Young Al Capone: The Untold Story of Scarface in New York, 1899-1925 - Hardcover

Balsamo, William; Balsamo, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 161608085X ISBN 13: 9781616080853

Publisher: Skyhorse, 2011

Synopsis

Many people are familiar with the story of Al Capone, the “untouchable” Chicago gangster best known for orchestrating the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. But few are aware that Capone’s remarkable story began in the Navy Yard section of Brooklyn, New York. Tutored by the likes of infamous mobsters Johnny Torrio and Frankie Yale, young Capone’s disquieting demeanor, combined with the “technical advice” he learned from these insidious pedagogues, contributed to the molding of a brutal criminal whose pseudonym, “Scarface,” evoked fascination throughout the world.

Despite the best efforts of previous biographers lacking true insider’s access, details about Capone’s early years have, until now, mostly been shrouded in mystery. With access gained through invaluable familial connections, the authors were able to open the previously sealed mouths of Capone’s known living associates. Collecting information through these interviews and never-before-published documents, the life of young Al Capone at last comes into focus.

Among the many revelations in Young Al Capone are new details about the brutal Halloween Night murder of rival gangster “Wild Bill” Lovett, grisly details on how Capone and his Black Hand crew cleverly planned the shootout and barbaric hatchet slaying of White Hand boss, Richard “Peg Leg” Lonergan, insight into the dramatic incident that forced Capone to leave New York, and much more.

About this title

About the Author:

Bill Balsamo, considered by many to be one of the premier Capone historians, has invested more than twenty-five years in researching and writing this unique book. He is the author of Crime, Inc., now in its fifth printing, and served as a consultant to both Brian DePalma’s blockbuster 1987 film, The Untouchables, and the companion book for the 1994 Fox TV special, Loyalty and Betrayal: The Story of the American Mob, produced by Nicholas Pillegi (Wiseguy, Casino). Mr. Balsamo’s many television appearances include The Sally Jesse Raphael Show, The Joe Franklin Show, The Geraldo Rivera Show, and various documentary features on the History Channel, A&E, the Learning Channel, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, and, most recently, the Bio Channel. 

John Balsamo is the chief executive of SUPERDON INC., a company that markets board games. Previous to that, John worked on the Brooklyn waterfront for more than thirty years while compiling extensive material regarding the life of young Capone.

From Publishers Weekly:

Before he became the mythical untouchable "Scarface," Alphonse Capone (1899–1947) was a young, cunningly brutal thug schooled by hard-boiled criminal minds in pre-Depression Brooklyn, N.Y. Capone experts William (Under the Clock) and John Balsamos revisit Capone's apprenticeship years in the violent Brooklyn Navy Yard street gangs and his transformation from a wayward youth to polished, cold-blooded gangster under the tutelage of two master mobsters, Johnny Torrio and "Frankie Yale" Ioele. The authors offer a wealth of cultural and social detail regarding Capone's immigrant Italian-American family, struggling to survive in hard economic times while keeping their ethnic traditions alive. Young Capone took part in the murder of the ruthless leader of the White Hand gang, "Wild Bill" Lovett, and the maiming death of Lovett's rival "Peg Leg" Lonergan, and participated in several rubouts of underlings, which made Brooklyn too hot for the upcoming criminal; he went to Chicago under Torrio's protection. With insider facts and spare narrative, the authors show us not only how Capone got his scarred face; they deliver a scathing portrait of a power-mad predator coming up through the criminal ranks. 16 pages of photos. (Mar.)
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About this edition

• Publisher: Skyhorse
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 161608085X
• ISBN 13: 9781616080853
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288