We always say the olden day mobsters were better “quality” and harder but whereas that might be true to a certain extent I think the main variable between the two is better law enforcement and more scrutiny being applied post 70/80s.

I mean Vito genovese killed his girls husband to be with her and was friends with pedos, Simone decavalcante was caught on wiretap shagging his secretary and badmouthing other bosses constantly, giancana was chasing movie stars around the globe falling in love, bonnanos son flipped, chin couldn’t do a hit properly (he would’ve been brutally killed for this in Chicago) and the list goes on..

There would be an argument that they’re all the same and the only difference is law enforcement, technology, Rico and more scrutiny all round... Things that happened before now has a magnifying glass..

Just a thought

Of course.

All the “big guys” from the past would either be in jail by the time they’re 20 given today’s technology and LE scrutiny or would wise up and act accordingly to the changed times.

This is precisely why all those posters mocking current era mobsters saying...”Anastasia would have had the entire Comello family slaughtered” are clueless about the mob’s biggest skill: adaptation.

If today’s LCN would go around dropping bodies like it used to do more than a generation ago the feds would wipe it out in a matter of weeks.

Like it or not, if they’re still doing well in such an inflated underworld, especially with the changes in demographics in NYC/NJ/LI, it’s because they “submerged” as they say in Italy. Let people forget they even exist and not scare potential business partners and political backers away.

Yeah this old vs new comparison is a joke.

Take the Chin for example, some of these west-side baglickers act like he’s the smartest person on earth.

The guy was photographed more than John Gotti! If he was so smart and low key, he wouldn’t have had to pretend to be off his rocker. Which btw never fooled anyone.

Fooled psychiatrists enough to have charges dropped because they said he was unfit to stand trial.

Smart enough to stay on the street when all of the other bosses went away at the commission trial.

No need to exaggerate. Nobody thinks he was the smartest person on earth. Yes he was photographed but to compare him to Gotti is comical.

Interesting replies. Funny though as the common perception is that the old school guys are a different calibre of toughness smartness etc. In reality they’re more or less all the same, just in different eras of law enforcement

(massive generalisation I know obviously there are loads of exceptions)

For the most part I agree. It was much easier in the old days because of the lack of law enforcement pressure.

To be a successful street guy today you definitely have to be smart.

Although I think the old timers had a better idea of what cosa nostra was really about.

Something I've recently put some thought in to. Because the mafia kills much less often than previous generations do you guys think that this could mean less informants? If there aren't murders and if they are smart enough to stay away from drugs then what are we talking about in terms of time they may face 5 to 10 years, guys should be able to do that right?

Example of the old school , Sonny Franzese "throwing mike under the bridge" and ordering a hit on his son john.

I think the Gambino family admin have it worked out. Colombo family use to have the most new school why they have the most informers and guys like joey merlino definitley new school I think philly would of benifted killing him

Gotta remember that these guys were criminals. Old school doesn’t necessary mean low-key and savvy at least not in the American mob. Some good points but keep in mind these were by and large neighborhood knock around guys that were able to take in millions and millions from labor unions, casinos, etc, etc. It’s pretty crazy when you look back and think about it

https://thenewyorkmafia.com/jiggs-forlano/

Here are some old school guys. I don’t think new school guys have connections like these two had. They ran one of the largest loan sharking operations in the country according to this article.