Jimmy Burke had a rough life growing up. He was shuttled from foster home to foster home, where he suffered both physical and sexual abuse. He often ran afoul of the law, and between ages 16 and 22, he spent only 84 days as a free man. During one stint in the slammer, Burke worked as a hitman for incarcerated mobsters. Outside prison, his murderous legend grew after he chopped up his fiancé’s ex-boyfriend. Burke’s longtime associate Henry Hill (Ray Liotta in the movie) claimed that Jimmy could be nice at dinner, but “then he could blow you away for dessert.”
While he had a flair for murder, Burke’s favorite pastime was stealing. He and his crew would hit shipments leaving airports and steal whatever the trucks were carrying. During these heists, Burke would take the truck driver’s license as a way of saying, “I know where you live.” But Burke didn’t want the truck driver to feel too bad, so he’d also leave a $50 bill in the guy’s wallet, earning him the nickname “Jimmy the Gent.” By Nolan Moore

Jack Diamond was one of the original Prohibition-era gangsters. When the government outlawed the sale of alcohol, Diamond opened up a string of speakeasies, including the infamous Hotsy Totsy Club. To supply his bars with booze, Diamond and his crew held up liquor trucks, and he was known for making quick getaways, earning him the nickname “Legs.” Maybe—there’s also the possibility that his moniker came from his mad dancing skills.
Diamond earned his second nickname, “Clay Pigeon,” because he was shot so many times. Between 1927 and 1931, Diamond was shot on three separate occasions. After surviving all three attempts, Diamond started to brag, “They can’t kill Legs
by Nolan Moore

I never heard about "the Julius Ceaser thing in 27 or so yrs that I've been following this subject,& as 4 the chickenpox statement, he got his name b-cause his parents owned a chicken store @ 9th & Christian in the heart of the Italian market,but could b on whom the source is..like I said it's only no harm meant,just what is known 4 his whole tenure.

Julius Ceasar nickname name comes from two sources L.CarcaTerra and wikipedia. The chickenpox nickname comes from two sources as well. And yes, he did have a poultry business this can be found in wikipedia.

Now I want you to explain to me why you say I shouldn't be on this board and you should. By your explanation, I surmise 99% percent of people on this board who read books, newspaper articles or movies on the mob should not be on this board. The other 1% are people that have first hand knowledge on what is going on in the mafia or experienced certain things because they come from the neighborhood.
I read one of your post, in which you made reference or took words that were from a movie. This means you must include yourself in the 99% that should not be on this board. Please explain your rationale. Please explain to me how you possess extrasensory perception about me being a kid and that I am too young ? I am dying to know this one.
There is a logical reason why I reference these numerous nickname statements and is why I do not paraphrase in these particular posts but I will keep it a secret because I want you to figure it out all by yourself. I am quite sure you will succeed some day. No bad intent.
Excuse me for being old school, please explain in today's words what bad intent means. Is it an apology soon after you insult someone. It kind of sounds oxymoronic to me; you seem to use it often.
Emotional intelligence is very useful when dialoguing with people. I learned that in kindergarten school that I am presently attending.

Alright,u not being on board was not meant seriously, & I have also learned in my old school life & certain individuals whom hail from south philly that have a bit of garlic on their breath that someone who possess some credibility & self confidence should not get into a pissing contest. Enough already.

Enough it is.

Growing up, Tommy Pitera’s squeaky voice earned him the role of neighborhood punching bag. Sick of being kicked around, Pitera started learning martial arts. He became such an enthusiast that he moved to Japan to study with the masters, and when he returned to the States in 1975, people called him “Tommy Karate.” A lot of people also started dying, which lead to his second, more gruesome nickname.
Tommy Karate became a hitman for the Bonanno crime family, but he straddled the line between contract and serial killer. After he was arrested in 1990, witnesses claimed this martial arts mobster murdered at least sixty people. After bumping off a victim, Pitera brought out his special dismembering kit, a bag full of nasty tools such as a serrated hunting knife. He’d then lug the body into a bathtub where he’d sever the head and cut the stiff into pieces.
This made it easier to get rid of the victim and made it more difficult for authorities to identify the body. It also earned him his second nickname, “The Butcher.” But these killings weren’t “strictly business,” as Pitera kept trophies of his victims. He was basically Jeffrey Dahmer with a dash of Joe Pesci. By Nolan Moore

Vincent Mad Dog Coll,not someone you would ever want to meet, Mad Dog Coll was given the nickname for his disregard for human life including children. On July 28, 1931, Coll unsuccessfully attempted to kidnap Joey Rao, a Dutch Schultz underling. The resulting shootout left a five year old child, Michael Vengali, dead and several children wounded. After this atrocity, New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker dubbed Coll “Mad Dog” and the whole city started looking for him. A $50,000 bounty was put on Mad Dog and he was gunned down while making a call in a phone booth in 1932. By Shell Harris

Isreal "Icepick Willies" Alderman(Casino investor):This grisly nickname needs little imagination. As you would suspect, Icepick Willies’ method of murder involved an icepick. As the owner of a speakeasy in Minneapolis the gangster would murder his victims by pushing the icepick through their eardrum and into the brain. He used this quick “technique” because eyewitnesses would only see the victim suddenly slump over as a would-be drunk who had passed out. Icepick Willie could then drag the corpse from the speakeasy, as if helping the drunkard, and then dispose of the body. By Shell Harris

Just out of curiosity ciment, what reference did I make from a movie,?...Im to lazy 2 look 4 it,thanx dude.

Video/audio of Ralph Staino quotations ring a bell.

Giovanni Carbo known as Frankie Carbo, was one of the most important soldiers in the Lucchese family. He was born in NY 1904 and his parents were from Arigento Sicily and his nickname says a lot about his temerament" "Mr.Fury". By the end of the the thirties Carbo had already collected 17 arrests and had been accused of at least 5 murders. He got into the business of organizing boxing matches, becoming known as the "Czar of boxing.
By Massimo Picozzi

"Mad Sam" DeStefano, he joined the Chicago outfit and forr the family specializing in loan sharking, protection rackets, and extortion. A sociopathic killer without scruples, DeStefano didn't hesitate about eliminating even his own younger brother ,at the request of Giancana. The organization itself was disturbed by his sadism but the bosses put up with him because of the profits he delivered.

Joe Bonanno hated being called Joe Bananas because it implied he was crazy. But how did he earn that nickname in the first place?

According to some sources they state it was the newspaper reporters that gave him that name.

The story of him having a squeaky voice was fabricated by Phil Carlo, the writer who wrote a book on Pitera. There has never been any proof that he ever traveled to Japan, though that may be true. I think the Nolan Moore you quoted above pasted a bunch of wiki type stuff off of different web sites, after searching for the strangest sounding stories on Pitera.

Thanks for the feedback, last summer I read the book "the Butcher" by Phil Carlo much of what Nolan wrote is in that book. I didn't know that the squeaky voice thing was a fabrication.

Louis Buchalter holds the hardly enviable record of being the only major boss of organized crime to be executed in the United States. Nicknamed by his mother "Lepke" meaning "little Louis" in Yiddish. In the thirties Buchalter took control of Murder Inc. together with Albert Anastasia. By Massimo Picozzi

Joseph "The Builder" Andriacchi (born October 20, 1932) has been reported by Chicago newspapers to be a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit criminal organization.In 1989, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Andriacchi had been elevated to being the second-in-command in the Chicago Outfit.[1] The article identified Andriacchi as having two nicknames: "the Sledgehammer"—because of his unsubtle ways as a safe cracker—and "the Builder."Andriacchi was one of several reputed mobsters ordered to appear before a federal grand jury after the May 17, 1992, bombing of a car outside the home of a daughter of mob turncoat Leonard Patrick, who was in the process of testifying against several known mobsters. wikipedia

Giovanni Nicchi (Sicily), known as Gianni, was called 'u picciuittedu'(the little boy) because he was not thirty years of old. However, following the arrests of Provenzano and then of Antonio Rotolo, Nicchi's godfather and mentor. Nicchi proved old enough to become the reggente of the Pagliarelli mandamento. By Massimo Picozzi

Stephen The Rifleman" Flemmi had allied himself with the Winter Hill Gang boss Whitey Bulger. Flemmi's nickname was attributed to his outstanding marksmanship during the Korean War. By Domenic Spinale

Joseph "the animal" Barboza (Boston), he had become an executioner for the mob. He was an instrument the LCN used to wipe out anyone who failed to heed their demands. Barboza had hopes of one day being the first non-Italian inducted into the Mafia. He was Portuguese, therfore could not be a made man. Barboza would often freelance, killing at will. He had once received a contract to kill a man, but the intended victim knew he was in Barboza's sights, therefore refused to leave the home. "No problem", The Animal said,"I'll set fire to his house and when he runs out,I will shoot him." "his mother lives in the house with him," "No problem," Barboza replied, "When she runs out I will shoot her too." By Domenic Spinale

James "Whitey" Bulger, boss of the Winter Hill gang in south Boston. The eldest son, was already building a reputation as a tough guy. "Whitey", as he was known because the color of his blond hair was nearly white, was violent and vicious. He hated the name "Whitey" and made certain that no one dared call him that.

John Martorano was a former hitman for the Winter Hill Gang in Boston, Massachusetts and has admitted to 20 mob related killings.
John was their loyal gangster, who could be called on anytime,day or night, to kill for them. "Johnny one the spot," was one of many nicknames.

AHH,so u know about that long last piece..that's hard 2 find my friend..very rare audio police property...u should have heard the whole conversation..if I went into detail ,u could have probably figured out who he was posing a threat 2..talk 2 u on the rebound,.

How did you get it, pick pocketed a Philly cop. On second thought it's better I don't know..........LOL

And,Ciment...if u r familiar w/ these certain time period tapes,It is possible that u know certain individuals that I used 2 congregate with..I Ain't nobody,but played cards w/ alot of "nice" ppl.My old man was "friends" w/Ange Bruno,& I still speak once in a while w/ his daughter Jeanne..that's as far as I go ..if u want 2 really find out who I'm hanging out w/ call Celeste Morello....& she will give the dime on all of us, even though she is a nice old chick.

Ciment, I'd be curious in knowing how many of these guys monikers were ever uttered to their faces or even if they knew that was what they called them behind their backs. One examples is Bugsy Sieigel who hated his nickname. Also, didn't Leonetti hated the moniker, Crazy, even though Scarfo thought you couldn't buy that type of nickname?

For an Italian,this becomes a familiar theme when one hangs around an Italian social club/bar or grew up in that environment. It's only a matter of time that you will bump into some of these nice people. Best keep these memories to yourself. If you know what I mean.

Oh yes..I do keep 2 myself,,thanx cuz,& i'll c u on the rebound, but ..i'm 100% Irish,& I personally think my old man's courtship w/Angelo was something 2 do w/ Keebler cookie Co.,who dad was a union official.Was2 young 2 know till I b-came a teen.,,..later dude.