37 YEARS AGO: JOHN GOTTI MURDERED TOMMY DESIMONE JAN 14 1979

Joe Pesci Ray Liotta Robert Deniro in Goodfellas

Thomas Anthony DeSimone, also known as Two-Gun Tommy or Tommy D, was a Sicilian-American gangster and associate of the Lucchese crime family in New York City. Right from the outset Tommy was very familiar with the Mafia world and was known for his violent temper.

Tommy DeVito was a character in the blockbuster 1990 Academy Award winning Martin Scorcese film GoodFellas. The role, played by veteran character actor Joe Pesci (Go Home and Get Your Shinebox!)

John Gotti killed him on this day in 1978 for The mobster — famously portrayed by Joe Pesci in “Goodfellas” — killed two made men, tried to rape the wife of his gangster pal Henry Hill and stupidly lifted his ski mask during 1978’s historic $6 million Lufthansa heist.

Thomas (Tommy Get Your Shine Box) DeSimone

So John Gotti took care of it — personally. capo used a silencer-equipped Colt .38 to shoot DeSimone three times in the skull in January 1979 in the basement of an Italian restaurant on Arthur Avenue in The Bronx, says in the book, “The Lufthansa Heist,” written by Hill and journalist Daniel Simone.

It’s the first book where the details of Gotti’s role in the death of the 28-year-old psychopath have been revealed.

The Lufthansa Heist: Behind the Six-Million-Dollar Cash Haul That Shook the World

Tommy DeVito was based on real-life gangster Thomas 'Two-Gun Tommy' DeSimone, renowned for his violent temper. According to the real Henry Hill, Pesci's portrayal was “90 to 99 per cent accurate”, with two notable exceptions. Firstly, DeSimone was a big, burly enforcer, standing 6 ft 2in and weighing 210 lbs. He was terrifying. Joe Pesci is 5'4 and he was pretty scaring even at that height..Can't imagine that character being so big.

Goodfella'a Tommy Devito's Assasination

Hill heard the specifics surrounding DeSimone’s murder from Sal Polisi, a Gotti confidant he met in the Witness Protection Program. When Hill collaborated with author Nicholas Pileggi on “Wiseguy,” the 1986 book that was the basis of “Goodfellas,” he withheld the information on De­Simone’s slaying because he feared reprisals from Gotti, who by then had risen to become godfather of the Gambino crime family.

Wiseguy: The 25th Anniversary Edition

VINCENT ASARO TESTIFIES ABOUT GOODFELLAS LUFTHANSA HEIST

Good fella Vincent Anaro

(CNN) Witnesses talk about wiseguys, rats and hiding bodies, and list the do's and don'ts of organized crime. A tattoo on the defendant's arm reads "Death before dishonor." Peppered into riveting testimony are nicknames like Skinny Dom, Vinny Gorgeous, Louie Haha and Tommy Shots.

If it sounds like a Hollywood movie script, it kind of already is.

But this is real life and at the center of it all is 80-year-old Vincent Asaro -- the alleged former Bonanno crime family captain who's on trial in federal court to face charges in a string of crimes over 40 years. Among them: murder, racketeering and the famed 1978 Lufthansa heist at JFK International Airport that helped inspire part of the plot in the 1990 film "Goodfellas."

 Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta and Robert De Niro from Goodfellas

In recordings made by the government's key witness and played in court Thursday, Asaro appears to bemoan not getting a larger cut of the Lufthansa score.

LUCCHESE MOB BOSS BIG PAUL VARIO

Actor Paul Vario born in 1962 would have played Big Paul in Goodfellas perfectly!

The Real Paul “Big Paulie” Vario 

The real Big Paulie was certainly had a less attractive appearance than actor Paul Sorvino who played his role in the classic film Goodfellas...

Paul Sorvino as Big Paulie

American Mafia History: Paul “Big Paulie” Vario was born on July 9, 1914 and lived in Brooklyn New York. He had four brothers, Vito, Salvatore, Thomas, and Leonard. As a youngster, Vario was in trouble with law enforcement often. In 1925 at the age of 12 he was sent away for seven months for truancy. He had several more convictions through his lifetime.

As a young man Vario joined the Lucchese crime family and worked his way up the ranks taking part in violent crimes such as extortion, hijacking, bookmaking, and numbers games to name a few. He and his brothers also owned several legitimate businesses including a flower shop, cab stand (Euclid Avenue Cab Co) and restaurant (Presto Pizzeria). Vario’s brother, Vito “Tuddy” Vario ran the pizzeria and the cab stand where most their business was conducted.

THE REAL GOODFELLAS

Paul Vario was born in New York City, where he later became a member of the Lucchese crime family. In 1925, at age eleven, Vario was sentenced to seven months in juvenile detention for truancy.

Nicknamed "Paulie," Vario stood six foot three and weighed 250 pounds. He was deceptively strong despite his girth, and would intimidate underlings and enemies just by his sheer size. During his adult years, Vario was arrested for loan-sharking, burglary, tax evasion, bribery, bookmaking, contempt of court and assault.[2]

Vario allegedly had a very violent temper. One night Vario took his wife, Phyllis, out to dinner. While they were sitting at the table, the maitre d' accidentally poured wine on Phyllis' dress, then tried to dry it with a dirty rag. An enraged Vario hit the maitre d' twice and chased him to the kitchen. The maitre d' and several waiters with knives and heavy pans blocked the door. Later that evening, Vario sent two carloads of men armed with baseball bats and pipes to assault the waiters after the restaurant closed.[citation needed]

Vario's associate Henry Hill claimed that Vario severely beat a female bar server at her apartment with a baseball bat. The woman had allegedly informed Phyllis that she and Vario were having an affair.

In the early 1970s, Vario was "membership director" for Colombo crime family boss Joe Colombo's Italian-American Civil Rights League. However, he rescinded his membership and withdrew all support when it became apparent that the relentless accusations Colombo was making against the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. government about racism and anti-Italian discrimination were attracting attention, which could easily divert from Colombo and his supporters' politics and into their criminal behavior. READ MORE ABOUT THE MOB ON RETRO KIMMER

GOODFELLAS STAR FRANK DILEO MANAGED MICHAEL JACKSON TOO

I never knew until just now that the actor who played "Tuddy" in Goodfellas was Framk Dileo the high progile manager of Michael Jackson during MJ's peak recording years. The cast of Goodfellas remembered him at the recent Tribeca Film Festival..

‘Goodfellas’ stars fondly remember late cast member

When the cast of “GoodFellas” reunited at the Tribeca Film Festival, one cast member, Michael Jackson’s late manager Frank DiLeo, was fondly remembered behind the scenes.
DiLeo played “Tuddy” in the movie, but off-screen his real nickname was “Tookie” — a moniker given to him as a baby by the chief of police in Pittsburgh.

Pals recalled that after guiding Jackson through the “Thriller” and “Bad” years, DiLeo moved to a California ranch he dubbed “the Tookarosa,” where all guests received robes with the estate’s name.
Joe Pesci said at the time of 1990’s “GoodFellas,” “I remember reading the script and telling Marty [Scorsese], ‘Geez, you gotta give Frank the part of Tuddy. He’s perfect.” DiLeo died in 2011.

ITALIAN SINGER JERRY VALE PASSED AWAY

 

One of my favorites of Music history was Jerry Vale. He is featured on my favorite 2 CD set Mob Hits. Jerry Vale had the most melodic and beautiful voice.....Watch the video below....RIP Mr. Vale

1950s singer Jerry Vale dies: Beloved 1950s and '60s crooner Jerry Vale, born Genaro Louis Vitaliano, died Sunday at his Palm Desert home surrounded by family and friends, family attorney Harold J. Levy tells CBS News in a statement. Vale, who was 83, recorded more than 50 albums in his career and appeared as himself in gangster films Goodfellas and Casino as well as on HBO's The Sopranos. He is surveyed by his wife of 55 years, Rita, his son Robert and daughter Pamela.

HENRY HILL AND ESTEE LAUDER??

This story is breaking today from PAGE SIX that Henry Hill felt sorry for poor Estee Lauder during the ransacking of her home by his crew.. Hill supposedly charmed Estee into being his friend..Maybe Ray Liotta's version of Hill but not the real Henry Hill...no way..

Personally, I find the Henry Hill connection more than far fetched. Unthinkable!  I cannot picture a brilliant and powerful woman like Miss Lauder sitting in a popular restaurant chatting with a sociopath like Henry Hill while she knew her staff and husband were in danger...Estee Lauder befriending this crook is ridiculous in my opinion.

Henry Hill's "Queen for a Day" deal with the FBI meant that in order for him to go into witness protection he had confess ALL of his crimes as part of his immunity deal with the FEDS and his taking Estee Lauder to PJ Clarke's would have been major news back then...Henry Hill, ever the self promoter, would have crowed this relationship from the highest rooftops! IMO

READ THE PAGE SIX STORY HERE

ELDERLY WISEGUYS CHARGED IN FAMOUS GOODFELLAS JFK/LUFTHANSA HEIST!

Arrest 35-years later: Vincent Vinny Asaro (2-R), a captain in the Bonanno crime family, is escorted by FBI agents out of a federal building in New York, on Thursday 23 January 2014 - Asaro is suspected of being involved in the infamous Lufthansa heist of 1978.

Just when we thought Jimmy the Gent whacked them all...he forgot some guys.... Federal agents conducted a series of pre-dawn raids in the New York area, with one targeting Vincent Asaro, 78, of Howard Beach, an alleged high-ranking member of the Bonanno crime family.

Boss: Thomas (Tommy D) DiFiore (C), also connected to the Bonanno crime family, is escorted by FBI agents out of a federal building in New York, New York, USA, today to be charged in connection with the Lufthansa heist of 1978

Asaro and DiFiore are reputedly Bonanno made men since the late 1960s, were charged with racketeering in connection with the famed robbery at JFK that was immortalized in the Martin Scorsese film “Goodfellas,” according to a 26-page indictment unsealed Thursday morning.

HOLLYWOOD MOBSTERS VS THEIR REAL LIFE COUNTERPARTS

Al Pacino (Lefty Ruggiero and Johnny Depp as Joe Pistone)

 JOE PISTONE AND LEFTY RUGGIERO

Donnie Brasco follows FBI agent Joe Pistone as he infiltrates the mafia of New York like no one had ever done before. Befriending Lefty Ruggiero, Pistone (under the name Donnie Brasco) is able to embed himself in a mafia faction lead by Sonny Black. Ruggiero and Pistone become tight as the group goes about collecting money for ‘the bosses’.

After reading Joe Pistone's book, in my opinion, the movie barely touches on how frightening his undercover life truly was. The devastation of Pistone's family life was seriously intense but barely touched in the film.

Joe Pistone was much physically tougher in appearance than Johnny Depp. Though we are a big fan of Depp, I feel he was miscast in this film.. Pacino was crunching the scenery as Lefty but watchable. I liked this film but the real story is much better.

Joe Pistone and Left Ruggiero

AL CAPONE AND ELIOT NESS

Robert Deniro as Al Capone and Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness

In the hit movie The Untouchables, Robert Deniro and Kevin Costner took on two of mob history's biggest characters. Deniro did a brilliant job as Capone.  The method actor tracked down Al Capone's original tailors and had them make him some identical clothing for the movie. He gained weight for the part as well. Costner was great a Ness,handsome and a definite good guy with a wife and daughter.

In real life Eliot Ness never met Al Capone and he wasn't married or had children. Al Capone was brought down by Elmer Irey, Frank Wilson, and the IRS, not Eliot Ness. From historical accounts, except for some self aggrandizing raids, Ness had very little to do with bringing down Al Capone.

In this case, the film is much more entertaining that the real life version.

Al Capone and Eliot Ness

LEFTY ROSENTHAL AND ANTHONY SPILATRO

Robert Deniro as Ace Rothstein and Joe Pesci as Nicky Santoro

In Casino the story was based on true crime figures but took some theatrical twists. Lefty Rosenthal the real life Casino manager, bookie, turned TV talk show host was pretty real. Nicky Santoro as played by Joe Pesci was a lot nicer guy than his real life counter part Nick Spilatro.  Spilatro did have a brother who was eliminated as was Nick...but they weren't killed in cornfield...

Lefty Rosenthal and Anthony Spilatro

HENRY HILL AND JIMMY THE GENT BURKE

Robert Deniro as Jimmy the Gent and Ray Liotta as Henry Hill

Goodfellas is one of the best written and acted of all the Mobster sagas.  That mostly likely is due to Henry Hill's book "Wiseguy".  Hill worked with the actors and director Martin Scorsese for a very long time to ensure accuracy.  The part Joe Pesci played as Tommy was watered down considerably from the real life counter part. 

Henry Hill Jimmy the Gent Burker

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MORE ON THE REAL GOODFELLAS

Henry Hill grew up in Brooklyn, New York and at an early age ran errands for the local Lucchese crime family. Being of Italian and Irish decent, Hill was never "made" into the crime family, but was a soldier of capo, Paul Vario, and participated in hijacking trucks, loan sharking, bookmaking and took part in the infamous 1967 Air France heist among others.

The Air France Heist

In 1967 mobster Henry Hill, aged 23, took part in the $420,000 burglary at the Air France air-cargo terminal in New York City's JFK International Airport.

 
The heist is memorable for its sheer audacity, and the oddness of the target, particularly in that an airline should keep such sums in storage at an airport: Air France was the carrier for American currency that had been exchanged in France by tourists and military personnel.

After Hill's close friend Tommy DeSimone vanished and he ignored warnings from his associates to stop dealing drugs, Hill became paranoid that he would soon be killed and became an F.B.I. informant. His testimony aided in the conviction of 50 criminals

Tommy DeSimone May 24, 1950 – January 14, 1979