What were some interesting things that took place during this time involving the Chicago Outfit during the 80's; the street crews, clubs, capos of each crew, what was the most lucrative business were they involve in during the 80's. Is there anything interesting that went on in the 80's pertaining the Outfit?

There were probably six or seven crews in this time period:

Eighties only succession:

Boss
Joey Aiuppa (1980-1986) Imprisoned
Joe Ferriola (1986-1988) Stepped Down
Sam Carlisi (1988-1989)

Underboss
Jack Cerone (1980-1986) Imprisoned
John DiFronzo (1986-1989)

Cicero crew
Joe Ferriola (1980-1986) Became Boss
Rocky Infelise (1986-1989)

Melrose Park crew
Sam Carlisi (1980-1988) Became Boss
James Marcello (1988-1989)

Elmwood Park crew
John DiFronzo (1980-1986) Became Underboss
Lee Magnafichi (1986-1989) Died
Joe Andriacchi (1989)

26th Street crew
Angelo LaPietra (1980-1986) Imprisoned
James LaPietra (1986-1989)

Grand Avenue crew
Joey Lombardo (1980-late 1982) Imprisoned
Louie Eboli (late 1982-1987) Died
Vincent Cozzo (1987-1989)

North Side crew
Vince Solano (1980-1989)

Chicago Heights crew
Al Pilotto (1980-1982) Imprisoned
Frank Zizzo (1982-1986) Died
Al Tocco (1986-early 1989) Imprisoned
Dominick Palermo (1989)

The casino skim was by far their most lucrative moneymaker, at least until 1985. After that it was juice loans, gambling, and extortion.

There were a few big cases in this time period.

Al Pilotto was convicted in 1982 for labor racketeering and got 20 years.

Joey Lombardo got 15 years in 1983 for conspiring to bribe a U.S. senator.

Aiuppa, Cerone, LaPietra, and Lombardo all received from 15-28 years in 1987 for skimming a casino.

Al Tocco got 200 years in 1989 for racketeering.

There's a really good video about B.J. Jahoda posted somewhere on the forum. Covers Rocky Infelese, et al. Shows video footage of these guys. Maybe someone can share the link. It's a good one.

That largely depends on what crew you are referring to. Overall, I'd argue the 1980s brought more change to the Outfit perhaps than any other decade when the top bosses aside from Accardo went to prison - Cerone, LaPietra and Aiuppa. Some of the old guard were still running around at this point too - guys like Chuckie English whose days were numbered.

For the 26th Street Crew, you saw Jimmy "Jimmy Lapper" LaPietra step in for his brother to run things. The largest thing in those days were the cocaine the crew was pushing into the Bridgeport Homes and other surrounding projects through their partnerships with Satan Disciples - a lot of guys like Tom Frandolo and Chris Maricotte getting their starts. They also dominated Streets and San there.

On the North Side you had the whole Ken Eto thing - which triggered the deaths of two of the crew's top earners - Campise and Gattuso. Ceasar DiVarco went away as did the Greico brothers and Vince Solano became sick and his crew was slowly picked up by other crews.

In Cicero you had Joe Ferriola stepping in after Turk Torello died and leaning on Rocky Infelise to get that crew in line - a lot of guys like Mike Spano, Sarno and Solly D were made in that decade. Ferriola died and Infelise stepped in to run things with Mario Gabelli and Mike Spano.

In Chicago Heights, Joe Tocco went on the lam - then to prison while Guzzino and Tootsie Palermo tried to steady the ship - you also saw a ton of Heights bookmakers hook up with other crews or go to Florida.

On Grand Avenue, Louis Eboli died and Anthony Centracchio took over his rackets. While Lombardo was in prison, Jimmy Cozzo ran thing smoothly.

Elmwood Park I'm not so sure about - but a lot of turnover in that decade.

On a whole I was under the impression loansharking has usually been Chicago top money maker . I have read these guys had huge books but I'm sure some of the local guys have more insight

Appreciate it, who were some of the younger guys then? I'd always been fascinated by the Chicago Outfit!

So, what about a fictional mob movie set in Chicago, would y'all prefer for the story to take place in the modern day or 70/80's? and which figures would you prefer the characters to be loosely based on?

Illinois didn't OK off track betting until 87, so bookmaking and it's associated loansharking were good money makers.
The 80's also predates internet porn. The outfit took over that industry here back in the '70's I'm sure that was a money pump.

A lot of young guys (and current powers) really rose to fame in the 1980s - guys like Pudgy Matassa, Bobby and Richie Dominic, Billy DiDomenico, Solly D, the Caruso brothers, Sammy Cautadella, Sarno, Chris and Vito Spina and even Albie Vena.

You also had the On Leong casino still in action down in Bridgeport - and a lot of social clubs up and down grand avenue and 26th street. Shorty LaMantia and Aldo P holding court every day at ONIAC and Marco D'Amico's "Nightlife Lounge" on Addison/Olcott and a lot of heavy guys like Willie Messino and Babe DeMonte walking around.

I know that in the early 1980's if you needed a Remote Car Starter I had to get it in Chicago. I had friends call from Cleveland or Youngstown to introduce me to them to get it.

Of course. We invented it to protect us from the Youngstown tune-up.