In keeping with the spirit of NYMAFIA's plea to the members of the forum, I have taken it upon myself to create a general "Family Hierarchy" during the period of when the were probably most powerful (1956) going into their first tumultuous period of the late 1960s. This is based on the best possible research I have available and is by no means the Bible on this subject matter. It will probably be as close as anyone has done this particularly at least. All the names on the list have at least two sources. I hope this encourages people to examine this and the other Families more thoroughly. I'd like to see this done for the other "outfits". Anways, Here goes......

The Joseph Bonanno Crime Family circa 1956-1968

Upper Echelon Members of Various Leadership Roles
1.) JOE BONANNO (Head Leader/Boss, Rackateer/Legitimate Businessman and Overseer of the Organization, with Criminal and Political Connections across the Country and Strong Familial Ties to Sicily. known Joe Bananas/Peppino)
2.) FRANCESCO GAROFALO ( Underboss/organizer of International Family Affairs known as Frank Carroll)
3.) CARMINE GALANTE (Leader of Canadian Faction/control of the Heroin racket. known as Lilo)
4.)JOHN TARTAMELLA ( Consigliere of the Family/control of the Babers union)
5.) GASPAR DI GREGORIO (Longtime Capo/NY Faction Leader, strong connections to the Commission)
6.) GIOVANNI MORALE (Leader of Bonanno Loyalist Faction/Street crew known as Johnny Burns)

CAPOREGIME
NATALE "JOE DIAMOND" EVOLA.
PAUL SCIACCA
PHILLIP " RUSTY" RASTELLI.
SALVATORE "BILL" BONANNO
FRANK LABRUZZO.
THOMAS "SMITTY" DI ANGELO
ANGELO CARUSO.
JOSEPH "LITTLE JOE" NOTARO
MATTEO VALVO
GIOVANNI BONVENTRE.
JOSEPH " BAYONNE JOE" ZICARELLI
FRANK MARI.
NICOLO ALFANO
JOHN AQUARO.
VIC "THE EGG" COTRONI
MICHELE "MIKE" SABELLA
GIUSEPPE DE FILLPO.
VINCENT TARANTOLA

SOLDATO/SOLDIERS (Membership spread across over a dozen crew in territory across the U.S. Brooklyn, NY. Tucson, Arizona. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Montreal, Canada. San Jose, California. Miami, Florida. Cuba. Castellamare Del Golfo, Sicily)

The Criminal expertise: International Drug Trafficking, Legitimate Business (Dairy Factory, Funeral Parlor, Trucking, Bakery, Babershop) infiltration, LoanSharking, Gambling (sports betting and Numbers, Games) Hijacking/Fencing, Bank/credit Fraud, Pornography, Robbery.

The New York Faction (The Core of the group based in mainly in Brooklyn, headed by faction leaders DI GREGORIO (rebel group), LABRUZZO (Bonanno Loyalist) and CARUSO (Old Timers/Neutral), with shifting loyalties )

MICHAEL "MIKE BRUNO" CONSOLO.
SALVATORE GRIPPI
ANTHONY RIELA.
ANGELO "LITTLE MOE" PRESENZANO
MICHAEL "MIKE ADAMS" ADAMO.
VINCENT CASESSE
ROSARIO "SALLY BURNS" MORALE.
NICK CASTELLO
EPIFANIO "FRANK" DI ANGELO
ALFONSE DEMARINES.
MICHAEL BONFONDEO
JOSEPH "JOE CHICK" DI GIOVANNA
GUISEPPE BUCCELATO.
VINCENZO ASARO
FRANK "CHOW" MANCINO
VINCENT "JIMMY" DEPASQUALE.
PIETRO "SKINNY PETE" CROCIATA
ANGELO SALVO.
JACK LANGOBARDI
VITO DE FILLPO
ANTHONY CALABRO
GAETANO "TONY" LISI
DOMENICO "MIMI" SABELLA.
SALVATORE GIGLIO
GIOVANNI "JOHN BENNETT" PETRONE
VINCENZO "VINCENT ADAMO" MORSELLINO
MICHAEL "MICKEY" ZAFFARANO
JAMES GALANTE.
VITO GRIMALDI.
ANTHONY "TONY D" DI GREGORIO
STEFANO "STEVIE BEEFS" CANNONE
JOSPEH SPADARO.
TONY CANZONERI
ARMONDO POLLASTRINO.
NICHOLAS "THE BATTLER" DI STEFANO
EUGENE TRAMANGLINO
"BIG" WILLIAM RIVIELLO.
FRANK BONOMO
ANDREW "ANDY CURLEY" BUCARO
ANTHONY RABITO.
ANGELO LAPI
IGNAZIO "SONNY" CANNONE.
VINCENT "FORT LEE JIMMY" CAPASSO
SERENO "BOBBY T" TARTAMELLA.
FRANK "FRANKIE 500" TELLERI
PAOLO CAMPANELLA.
GIRALOMO "JERRY" ASARO
NICHOLAS BUTTAFUCCO.
BIAGO RESTIVO
PIETRO "PETER" LICATA.
MICHELE "MICHAEL ANGELO" ANGELINA
MICHAEL "THE SAILOR" CASALE.
NICHOLAS "NICKY GLASSES" MARANGELLO
ANTHONY CRISCI.
PIETRO BONVENTRE
CAMILLO SARDEGNA
JOSPEH "JIMMY" GENNA
JOHN GRANELLO
JAMES "BLACK JIM" COLLETTI
CONSTENZO VALENTE.
STEFANO "STEVE" MENNA
RALPH DUCE
GUISEPPE GRIMALDI
VINCENT GAROFALO
PHILLIP "PHIL LUCKY" GIACCONE
WILLIAM DARA.
GEORGE "GEORGIE LEFTY" RIZZO
IGNAZIO DEPASQUALE
VICTOR TRAMANGLINO
JOSEPH "JOE" DI MARIA
GIOVANNI "JOHN" FIORDILLINO
FRANK "PARDINI" PRESENZANO
MARTIN BONVENTRE
ANTONIO "NINO" ADAMO
PASQUALE "PATSY" GIGANTI
VITTORIO "VICTOR" ANELLO
CARMINE RUSSO
SALVATORE AMICO
JOHN CAMPANELLA
MATTEO DI GREGORIO
BENJAMIN "CONEY ISLAND BENNY" VALVO
CHARLES "CHARLIE FISH" DI BERNARDO
MARIENELLO "MARTY" RASTELLI
JAMES DI ANGELO
SALVATORE IPPOLITTO
JOSEPH STABILE
GIUSEPPE ASARO
VITO BONVENTRE II
FRANCESCO CROCIATA
JOSEPH "JOE PARKER" MORSELLINO
ANTHONY ARENA
FRANK MISTRETTA
PHILLIP TARTAGLIA
SALVATORE MARCHESE
MICHAEL "BIG MIKE" ALLEGATO
VINCENT "TAPPY" SOVIERO
FRANK TARTAMELLA
ANTHONY LUCIDO
JOSEPH MESSINA


THE West Coast Faction (generally Bonanno Regime Loyalist led by Salvatore Bonanno) (Territories in Tuscon,Ar. San Diego, CA. San Jose, Ca.)

CARLO "BUDDY" SIMARI.
SAMUEL "HANK" PERRONE
PETER CINQUEMANI
CHARLES BATTAGLIA
VITO MULE
NICK GUASTELLA
PETER NOTARO.
JOSEPH GENOVESE.
SANTO MANFRE.
PETER MAGADDINO
PIETRO SCIORTINO
ANTHONY TARANTOLA
ANGELO MONTE
PROSPECT MULE
GIUSEPPE VENZA
SALVATORE MIRABILE.
ANTONIO BELLO.
PATRICK DE FILLPO
MICHAEL CONSENZA
GASPAR MAGADDINO
ROSARIO "RUSSELL" ANDALORO
GIOVANNI "JOHN" DIBELLA
NICHOLAS "NICK ZAPARANA" ZAFFARANO
ANTONIO "SHORT PANTS" CACIOPO
SALVATORE "MARTIN" BRUNO
ANTHONY SCIUTO



International Guys (members with influence/business interests in Montreal, Canada. Tijuana, Mexico. Cuba. Sicily)

FRANK GAROFALO* (the "Sotto-Capo" and overseer of drug trade based in Castellamare Del Golfo Sicily)
VINCENZO MORSELLINO* (sleeper Drug trafficker with ties Sicily)
GIOVANNI "JOHN BENNETT" PETRONE* (traveler and Representative of the Family)
FRANK DASTI (montreal Faction)
LUIGI GRECO (montreal Faction)
LOUIS "RUBY" GRECO (montreal Faction)
VIC COTRONI* (montreal powerhouse connection/Boss)
FRANK COTRONI (montreal faction)
GUISEPPE "PEP" COTRONI (montreal faction)
ANTONIO RIZZUTO (montreal faction)
MICHAEL CASALE* (traveler/international messenger)
VINCENT TARANTOLA* ( in control of cuban and Miami interest)
CHARLES BATTAGLIA* ( Operations in Mexico)
TONY CRISCI* (International drug tracking/ ties in Sicily)
PIOLO VIOLI ( montreal faction/Cotroni Capo)
ANTHONY MARULLI (deported Canadian contact/Galante Loyalist)
FRANK "CHOW" MANCINO* (Brooklyn trafficker/strong Canadian connection)


The Associates ( of varying power, influence or importance.... some may have been made but I didn't see enough information on it.)

Benjamin "lefty guns" Ruggiero.
Joseph Massino
Anthony Mirra.
Alfred Embarratto
Alphonse "sonny red" Indelicato.
Dominick " sonny black" Napolitano
Thomas Pitera.
Emanuel " Manny" Guaragna
James "jimmy" Esiscopia.
Anthony Graziano
Anthony Spero.
George Di Benedetto
Peter Monteleone.
Salvatore Catalano
Gerlando Sciascia.
Gerald " Jerry" Chilli
John Zancocchio.
Salvatore Vitale
Antonio "boots" Tomasulo


Remember this is Not the Gospel but I can assure you it was thoroughly researched. Of Course, the true membership is lost to history but I believe this is a true representation of the Family's membership at the time. And If you know stories of these lesser known figures, you'll see the Bonannos were a underrated and little understood organization (compared to the other Families).
ALSO REMEMBER! This is a "Circa" time frame so if certain people aren't where they really were, it is more of a generalization of their known rank and perceived importance during this time period.

Tell stories and add forgotten names in the thread!
Hopefully the Other Families can be done this way.

I'm fucking proud of you brother!... good job! You actually nailed many of their lesser known members which is good.

And thank you for taking what I said seriously and stepping up. If we all contribute a little bit, this forum is gonna be an ass-kicking place to hang out and something to really be proud of. And it becomes more enjoyable for everyone involved!

So Don Peppino I salute you!.... and as Don Vito once said, "I am forever in your debt" Lol

Anthony Riela is an interesting character. A few months ago i requested an article about him to NYMafia but, unfortunately, there wasn't enough material to write about him. That's how low key he was.

He is the one who set up the meeting between the Milwaukee Boss Frank Balistrieri and Lefty and Donnie Brasco. It's very interesting how the whole thing was done. It's a good illustration of the mafia protocol and connection throughout the country.

Riela was first an associate of the Rockford Family then he moved to New Jersey and got made with the Bonnano. In order to set up a meeting with Balistrieri, the Bonnano had to get the Ok from Chicago, because Milwaukee answered to Chicago. Since Riela was well connected to Chicago, the Bonnano used him to reach out to the Outfit.

At the time, there were some tensions between the Rockford family and Milwaukee so Chicago thought that the Bonnano request was a good opportunity to patch things up between the two families. So instead of reaching to Milwaukee directly, Chicago asked Riela to go through the Rockford family to set up the meeting, which he did.

In the book, Pistone talked about the first meeting with Balistrieri and it happened during a dinner where made guys from Rockford were there to make the introduction.

Grazie 🥃

Anthony Riela was suspected of attending Apalachin in 57'. Its not hard to believe because Bonanno and Joe Barbara were compare and similar in business. I am sure that it was a lot of connections between the families at that time because of the Castellamarese connections.
Riela had many connections across the country. New Jersey was a hot bed for alot of powerful guys. It often makes me wonder if, all the the collective guys in New Jersey were ONE Family. Even if the Decavalcante's could take just one of the great crews from each family in NJ. They would've really been powerful.

The Bonannos had a decent presence in NJ with the likes of:
Joe Zicarelli
Matteo Valvo
Anthony Riela
Angelo Salvo

Seems like when rusty was out in 1984 as boss he was really not that well respected in my head. Fat tony was crushing him on wiretap. Sales Vitale said he held court in a park alot. Maybe he was smart never got caught going to the sit downs. Maybe he wasn't even invited. Yet the other bosses allowed his family to make alot of guys in 76 77 ect

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Correct, Riela and Salvo lived in NJ for decades, Joseph (Bayonne Joe) Zicarelli actually lived in Cliffside Park. Besides those you named above were these additional goodfellas;

Gabriel (Gabe) Infanti lived in Bloomfield
Nicolino (Nick) Alfano lived in Englewood Cliffs
Ralph Duce also lived in Englewood Cliffs
John Caltagirone lived in Belleville
Vincent (Fort Lee Jimmy) Capasso lived in you guessed it "Fort Lee" lol
I also think Johnny Campanella lived in Jersey for awhile as well

And remember, thats not counting the "associates" who were actually around these guys in their personal crews. So they did have a presence albeit not a huge one as some other crews.

Also, because NJ was so close to Downtown Manhattan, there were other Bonanno guys who came from the Mulberry Street area who jumped right over the bridge to Fort Lee, or from Staten Island to Jersey as well who I'll leave unnamed. They commuted the few miles back and forth daily to hang along Elizabeth Street that had heavy Bonanno influence and in the 4th ward area.

It's implied Chin told Fat Tony to veto Rusty's attempts to join the Commission.

@Dob_Peppino I am assuming the Bonannos had about 180 to 250 made men at the time of the Valachi hearings. During the Banana Wars, didn't Magaddino attempt to take over Montreal as well?

I read somewhere (maybe "A Man of Honor) that Gasparino was arrested at Apalachin and initially misidentified as Joe Bonanno because Bonanno had given him his driver's license to renew before he left for his "vacation" in Italy. Gasparino stuck it in his wallet and forgot about it.

The Bonanno Family never had a strong NJ presence. They had powerful members who resided in NJ but never a strong NJ crew. Throughout most of their history Capos out of the Bronx or Brooklyn were given NJ members as a part of their crew.

If I had to historically rank mafia families by the most influence in the State of New Jersey I would say......
#1. Genovese
#2. Philadelphia
#3 Decavalcante
#4 Lucchese
#5 Gambino
#6 Bonanno
#7 Colombo

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Hey its the Colonel!...Good to see you my friend.

I do differ from your view of the top regimes and strength in NJ. The Lucchese did have a very strong faction serving under Anthony Accetturo/Taccetta and Perna brothers with at least 10-12 good fellas and numerous associates. But the Gambino's ran many crews in Jersey, all of whom were just as large or larger as well.

Good examples of what I'm talking about are their presence in Northern New Jersey:

Capo Joseph (Joe) Paterno ran a huge crew for decades. He was a very well respected and low key leader.

Capo Anthony (Little Tony) Carminati also ran a big crew in No. Jersey.

Capo Frank Perrone was another low key, almost invisible leader for the Gambino's who ran his own regime.

Among the more notable of their inducted soldiers were Frank (The Bear) Basto, Robert (Bobby Cabert) Bisaccia, Francesco (Frank) Rappa, James (Jimmy Higgins) Palmieri, Frank (Butch) MIceli, Joseph (Demus) Covello, to name but a few. Collectively the ran a large crew of associates. Several of these solders later rose up to take over these crews with the death or retirement of Paterno, etc., such as Bisaccia.
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In Southern New Jersey they had a huge presence as well, albeit a lower keyed one.

Capo Giovanni (John) Gambino and his two brothers Guiseppe and Rosario (Sal) oversaw an extremely large regime probably numbering twenty or better made men. Many of whom were Sicilians under the Gambino Family flag and inducted themselves. The also oversaw numerous associates.

Capo Antonino (Nino) Inzerillo was another near shadow capo until his disappearance. He helped control several interlocking regimes of the "Zip" faction of the Family in South Jersey area of Cherry Hill, etc.

Good examples of the soldiers under their control were the Inzerillo brothers, and the Adamita brothers. Others include surnames like Gallina, Sollena, and Buscetta. And I am just touching on the surface of their South Jersey regimes membership.
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The Colombo's also had a "official" crew in Jersey under longtime capo Salvatore Profaci. Jersey Sal ran a regime numbering maybe 8-10 good fellas, with some associates. So I agree the Colombo Family were technically the smallest yet because of the Profaci name were still a formidable bunch. Very, very integrated in legitimate industry there. Remember that his dad owned a 328 acre estate in the Hightstown area back in the day if I'm not mistaken. So the "Profaci" footprint was stable as well.

Maybe even more significant than the Bonanno's. I make that case because the Colombo's had such members as the elder Salvatore (Tutti) Lombardino who was a powerhouse in his own right. He attended the 1928 Cleveland meeting. He was a top boss.

Also his sons Tutti Lombardino Jr. and Rosario Lombardino, and soldiers Emmanuel (Nello) Cammarata, Angelo Speciale, Joseph (Joe Yak) Yacovelli, James (Jimmy Ski) Scianna, Profaci cousin Salvatore (Fat Sal) Profaci, Gus Spatafora, shadow soldier Guiseppe (Joe) Leone, They also had James (Jimmy Ran) Randazzo the son of old time original Vincenzo Randazzo. Also Michael Piancone was a key Profaci operative overseeing Roma Foods, Inc. for him.

In later years of course the added the Cagno brothers and Peter (Petey Black) Campisi and his brother to the mix.

On review and balance I think I'd even place the Colombo regime above the Bonanno presence in New Jersey. For as you stated earlier many Bonanno's lived in Jersey yet operated in NYC almost exclusively. Whereas the Colombo's I mentioned were all knee-deep in New Jersey racket operations. So my list would look something like this:

Genovese (appx. 5 regimes)
Gambino. (5 regimes)
DeCavalcante (ranked #3 because they're homegrown, NJ is the base. They have at least 25-30 NJ based made members in 3-4 regimes and over 100 associates)
Philadelphia. (smaller overall membership in NJ although they were always very active there)
Lucchese. (1 large regime)
Colombo. (1 mid-sized regime) But ran Roma Foods (a firm active in 20-25 states with a multi-multimillion dollar annual volume)
Bonanno. (Joe Bayonne was their main guy, and he was mostly a soldier. Riela was a soldier - influential but a soldier. I'm not even sure they had a regime in NJ)
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This is my take on it. Of course this is subjective. None of us know for certain the exact strength of any crew. And from era to era the power shifted a bit as well. But I think overall this was a valid picture of the New Jersey underworld landscape.
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one additional thing I'd say is that we both agree on the Genovese being the most prominent crew in Jersey. Many top bosses of that borgata actually lived there. Jerry Catena, Willie Moretti, Chin Gigante, Tommy Eboli, Tony Bender, etc.

And other very important capos ruled with an iron fist such as Ruggiero Boiardo, Eugene Catena, Gyp DiCarlo, Louis Gatto, Bobby Manna, Tino Fiumara, Pepe Sabato, etc., etc. They always were, and still are the powerhouses of the Garden State.

Could you imagine How much more powerful The Decavalcante's would have been even if they just had Richie "The Boot"? Let alone, more of those various heavyweights in his organization.

Yep. They would have been a force. Maybe THE force in all of No.Jersey

I have come up to around 125 names from various sources. I am still researching and adding as needed. The number is debatable. I could believe, if you include the names of some old timers who were active at the time and some guys who were true "sleepers" and are lost to history. It could be over 200 but I am, this is the core of it. I'm sure I will come across some names later. I'm sure that there is a hidden heavy as well. They will be added.

Bonanno had control over Montreal and tried to go into Toronto which was Magaddino's territory. Magaddino did have presence and tried to create some stink in Momtreal. It was all based on Bonanno's ambitions and Magaddino's jealousy.

The more research I am doing, the more I am uncovering a low key partnership between Joe Bonanno himself and the Denver Family. At least on a legitimate basis, the had interest in the Dairy industry and co-owned a factory. There are also several individuals who are apart of the Northwestern Family who have been labeled as members of this organization. I know because of the Sicilian ties, there was a connection between this outfit and Bonanno.

It would be interesting to have the landscape of NJ thoroughly laid out. It seems that the most of the NY regimes were more powerful then the Decavalcantes. Add the othe crews on and compared to what actually was available, the NJ Family got left with nothing really.

I would also love to see Philadelphia and Detroit particularly during this period laid out. Thats would be fascinating IMO

Bonanno had good ties to the Bay Area mob families (San Jose and San Francisco) and had a crew of 20 or so guys in Arizona, so it's no doubt he really wanted to control the Los Angeles mob as well. Wonder how Chicago (Accardo), Philly (Angelo Bruno), and Boston (Patriarca) would have reacted had Bonanno clipped off Gambino and Lucchese, and then New York City subsequently squeezing them out of Las Vegas and California.

What was Bonanno's relationship with Frankie Balistrieri after being shipped off to Arizona?

All those Families seemed to be playing the fence (especially Bruno and Zerilli) during this situation. Chicago was kicking up alittle dust about Vegas and Arizona particularly orchestrating some bombings in Tuscon. But they weren't aggressive about a resolution of the conflict or Commission Issues.

I Think If Bonanno was able to quel the Families by situating the Leadership problems, the other Families would go along until another NY Family dealt with Bonanno.

Bonanno had a pleasant relationship with the Milwaukee boss prior to Balistrieri. He operated some dairy factories in Wisconsin, so they at least had a working relationship. I do know, Balistrieri made complaints about Bonanno invading territory and was alleged to be involved in some of the bombing in Tuscon.

I gotta tell ya fellas, that to this day I find the accusation that Bonanno plotted the double murders of Tommy Lucchese and Carlo Gambino a bit farfetched to say the least.

Joe Bonanno was a highly independent and high-handed operator for sure. The accusation that he was "planting flags all over the world" in regards to his ambitions in Canada, Arizona, Southern California and elsewhere are extremely plausible to me.

But even Bonanno was not that whacky, or that much of a loose cannon to think that he could kill 2 TOP NYC bosses and get away with that. There would have been an epic mob war that would have made the Castellammarese War, all three Profaci/Colombo Wars, and the Banana War combined look like child's play! And THATS the truth.

I do not doubt that because there was already complaints from Frank DeSimone of LA, and Steve Magaddino of Buffalo that Bonanno was trying to usurp some of their authority and encroach a bit of their fiefdoms or territories, that the devious Gambino (ever the master tactician and Machiavellian plotter) collaborated with his sons father-in-law Lucchese to put out the word that Bonanno and Magliocco had plotted their executions.

Magliocco was a weak sister, and by himself Bonanno stood little chance of winning any Commission dispute. Gambino had an eye toward coveting more Brooklyn territory that he knew both Bonanno and Magliocco controlled. Remember that there were traditionally three Families operating in Kings County; Profaci, Bonanno, Gambino. If Carlo could swing the day, his borgata could slowly but surely inch up on each of the other 2 families operations and rackets.

He did so by having Magliocco thrown out of his post and installing the somewhat "puppet" leader captain Joe Colombo who now owed fealty to Gambino. He essentially sought to do the same to Bonanno's Family by creating havoc from within.

History shows us that in the ensuing years Carlo Gambino was pivotal to the selections of future Bonanno "acting bosses" who also owed allegiance to Gambino. He was a very shrewd "fox"!

I just feel that the alleged plot was NOT what Gambino and Lucchese "claimed" it was to the other Commission members. This was done to "ace out" Bonanno from his standing on that Commission. Remember that once Profaci had died, Bonanno was left without a strong ally. When alive Profaci was a staunch Bonanno supporter and vice versa. They made sure to protect each other from their enemies on the Commission.

Gambino and Lucchese NEVER would have even attempted such a coup, let alone won such a coup! But after Joe Profaci's death Bonanno was essentially left on a raft out in the ocean by himself without a paddle. Even his cousin Magaddino went against him. THAT was the last nail in his coffin. Magaddino abandoning Bonanno was the last straw and the pivotal action that emboldened the Gambino-Lucchese axis to move against Joe Bonanno.

He basically had the entire world go against him - the whole Commission. Even Joe Zerilli out of Detroit backed up on him because once Profaci died Zerilli no longer had any "dog in the fight" so to speak. And no loyalty left or obligation to Bonanno.

Just my informed opinion. My two cents! Lol

Totally agree NYMAFIA

@NYmafia
The ironic thing about Joe Magliocco is, they say in the late 20's/early 30's, he was placed with Joe Profaci to be his "street presence" and really "school" Profaci on the ways of the street. Because Joe Profaci wasn't a true street gangster, it just makes it funny when you call Magliocco a "weak sister". This is why I say the workings of the early era of this Family needs to be examined more.

That's the thing with Joe Magliocco, by the mid 1950s he was a shell what he was in the 1920s till that point. He is still a chief suspect in the murder of Peter Leone, rumored to have been a heavy hitter, which throws a wrench in it was all Albert Anastasia crew since Joe Florino, Double A's top gunman is the prime suspect in the Joe Peraino shooting. Regardless, Magliocco was a major force and his father Giovanni is rumored to have been made, which would explain the Magliocco-D'Agati situation where nothing happened to John after he killed Frank, although there is a lot more is to that.

I believe that in his early life Magliocco was indeed a capable mafioso. And don't think for a second that he "carried" Profaci, because Joe Profaci was in deed a capable mafioso and a cagy one at that. With a family history dating back to Villabate, Sicily, that saw members of his blood family as members of the "Zubbio" who were a network of mafia members who ruled over that village, Profaci was indeed a mafioso through and through. That was one of the reasons why he was not only immediately accepted within Americas mafia community but also almost immediately elevated to a "position".

Magliocco served as Profaci's underboss for 30 years. I'm certain his tenure would never have lasted had he not been a capable man in his own right. But without Profaci's backing, and as he aged into his sixty's, he was no longer the "man" he once was. I also have the feeling that although he may have been a great "second banana" he himself was not boss material. I don't think he was a "thinker". Magliocco was a great follower and executed Profaci's dictates unfailingly. But left to his own devices he wasn't that capable navigating the machinations of mafia life.

He certainly was not up for a "match of wits" against Gambino and Lucchese thats for certain anyway. And I believe he may have leaned on Bonanno for guidance. Bonanno knew these facts and may have steered him accordingly, to Magliocco's own detriment in the end result.

Agreed. By that late era he was already aging. He was fat in both wealth and girth, and no longer had the fire required to navigate the family.

But he was a more than capable guy. If he wasn't, Magliocco and his brothers would never have been able to accumulate the extensive wealth they did by developing the wide swath and myriad of major businesses within varied industries that he (and by proxy they) did.

And as I stated in the my other post I do think Magliocco made a great underboss or #2. He just may not have had the savvy or vision to sit at the apex of a borgata as he was required to do after Profaci's death.

Here is a biography I wrote about his life. I think it spells it out better than I can expound on here:

https://thenewyorkmafia.com/giuseppe-magliocco/

Interesting. I knew that I saw/heard that about Magliocco was a street guy during the prohibition era. That time frame with the Colombos is a weak spot for me. Because I know all the Families have a rich history, I know The Profaci's are no different but less examined.

That's a crazy dynamic within itself. The Profaci/Colombo Family has ALWAYS had a major dangerous element and a sorta factioned Family, even from the beginning you see the precursors of the later drama in the 50s/60s. There's Profaci's relatives/supporters, a group that followed the rules but generally didn't respect him and a young element that were apart of establishment Mafia politics/renegades. They had a dangerous crew with Profaci and Magliocco at the top. From a street point of those problems were bound to happen.

@NYmafia
Do you agree with my sentiment that Joe Profaci also had a shaky position as Boss? Or do you believe he had firm control over the underbelly of his Family for a time?

I believe that Profaci had rock solid control over this smaller borgata for nearly 30 years. And until the advent of the Gallo brothers and a few other malcontents, the family ran smooth as silk. His Bensonhurst, Bayridge, Coney Island, Red Hook, Williamsburg base was comprised of men very, very loyal to him. Old-timers (all tough guys) who did his bidding unfailingly.

Was he a cheap guy? Absolutely! But so were other bosses of the era. In fact most other bosses and leaders gave their soldiers shit in the way of compensation. He was heavy handed also in the way of stipends and money his men were required to kick up to him.

His reputation was besmirched with the info that came out during the Gallo-Profaci war as being a miser, cheap, miserable, etc. But Bonanno, Genovese, Mussachio, Aloi, Anastasia, Scalise, etc etc were all the same.

Only Frank Costello and Tommy Lucchese stand out as being very, very generous to their rank and file. Hence the love shown them by their men. Were there other generous guys, a few that I know of. But by and large bosses then, as now, give you ZERO!

Associates, soldiers, and even capos kick up to them. Not the other way around.
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When my father, cousins, and uncles were active, they each were required to kick in appropriately and steadily to their respective families. The only difference being that generally speaking my family were big earners in their own right, and didn't need a handout, or be put into a racket or business to make a living.

In fact they generally avoided getting involved in rackets and activities with other guys for fear of exposure because of the shear stupidity of others, or fear of getting pulled into a criminal probe. They much preferred to use their "positions" to just augment their own activities. And they kicked up envelopes from afar. Or at least as far as they could stay from the "flame" of the hierarchy which was always under the scrutiny of law enforcement.

It's possible Vito Genovese or Tommy Ryan would have started a 2nd Castellammarese War had Bonanno won. West Side would probably not want like another family that's bigger than them.