Up next in 10
The REAL Godfather: How Frank Costello Built America's Greatest Criminal Empire
Feb 24, 2025
🎭 Uncover the remarkable journey of Frank Costello, the enigmatic mobster who revolutionized organized crime through wit rather than weapons. From humble beginnings as a poor immigrant to becoming America's most influential crime boss, his story reveals the dark genius behind building a criminal empire in the shadows of New York City.
📚 Through rare footage and expert interviews, discover how Costello earned his nickname "The Prime Minister of the Underworld" by mastering the art of corruption and wielding power through political connections rather than brute force.
🎯 Keywords: mafia documentary, organized crime, Frank Costello, mob boss, true crime, New York mafia, prohibition era, criminal empire, American history, gangster documentary
The REAL Godfather: How Frank Costello Built America's Greatest Criminal Empire 👑 | History Documentary
#TrueCrime #MafiaHistory #OrganizedCrime #NYCHistory #Documentary #AmericanHistory #Prohibition
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
everything about the story of organized crime in early 20th century America seems cloaked in dark history and Echoes
0:07
of fear yet if there is one individual often mentioned among the notorious
0:12
kingpins who set the foundations of modern underworld Secrets it is Frank
0:17
Costello despite being less widely recognized than some of his peers his influence on the structure of crime
0:24
families was profound weaving a network of affiliations that allowed him to step confidently among crooked politicians
0:31
seasoned criminals and any number of real Mafia stories swirling through the back alleys of New York this extensive
0:39
narrative will Trace his journey starting in a poor Southern Italian Village continuing through the hardships
0:45
of immigrant life and culminating in the alliances and rivalries that shaped an entire underworld all references to
0:53
other Infamous syndicates Unsolved Mysteries and the war for criminal dominance are rooted in historical
0:59
records and testimonies this retelling aims to unravel the complexities of that
1:04
period while creating an immersive portrait of Costello's Life and
1:09
Times part one roots in southern Italy Franchesco castiglia was born on
1:16
January 26th 1891 in a modest Village in the calabrian region of Italy Calabria
1:24
on the southern tip of the Italian Peninsula was known for its Rocky Fields meager farming process prospects and
1:30
distinctive traditions of community life his parents Luigi and Maria already
1:36
struggled to provide for their household by that time they had several children
1:41
and this new arrival added another layer of burden to a family already mired in poverty the Region's economic struggles
1:48
forced many calabrian families to consider leaving their ancestral lands in search of better
1:54
fortunes when Franchesco was just a small child some say no older than four
1:59
he and parts of his family faced an unwanted separation Luigi determined to
2:05
secure a brighter future decided to venture overseas to the United States He
2:10
harbored the hope that once he found stable work he could send for the rest of his kin sadly upon his arrival in
2:17
America Luigi realized that dreams of instant Prosperity were far from the reality awaiting him during these
2:24
transitional years the extended family in cabria continued living in Frugal condition
2:30
awaiting funds to pay for the rest of the passage after a couple of years Luigi managed to gather just enough
2:37
money with no small sacrifice on both sides to bring Maria and some of the
2:42
children across the Atlantic much of what is known about those times comes from Recollections that Franchesco who
2:49
would later adopt the name Frank Costello shared with Close Associates in his adult life he spoke about the
2:55
arduous Voyage the anxiety of stepping into a land where the language was enti entirely foreign and the unshakable
3:02
determination that had fueled their sacrifice when the family finally reached New York they opted for East
3:08
Harlem a crowded District overrun with immigrants from Italy's Southern regions
3:13
the area was a swirl of dialects Street vendors cramped Apartments local kids
3:19
scurrying around and unpaved Roads dotted with horsedrawn carts many in
3:24
East Harlem clung fervently to Regional identity preferring continuity with old world customs
3:30
for the castiglia clan it was a relief to find neighbors who spoke the same language and shared similar culinary
3:36
habits yet the hardships of daily life remained formidable long working hours
3:42
minimal wages and the everpresent possibility of harassment from Petty criminals who roam the impoverished
3:48
blocks Luigi attempted to make ends meet by running a small grocery store on one of the hustling streets work days were
3:55
endless and the prophets were poultry children were expected to help with chores at home or in the store though
4:02
such help rarely increased the overall income food was scarce leading to competition among siblings these early
4:09
struggles according to anecdotes sparked something in young Franchesco a fierce
4:14
protectiveness over his portion at Meal Time and an unwavering ambition to find a better path than the one his father
4:20
seemed resigned to even from a young age Franchesco felt consumed by frustration
4:26
whenever he saw Luigi passively accept each meager opportunity or defeat without
4:31
protest part two the streets of East Harlem at around 9 or 10 years old
4:38
Franchesco began attending school official documents from that period occasionally list his name as Frank
4:45
castiglia though he did make sporadic attempts to sit through classes Frank soon realized that formal education
4:51
bored him he found the Flash and excitement of urban street life infinitely more appealing than
4:56
memorizing English vocabulary outside the classroom he discovered the lure of
5:02
smalltime schemes stealing fruit from vendors running Contraband errands and
5:07
testing boundaries laid down by the neighborhood's Unwritten codes his older brother Eduardo was rumored to have
5:14
introduced him to the idea that petty theft could provide a quicker source of income than stocking shelves in the
5:20
family shop for a boy barely in his teens this sense of Mischief felt
5:26
enlivening naturally Luigi and Maria disapproved of Frank's Rowdy companions
5:31
they demanded that he avoid any encounters that might jeopardize his future neither lecture nor threat
5:37
however could quell the Bold desire that burned in Frank he wanted money
5:42
Independence and recognition in many ways this teenage Defiance foreshadowed
5:48
a lifetime spent navigating the edges of legality one day perhaps under paternal
5:53
pressure Frank begrudgingly tried his hand at an honest job he delivered posos
5:58
for a local company hauling the heavy wooden instruments up steep staircases within months fed up
6:05
with the low pay and sheer exhaustion he quit he reasoned that risking his
6:10
freedom on a street corner might be more financially rewarding than wearing himself out with manual labor that
6:15
offered scant prospects that choice soon led him into smaller conflicts with law
6:21
enforcement throughout the neighborhood the police presence Often overseen by officers of Irish heritage lurked around
6:29
every block one day an alert patrolman caught Frank trying to commit a petty robbery
6:34
handcuffed he was being led to the local Precinct sure that his parents would be horrified suddenly a local politician
6:42
intervened recognizing Frank from prior neighborhood dealings with a wink at the
6:47
officer the politician said he would personally see to the boy's discipline
6:53
Frank immediately grasped the significance of this vouching though the charges were dropped the words of that
6:59
political figure lingered in his memory a favor extended here a return favor
7:05
expected later this concept that forging influential connections was vital to
7:10
staying afloat stuck with him he realized that if he could align himself with those in power his path through the
7:17
underbelly of the city might become smoother learning how to navigate the web of bribes and hidden alliances would
7:24
become a defining feature of his Persona in the Underworld Secrets soon shaping his life
7:30
during these same years at some point between mischief and real crimes Frank changed his last name he took on
7:37
Castello an Irish sounding name that some believe made him less conspicuous others insist it was simply a ploy to
7:44
protect his parents identity regardless adopting the name Frank Costello was a
7:50
step in carving out an individual identity in a place where forging a new persona could mean the difference
7:55
between living above or below the radar unknown known to anyone at the time this new name would become
8:02
synonymous with cunning alliances and a pioneering approach to business in the Underworld of organized
8:09
crime part three shifting tides of early street gangs at the dawn of the 20th century
8:17
New York City teamed with diverse ethnic enclaves that rarely trusted each other
8:22
Irish gangs dominated certain Burrows while Jewish syndicates controlled others Italian criminal factions often
8:29
of Sicilian origin lorded over parts of Manhattan's Lower East Side East Harlem
8:34
and Brooklyn though these criminal groups shared some methods rackets extortion gambling Contraband they did
8:41
not blend loyalty was typically reserved for one's own ethnic Circle Frank's
8:47
immersion in East Harlem had naturally brought him into proximity with Italian and Sicilian gangs anchored by older
8:53
Associates who had arrived in America armed with the traditions of the old world one name still evoked fear among
9:00
longtime residents ignatio Lupo the wolf Lup linked to the earlier Blackhand
9:06
extortion rings that demanded payments from shopkeepers in exchange for protection the dreaded black handprint
9:12
on a letter threatened violence if tribute was withheld while these groups lacked the formal structure that future
9:18
crime families would adopt they did vigorously enforce omera silence before
9:24
authorities and Outsiders startling arrests eventually disrupted some of the old Network
9:30
by 1910 figures like Lupo and jpe morelo were charged for counterfeiting a new
9:36
wave of racketeers many from Naples or Calabria Rose to fill the void among
9:41
them was gios guchi a Neapolitan who understood the value of controlling local politics and police to advance
9:48
illegal businesses his violent end murdered by competing malif factors was
9:54
a grim demonstration of how fleeting power could be in these circles through it all young men like Frank Costello
10:01
observed closely learn in which methods or alliances ensured survival Costello began to adopt a
10:09
policy of discretion determined not to end up as easily Expendable as some who had been less careful he studied how
10:16
each gangster's downfall often stemmed from Reckless Behavior undone by either betrayal or official scrutiny despite
10:25
every precaution Costello faced a key turning point in 1915 he was underground at that time rarely
10:32
leaving his home without a firearm yet one afternoon local law enforcement caught him carrying an illegal revolver
10:39
in the subsequent hearing he tried to lie about his true identity but he found himself out of options when the judge
10:46
unconvinced by the shifting names read out a sobering record of Prior arrests for armed robbery and Battery the judge
10:53
concluded that Costello deserved jail time while he received only a fraction of the maximum sentence this brush with
11:00
incarceration rattled him enough to reconsider brandishing a gun or risking arrest again after serving the bulk of
11:07
an 11-month sentence Frank emerged from prison in early 1916 more determined
11:13
than ever to strategize a path to power that would minimize direct confrontation he recognized that
11:19
flamboyant violence might be thrilling but also short-lived the intangible currency of thriving in that underworld
11:26
was forging alliances and having friends in the right places the local Precinct
11:31
city hall or influential networks who could be bought off part four
11:36
opportunity in the age of prohibition while Costello wrestled with his next move a Monumental Turning Point
11:43
arrived in American history the prohibition era the 18th Amendment which
11:49
officially prohibited the manufacture transport and sale of alcoholic beverages went into effect Nationwide on
11:56
January 16th 1920 many believed it would usher in a more virtuous Society instead it spawned
12:03
a booming Black Market fueling an unprecedented surge in organized crime activity true crime at an unimaginable
12:10
scale for the major metropolises no single illicit commodity proved more
12:15
lucrative than illegal liquor enormous profits were there for the taking especially for individuals with enough
12:22
cunning contacts and muscle to run shipments across state lines bribe local
12:28
officials and shield their operations from prying eyes Costello was quick to see the potential he had no moral qualms
12:35
about circumventing a law that most Urban citizens disliked his Advantage rested on two factors a knack for
12:42
diplomacy and a determination to forge big tent coalitions that transcended old
12:48
ethnic rivalries it was also around this time that he crossed paths with a few
12:53
like-minded gangsters who would shape the next decade of his career Lucky Luciano Meer Lansky and Benjamin Bugsy
13:01
seagull among them each of these figures had their own backstory their own specialized skill sets luchano born
13:09
Salvatore lucania had a strategic brain and a willingness to innovate Lansky a
13:16
diminutive Jewish gangster possessed one of the sharpest Minds on the street Adept at finances and subtle power plays
13:24
seagull outwardly charming and good-looking was rumored to be explosive when provoked Ed according to various
13:31
accounts they bonded as a group precisely because each recognized that the underworld was Far bigger than the
13:36
petty squares of turf disputed by older gangs if they combined talents they
13:42
could streamline bootlegging operations subdue violent competition and then Channel The Lion's Share of profits
13:49
wherever they wanted they believed that forging a city-wide or even Nationwide
13:54
system would be more profitable than flirting with routine violence over the same corners and blocks Costello's role
14:01
in this Arrangement quickly became clear with his practiced calm refined manners
14:07
especially compared to other more hot-headed types and a name that could pass for Irish in certain circles he was
14:13
perfectly suited to courting officials and politicians behind closed doors funds set aside for systematic bribery
14:21
often referred to as Greece went toward ensuring that shipments of Contraband liquor made it through police squads and
14:28
other watch dogs looked the other way more significantly ambitious attorneys
14:33
or politicians discovered that Costello's generosity discreetly offered could buoy their own careers in return
14:41
they merely had to hinder enforcement against his Network the scale of profits was mindboggling some historians
14:49
estimate that top tier Bootleggers were pulling in tens of millions of dollars every year from smuggling and
14:55
distribution a portion of that money found its way into real estate inv Investments restaurants clubs and any
15:02
business that could help launder sums or expand castello's pursuit of legitimate influence as the years pressed on the
15:09
once impoverished kid from Calabria was now living in Far More luxurious circumstances mingling with Elites of
15:15
the city yet the story of the prohibition era was not just about lavish parties and hidden speak easys
15:22
every new Venture risked hijackings and territory disputes especially since the field was crowded with men who had no
15:28
qualms about Bloodshed the so-called beer Wars typical in Chicago also
15:34
exploded in other key American cities Costello and his Circle understood that
15:39
to maintain order they needed to collaborate with or outmaneuver other factions who also aspired to build their
15:46
own pipelines of illegal booze among Costello's most profitable Partnerships was his association with William Vincent
15:53
DWI the infamous Big Bill an Irish Bootlegger whose political connections
15:58
compliment Ed Costello's own their Synergy formed a smuggling Empire that extended to enormous shipments of
16:05
whiskey primarily from Canada by forging protection deals with local authorities
16:10
they ensured that no single truck carrying their cargo was ever successfully stolen this remarkable
16:17
security further boosted their reputation among underworld Associates part five rising stars and old school
16:25
Dawn despite their success and Visionary approach Costello's group remained partially subordinate to older figures
16:32
in the Italian-American Underworld the leading mafia boss throughout the early 1920s was jei Joe
16:39
the Boss Masseria a stout Sicilian gangster who demanded a portion of the
16:45
profits garnered by any Italian Bootleggers in New York lucky luchano Vito genoves and Frank Costello were
16:51
nominally under Mia's umbrella they paid their dues reasoning that open conflict
16:57
with him would hamper the flow of money and draw unwanted heat from the law yet individuals like Costello and luano were
17:03
not content to leave things indefinitely in the hands of antiquated Traditions they viewed themselves as the new wave
17:10
Cosmopolitan criminals who thought alliances with Jewish or Irish gangs were beneficial not
17:16
sacriligious meanwhile certain old school bosses particularly Sicilians like Masia and another Rising power
17:23
named Salvatore Marano insisted on preserving the notion that only men with Sicilian Bloodlines had the right to
17:30
leadership such differences in Outlook would soon erupt in the notorious castellamare War a vicious battle for
17:38
control of the city's crime families first though a critical conference took
17:43
place in May 1929 widely known among True Crime enthusiasts as the Atlantic City Summit
17:50
organized by Johnny Toro Al Capone's former Mentor this Gathering sought to
17:55
unify leading gangsters from different ethnic backgrounds all across the country the plan was to reduce deadly
18:02
turf wars that stirred too much attention thus giving everyone the chance to line their pockets Costello
18:08
played a significant role in inviting Heavy Hitters from New York New Jersey Chicago Philadelphia Cleveland Detroit
18:16
Louisiana and Beyond though some older more conservative bosses including Masia
18:22
and maranzano were not asked to attend many forward-thinking criminals recognized the value of forging a
18:29
nationwide Syndicate in Atlantic City the presence of Al Capone overshadowed
18:34
proceedings as he was already famous Nationwide for his Chicago Empire a
18:39
pivotal conversation involved the necessity of curbing violent outbursts in the windy city with Costello and Toro
18:46
urging Capone to lie low lest his latest public atrocities attract further attention from the federal government
18:54
eventually Capone did take a short prison sentence for a minor weapons charge partially diffusing the tensions
19:00
that threatened to bring more heat on every other mobster in attendance the success of the Atlantic
19:06
City Gathering elevated Frank castello's standing showing him as an influential Peacemaker with the capacity to unify
19:13
criminals around a common business strategy part six toward the war of the
19:18
old Dawn tensions in New York escalated to a Breaking Point in the late 1920s
19:25
culminating in the infamous castala mares War this brutal conflict pitted
19:30
Joe Masia against Salvatore Marano a sicilian newcomer with grand Ambitions
19:37
maranzano had arrived in the United States intent on carving out his own slice of the prohibition racket he
19:43
attracted many men from castellamare Del gulfo earning him a loyal faction that began contesting maser's territory their
19:51
Mutual animosity escalated especially after murders forced each side to retaliate although Frank had nominally
19:59
aligned with Mia he was never a fan of unrestrained Bloodshed that undermined
20:04
the steady profit that cooperation could bring in truth several younger leaders
20:10
Luciano genoves and others grew tired of the old ways while Joe the Boss demanded
20:17
unwavering loyalty he offered little in the way of strategy Beyond intimidation and force When The War became all
20:25
consuming these younger gangsters realized that their generation would never achieve the sweeping modernization
20:32
they desired if either Mia or maranzano remained at the helm by early 1931 the
20:39
conflict had produced mounting body counts on both sides including key allies who switched sides or defected
20:46
only to be gunned down in parked cars or ambushed in front of cafes Costello
20:51
navigated carefully distancing himself from the Carnage while publicly maintaining loyalty but behind closed
20:58
doors he Luciano and others arranged back Channel efforts to find a path to
21:03
peace one that would require the removal of both Mia and maranzano on April 15th 1931 the first
21:12
endgame act arrived Joe Masseria was lured to a meeting at a restaurant in Coney Island Legend claims that while
21:19
Mia and Lucky Luciano were occupied with a leisurely card game after a hearty meal assassins quietly entered and
21:27
riddled Joe the Boss with bullets Luciano conveniently excused himself moments before the shooting some
21:34
accounts say that veto genoves Albert Anastasia and Bugsy seagull were part of the hit team though historical details
21:41
remain conflicting regardless the violent elimination of Masia effectively
21:46
ended one half of the war yet only two or 3 weeks later the newly ascendant Salvatore maranzano crowned himself
21:53
caputi kapi Boss Of All Bosses during a meeting with the major MAF figures who
21:59
had once served Masia he laid out a plan for constructing five distinct families of New York each with its own hierarchy
22:07
while maranzano retained overall command the younger gangsters humored him for a Time privately however they saw him as
22:14
just another old school Overlord who demanded tributes and enforced the same myopic demands for Sicilian Purity and
22:21
Leadership modernizing the underworld required that maranzano go as well over
22:26
that summer of 1931 maranzano discovered that opponents were plotting behind his
22:32
back he compiled a kill list featuring the names of Costello luchano genoves
22:38
Adonis Capone and others hoping to strike first but the younger faction
22:44
learned of his plan as soon as they had proof they launched a swift response on
22:50
September 10th 1931 four men disguised as federal agents burst into Marzano's office in
22:57
Manhattan intending to conduct a raid they disarmed his bodyguards stabbed and
23:02
shot the so-called boss of bosses in a single stroke the last major obstacle
23:08
standing in the way of the new generation was toppled the path was now open to reorganize New York's criminal
23:14
realm according to the vision of men like Frank Costello Lucky Luciano and Meer Lansky this creation would
23:22
eventually be called the commission A system that governed disputes and profit sharing among the newly delineated crime
23:29
families and Castello which is sometimes overlooked in more Sensational accounts of Al Capone or lucky luchano was a
23:36
vital architect in Bridging the underworld to mainstream institutions forging a new more covert approach to
23:43
operating in the shadows part seven securing influence After the Revolution
23:49
with the downfall of both Masia and maranzano a new era emerged the same
23:54
bootlegging Empire that had previously existed became more structured than ever
23:59
and though many gangster personalities were flamboyant prone to flaunting fur coats diamond rings or lavish parties
24:07
Frank Castello was never one to wave extravagance in front of onlookers instead he refined His Image known for
24:14
wearing tailored but not showy suits he spoke courteously rarely lost his temper in public and disliked theatrics that
24:21
might draw undue attention from government investigators he was in many respects the ultimate mediator
24:29
if a local crew felt it was being squeezed by an Irish outfit in some corner of Manhattan Costello might step
24:35
in he was comfortable calling in favors from friendly Ward bosses or city council members he could talk calmly
24:42
with a judge or with boothman inside a Gambling Hall always reminding them that a quiet Arrangement served everyone's
24:49
interests better than an outbreak of violence in addition Costello assessed that complete dependence on illegal
24:55
businesses was risky prohibition would not last forever diversification was
25:01
necessary some of that Revenue now flowed into legal gambling Ventures property Acquisitions or legitimate
25:08
commercial operations that allowed him to mask his real finances the lines between underworld secrets and everyday
25:15
Commerce blurred in ways previously unimaginable people in high places recognized the advantage of having an
25:22
ally like Costello who could deliver funds and votes or who could discreetly bury a scandal while expecting loyalty
25:29
in return whether it was regarding mayoral campaigns or expansions of the city's infrastructure a nod from
25:35
Costello Circle could make or break a candidate meanwhile alliances within the underworld shifted as well the new
25:42
commission with Lucky Luciano as a leading figure created guidelines that every crime family had to follow murder
25:50
or extortion was to be carefully sanctioned never carried out recklessly no boss was allowed to Proclaim himself
25:57
k tuti Capi for fear of repeating maranzano's downfall each family had a
26:03
seat at the table addressing disputes in a quasi corporate manner Costello's position under the renamed Family Once
26:10
led by Charlie Lucky Luciano became that of a high ranking figure though at times
26:16
overshadowed by the bloodthirsty reputation of others like Vito genoves who coexisted uneasily with him despite
26:24
the gains in Synergy not everyone was perfectly aligned veto genoves was known
26:29
for being ruthless and had his own Ambitions of dominance he harbored a long-standing enmity toward Castello
26:36
dating back to slights and humiliations in the old days while Costello was more polished and pacifistic about internal
26:43
disputes genovesi believed that strength came from intimidation their Mutual
26:48
distrust simmered beneath the surface hinting that the new order was not necessarily
26:54
stable following 1931 Costello and his associates also braced for the
26:59
unthinkable the repeal of prohibition Whispers that the federal government might legalize liquor again were growing
27:06
louder Bootleggers who had grown wealthy recognized that they needed alternative streams of cash illegal gambling or the
27:14
numbers racket proved especially attractive despite the sometimes Sensational media coverage focusing on
27:20
shootouts and MOB hits the real story of men like Castello was anchored in forging quiet Partnerships with business
27:27
owners sit officials and entire communities that paid for protection or participated in backro deals part eight
27:35
a quiet rise to Paramount influence during the mid 1930s Lucky
27:40
Luciano encountered legal troubles related to prostitution rackets a fiasco that ultimately landed him behind bars
27:47
and later led to his deportation to Italy in that power vacuum Frank Costello's influence steadily increased
27:54
in the family once headed by Luciano though some temporary leaders emerged
27:59
none could match the refined approach that Costello brought to bridging criminal networks with legitimate
28:05
corridors of power he was sometimes dubbed the prime minister of the underworld a nod to the jokes about how
28:12
no one in New York politics could Ascend to high office without his support this expansive power was not purely imaginary
28:20
in numerous accounts judges counselors Mayors or potential District Attorneys
28:25
recognized that it was almost impossible to get elected in certain districts if Costello quietly opposed them on the
28:32
flip side an endorsement disguised behind committees or unknown donors could ensure Victory allegations even
28:40
emerged that Costello's Circle influenced the selection of Judges ensuring favorable rulings if ever
28:47
indicted criminals found themselves in court yet ironically such clout made
28:52
Costello a prime target for law enforcement agencies that sought to make an example of high-profile King pins
28:59
political wins in the late 1930s and 1940s saw an expanding Federal interest
29:04
in Prosecuting racketeers some consider it a testament to Costello's skill that he managed to
29:10
dodge multiple investigations documents occasionally referen the Castello problem describing
29:17
him as elusive because most of his operations were intangible handshakes quiet arrangements and subtle
29:24
intimidation even among other notorious kingpins Costello stood out for his emphasis on building real Mafia stories
29:31
around careful negotiation he generally opposed the narcotics trade claiming it
29:36
was too volatile too likely to bring harsh sentences he also sometimes blocked hot-headed gangster proposals if
29:44
he believed they risked drawing negative press or an aggressive Crackdown from the FBI this policy led to friction with
29:51
people like veto genoves who saw the drug Market as an immensely profitable
29:57
domain genovesi privately hated Costello's attempts at moral High Ground
30:02
moreover genovesi believed that Costello's approach was too gentle to maintain the top seat in the fractious
30:08
crime families part nine seeds of rivalry in the road ahead by the end of
30:14
the 1930s Costello's public Persona was surprisingly polished he was rarely
30:20
depicted in Sensational headlines about machine gun shootouts or cheap e extortion instead references to him
30:28
cropped up in society columns hinting at expensive memberships in clubs or philanthropic gestures people in high
30:35
social circles found him witty civilized a man who neither cursed nor raised his voice unnecessarily observers marveled
30:43
that he had built a kingdom without leaving behind the body count that some of his peers had acred that is not to
30:49
say Costello was free of critics within his own organization rumors persisted
30:54
that many foot soldiers grew uneasy about the moderate stance he took they feared that other factions especially
31:01
those led by genovesi or certain upand cominging toughs might see Costello as too lenient and plot a takeover Costello
31:09
recognized the precarious Balancing Act required to keep everyone content also
31:14
looming was the question of how law enforcement would adapt in the post- prohibition era the FBI and local
31:20
agencies had started forming squads specifically dedicated to investigating racketeering secretly more advanced
31:27
forms of surveillance were being used whereas older gangster Reigns thrived on open intimidation the new environment
31:35
demanded cunning Costello's strong ties to politicians helped keep him one step
31:40
ahead but no one could entirely avoid the watchful eyes of the press the 1940s
31:47
saw him Ascend to arguably the Apex of his influence he had outwitted or outlasted many rivals forging ties to
31:54
Business Leaders enthralled by the prospect of easy money from hidden gambling dens during World War II the
32:00
government even turned to underworld leaders for help securing the docks from sabotage while Lucky Luciano received
32:07
most of the public credit for this Arrangement men like Costello were also involved behind the scenes further
32:13
exemplifying how the line between Outlaws and officialdom had blurred part 10 an ongoing saga though
32:22
this account has charted Frank Costello's trajectory from a financially strapped youth in Calabria to figure of
32:28
near unparalleled clout in New York's Underworld the story continues beyond the scope of a single narrative in
32:35
subsequent chapters of Costello's life investigators would ramp up efforts to indict him high-profile Senate hearings
32:42
would cast him in the spotlight and adversaries in the Underworld most notably veto genovesi would orchestrate
32:49
attempts on his life still the Transformations set in motion by Costello's earlier years reshaped how
32:57
crime family Ames operated bridging them with judges politicians and entire city
33:02
departments in ways that remain historically significant to this day his trajectory highlights the enormous
33:09
complexities behind the phrase organized crime unlike the Brash or flamboyant
33:14
approach that might Define certain gangster reputations Costello championed stealth and persuasion he recognized
33:22
that forging relationships with influential individuals could guarantee a powerful buffer from legal Jeopardy
33:29
many future bosses or capos would attempt to copy elements of his style
33:34
but few could match his balance of charm manipulation and strategic foresight in
33:40
the annals of real Mafia stories Costello's brand of cunning representation allowed him to navigate
33:46
an underworld riddled with Unsolved Mysteries and hammered by the passage of time some historians accuse him of
33:54
hypocrisy for choosing to ban narcotics yet still endorsing other damaging criminal Enterprises others claimed that
34:02
if all Mobsters had mimicked Costello's preference for diplomacy over Bloodshed entire neighborhoods might have seen
34:08
less violence whatever stance one takes his life remains a testament to the
34:13
unexpected ways an immigrant child raised in poverty scuttling around East Harlem could Ascend to become a behind
34:20
the-scenes Puppeteer in one of the most powerful criminal syndicates of the 20th century afterward Frank Costello's life
34:28
story serves as a panoramic view of how American society and organized crime interacted in the early to mid
34:35
1900s multiple factors combined to fuel his rise unwavering determination a
34:41
willingness to manipulate political machinery and an innate talent for forging alliances that crossed ethnic
34:47
boundaries his career spanned from Petty Street crime to orchestrating multi-million dollar deals at a national
34:53
scale from navigating brutal Mafia wars to shaping the structures that still Define certain aspects of modern
35:00
organized crime while historians continue to debate the morality of his decisions or the full extent of his
35:07
influence the Legacy he left behind remains immense walking the fine line
35:13
between the underworld and legitimate Society Costello epitomized a new breed
35:18
of mafia boss who recognized that raw violence could be overshadowed by carefully cultivated
35:25
respectability this approach galvanized in entire generation of underbosses and cappos to think bigger forging Infamous
35:33
syndicates that integrated illicit Enterprises with real estate casinos
35:38
political lobbies and More in many ways it was an evolution from the older days
35:43
of constant battling among parochial factions whether that change was For Better or For Worse is part of the
35:50
continuing debate among Scholars of organized crime but it is clear that by adopting an outwardly courteous demeanor
35:57
and and skillfully purchasing political favor Costello staked out a unique position for himself ensuring that
36:04
discussions of the era's notorious kingpins cannot be complete without pausing to reflect on him as time rolled
36:12
on the underworld secrets that had propelled men like Costello to power began to unravel in the face of new
36:18
generations of investigators and changing social climates The Lure of Narcotics for example proved too strong
36:25
for many intensifying violence and inviting harsher penalties government pressure forced several betrayals
36:32
stirring an unending stream of new feuds through it all Costello's Persona as a
36:38
cunning negotiator persisted even when bullet wounds and Court summonses intruded later in his life in retelling
36:45
the Epic Saga of Frank Costello one draws attention to so many threads the
36:50
sweat covered fear of immigrants seeking their Fortune The Lure of quick money in the urban jungle the cunning Alliance es
36:57
across ethnic lines and the shocking brutality that defined the underbelly of the American dream his story is at once
37:05
a meditation on ambition and a sobering reminder of how a hidden Empire can Thrive when corruption meets
37:12
opportunity in the timeline of organized crime Frank Costello stands as a figure
37:18
whose name may not generate the same Sensational headlines as Al Capone but whose shadow in the corridors of power
37:24
and dark history was every bit as imposing in the end his biography embodies the
37:30
Dual faces of the American Gangster ideal part cunning entrepreneur part
37:35
mortal threat forging a white collar style of dominance that would strongly influence all crime families in the
37:42
decades to come indeed for anyone investigating the intersections between politics and the mob or the ways True
37:50
Crime became a cultural Fascination Frank Costello emerges as a pivotal puzzle piece a quiet impecc ly dressed
37:58
orchestrator working behind the scenes to shape the destiny of New York's underworld
#Documentary Films