The Gruesome Saga of the Gallo-Profaci/Colombo Wars

The Gallo-Profaci/Colombo Wars claimed scores of lives and left many more wounded, as gunmen from both sides went out daily to stalk their prey.

https://thenewyorkmafia.com/gallo-profaci-war

Picture Galleries and Main Page

https://thenewyorkmafia.com/gallo-profaci-colombo-war

thanks !!!

It was from this war that inspired Mario Puzo to make the legendary scene, Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.

I just posted up my opinion on the organized crime situation in Canada on another thread. About how the level of violence associated with all the mobs up there is seemingly always at a crescendo level.

By comparison even during the 1961-63 Profaci-Gallo conflict, and the two other Colombo Wars of the early 1970s Colombo-Gallo and again the Persico-Orena in 1991-1993, which took place in the Big Apple never reached the "sustained level" of killings as in Canada.

There was much violence and bloodshed, but never a constant as in Canada.

Crazy stuff to think that in this day and age with the LE technology around mob guys could even get away with it.

Canada is a beast un to itself!

I think I read on this forum by another poster how Canada doesn't have a law such as "RICO" like we do in the United States. He may have a point there. With such a law I have to believe jailing the combatants and breaking up the warfare would be much easier.

Very interesting article on Gallo-Profaci wars, NYM. Thanks!

The article evoked many memories for me because, thanks to The Blond's mania for publicity, the war was all over the NYC newspapers in '61. Two stand out for me:
--The Daily News splashed a big photo on P.1 of Larry Gallo being led away from the Sahara Lounge after The Snake's unsuccessful attempt to kill him. The mark of the garrote around his throat stood out(this isn't the exact picture, but you get the idea) :
https://mafia.wikia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Gallo?file=Galloal.jpg
--The Blond invited a reporter for Look Magazine (which was like a second-tier Life Magazine) to visit him and his crew while they were on the mattresses on President Street. The reporter spotted a dwarf among the guys and asked who he was. "He's our dwarf," The Blond replied with a straight face, as if to say, "Don't you have a dwarf at your offices?"

Profaci having to go to the Commission to resolve the kidnappings was the beginning of the end for The Old Man. He lost a lot of face. That's when Gambino began "suggesting" that he "retire," and, after he died, to Gambino openly trying to keep Magliocco out of the Commission.

Hi Turnbull, yes I vividly remember those days as well. Lol, we must be of the same era.

The pic of Larry with the garrote marks were a classic. I believe that within the photo galleries I created for this story line we have a few of him that way.

Armando the Dwarf Illiano.... lol... he was the club "mascot" so to speak. I think he was a cousin to Frank (Punchy) Illiano as well.

Lastly, Profaci was fighting on two fronts; the Gallo Gang of course, and several factions of other families trying to usurp his power. Carlo Gambino as you mentioned, Tommy Lucchese who was in-laws with Gambino, Tony Bender Strollo who was playing "footsie" with Joey and Larry Gallo, and a few other schemers.

Well, NYM, since we're of the same era:

I worked in a building on 53d St. and 6th Ave. in 1971. I wandered near Columbus Circle on the day Colombo was shot. The crowd had dissipated by that time (though I did see Rocky Graziano, the former middleweight champ, waving to people). The Colombo shooting has interested me ever since.

Here is a thread I started on the shooting a while ago:

http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=493613&Searchpage=1&Main=17509&Words=%2BJerome+%2BJohnson&Search=true#Post493613

The link didn't come through. I'd love to view it. Please try and post it up again.

http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=493613&Searchpage=1&Main=17509&Words=%2BJerome+%2BJohnson&Search=true#Post493613

For some reason, it doesn't open automatically. Please copy and paste it.

ok. thanks

Always fascinated with j. Gallo and his crew. I’d say my favorite gangster to read about. Great article nymafia

Thank you very much majicrat. Agreed, he and the entire Profaci/Colombo Family of that era were definitely one of the more "colorful" Families to follow. Lol

I was thinking if you haven't already read it, you will also probably enjoy my expose titled "The Third Colombo War" - Persico vs. Orena

If follows the chronology of their borgata up to the present day and details their last battle for supremacy

NYMafia,

I did read it and as usual well written and insightful. Thank you keep them coming!

I'm trying, I'm trying...lol