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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: JackieAprile]
#1031555
03/19/22 02:35 AM
03/19/22 02:35 AM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,696 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,696
AZ
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Kurins and O'Brien's "Boss of Bosses," leads the reader to believe that Castellano was a good businessman but a poor leader. Gavano said, contemptuously, that he was a "racketeer, not a gangster." His deal with Dellacroce kept peace (temporarily) in his family, but effectively split the family into the white collar and blue collar factions. He appears to have been unable to stop drug trafficking in the blue collar area, which got him into trouble, I guess the ultimate measure of his failure as a boss is that Gotti was able to have him assassinated with the concurrence of most of the people under Castellano.
It's not clear what his actual title was before he became boss, but it helped that he was Gambino's brother in law and cousin, Dellacroce was the official underboss.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: Turnbull]
#1031557
03/19/22 02:57 AM
03/19/22 02:57 AM
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 279
JackieAprile
OP
Capo
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OP
Capo
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 279
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Kurins and O'Brien's "Boss of Bosses," leads the reader to believe that Castellano was a good businessman but a poor leader. Gavano said, contemptuously, that he was a "racketeer, not a gangster." His deal with Dellacroce kept peace (temporarily) in his family, but effectively split the family into the white collar and blue collar factions. He appears to have been unable to stop drug trafficking in the blue collar area, which got him into trouble, I guess the ultimate measure of his failure as a boss is that Gotti was able to have him assassinated with the concurrence of most of the people under Castellano.
It's not clear what his actual title was before he became boss, but it helped that he was Gambino's brother in law and cousin, Dellacroce was the official underboss. Is it true btw that he was made a Capo under Anastasia, not Carlo?
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: JackieAprile]
#1031558
03/19/22 06:53 AM
03/19/22 06:53 AM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 12,482
NYMafia
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 12,482
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Am curious about your opinions of Castellano both as Gambino Boss, and also as a gangster in general?
Also, quick question but was was Castellano’s actual title before Boss? Street Boss for Carlo? Underboss alongside Neil - I’ve heard it said that both served as Underboss at the same time? Or just a Capo? My understanding is that both were at one time captains, or skippers. But Neil was elevated to underboss by Carlo. Paul (Carlo's blood relative) was elevated to the key position as an "acting boss" for Gambino for years. This was a little known fact to the FBI, but was indeed true.Thats actually why his later elevation to official boss after Carlo's death is not such a surprise as many outsiders felt it was. Paul had essentially served in that position as a "proxy" for years.
Last edited by NYMafia; 03/19/22 06:54 AM.
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: JackieAprile]
#1031566
03/19/22 08:41 AM
03/19/22 08:41 AM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
Dob_Peppino
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
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I saw in an interview Larry Mazza said " they know who they are gonna make a capo early. The know who could potentially rise the ranks. They are groomed for it. Guys like Gotti, were never supposed to be at the top. Don Carlo probably never thought of him in that way"..... (That was paraphrase. Not exact quote).
I find truth in this statement. He also alluded to "the gangsters" (Gotti, Gaspipe etc) who got to the top by treachery helped bring the mob down. I agree with Mazza. After the Commission Case, Cosa Nostra was still strong (from the standpoint that, although the bosses were gone, it not like they left behind NOTHING to work with. Those guys brought it to the skeleton of an organization it is today.
As for Castellano, he was groomed to be the Boss. He was made a capo under Anastasia (and to quote Michael Franzese "Junior made me and there's no slipping by with Persico) so for me, that's enough of a testament to Paul's gangster credentials. Paul was not soft, I'm sure he wasn't squeamish about a guy getting worked over in the back of a butcher shop. Even in his movie, they show him in a warehouse watching a guy get tortured by Vito Genovese ( I think they took Hollywood liberties and traded Genovese for Anastasia)
I stand by my opinion that Paul was a good choice in 1976. He was a earner. He had very capable guys ( Tommy Bilotti is underrated as a brute in that life, Demeo, the D'Alsessio brothers. etc)
"Joe Bananas went after Carlo Gambino, the war went on for seven years..... When guys go to the mattresses, they're not out earning" -Tony Soprano
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: jace]
#1031581
03/19/22 02:03 PM
03/19/22 02:03 PM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 12,482
NYMafia
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 12,482
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I think he was a good boss, his downfall was having a few outsiders in the family. He should have cut them loose. That was his other problem, he was not in tune with the changing times and with what was going on inside his own family among a couple of factions. Gravano was as much his downfall as Gotti. If they had followed his lead and been like him they survive, and Gotti does not die in prison, Gravano likely does not turn rat and give everyone up. Maybe he was great as a boss till the last few years, then he became too isolated. I agree with you on these points you bring out Jace. He was not a bad boss at all. And by comparison to Gotti, Gravano, and their ilk, it begs the question; who would you have rather served under? A Castellano? Or one of these other guys?
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: NYMafia]
#1031603
03/19/22 09:58 PM
03/19/22 09:58 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,779
jace
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,779
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I think he was a good boss, his downfall was having a few outsiders in the family. He should have cut them loose. That was his other problem, he was not in tune with the changing times and with what was going on inside his own family among a couple of factions. Gravano was as much his downfall as Gotti. If they had followed his lead and been like him they survive, and Gotti does not die in prison, Gravano likely does not turn rat and give everyone up. Maybe he was great as a boss till the last few years, then he became too isolated. I agree with you on these points you bring out Jace. He was not a bad boss at all. And by comparison to Gotti, Gravano, and their ilk, it begs the question; who would you have rather served under? A Castellano? Or one of these other guys? Castellano no doubt. I may have trusted Gotti more in backing me if I were in that life, as he did with Ruggiaro.
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: Zavattoni]
#1031615
03/20/22 09:03 AM
03/20/22 09:03 AM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 12,482
NYMafia
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 12,482
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I hear what you all are saying! I believe Castellano was a good-boss; Just got careless there once he got rid of Roy DeMeo and had a few issues with Anthony Gaggi.
Got one question though; Who was better? Castellano or Corallo? Both about the same age; Ran their family for years; etc… Two very different styles in my opinion, yet both were very successful at what they did. IMO Corallo was much more of a street guy, hoodlum, and political fixer and corruptor. You gotta remember too that Corallo didn't have any blood ties that helped him out on his way up the ladder. His guile did it. Whereas Castellano was born into the life. His father, uncles, cousins, etc., were all mafiosi. Paulie was no dope either but he had a guiding hand to help him. He was always running meat markets and butchers shops and other types of semi-legit businesses as well as various rackets. And with Carlo and Paul as his cousins, his father Frank, and others, became quickly well-placed (yet remained low-key) within the hierarchy of his family. He had buffers in front of him. Even Apalachin didn't real affect him in the end. Tony Ducks was always way out front with narcotics, extortion, labor union rackets, kickbacks, bribery, etc. He became very notorious. But until Paul's ascension to boss he was really not that well known. (and had not done any real jail time). There's the big difference I think.
Last edited by NYMafia; 03/20/22 09:05 AM.
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: Zavattoni]
#1031649
03/20/22 05:50 PM
03/20/22 05:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 12,482
NYMafia
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 12,482
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@NYMafia; I agree; There’s no comparison between Castellano and Corallo. Two different guys; Same generation though.
What was Castellano’s killer crew” after he had Roy DeMeo whacked? And Gaggi sidelined a bit???
Do you think the Cherry Hill Gambino’s would have been his “killer crew”??!
With twenty-some odd crews at its peak, the boss or the Gambino Family, any boss of the Gambino Family, has at his disposal multiple killers in nearly every single crew (some crews more than others). Regardless, literally hundreds of guys are available to "do work" as they say. The boss usually has a few "go to" crews he favors over others. But essentially he has nearly an entire family "capable" so to speak. Thats what being a "button guy" is all about. Being"available" if/when called upon to defend the borgata. Especially decades back in the 1930s-through-1990s era, where it was generally a requirement for induction.
Last edited by NYMafia; 03/20/22 05:51 PM.
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: JackieAprile]
#1031668
03/21/22 11:37 AM
03/21/22 11:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
Dob_Peppino
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 615
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I wish there was more info on Tommy Bilotti. I think his presence help Paul, at least on a in person basis (besides the assassination of course). I don't think alot of guys were disrespecting him to his face.
"Joe Bananas went after Carlo Gambino, the war went on for seven years..... When guys go to the mattresses, they're not out earning" -Tony Soprano
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: JackieAprile]
#1031814
03/25/22 03:55 AM
03/25/22 03:55 AM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,529 Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NYC
BensonHURST
Bensonhurst
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Bensonhurst
Underboss
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,529
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NYC
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According to what I have read.
The Gambino's were split in two And on the verge of a Civil war.
That was before Gotti, and the tapes.
Paul did that all to himself.
Gotti, was able to EXPLOIT the situation in the family.
The reason Gotti was able to do what he did was because of the state of the family.
Gotti didnt create the state of affairs.
The people closest to Paul, at the time let that happen.
Decicco, Gravano and a bunch of the old timers. The rest went along with Gotti's plot.
For as bad as Gotti was the guys closest to him never turned on him. When they were on the streets anyway.
That was why Chin and Gas Pipe weren't able to kill Gotti, because no one close to him would set him up for that, everyone remained loyal to him.
The reason for that was that he was respected and feared those are attributes of a strong leader.
Even after Gravano, Gotti stayed in power until his death Guys stayed loyal to him until the end.
Even after he died when Peter, took over, If it were not for John, Peter would have never even been made let alone the official boss of the family.
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: Turnbull]
#1104217
11/03/24 12:52 AM
11/03/24 12:52 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,274
GangstersInc
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,274
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You'd have to be nuts to buy that place, even if you had more than enough money and fancied the view. Tourists and Mafia-wannabees would be ringing the doorbell day and night, sneaking on the property, taking "souvenirs," being general pains-in-the-ass. The last thing I'd want to do is to buy a home owned by anyone famous--and especially, notorious. To be honest I think people that are into this thing of "ours" wouldnt have the money to buy the place in the first place ;-) Also if I was gonna spend 18 million I'd want a more secluded spot for my money.
The best website about global organized crime & the Mafia: http://www.gangstersinc.org - Since 2001 - Want to write for us? Drop me a DM/mail!
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Re: Opinions of Paul Castellano w/ hindsight?
[Re: JackieAprile]
#1104350
11/05/24 08:38 AM
11/05/24 08:38 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 732 Great Britain
British
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 732
Great Britain
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It was clear all the bosses were going away on the commission case, so why Gotti didn't just wait until Paul goes away for a 100 years to take over.
Paul was too busy with all his legal troubles to finally move on the Gotti crew I reckon!
British is best....
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