Shows
Serious and Silliness1850s Mob REBELS & OUTCASTS of SOCIETY: "Old Smoke" John Morrissey "Bill the Butcher" William PooleFamous Mob Historian, Ryan Pettengill, Ph.D. on Mafia History 1850 New York Chicago Outfit VegasWere THEY Really the GOOD GUYS? Why are we FASCINATED by Them? "Old Smoke" John Morrissey "Bill the Butcher" William Poole 2023-08-081h 05
An Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United States"I Do to Others What They Do to Me...Only Worse": Jimmy Hoffa, the Teamsters, and Organized CrimeThe conversation regarding unionism and the Mafia continues in Episode 17. In this episode, Pettengill explores organized crime's infiltration of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Jimmy Hoffa, a rising star within the union movement, was taking on not only the titans of industry but also rivals unions who were competing with him for dues-paying members. On the one hand, Hoffa needed the Mafia to stay out of the way when it came to their union-busting tactics and on the other hand, he needed some enforcers to beat back his union competitors. Hoffa used the Mafia's influence to secure unionism in the...2022-03-0436 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesGoons and Ginks and Company Finks: Organized Crime and Organized Labor in the Great DepressionPettengill's examination of organized crime in the Great Depression continues with Episode 16 and the Mafia's corruption of organized labor. Focusing on emerging industrial unions in New York, Los Angeles, and Detroit, Pettengill highlights the way organized crime infiltrated, hijacked, and ultimately profited from the desperation of the Depression and workers' attempt to protect themselves through the establishment of industrial unions. Over the course of the next few decades, the Mafia would extort millions of dollars from both labor and management as the unions became yet another racket in organized crimes portfolio.2022-02-0643 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesThe Lean Years? The Mafia Business Ventures during the Great DepressionThe Great Depression was one of the most critical time periods in American history. It had clear implications for changes in the federal government, American culture, and, of course, the economy. The Depression also had implications for the Mafia. In Episode 16, Pettengill examines organized crime's attempt to profit from the disaster that was the Great Depression. The Mafia emerged from the 1920s flush with cash and they looked for new rackets to create new revenue streams. The stars aligned perfectly for gangsters as down-on-their-luck Americans could no longer turn to traditional institutions to make ends meet. Gangsters like Lucky Luciano...2022-02-0445 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesThe Law is Bigger Than Money - But Only If the Law Works Harder: the Fall of Charles "Lucky" LucianoPettengill's overview of the intersection of organized crime and law enforcement continues in Episode 15. It begins with a brief review of the shortcomings of Torrio's organization. Luciano and his associates had learned from this limitation and developed an enforcement wing of the Mafia - Murder, Incorporated. Murder, Inc. took care a lot of the Mafia's problems but it also attracted a lot of attention from law enforce officials, including Thomas E. Dewey. Dewey took on both Luciano and Murder, Inc. directly. In the process, as Pettengill notes, this scrutiny put the Mafia in a precarious position. It was through the...2022-01-2137 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesGet "Mr. Big": Law Enforcement Efforts to Counter the Emergence of Organized CrimeIn Episode 14, Pettengill examines the intersection of organized crime and law enforcement. Previous episodes have noted the importance of alliances between gangsters, like Lucky Luciano, and law enforcers. But by the end of the Prohibition years, many of those alliances had begun to fray. Violence and open corruption had raised the attention of prominent citizens in centers like New York and Chicago to the harm organized crime was doing to their home cities. As Pettengill notes, the result of this increased attention was the assemblage of Eliot Ness' "Untouchables" - a collection of elite Prohibition agents dedicated to taking down...2022-01-1742 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesBonus Episode: the 1919 Black Sox Scandal and the Convergence of Sport and Organized CrimeBONUS EPISODE! Pettengill sits down with sports historian, Dr. Andrew McGregor, for an in-depth conversation focused on the intersection of baseball and organized crime. McGregor offers a detailed look into the history of early baseball and it quickly becomes apparent how and why an opportunity like the 1919 World Series was easy prey for seasoned gamblers like Arnold Rothstein. McGregor also provides a superb overview as to the potential for future exploration regarding the connections between sports and organized crime.2022-01-1044 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesThe Commission: the Emergence of a National Crime Syndicate in the United StatesIn Episode 13, Pettengill examines the emergence of what would come to be known as "the Commission." Up-and-coming gangsters like Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and Frank Costello were visionaries who saw untapped potential in the criminal enterprises that were already thriving but were also hindered by a lack of acknowledged rules and outsiders who attempted to muscle in on the operation. The prototype that Luciano, et al. envisioned involved a Wall Street-inspired model where "families" from throughout the country had a vote on the Commission. Each family was represented by a "Don," "Godfather," or "Boss" who ruled his acknowledged territory...2022-01-0851 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesThe Chicagoland Beer Wars: Violence and the Dilemma of Territorial Boundaries in Organized CrimeIn Episode 12, Pettengill examines one of the greatest watershed moments in the history of organized crime, the Chicagoland Beer Wars. Pettengill notes the way in which the fierce competition for territory to distribute alcohol led to appalling violence. Furthermore, he examines how this violence will result in the notorious St. Valentines Day Massacre. Pettengill posits that this violence brought massive amounts of public scrutiny and, consequently, led a younger generation of criminals fundamentally rethink the operational procedures of organized crime.2021-12-3034 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesGangsterism: the Historic Criminal Careers of Enoch Johnson, Johnny Torrio, Arnold RothsteinEpisode 11 explores the careers and approaches of three "hall of famers" of organized crime. In this episode listeners will learn how Enoch Johnson, Johnny Torrio, and Arnold Rothstein helped to shape organized crime. Collectively they demonstrated how the control of local government, regional organization and mutual advancement, and the practice of using "buffers" helped to streamline criminal activities and allowed criminals to make millions of dollars. There are parallels that run between the modernization of organized crime and main stays within the American economy in the early twentieth century. By the end of the 1920s, Johnson, Torrio, and Rothstein had...2021-12-2656 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesModern Times: Prohibition, Organized Crime, and the Emergence of a National CultureIn Episode 10, Pettengill examines the cross sections between American mass culture and organized crime. The combination of two decades of reform and a world war convinced Americans of the need to return to normalacy. Pettengill notes that this national impulse resulted in a relaxation of American values. This relaxation helped position gangsters as the primary beneficiaries of a market that demanded not only the product of alcohol but also a place to consume that alcohol. In sum, this episode is grounded in the emergence of the speakeasy. As listeners will learn, the speakeasy streamlined this relaxation of values and contributed...2021-12-221h 30An Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesThe Bonanza of Prohibition: the Business of Bootlegging and the Empowerment of Organized CrimeIn Episode 9, Pettengill discusses the "bonanza" created by Prohibition. He notes the great flaw of the Temperance movement - the assumption that everyone would comply with the law and there would be no demand for alcohol if it was illegal. As it turns out, demand remained steady and criminals were more than happy to provide the "product." Pettengill offers an overview of individuals like Johnny Torrio, the Purple Gang, George Remus, Waxey Gordon, and Arnold Rothstein. By essentially creating a black market, Pettengill notes how these criminals became the emperors of vast bootlegging fiefdoms.2021-12-0146 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesThe "Noble Experiment": Prohibition and the Making of the MobIn this episode, Pettengill finalizes the discussion concerning the temperance movement. Activists like Wayne Wheeler were ultimately triumphant and, in 1920, the Volstead Act went into effect. But compliance with Prohibition was sporadic at best. As Pettengill notes, there were plenty of Americans who were more than happy to flout the new law. And given that legitimate producers were unable to provide the commodity, Prohibition served as a launching pad for criminals who would become some of the most central figures within the history of organized crime.2021-11-2346 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesThe Age of Reform: Middle Class Reformers, Xenophobia, and the Advancement of Organized CrimeIn Episode 6, Pettengill moves away from the "pioneers" of organized crime to examine the reform movements that bridged the 19th and 20th centuries. He underscores the idea that while movements such as the push to purify the democratic process or the movement to ban alcohol did not directly target the world of organized crime, they certainly carried implications for it. On the other hand, as Pettengill notes, these reform movements laid a foundation for future generations of criminals to not only thrive but to take their enterprises to unprecedented levels. In sum, the reform movements of this era paved the...2021-11-1758 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesThey Wanted Booze, Broads, and Gambling...So That's What We Gave ThemIn this episode Pettengill transitions from the Gilded Age to the early twentieth century, an era known for its reform movements. The Gilded Age laid poverty and inequality bare before the American people. Given the circumstances, middle class reformers pressured government officials to address the crisis. In ways the reforms proved effective and made life more secure for millions of workers, city-dwellers, and racial/ethnic minorities. In other ways, though, these reform measures created new problems for the people they were designed to help. Pettengill notes the critical role three "pioneers" of organized crime played in brokering a middle ground...2021-11-121h 05An Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesA Prelude to the Mob: the Making of the Pre-Modern MafiaIn this episode, Pettengill explores the emergence of a new but vitally central group of Europeans who would eventually reinvent organized crime in the U.S. - the Italians. Pettengill underscores the concept that the Italians existed on the margins of the American underworld throughout most of the 19th century. But the structure of organized crime in Italy was very complementary to the local circumstances in the U.S. As Italian immigrants began to arrive on American shores, they brought with them their culture and social norms. Part of this Italian tradition involved a shunning of state power and law...2021-11-0740 min
Tales from the Reuther LibraryCommunists and Community in Wartime DetroitDr. Ryan Pettengill explains how communist activists in Detroit worked with labor activists during and after the Second World War to enhance the quality of life in the community by advocating for civil rights, affordable housing, protections for the foreign-born, and more. Pettengill is a Professor of History at Collin College and author of Communists and Community: Activism in Detroit’s Labor Movement, 1941-1956.
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Shelton Tappes Papers
Edith Van Horn Papers
UAW Fa...2021-10-2956 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesJohn "Old Smoke" Morrissey: America's First Mob BossIn the fourth episode of "An Offer You Can't Refuse," Pettengill explores the role John Morrissey played in the establishment of a criminal syndicate in New York City in the Gilded Age. Working closely with ward bosses, such as the infamous William "Boss" Tweed, Morrissey became an integral part of the Tammany Hall machine. Morrissey, a former bare-knuckle prize fighter, demonstrated a talent for turning out voters on election day. For his troubles, Morrissey was rewarded with political leeway to operate his "businesses" without fear of interference from city officials. Moreover, he was also able to offer protection for other...2021-08-1653 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesBeginnings: On the Banks of 'Mud City', USAIn the final installment of "Beginnings," Pettengill moves on to examine a hot spot in the history of organized crime: Chicago. In particular, he highlights the intersection of local politics and criminal activity and ultimately concludes that not only did the local vice industry help fuel Chicago's major industries but the vice lords themselves, at times, helped provide essential services that the local government either could not or would not provide. Long before mafia household names like Capone or Giancana dominated headlines, Michael "King Mike" McDonald, John "Bath House" Coughlin, and Michael "Hinky Dink" Kenna became early pioneers of organized...2021-08-0643 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesBeginnings: David Hennessey, Inter-Ethnic Relations, and Organized Crime in New OrleansIn this episode, Pettengill explores the origins of organized crime in Gilded Age New Orleans. This episode navigates the pre-mafia days of the city and emphasizes the cross patterns between criminals and law enforcement officials as well as the inter-ethnic nature of criminal enterprise throughout the era. Similar to Episode 1, listeners come away with an understanding of how poverty, inequality, and ethnic bigotry were deeply influential with respect to the emergence of organized crime in a less-than-likely focal point: New Orleans, Louisiana.2021-08-0152 minAn Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesSalutations, Friends! A Brief Introduction to the Study of the History of Organized CrimeHistorian, Ryan S. Pettengill, introduces his new podcast entitled "An Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United States." Pettengill takes listeners through his academic background, makes a case for the study of organized crime, outlines the chronology of the podcast, and explains the direction he hopes to take the conversation.2021-07-3014 min
An Offer You Can't Refuse: the History of Organized Crime in the United StatesBeginnings: Frederika "Marm" Mandelbaum, New York City, and the Origins of Organized Crime in the USIn this first episode of the original podcast Pettengill outlines the four "tenants" of organized crime and uses Frederika Mandelbaum as an example of an early pioneer of organized crime. Special attention is given to the setting, New York City. Pettengill chronicles the history of New York, noting its Dutch colonial roots and the roles diversity and multiculturalism played throughout the history of New York. He also underscores the process of Gilded Age immigration and the central role newcomers played in the foundation of a modern American economy. Mandelbaum, a Jewish immigrant from Kassel, Germany, essentially organized crime in New...2021-07-301h 13
Front Facelock PodcastWWE Wrestlemania 9In this episode Vinnie and Ryan discuss WWE Wrestlemania 9 and all the twists and turns that come along with it. They also touch upon the premiere of Todd Pettengill, the 2 Doink angle, Vinnie's unique uses for grappling hooks and Ryan's unfounded hatred for the Genius.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/frontfacelockpodcast/support2021-02-121h 48
Supporting CharactersEpisode 54: Nellie KillianBill speaks to film programmer Nellie Killian about her pursuits in film, from attending Orson Welles and Fritz Lang retrospectives as a child to co-founding the Migrating Forms Film Festival and teaching film courses at the Pratt Institute. They discuss her career in programming, from her work with venues like Brooklyn Academy Of Music to such recent efforts as the acclaimed TELL ME: WOMEN FILMMAKERS, WOMEN’S STORIES, now streaming on The Criterion Channel. Topics include: The Cinema Worker Solidarity Fund, experimental films, the New York Underground Film Festival, producing live subtitles for 35mm Andrzej Zulawski movie screenings, virtual cinema re...2020-08-101h 53