Best of: Midwest Mobsters

[@justinweidenbach3699]

My great uncle was not "technically" a member of the Midwest mob, but he did associate with gangsters. His name was Kenneth Allen Kitts. He was primarily a bank rober, and at one point was on the FBI's most wanted list. He served time on Alcatraz because he was an escape risk. As far as I know, he never killed or hurt anyone during the comission of his crimes, but Midwest organized crime was a very real thing, and there were some very dangerous people. Love this channel.

[@menwithven8114]

Hey my great uncle was Michael Wittmann the best tank commander in history (arguably). Great uncles are wild

[@Torby4096]

I live in Oklahoma, but I am from Illinois. I spent about 20 years in Western Illinois. Turns out, the area where Capone and company would go to relax, and got some of the hooch. An old fellow told me, "It is hard too see those guys as criminals when they would show up with a turkey, a basket of fruit and presents for the children."

[@robertnessful]

My Japanese teacher came to the United States to get a master's degree in library science at the University of Chicago. It was a great opportunity, but the only thing she had knew about Chicago before moving from Japan was its association with Al Capone and other gangsters. She told us that when she traveled in Chicago, she was always on the lookout for mobsters in pinstripe suits and fedoras carrying tommy guns.

[@typacsk]

Was your teacher familiar with Ken Eto?

[@lefty-bw1zp]

😂😅That’s funny.

[@phillipmarlowe0525]

“ had known”

[@charlesandrews2360]

My roomate at University was from Japan. When we met for the first time and I told him I was from Chicago he said ,"Ahh... Al Capone" and then he swept the room with his fingers saying ratatatatatt. That was in '76. Today he probably would have said Michael Jordan. Ironically, I didn't know much about it at the time but I found out later that my grandfather was very close to the big fella.

[@midwestadventures1975]

I live not far from the quad cities all my life and never knew this. Very educational. Thanks

[@ArabianShalifa]

You and me too.

[@thomascee]

10:45 Legendary cat meow. Historical cat, that will now always be remembered 😂

[@spets4265]

If you are interested in doing more content on the mafia I would highly suggest looking into the history of Youngstown, Ohio.

[@OldDiogenese]

My first job as a lawyer was working for a man named Henry Wade. Yes, that Henry Wade, prosecutor for Dallas County. The man who prosecuted Jack Ruby. As a baby prosecutor, one day I was astounded to see a case on my docket for a defendant charged with moonshine production. I pulled his record and found that he had at least 50 prior convictions for the same offense. Each was settled with a $100 fine. Time and again. So it was that the moonshiner made his money off illegal liquor, and Henry Wade got to continuously claim that he was tough on illegal liquor manufacturing! Ain’t history funny.

[@nanabutner]

My grandfather was the mayor of MYLAND and with his adopted brother ran a laundry in Rock Island during these years! There were stories of Al Capone’s men being around the railroad tracks. My grandfather told of one night when he and his pals were playing poker in the laundry when all of a sudden--two of the huge fans that ventilated the laundry dropped out of the wall. My grandfather had rented space to some “business men”. The space shared a wall with the laundry. Naturally when the fans dropped out of the walls my grandfather and his friends went to see what happened-- when they looked through the hole--they found a shop for stolen cars that were being repainted while using the big fans to dry the paint! My grandfather looked at his friends and they all quietly turned around, went back down stars and agreed to say nothing! The next morning--the fans were back in place! He kept quiet until the 1950’s and 1960’s after all the “renters” from the shop where the cars were being repainted were died! His name was Waldo R. Seidel.

[@nickitoff9629]

Thank you History Guy! Another great episode delivered with your charming speed and punch! Also so full of fascinating factual information. Really nice work. 👍

[@davea6314]

True stories: By random chance I was aquainted with Al Capone's great nephew, Charles Capone, when he ran an auto repair shop in Moscow, Idaho. He is now in prison for crimes. I moved to the Chicagoland area and while visiting a nursing home I randomly met a 101 year old woman who claimed have been one of Al Capone's secretaries when she was young. I'm still in the Chicagoland area so I don't have to go far to see the houses and buildings where Al Capone lived and did his criminal activity. Oddly enough, of random meetings, when I was in Moscow, Idaho I randomly met and briefly dated a woman with the last name of James who claimed to be a descendant of the infamous outlaw Jesse James. I believe she believed she was telling the truth because she was reluctant to tell me at first and she was not proud of her relation to him.

[@stevecockrell8639]

Ahhh when I was a young lad my great grandfather would venture out to SoCal from Peoria IL every few years. Always wore black suit black tie black fedora driving his black Continental. Always joked he was in the Mob. Nobody ever corrected me 🤔

[@danstotland6386]

LOOK he was making a living for the family !

[@jabrow7135]

Minnesota had its own mob called Kid Cann, lead by Isadore Blumenfeld. My family was related to and affiliated with the gang as plumbers, supplying all the copper pipes and other components of the stills used (all stolen from for sale houses). They also drove cars modified and fitted with hidden booze drums. My father said his uncles also drove for the gang at times and were always surprised when the cops would completely miss the latch on the bottom of the seat during inspections.

[@navret1707]

Sounds like you Yankees were stealing the setup of the moonlighting cars down here.🥃🥃🍻

[@danstotland6386]

Maybe those cops were well motivated not to spring the latch

[@rockymountainlifeprospecti4423]

Well done Lance, wishing you all the best, once again I got educated this morning! All the best from the sun rising over the Rockies

[@andrewwaterman9240]

I think John Dillinger wasn't really a mobster. He was more of a bank robber.

[@samueldocski4426]

Always a good day when I’m this early for The History Guy upload. Happy Friday all!

[@euansmith3699]

8:03 The description supplied of Mooney has an odd detail, "Walks like an Indian, toes straight forward."

[@pamelasmith7740]

Who the heck is Mooney? No Mooney in this story.

[@euansmith3699]

@@pamelasmith7740 Sorry, Looney, not Mooney.

[@robertweldon7909]

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1950's and early 1960's. Cleveland was well known for its "Gangland: activities. Through several round about ways My family and I knew several people in the "Northern" Ohio crime families, ( you never knew for sure if someone with an Italian name was a mobster) which included Akron. I guess that that area should be included here. I have seen at least one documentary about Cleveland's mobster history and it's just as bad as anywhere else.

[@edrozenrozen9600]

You'd better mention Youngstown.

[@Cojo910]

Is this a compilation of previous videos? At 9:37 you say,"Today is December 5th". Here in the Quad Cities area, it is near 90° on June 21st. The video says it was posted just hours ago. Loving the topic!

[@Cojo910]

The answer is right there in the title: Best of ...I need to learn to be more observant.

[@pamelasmith7740]

No harm, no foul.

[@PopularMonsterUSA]

I, wholeheartedly, blame you for me not getting enough work done since I’ve discovered your videos. Damnit. 😂❤

[@walkercustoms]

Excellent episode

[@chillindave1357]

Again sir your presentations are excellent! Nicely done

[@c1ph3rpunk]

If you run the Birger gang, are you the Birger King?

[@goodun2974]

If your name was Leon Birger, your theme song would be "move over little dog, a big dog's movin' in".

[@kimberlyault9242]

My grandfather in his younger years had a side gig in Detroit of fixing juke boxes. His side-side gig was fixing illegal slot machines for the mob. His name appears in a news article, although spelled incorrectly, about there were some slot machines found in the back office of a local business whose owner swears he didn't know they were there. Detroit mobs were huge in rum running during prohibition given it's position of being less than 1,500 feet from the border of Canada. They brought it over the ice during the winter and in boats the rest of the year. After prohibition was over, gambling became bigger, hence the slot machines.

[@yooper6161]

This is my favorite history channel on KZbin. You do a great job and cover the little know areas of history. Some even forgotten. Thank you, and kudos to the family for all your hard work.

[@RetiredSailor60]

Road To Perdition was the first movie i went to see after returning from my final deployment on USS Wasp LHD 1. Tom Hanks's character was the darkest I've seen him do.

[@MayheM_72]

My paternal grandfather was in the US Coast Guard, stationed in Cape May NJ during Prohibition. My maternal grandfather was a bootlegger and rum-runner in the area of Philadelphia PA and Gloucester NJ. They didn't know each other, and there's no evidence that they ever crossed paths at sea, but it could have been interesting if they had.

[@ansiviewer]

When I choose what to entertain a speaker, this KZbin Creator is on my personal preferance list with recommendation to all others.

[@johnnyquest9358]

The town sheriff of Wyoming , Iowa 60 miles north of the Quad cites was a known Bootlegger during prohibition.

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you History Guy

[@onliwankannoli]

I don’t know what the accepted boundaries are for the Midwest, but “outside metro Chicago” should be part of it.

[@scottward7813]

The Looney residence is well known here in Rock Island Ill. Top of a hill, made of big blocks the size of hay bales!

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Back in the Saddle Again Naturally

[@kristenhurst683]

My Grandpa's godfather was Pete Genna of the Genna Bros. on Taylor Street. My Grandma remembered the gunfire and barrels of alcohol being rolled down stairs to be broken up. She was also at a wedding where Al Capone was handing out coins to the guests. My Great Grandma made alcohol in the home, as did many Italian families at the time.

[@bbartky]

I’m very happy that when you talked about John Looney you mentioned the graphic novel _The Road to Perdition_ . While I liked the movie version the graphic novel is so much better. Not only was it influenced by the real story of John Looney it was also heavily influenced by the Japanese manga _Lone Wolf and Cub_ .

[@mfreund15448]

I am from the Quad Cities. Great history!

[@EGSBiographies-om1wb]

Another vid worth my time to watch.

[@elgatofelix8917]

Historical Observation of the Century: 3:55 "The case was important in that it taught Looney that there was money to be made in graft; and the connections that he made in the deal offered him an opportunity to get into the field where a criminal could really thrive in Illinois: politics." - The History Guy

[@elgatofelix8917]

On a related note: 4:32 "It turned out that journalism provided as much opportunity for vice as politics. The newspaper was a scandal sheet that he used to attack his enemies and blackmail people." - THG Apparently, some things never change.

[@natalieb.1254]

This. All, while Jim Crow Segregation was "law of the land." I just cannot comprehend the America my great grandparents (and great-great grandparents) had to endure. Especially as a Southern with distant relatives who moved to cities like St. Louis, Milwaukee and Chicago.

[@woodsinme]

Another good video! You asked for ideas, here's one. A history of the melungeons. Pretty interesting and not all that common knowledge apparently.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

I know Mobster some personally not as many of the real ones spend extended periods here in Las Vegas!

[@bluekitty3731]

My grandfather in law was the police chief for Lafayette Indiana during the twenties and thirties, the stories he could tell! And my son in laws grandfather was killed in his South Haven Michigan home by the Sicilian mob over bootlegging activities.

[@robertjensen1438]

The word "Muppet" is a combination of "marionette" and "puppet." It's like how the word "mobster" is a combination of "man" and "lobster."

[@elgatofelix8917]

It's like how the word *bankster* (those who control the cruppets) is a combination of "banker" and "gangster"

[@elgatofelix8917]

Cruppets = criminals/puppets (those in politics and journalism)

[@elgatofelix8917]

Cruppets = criminals/puppets (those involved in governing and reporting "the news")

[@elgatofelix8917]

Cruppets = criminals/puppets

[@Maudit_Anglais]

Very funny !

[@michaelo5003]

I live in the quad cities was not expecting a story about my area...

[@douglassauvageau7262]

Rock Island served as an example to more successful enterprises which scorned 'public-relations' and adopted practices consistent with Constitutional protections. The RICO Act of 1970 is a potent instrument for suppressing new / evolving threats to the status-quo.

[@FuncleChuck]

We still have monsters. They’re just elected now.

[@dandyjones1185]

Taxation is extortion

[@garydean0308]

I believe I suggested to you the original Shelton/Birger episode. I am from Wayne County. The Sheltons were legends there. They were not mentioned fondly such as Capone in Chicago. They were some country roughnecks who capitalized on the sins of the era. Carl was the brains of the operation. Growing up, I knew many people who had worked for the Sheltons or was acquainted with them. Yes, it is well known that Charles "Blackie" Harris ensured their demise. He had been cheated in a land dispute by the Sheltons. If Buster Wharton was involved, no one said. The rumors were it was the Chicago mob. I have been to the exact spot where Carl was killed. The pearl handled revolver found under his body is in a private collection. I have seen it.

[@rustycan69]

There are several books written about George Remus. Where I grew up, there was an old man who was a Shoe Cobbler. He was 1 of 2 men who collected the money from Alcohol business in several drug stores Remus owned in Cincinnati. He purchased 8 distilleries and leased 4 more. When he purchased the Fleischman distillery, he also purchase their home in Price Hill. In the mid-1970's I would go fishing with an old man, known as "Old Dutch", who was this shoe cobbler. We both lived in a small town east of Cincinnati. Many times I would listen to Old Dutch stories about him working for George Remus. There were two parties George & Imogene had in the Price Hill House. The Christmas party was for 50 distinguished couples in Cincinnati. The first was a Christmas party. Diamond ear rings and bracelets for gifts for the women and diamond cuff links and tie pins for the men. The second party six months later was for Imogen's birthday party. Today's Huxley building in Mt. Adams overlooking the city is where they used to built Cadillac cars. George gave 50 Cadillac cars to the 50 couples. Old Dutch said George had $500,000. cash at the Price Hill home. This money was never found that supposedly held by Imogene and her former FBI agent turned lover of Imogene. Never knew heard or read there was 40 million earned in a 2 year period, but the biggest story was where did the $ 500,000. cash end up.

[@bwilliams463]

Got one of these vids about the Kansas City Mob?

[@lisarice4402]

Very rich history there

[@mikhailv67tv]

As a history buff from Australia I find the movies about more obscure gangsters and OCN from Midwest or Dixie far more interesting.

[@vinnynj78]

I really need to pay better attention to video titles before I click on them. At first glance I thought I saw "Midwest Mowers" and instantly pictured in my mind an infamous "John Deere Gang" facing off against the Honda Clan newcomers

[@goodun2974]

I saw Midwest Lobsters at first glance.

[@corvairkid63]

Frank "Buster" Wortman. He had a moat around his house.

[@maliguesthouse.malicoffee]

I love your videos, but my favorite part of this one is the kitty singing out 10:45 ???

[@PinkyJujubean]

Using a newspaper as a vehicle for blackmail is some real snake in the grass stuff

[@thirdactwarrior317]

Being from the St. Louis area, I would hope you would do a segment on the St. Louis gangs, like The Sicilian Green Ones, the Pillow Gang, Egan's Rats, the Hogan Gang, and the Cuckoos. I went to high school with James A. "Jimmy" Michaels III, who after I knew him, went on to become part of the waning years of the Cuckoos.

[@bigsarge2085]

If everyone is guilty, no one is guilty.

[@oneproudbrowncoat]

Remus approves of this tale.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

The photo of Loony bears a resemblance to Lincoln.

[@alexandergaus493]

The Thompson "Anti" Bandit gun? Wasn't the Thompson one of the preferred models the mafia did use? Or do I mix up something? Or was that another Thompson? I mean, they probably did have more then one single model for sale, I guess...

[@navret1707]

The Thompson, aka Tommy gun, aka Chicago Typewriter. As far as I know there was just one model with options for extended mag or drum. It has such a kick and rise on full auto that the first 3 rounds are somewhere near the target but after that you’re doing anti-aircraft.

[@tomhalla426]

Pre WWII, there was only one production run of Thompsons, the 1921 model. Some were later modified by the military for a lower rate of fire,the 1928.

[@pwmike70]

This is one of my favorite channels

[@passwordbosco407]

Nothing has changed in Illinois.

[@elgatofelix8917]

*Beetlejuice has entered the chat*

[@tomh6183]

How true,especially in chicago

[@kevinvilmont6061]

I always wondered the exact story of the Quad cities. THG rules.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Johnny Torios Great grandson is Denny Torio from Dance Fever 🌈🌈🌈🌠The More You Know!

[@KevinWindsor1971]

Haha, very funny.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

@@KevinWindsor1971 It's True 💯

[@ZombieSnax42069]

I heard the more you know sound in my head lolz. Nice emotes. 🎉

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

@@ZombieSnax42069 Think you Youngling !

[@maryjomccallister9102]

Deney Terrio was the one from Dance Fever. That was a stage name

[@patrickfreeman8257]

It sure took the government a long time to figure out that they could be the "bosses" if they legalized alcohol and tax the hell out of it

[@DT-sb9sv]

St Louis is a logistics hub both west and east. The Saint Louis Mafia always had a say, not as glamorous as NY, LA, Vegas, or Chicago, but in many ways more powerful. Teamsters.

[@QueenRenne]

Whew! The City of Chicago and its Thugs! 🚩👀💅🏾

[@Wil_Liam1]

Height 5' 8" Weight 125-135 lbs Build slender Complexion sallow Hair jet black Eyes dark (beady) Nose-prominent slightly twisted toward right side indicating break Walks like an Indian toes straight forward Lol @ the descriptives used back then to ID a wanted fella !!

[@batmanbear]

Prohibition was not about alcohol consumption, but about controlling the private manufacture of ethanol. It lasted just long enough to guarantee oil dependence and give Rockefeller a monopoly... allegedly.

[@russellspear4911]

Prostitution, the Press, Politics some if the oldest professions.

[@goodun2974]

At first glance I thought the title said "Midwest Lobsters" 🦞! I must be craving a seafood meal!

[@euansmith3699]

Underworld London in the 1960s was in fear of the Kray Twins; a pair of snappy dressers. 🦞🦞

[@goodun2974]

@@euansmith3699 , when the Krayfish Brothers came a-crawling, other lobsters turned tail and swam away! Hey, didn't they own a handful of prawn-shops too?! 🤔😉

[@euansmith3699]

@@goodun2974 😄😄😄😄

[@goodun2974]

@@euansmith3699 , I always have my feelers out, looking for an opportunity to make a joke!

[@ashergoney]

Languages Known Besides English Are Aramic and Sumerian

[@Richard-vf2yd]

Chicago...THE WORLD'S LARGEST OUTDOOR SHOOTING RANGE... Going on this very day...

[@tomh6183]

As usual.Nothing changes but the names and ages of the victims.

[@DeconvertedMan]

The mob!

[@jeffbangkok]

Good night

[@desperado8605]

Criminal in politics in Illinois say it ain't so 😂

[@sptownsend999]

Why do judges repeat the word "dead" at the end of the sentence? How did that originate, and what is the importance of it? I've seen it portrayed in movies and TV shows, and (in the 21st Century) it almost sounds more silly than serious/intimidating. Is "dead, dead, dead" different from just "dead" or "dead, dead"?

[@richardsanjose3692]

It would appear that the 1920s were a bad time in America for everybody between the Oklahoma murders of the Indians and the little Egypt and all the rest he hasn't reported on yet. It was just a dangerous time to be alive

[@richardsanjose3692]

Why is it that alcohol prohibition didn't work and created a lot of crime and so they legalized it and taxed it. However, they don't do the same thing with any of the other drugs and we're still plagued by the crime associated with them. What is it about alcohol that gives it this immunity through time and it's acceptance?

[@Sublette217]

I misread the header - Best of the Midwest Lobsters…

[@marvinellis1517]

Meow........... ❤

[@scotcoon1186]

My mom's cousin got lost and backed over an East St Louis police car trying to get turned around. Cop told him get out of there, this never happened. He had crossed the river to visit a, paid girlfriend, while on duty.

[@jamesburke8516]

Cat!

[@johnvradenburg192]

and the corruption is still there

[@wendychavez5348]

New Mexico. Where noob bosses go to get caught. Hmmmm....

[@merlinwizard1000]

40th, 21 June 2024

[@lapurta22]

What's wrong with your mic today?

[@rosamorales729]

Nothing

[@kevinvilmont6061]

Some peoples money you just don’t steal.

[@mfreund15448]

Rent the movie Road to Perdition. A story based loosely on John Looney.

[@cflisthebest]

who else heard his cat meow?

[@77gmcnut]

JFK's Father Joe Kennedy made his fortune as a bootlegger. And overall a bastard.

[@rosamorales729]

6:13 Nobody can force a man to catch a falling body that jumps at him. But is it a natural reaction of men to do so when a woman does this? Please do a history episode of such instances and document how many times they let a woman fall to the ground. This would be fascinating!

[@EGSBiographies-om1wb]

95th

[@giselematthews7949]

You got an overhead lighting thing going on there, Not an attractive look.

[@tomhalla426]

The 1924 Democratic National Convention was nicknamed “The Klanbake”.

[@MrPatski1]

I wish you’d look into the mob history of Kansas City and the west bottoms