Ted Sherman at NJ.com
offers a piece on New Jersey mobsters.
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.
The Boot’s
top enforcer was a lieutenant known Big Pussy. His son, Anthony, was referred
to as Tony Boy. Tony’s guy was Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero.
But Boiardo may not have been the only Jersey guy to spark the characters created by Chase. There are those who believe Vincent “Vinny Ocean” Palermo was the prototype for Tony Soprano.
But Boiardo may not have been the only Jersey guy to spark the characters created by Chase. There are those who believe Vincent “Vinny Ocean” Palermo was the prototype for Tony Soprano.
In fact, New
Jersey has a long history of being married to the mob.
You can read the rest of
the piece via the below link:
You can also read my
Washington Times review of Garden State Gangland via the
below link:
