whiskey
0:04
rocked you to sleep and The Whispers of
0:06
gangsters formed the backdrop of your
0:08
childhood with a father who was a
0:11
trafficker and siblings who had crime
0:13
ingrained in their genetics Joe Gallow
0:15
was never going to be just a pawn in the
0:17
mafia's game no he sought to direct his
0:21
own board boldly moving his pieces to
0:23
challenge the great bosses like profasi
0:26
and Columbo even in his downfall he was
0:30
when the trigger was finally pulled his
0:33
death was a feast of bullets and
0:35
conspiracy theories Joseph Gallow known
0:38
by his nickname crazy Joe or simply Joe
0:41
Gallow was born on April 7 1929 in the
0:46
Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn New
0:48
York he was born into a context where
0:51
the Italian American Mafia was already
0:55
thriving although the mafia had emerged
0:57
in the late 19th century the prohibition
1:00
era which began in 1919 and ended in
1:04
1933 provided an unprecedented
1:06
opportunity for organized crime the
1:09
demand for illegal alcohol led to a boom
1:11
in boot ledging and the mafia's
1:13
influence the Italian American Mafia
1:17
eagerly jumped into this new source of
1:19
income establishing complex networks of
1:22
Smugglers Distributors and
1:25
enforcers during this period powerful
1:28
figures like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano
1:32
emerged as key leaders these individuals
1:35
amassed fortunes and laid the
1:37
foundations of the modern Mafia with
1:39
their Ingenuity and ruthlessness under
1:42
Luciano's leadership the mafia
1:45
reorganized weaving a deadly web of five
1:48
families that ruled New York's illegal
1:51
businesses with an iron fist but their
1:54
reach knew no bounds from the Frantic
1:58
hustle of the docks to the luxurious
2:00
salons of Chicago their Dark Shadow
2:04
spread like a plague in this context
2:07
crazy Joe was born his father Umberto
2:12
was no stranger to the world of crime
2:14
having been a bootlegger during
2:16
prohibition the era when alcohol was
2:19
illegal in the United States the profits
2:21
from his illicit activities allowed him
2:24
to invest in Lone shocking and this
2:27
criminal vocation was something his
2:29
Three Sons embraced from a young age
2:33
paternal warnings were no match for the
2:35
stronger pull of criminal blood which
2:37
proved more effective than any advice
2:40
Joe grew up in the Kensington
2:42
neighborhood then considered part of
2:44
Flatbush where the Gallow family ran a
2:47
small Cafe called Jackie's charot
2:50
located at 108 Beverly Road this
2:53
establishment thrived on the pedestrian
2:55
traffic from the nearby commercial
2:57
district and subway station attracting a
2:59
iverse clientele that came and went
3:01
along the bustling Avenue Joe's
3:04
education began at the local Primary
3:06
School in Kensington at 16 he continued
3:09
his studies at the Brooklyn High School
3:10
of Automotive trades in Williamsburg
3:13
however his fate was sealed long before
3:15
he could imagine a life outside the
3:17
world of crime the influence of his
3:20
environment coupled with the lack of an
3:22
alternative life model led him to follow
3:26
Footsteps shortly after a car accident
3:30
that left him with a brain injury and a
3:33
nervous tick our protagonist along with
3:36
his associates embarked on a path deeply
3:39
entrenched in the criminal
3:41
underworld Peter diulus and Frank kilano
3:44
began planning various criminal schemes
3:47
throughout their lives while frequenting
3:49
the ace pool room on Church Avenue and a
3:52
candy store on 26 Street and 14th Avenue
3:56
in the nearby neighborhood of burrow
3:58
Park in 19 49 Joe Gallow watched the
4:01
movie ikis of death and Richard
4:04
whitmar's portrayal of gangster Tommy
4:06
Udo left such a profound impression on
4:09
him that he began to imitate the
4:11
character and recite his lines this
4:14
imitation not only reflected his
4:16
fascination with Gangster films but also
4:18
his desire to adopt a more fearsome
4:20
identity in the Underworld he was
4:23
entering in 1950 Joe's life took a
4:26
significant turn when he was arrested
4:28
and temporarily confined to the Kings
4:30
County Hospital Center where doctors
4:33
diagnosed him with paranoid
4:34
schizophrenia although stigmatized and
4:37
misunderstood at the time his mental
4:39
disorder was a constant in his life
4:42
affecting both his personal decisions
4:44
and his Infamous activities his brothers
4:47
Larry and Albert Gallow were his closest
4:49
criminal partners and together they
4:51
formed a feared Trio on the
4:53
streets their brotherly Bond and natural
4:56
inclination towards delinquency made
4:59
them a formidable force in New York City
5:01
beyond their family Dynamics the social
5:04
environment in which they were raised
5:06
and the early crimes they committed
5:08
together the early lives of Joe's two
5:10
brothers are not well documented the
5:13
oldest of the three was Larry born
5:15
around 1927 and the youngest was Albert
5:18
born in the mid1 1930s with Joe born
5:22
them they also had a sister Carmela
5:25
whose biography is also not well known
5:28
however she was apparently not as
5:30
involved in the family's criminal
5:33
Enterprises Joe's personal life was as
5:36
tumultuous as his criminal career he was
5:39
married twice his first marriage was to
5:42
Jeffy Lee Boyd a Las Vegas showgirl they
5:46
married sometime in 1960 and had a
5:49
daughter named Joe however their
5:52
relationship was as volatile as Joe's
5:54
life of crime and the marriage ended in
5:57
divorce nearly s years later in the
6:00
midst of the gang wars that plagued New
6:02
York the couple briefly reconciled but
6:05
the reunion did not last long they
6:10
1971 but it lasted only a few months
6:13
before they divorced again A year later
6:15
Gallow married a young actress named
6:18
Sina Essie this marriage was brief
6:20
lasting only a few months before he was
6:22
killed in a scene reminiscent of a crime
6:25
film Joe began his criminal career as a
6:29
thug and Hitman for Joseph profasi the
6:32
boss of the prati crime family his entry
6:36
into this underworld was facilitated by
6:38
his family environment where his father
6:41
and brothers were already deeply
6:43
involved in illegal activities Joseph
6:46
praki known as The Olive Oil King
6:49
quickly made a name for himself in New
6:51
York's organized crime scene after
6:53
arriving in the United States in 1920
6:56
one through a combination of cunning
6:58
strategic Alli es and ruthless brutality
7:02
profasi climbed the ranks to become the
7:04
boss of his own crime family in
7:07
1928 the prachi family would later
7:10
become one of the five families of
7:12
organized crime in New York City
7:15
continuing with our protagonist Joe
7:18
Gallow he not only helped with his
7:20
father's loone shocking business but
7:23
also played a crucial role in the
7:24
vending machine operations run by his
7:27
brother Larry these Ventures were seen
7:30
as the crown jewels of the family's
7:32
Enterprises generating substantial
7:34
income and consolidating the Gallow
7:37
family's power crazy Joe directly
7:40
oversaw a variety of criminal
7:42
Enterprises from Rigg dice games to high
7:45
stakes card games his headquarters was
7:47
in the dormitory a brick tenement
7:50
building at 51 President Street within
7:53
the Contemporary Columbia Street
7:54
Waterfront District this location which
7:58
previously housed the Gallow family's
8:00
vending machine interests became the
8:02
nerve center of their
8:04
operations in the basement of the
8:06
building Joe supposedly kept a pet lion
8:09
named Cleo symbolizing his power and
8:12
above all his extravagance as he
8:15
Consolidated his power and expanded his
8:17
influence Gallow continued to be a
8:19
significant figure in New York's
8:22
underworld Joe Gallow Diversified his
8:25
interests secretly owning several
8:27
nightclubs in Manhattan and two sweat
8:30
shops in the Garment District these
8:32
businesses not only increased his income
8:35
but also provided a facade of legitimacy
8:38
and a way to launder money from his
8:39
illicit activities in
8:42
1957 Joseph prati assigned him and his
8:45
gang a high-risk mission to assassinate
8:48
Albert Anastasia the feared boss of the
8:51
Anastasia crime family which would later
8:54
become the notorious Gambino family this
8:57
operation was requested by Carlo Gambino
8:59
boino Anastasia's underboss who aspired
9:03
to replace his Superior and needed
9:05
prof's collaboration to execute his plan
9:09
on October 25 of that year Albert
9:13
Anastasia entered the barber shop at the
9:15
park Sheran hotel in Midtown Manhattan
9:19
unaware that he was about to meet his
9:21
end as he relaxed in the barber's chair
9:24
two men with scarves covering their
9:26
faces Burst Into The Establishment
9:28
without saying a word word they pushed
9:30
the barber aside and open fire killing
9:32
Anastasia on the spot the Assassins of
9:36
Anastasia were never officially
9:38
identified but years later the Future
9:40
boss of the praki family Carmine perso
9:44
claimed that he and crazy Joe were the
9:46
shooters joking that they had been part
9:49
of gallows Barbershop Quinte in
9:52
1958 the three criminal brothers were
9:55
summoned to Washington DC to testify
9:58
before the mlen committee on organized
10:01
crime in the US Senate this committee
10:04
led by Senator John L mlen and advised
10:08
by Robert Francis Kennedy was determined
10:13
operations John mclen elected senator
10:16
from Arkansas was a formidable force in
10:19
the fight against organized crime during
10:21
their visit to Kennedy's office Joe
10:24
Gallow displayed his audacity and
10:26
Charisma by flirting with Kennedy's
10:28
Secretary and remarking that the carpet
10:31
in the office would be perfect for a
10:32
dice game under the scrutiny of Justice
10:36
The Three Brothers arrogantly stood
10:38
their ground on the witness stand the
10:41
Gallow Brothers didn't Flinch
10:43
maintaining their silence and defying
10:45
the power of the law with the cold
10:48
stoicism characteristic of true Mafia
10:51
men Joe's relationship with Joseph praki
10:55
was not one of blind loyalty he always
10:58
had an eye on his own own ascent and how
11:00
he could increase his influence within
11:02
the criminal family he led his ambition
11:05
and ruthless character led him to
11:07
challenge Pro's leadership triggering a
11:10
series of events that would shake the
11:12
foundations of the crime family this
11:15
bold attitude was a key factor in the
11:18
conflicts that led to the first internal
11:20
strife within the praki family which
11:23
eventually sparked the first Columbo War
11:26
Frank abat Marco a captain in the family
11:30
refused to pay the monthly tribute that
11:32
prophecy demanded from all his soldiers
11:35
this act of defiance was not only
11:37
difficult for profasi to accept but also
11:39
a significant financial blow as a baate
11:42
Marco controlled a lucrative numbers
11:44
game operation profasia insistence on
11:48
receiving his tribute and Abate Marco's
11:50
refusal set the stage for a violent and
11:53
bloody power struggle operating
11:56
illegally in Red Hook Brooklyn the this
11:59
illicit business brought in an average
12:02
income of $7,000 daily the Gallow
12:05
Brothers began to align themselves with
12:07
aate Marco purportedly encouraged by
12:10
Family bosses Carlo Gambino and Tommy
12:13
luches and also received support from
12:15
Carmine proo by then a prominent member
12:19
of the family however Abate Marco was
12:24
1959 in what appeared to be a direct
12:26
order from Joseph profasi as retaliation
12:31
Defiance a new escalation occurred on
12:36
1961 when Larry Joe and Albert made a
12:39
daring decision to kidnap four of Joseph
12:41
pra's top men among the hostages were
12:44
underboss Joseph maglio Chief's brother
12:48
Frank propety ke's brother Frank
12:50
prophecy Captain Salvatore musia and
12:54
Soldier John Simone this direct Act of
12:57
defiance aimed to pressure fi into
13:00
negotiating a more favorable Financial
13:02
arrangement for the Three Brothers Larry
13:05
and Albert sent Joe to California to
13:07
keep him safe and coordinate from a
13:09
distance however Joe Gallow known for
13:12
his brutality had even bloodier plans he
13:15
wanted to kill one of the hostages and
13:16
demand $100,000 as a condition to start
13:20
negotiations his idea faced strong
13:22
opposition from his brother Larry who
13:25
preferred a less violent strategy after
13:28
weeks of int in negotiations profasi and
13:31
his consigliere reached an agreement
13:33
with the gas securing the peaceful
13:37
hostages but the peace was short-lived
13:40
in midyear in a spirit of Revenge Joseph
13:43
profesi ordered the murders of Larry and
13:45
Joseph Joi a key member of the gang the
13:49
key member of the Gang The Killers under
13:51
proasus command lured Jolie into a trap
13:54
with the promise of a fishing trip only
13:56
to brutally murder him Larry also became
13:59
a Target but survived a strangulation
14:01
attempt orchestrated by Carmine perso
14:04
and Salvatore de Ambrosio at the Sahara
14:07
Club in East Flatbush a police officer
14:10
intervened just in time saving Larry's
14:13
life this failed assassination attempt
14:17
marked Carmine PR's betrayal of the gas
14:20
who had previously allied with him
14:22
against profasi before the strangulation
14:25
attempt the gang began referring to pero
14:28
as the snake for his betrayal the gang
14:31
war erupted with full ferocity resulting
14:34
in nine murders and three
14:36
disappearances Larry Joe and Albert
14:38
retreated to their headquarters while
14:40
the battle raged on during this conflict
14:44
perso was charged with the attempted
14:46
murder of Larry Gallow but the charges
14:48
were dismissed when Larry refused to
14:51
testify maintaining the mafia's Code of
14:53
Silence in November of that year crazy
14:57
Joe faced Justice and and was convicted
14:59
of conspiracy and extortion shortly
15:02
before Christmas he was sentenced to
15:04
serve between 7 and 14 years in prison
15:08
this sentence marked a crucial point in
15:10
his life temporarily removing him from
15:13
the crime scene but not stopping the
15:15
legend he had begun to build in 1962
15:19
while serving his prison sentence Joe's
15:21
brothers and five other gang members
15:24
performed a heroic act that briefly
15:26
garnered positive media attention Larry
15:29
and Albert entered a tenement building
15:31
near their Hideout that was on fire and
15:33
rescued six children and their mother
15:36
the incident was widely covered by the
15:38
media momentarily softening the gas
15:40
criminal reputation and portraying them
15:43
in a more human and heroic light despite
15:47
this brief positive image Joe continued
15:49
to be involved in criminal activities
15:51
during his time in prison he befriended
15:54
the African American Drug trafficker
15:57
Leroy Nikki Barnes who was serving time
15:59
for low-level drug trafficking Barnes
16:02
also had interactions with Matthew
16:04
Madonna a heroin trafficker associated
16:07
with the lues family always strategic
16:11
crazy Joe predicted barnes's rise to
16:14
power in the drug dens of Harlem earning
16:19
Untouchable Nikki Barnes began his
16:21
criminal career in the early
16:23
1960s focusing on building a heroin
16:26
trafficking Empire centered in Harlem he
16:29
controlled a significant portion of the
16:31
heroin trade and formed an organization
16:33
known as the council modeled after the
16:36
Italian-American Mafia to oversee drug
16:39
distribution in Manhattan the Bronx in
16:41
Brooklyn the council was Notorious for
16:44
its brutality and its ability to
16:46
maintain control through violence and
16:49
intimidation Joe Gallo's friendship with
16:51
Barnes grew so strong that Gallow took
16:55
Barnes under his wing teaching him how
16:57
to enhance his criminal
16:59
organization this demonstrated Gallo's
17:01
skill at manipulating and shaping his
17:04
environment even from behind bars in
17:08
1964 Joe filed a lawsuit against the
17:11
Department of Corrections claiming he
17:13
had been subjected to unusual and cruel
17:16
punishments at Green Haven after
17:18
allowing a black barber to cut his hair
17:21
prison commissioner characterized Gallow
17:24
as a confrontational inmate and
17:26
Troublemaker but this incident only
17:29
served to strengthen his image as a man
17:31
willing to challenge the system during
17:34
his time in prison our protagonist
17:37
showed another side of his personality
17:39
as he took up watercolor painting and
17:42
became an Avid Reader delving into
17:44
classic literature he worked as an
17:46
elevator operator in the prison
17:48
workshops and during a riot he rescued a
17:51
severely injured correctional officer
17:54
from a group of furious inmates this act
17:57
earned him favorable test testimony from
17:59
the officer at a parole hearing
18:01
showcasing once again his ability to
18:04
Garner allies even in the most
18:06
unexpected places Donald franos a fellow
18:10
inmate described Gallow as a
18:12
conversational and charismatic man with
18:14
excellent verbal and oratory skills from
18:17
Franco's perspective Gallow could
18:20
describe the cutting of a man's throat
18:22
with the same eloquence as he engaged in
18:24
Lively discussions about classical
18:26
literature this duality and his
18:29
personality between the ruthless
18:31
gangster and the lover of culture
18:34
contributed to his myth and the
18:36
fascination he exerted over those around
18:39
him in May 1968 while still in prison
18:43
Joe was deeply affected by the death of
18:45
his brother Larry from cancer this blow
18:48
had a profound impact on him emotionally
18:52
Behind Bars Larry's death shifted the
18:55
power dynamics within the gang his
18:57
passing created a leadership vacuum and
19:00
increased pressure on Joe to maintain
19:02
control and group cohesion Joe Gallow
19:05
was released from prison in
19:08
1971 after nearly a decade with a
19:10
renewed perspective and a Relentless
19:13
focus on his future in organized
19:16
crime however an important part of this
19:19
story remains unclear what had happened
19:22
with the profasi family in the 1960s
19:25
while crazy Joe served his sentence
19:27
during this time time the profasi family
19:30
underwent significant changes in 1962
19:34
Joseph profasi passed away after over 30
19:37
years leading the family business
19:39
leaving a power vacuum Joseph Columbo
19:42
took control of the family and continued
19:44
the battle against the rebellious Gallow
19:49
1963 a squad of Gallow gunmen repeatedly
19:52
shot at Carmine perso who miraculously
19:55
survived however by the end of the year
19:58
a peace agreement was reached through
20:00
negotiations with family boss Raymond
20:03
patriarcha bringing a temporary halt to
20:07
hostilities in that same year the mafia
20:10
commission discovered that maglio had
20:12
helped devise a plan to eliminate
20:14
several commission leaders leading to
20:16
his forced resignation Joseph Colombo a
20:19
member of the proaki family and a
20:22
betrayer of Mago was installed as the
20:24
new boss of the praki family which then
20:27
became the col crime family by the
20:30
commission's designation however Colombo
20:33
soon distanced himself from Gambino by
20:36
establishing the Italian American Civil
20:38
Rights League attracting significant
20:42
attention at this time crazy Joe was on
20:45
the brink of being released his second
20:48
wife Sina described him upon his release
20:51
as a mere shell of the one strikingly
20:53
handsome man he had been upon learning
20:56
this colomo and Joseph Jacob
20:59
invited him to a peace meeting offering
21:03
$100,000 however Gallow claimed not to
21:06
be bound by the 1963 peace agreement and
21:09
demanded $1 million to settle the
21:12
dispute Colombo rejected the
21:14
proposal on June 28th
21:18
1971 during a meeting at Columbus Circle
21:20
in Manhattan Columbo was shot three
21:23
times by an African-American gunman
21:25
named Jerome Johnson who was immediately
21:28
killed by Columbo's bodyguards Columbo
21:31
survived the shooting but was left
21:33
physically impaired until his death in
21:36
1978 while many in Columbo family
21:39
suspected crazy Joe of orchestrating the
21:41
shooting the police concluded that
21:43
Johnson acted alone however suspicion
21:46
persisted within the family that Joe had
21:50
assassination tensions between Joe and
21:52
the Colombo family continued to escalate
21:55
with Joe steadfastly maintaining that he
21:57
was not bound by the terms of the peace
21:59
agreement reached 8 years earlier this
22:02
Defiance led to fateful consequences on
22:08
1972 around 4:30 in the morning when Joe
22:11
Gallow and his family entered a
22:13
restaurant in Little Italy Manhattan to
22:16
celebrate his 43rd birthday he was
22:19
accompanied by his sister Carmela his
22:21
wife Cena their adopted daughter Lisa
22:25
his bodyguard Peter dietro and dietro
22:28
girlfriend earlier that night they had
22:31
been at the copaa bana with Jerry
22:34
Orbach on April 7 1972 around 4:30 in
22:38
the morning Joe Gallow and his wife
22:40
Martha entered a restaurant in Little
22:42
Italy Manhattan to celebrate his 43rd
22:46
birthday they had invited actors Don
22:48
Rickles and singer Peter L mongalo to
22:50
join them but both were unavailable due
22:53
to prior commitments meanwhile Joseph
22:56
luparelli an associate of the Columbo
22:58
family was at the bar and upon seeing
23:01
Joe Gallow immediately contacted Joseph
23:04
yakavi yakavi instructed luparelli to
23:08
recruit additional men to eliminate Gala
23:11
luparelli then called Philip Gambino
23:14
Carmine DiBiasi and two purported
23:16
members of the patriarcha family upon
23:19
arriving at the restaurant luparelli
23:21
stayed in the car while the other four
23:23
men entered through the back door and
23:25
opened fire with revolvers Gallow was
23:28
hit in the back elbow and
23:31
buttock despite his injuries he insulted
23:34
and attempted to draw his own gun to
23:36
protect his family he tried to flee
23:38
towards the main entrance but collapsed
23:41
on the street Gallow was rushed to
23:43
bigman downtown hospital where he was
23:45
pronounced dead shortly after 5:30
23:49
a.m. however there are conflicting
23:52
accounts of the murder Joe coffee a
23:55
homicide detective with the New York
23:59
always believed that Crazy Joe's killer
24:02
was a lone gunman additionally author
24:05
Charles bran points out that luparelli
24:07
statement was never corroborated bran
24:10
speculates that it may have been
24:11
misinformation ordered by the Columbo
24:14
family to ease tensions after the
24:16
shooting another version of the
24:18
assassination comes from Frank Sheron a
24:21
Hitman and union leader who claimed to
24:23
have been the sole shooter in the attack
24:25
on Joe Gallow acting under orders from
24:28
Mafia figure Russell buffalino Jerry
24:31
capisi a journalist and Mafia expert
24:34
suggested that if he had to choose
24:36
Sheeran would likely be the most
24:38
probable culprit behind the murder
24:41
however this version is disputed by
24:43
others like former Colombo family kappo
24:46
Michael Fran e and vilton Elliot Elliot
24:50
argues in an article that Sheeran was
24:52
not the killer regardless of which
24:55
version is believed Joe Gallow had been
24:58
a fascinated and his funeral was closely
25:00
monitored by the police his sister
25:03
Carmela passionately called for Revenge
25:07
beside his open casket intensifying the
25:10
already tense streets as Joey sought
25:12
retaliation meanwhile Albert Gallow
25:15
dispatched a Hitman from Las Vegas to
25:18
the Neapolitan noodle restaurant in
25:20
Manhattan where Joseph jacobelli alfons
25:23
prico and janaro langle were dining
25:27
however the Hitman mistook the the
25:28
mafiosos and shot four innocent
25:30
bystanders killing two of them following
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the botched attempt jacobelli fled to
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New York leaving Carmine preso nicknamed
25:38
the snake as the new boss of the Colombo
25:41
family if you found the unpredictable
25:43
story of Joey Gallow intriguing you
25:46
won't want to miss the fascinating life
25:48
of Roy Deo a notorious psychopath and
25:52
lunatic if you found this story
25:54
intriguing don't forget to like
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subscribe and hit the Bell icon for more
25:59
gripping Tales From history's underworld
26:01
stay tuned for our next episode thank
26:04
you for our next episode thank you for