Mickey Cohen: The Mob Goes Hollywood

[@Biographics]

Play Enlisted for FREE on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PS®5: enlisted.link/biographicsenlisted. Follow the link to download the game and get your exclusive bonus now. See you in battle!

[@joshuasutherland8619]

Can you do James Mattis? Please

[@jacobgoodwin3309]

you made a mistake, in the video, you said 1951, when it was 1961, see at 16:50

[@michaelwait3326]

Hey Simon, please do one on The American Civil War hero, Robert Smalls!!!!!!!!

[@chrislittle2366]

What about the first president of Poland who ended communist rule when the Soviet union fell lech Walesa

[@ethanramos4441]

“I’m not an educated man, but I’ve read some history. Every kingdom comes up bloody. Every castle is built on a pile of bones. When I came out here it was nothing. Back East I was a gangster, out here I’m god” Mickey Cohen

[@christineparis5607]

Word!

[@camilohiche4475]

Biographies that you have criminally overlooked so far: Classical composers: - Ludwig van Beethoven - J.S. Bach - Antonio Vivaldi Gods/iconic figures: - Michael Jackson - Babe Ruth Chess legends: - Gary Kasparov - Bobby Fischer Painters: - Gustav Klimt - Marcel Duchamp Architects/builders: - Gustav Eiffel - Frank Lloyd Wright - Le Corbusier - Antonio Gaudi - Buckminster Fuller Writers: - Léon Tolstoï - Fiodor Dostoïevski - Homer - Sophocles - Victor Hugo - Jules Verne - Jorge Luis Borges - Miguel de Cervantes - John Steinbeck - Dante Alighieri Philosophers/theologists: - René Descartes - Confucius - Emmanuel Kant - John Locke - Voltaire - Jean Calvin Scientists: - Max Planck Dictators: - Nicolae Ceausescu - Manuel Noriega Explorers: - Zheng He - Vasco da Gama - John Cabot - Amerigo Vespucci - Hernán Cortés Other: - Anne Frank - Caterina de' Medici - Cesare Borgia

[@ignitionfrn2223]

2:45 - Chapter 1 - Early years 5:45 - Chapter 2 - The 1st mob years 7:50 - Chapter 3 - La confidential 11:05 - Chapter 4 - War on the sunset strip 15:10 - Chapter 5 - The undisputed kingpin - Chapter 6 -

[@spudgunn8695]

"All the shooters seemed to have Astigmatism." F*cking love it! Best line in weeks, Simon. Give you script writer a bonus!

[@Bbarfo]

A few years ago, I visited his former home in Brentwood which was the one that the bomb was placed under his bedroom. The house still had iron grates with lock hasps to the sub-floor crawl space entrances that he had installed after the bombing attempt. His autobiography was interesting but not put together well by his publisher. One of the best books available about Mickey is titled, Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of an L.A Mobster by Tere Tereba.

[@scottkrater2131]

He's a main character in the L.A. Noir video game, if you're into that sort of thing so is Johnny. But it's after he's already become a boss.

[@Mr_M_History]

Not jealous at how good Biographics' biographies are or anything!

[@johnqpublic2718]

Who isn't jealous?

[@kristofferdean8844]

Envious* just saying... 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@BoyMan451]

Just started playing L.A. Noire and this is perfect

[@obe99]

One of my favorite games ever enjoy

[@theawesomeman9821]

The movie "Gangster Squad" was about how the authorities took down Mickey Cohen and it featured Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen.

[@corgeousgeorge]

Bugsy Siegel was quite the good looking guy. He could have been in movies back then playing a gumshoe leading man.

[@sabrinaschell4938]

If you haven’t done a biographics video of him already (I’m slowly working my way through them all!) please please please cover F. Lee Bailey. He was the lawyer for OJ, the Boston Strangler, Patty Hearst, and Sam Sheppard! I’d love to learn his life story!

[@covereye5731]

The way he said Gamer was hilarious to me, like an undertone of disgust.

[@christineparis5607]

Dear Biographics: I just learned about a pioneer named Rosetta Tharpe, who predated almost everyone as the forerunner of rock and roll. I've read a lot and never heard about her, all the rock inventors were considered to be men. Please hear her song, "Shout, Sister, Shout" to get an idea of her talent. I would love to know more about her from Y'all. Thanks in advance.

[@kaylamarie2242]

I second this!!

[@agateplanet]

This sounds interesting. Good idea !

[@samiam2088]

Rosetta Tharpe is brilliant, I love her music

[@christineparis5607]

@@samiam2088 I cannot believe I know nothing about her! I found a bio on Amazon on her life so I'm getting that book, and it's the only one I know of...

[@Brett-yq7pj]

There's so many things that could be considered the start but in reality it really doesn't matter because it's constantly being adapted and changed like most genres. Who cares about the old stuff find some talented girl groups changing the current sound if the gender is so important to you but I mean good music's good music so....

[@marcusaurelius117]

Say i hope you do caracalla the roman emperor that came after one of the other roman emperors you did i recall it was said he was another mad one should be an interesting story when you get to it 👍 wish i could remember exactly which one he comes after but off the top of my head i cannot i watch alot of your content its hard to remember everything sometimes 😂

[@Nasir3623]

And Elagabalus after that

[@jordanparker938]

Agreed!!

[@imperiumbrasiliae]

@@Nasir3623 and aurelian diocletian constantine valentinian I theodosius I justinian heraclius Constantines IV,V and XI basil II alexios I john II

[@sinonigami3437]

Fun fact: Simon absolutely detests doing anything Roman lol

[@marcusaurelius117]

@@sinonigami3437 really? How come? Just not his cup of tea? He always seems so into the script i never noticed.

[@iagosevatar4865]

What about Marshall Davout ? The undefeated "iron" genaral of Napoleon

[@BigBubbaloola]

Interesting side note: Johnny S escorted Lana Turner to London for a film shoot. I think whilst he was back briefly in LA, Turner got friendly with her male co-star (allegedly) and when Johnny S came back he found out. He wasn't happy, somehow got hold of a pistol and confronted the co-star who then promptly disarmed Johnny and cracked him around the head with it. The co-star was one Sean Connery.

[@HDIAndrew1]

I love that the Hearst family is mislabeled the “Hearts” in this video

[@ballinlikestalin878]

Good to see some mobster criminals outside of NYC and Chicago. Could we possibly see Boston mobster James "whitey" Bulger next? The guy I believe still holds the dubious record of longest time on the run while on top of the FBI's most wanted list

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , That shoot-em-up looks pants , I'd rather play Raid ! 😉 🐺

[@fortyrec]

Love your videos, from geo to bio lol. Always hated history bc I feel like it was dry and cut in scool thanks for changing that. Can you do a video on Howard Zinn I feel there should be more clarity on a figure like himself

[@SeeTheManipulation]

When Benny went out to California, Johnny Roselli with the Chicago Outfit, were already there. Johnny was working with Dragna in extorting Hollywood unions, directors, producers, extras, etc. But New York saw that they were lackadaisical and putting all rackets together. So, Benny, being part of the National Crime Syndicate and a boss, decided he could put it all together better. The Syndicate agreed (Luciano, Lansky, Costello, Schultz, Adonis, Genovese, Lepke, etc.) and he went out there. That's when Dragna and Roselli clashed with Siegel and Cohen since Mickey became Benny's number two or Underboss, if you will. What many people don't realize is that Benny was a boss on a par with Luciano, Costello, Genovese, etc. because he was part of the National Crime Syndicate. The NCS and those who sat on it, were equals to the Italian Commission previously formed by Luciano but suggested initially by Maranzano. So Benny commanded respect no matter who you were or who you represented. He was untouchable. Dragna and Roselli knew this and understood that and could do nothing but complain when Benny decided he would start a rival sports wiring service that squeezed Dragna and Roselli out of the picture. Dragna and Roselli understood that going to war with Benny meant going to war with Luciano and the others. Chicago was strong, but not that strong. So an uneasy alliance was formed between Dragna, Roselli, Chicago, Cohen, and Benny. However, once Benny was killed, Dragna decided it was a perfect time to try and eliminate Cohen. And even though Cohen had worked for Benny, he was not a boss nor untouchable. But it worked both ways. Dragna was not untouchable either. Otherwise, on the first attempt by Cohen to hurt Dragna, the wrath of the entire Italian mafia would have come down on him. See, Dragna was a coward and so was his stooge turned stoolie Jimmy "Weasel" Fratianno. Because both of them waited until Ben Siegel was dead to try and topple Cohen who was left to take over the rackets. Cohen got the okay from Lansky to try and kill Dragna and his soldiers. Nobody from Chicago came to the aid of Dragna when he decided to take on Cohen. And no one came to the aid of Cohen when he tried taking out Dragna. Because Los Angeles money was peanuts now that Vegas was wide open and the skim was making the bosses millions without anyone getting wise. So, it was left up to them to resolve their differences on their own. That's when the Sunset Strip Wars started and bodies started dropping everywhere. It's a fascinating time in organized crime but it needs to be told accurately.

[@gregoryhumblestone2866]

Yoo Simon. I’d like to suggest a dive into Nigerian history. Particularly from 1950-today. A lot of different characters, coups, wars and the rest. Looking forward to it.

[@josephkmeyer5178]

I’m wondering if you all would ever be willing to do one on Governor George Wallace? I think his trip from moderate to the face of segregation, his presidential campaign and assassination attempt, all the way back to moderate is an interesting story. Just how chasing the vote and populism can change someone for the worse.

[@patrickbaumgardner2765]

Just watched gangster squad perfect timing!

[@jaxsonlzimmerman5523]

He was depicted by Sean Penn in Gangster Squad

[@PinkyJujubean]

Trying to kill someone with a leftover torpedo is just plain crazy.

[@christineparis5607]

But, creative!

[@jeffmiller3499]

Also such a different story than that the one they made up in that cop gangster movie with I think Sean Penn as him

[@theawesomeman9821]

its called "The Ganster Squad" and its not historically accurate but an okey film.

[@asafrozengarten9306]

Can you make a video about Golda Meir?

[@Talisguy]

Mickey Cohen: the Zaeed Massani of the mob world.

[@AlvosElRey]

Hahaha nice mass effect reference.

[@gangstagarf]

I've seen his bulletproof caddy here in the Southward car museum, New Zealand. Super cool

[@jimmacgregor4459]

I'd like to see one on Stefan Zweig. He's not in very many people's orbit and led an incredible literary life.

[@reganranby3589]

His bullet proof Cadillac can be seen at the Southward car museum near Wellington, New Zealand

[@sherirobinson6867]

Bugsy Siegel sure had some big ears... Jumbo

[@PinkyJujubean]

Has anyone here ever heard of Liz Renay? She was Mickey Cohens girlfriend and she later became a B Movie actress. (Her role in Desperate Living is awesome). She refused to testify against him and went to prison. She also wrote some books including a hilariously awful book of advice for dating.

[@christineparis5607]

I collect vintage books on Hollywood, dating and beauty, and am tracking this down, thanks!! I have been planning to write a book for years on Hollywood's early assault on reforming unattractive women and turning them into stars (or just looking like one!). By the thirties, there were many beauty vultures with questionable skills charging studios and stars huge amounts to "transform" them. Gloria Swansen was a pioneer of "clean" eating after being influenced by a internist in New York and felt so much better she famously showed up at huge formal dinner parties with her own paper bag of food, which she spent inordinate amounts of time harassing her dinner partners, informing them all about what pigs they were and how much damage they were doing to their looks and health. She was often right, but boring as hell to eat with, and was often avoided! She was an amazing, very modern woman in many ways, light years ahead of her time, but didn't understand packaging her ideas. Still, she outlasted most and would have been a massive influencer today....

[@PinkyJujubean]

@@christineparis5607 glad I could help you out 😊😊

[@PinkyJujubean]

@@christineparis5607 what you said about those starmaker people makes me think of The Fabulous Moolah. She was a legendary woman wrestler who wrestled for like 50 years. She ran a training academy that trained and groomed awkward girls to be wrestlers and she was just an awful person. She was a scam artist and had a reputation for making her girls be escorts. Etc etc.

[@theawesomeman9821]

does the book have a name?

[@jimarcher5255]

As I remember a famous Texas stripper known as Candy Barr was also a girlfriend of Mickey Cohen. It’s said that her association with Cohen is what got her A 10 year sentence for having a single marijuana joint in her possession

[@nushratjabeen3577]

Thankyou for your kind information

[@andrewmcquade9413]

I’m sad there was no mention of Warren Zevon. The singer’s father worked with Cohen and was reportedly the best man at Cohen’s first weddingg

[@franciscojose6496]

Fantastic channel in pure information ever

[@jeffmiller3499]

Enough awareness to dodge ELEVEN attempts on his life, but not aware enough to pay his taxes. Humans are wild

[@brendanmuller7301]

Great surname I'm not biased at all

[@promiscuous5761]

Thank you.

[@marcuswilliams6324]

George Wallace please. Bob Marley. Leaders of the Weathermen and AIM, as well, Desmond Tutu🙏

[@HgBill]

Ataturk would make an excellent biography video

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@dizwhoibe20]

Storm troopers with astigmatism as hired gunmen lol

[@tarmacscratcher]

The original Mr.Magoo....pmsl🤣

[@fakefilthyfrank7253]

Biographics you should make a video on the African dictator Jean-Bédel Bokassa of Central African Empire he was obsessed with Napoleon and his title was "Emperor of Central Africa by the will of the Central African people, united within the national political party, the MESAN

[@shf4781]

Can you make the story of Skanderbeg in the next episodes?

[@New_Perspective]

My favourite mob stories are always the ones that die from natural causes. So often are mobsters gunned down in history that for me it’s more interesting to hear about the ones that didn’t.

[@dustinporterfield5111]

I absolutely love enlisted best combat simulator game I've played in a long time

[@iagosevatar4865]

I laughed hard at work when listenning to the stormtroopers joke

[@melvert33]

Ha, imagine being Mickey Cohen's etiquette teacher!!!

[@masteryeet3600]

I really hope that in the near future; you do Fyodor Dostoevsky. His work is (in my opinion) the greatest of any Russian novelist to have breathed air on this earth. Him (and Tolstoy) fully deserve a video on this channel.

[@chrisyanover1777]

I think Vince McMahon will male an awesome Biographics video especially with him being in the news recently as having to step down as CEO of the WWE because of another scandle involving him having an affair with an assistant and paying her off and trying to hide the whole affair.

[@roguebritgravy1]

I only ever heard of this gangster from L.A.Confidential (1997), it came as a surprise to me that he was real.

[@michaelstoughii1920]

What about a Biographics on Henry Clay?

[@franciscojose6496]

Interesting information now

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

@ 15:59 - that's not how you spell "Hearst". I often rag on Simon for mispronouncing things, but that is clearly on the editor.

[@prettypuff1]

How does one acquire a “ leftover torpedo “?

[@thcdreams654]

Suggestion: Basil II Porphyrogenitos.

[@JARJCC97]

you should do a video on Billy graham America's preacher

[@kevinjustason]

Please do Leo major the Canadian sniper

[@amb163]

Speaking of Billy Graham, you should do one on his sordid history. What a piece of crap that guy was... and his son is worse.

[@neil8949]

Allah is great.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

"Hearts"?

[@Manuel-gu9ls]

My favorite character in mob/mafia history

[@liftbread]

you should do a video on Reinhold Messner. He's the greatest mountaineer of all time

[@adeebsiddiqui5140]

As a car enthusiast, I would really love an episode on Enzo Ferrari. If possible please make one :)

[@kennylarsen5241]

Already did

[@joshuasutherland8619]

Thank you for these. Love your videos

[@michaelburch5082]

Can you do one on Peter Finton Lalor

[@gilbertovega3976]

Can you do a video on Anton Szandor LaVey?

[@lunallena5594]

Hi! Would you please do a video on Charles Revson, the founder of Revlon? That guy was a legendary character and the Revlon stock made a big rebound after that corporation filed for bankruptcy this week.

[@keithstringer1140]

Tiberius would be a good idea. In my mind, he was the WORST Roman Emperor of them all!

[@lynx9704]

A better title would be: The Mob IS Hollywood.

[@homersimpsonsfatguyhat9541]

I'd love to see you do episodes on Empress Matilda and Queen Isabella, the She Wolf of France

[@gunnarelisigurjonsson2587]

Enlisted . Highly recommended along with Hell Let Loose Enlisted is a brilliant fun HHL is a bit more heavy but brilliant

[@bsjeffrey]

"relationships with all the crooked co[s"...crooked cops is redundant especially in l.a.

[@GrievousReborn]

Simon definitely wouldn't like Call of Duty Vanguard ww2 accuracy is thrown out the window

[@juliovalladares1889]

Can you do Joe Colombo

[@kattekaren]

I wonder if Leonard Cohen is a relation to him. Not a surname you see a lot, that's for sure.

[@John-zc4pu]

391,000 Cohens worldwide.

[@kattekaren]

@@John-zc4pu compared to the 7,7 billion people in the world, that isn't a lot.

[@wilfredodiaz9664]

Love this channel ❤️

[@samuelbarber6177]

First heard of him thanks to L.A Confidential. Love that movie

[@theawesomeman9821]

who starred in it?

[@samuelbarber6177]

@@theawesomeman9821 Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger and Danny DeVito as the mains. Paul Guilfoyle had a quick cameo as Cohen in the opening.

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@samuelbarber6177 cool

[@michaelwait3326]

Simon please do one for Robert Smalls! He is a Civil War Hero!

[@Brett-yq7pj]

There was an ad for some garbage drink mud water or something before your video i wish i couldtell them to get out of here i'll never stop drinking coffee especially not for something with mushrooms, dis gus ting

[@Sonal_M_Suvarna]

16:10 Lara Turner's boyfriend Johny stompinato not husband

[@ehrldawg]

Up next;Micheal fransez

[@Tremont24]

Please do Booker T. Washington

[@jlshel42]

Did not know of his ties to the Patty Hearst case, huh

[@Dank-gb6jn]

Humbly requesting George Carlin. A comedian and satirist who oftentimes hit the nail more than just on the head; and whose bits were infinitely more than just satire. The guy was a comedian, satirist, begrudged philosopher, and even the narrative voice of Thomas the Train.

[@joeguzzi2713]

There is not a suggestion I could have seen here that I support more

[@averageamericangirl6819]

So much yes!!!!! He was a genius.

[@Dank-gb6jn]

@@joeguzzi2713 thanks Joe! Glad to see you’re on board, help spread the word by commenting/sharing and together; we’ll get a Carlin video made! Maybe it’ll even be a multi-parter!

[@Dank-gb6jn]

@@averageamericangirl6819 Absolutely he was! And a free speech icon as well!

[@averageamericangirl6819]

@@Dank-gb6jn agreed. He was wayyyyy before his time

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I like to think I'd have been a terrible gangster but a good racketeer. Yes, there's a difference. Ask Sammy Gravano.

[@laurenz4528]

Enlisted < Hell let loose

[@jonathanprimus9357]

Can’t wait to watch this one once it’s fixed

[@jonathanprimus9357]

@biographics001 @biographics excellent, thank you! How do I send you a message?

[@v.emiltheii-nd.8094]

Ceaușescu when?

[@rahjah6958]

Enlisted such a good game, good vid too lol

[@Obnoxers]

No sound for me.

[@s3ymour]

I have a suggestion for a vid. William Dudley Pelley, The Pioneer of American Fascism.

[@sebbensebbenandsebben691]

Every. Freaking. Time.

[@adammaxwell5250]

And then hell yeah!?. muhahahahahaha 👺

[@MegalodonNZ]

His car is in a car museum here in New Zealand. As a child I always got a thrill looking at an actual gangsta car.

[@yo_titijijo]

Did Simon just say gaymer? Was that a bet yo?

[@ArielBerdugo]

The Commission

[@josephwilliams7995]

Simon that's called a Jewish bank roll. Couple that with having deep pockets but short arms and there you go.