America in the 1920s had a golden age. This golden age was not exactly the best. Prohibition was taking place at this time and people were starting to get restless. Gangs started to get into illegal alcohol and that soon led to bribery of the cops. But soon cities broke out in violence.
In 1925 in Chicago, a man by the name of "Scarface" Al Capone began a six years of gang warfare. Al Capone was a cold blooded killer, but never could be convicted. He served in a state penitentia
ry for eleven years but was then released.
ry for eleven years but was then released.
Gangs had other profitable and illegal activities such as: prostitution, gambling, and narcotics. Organized crime had become one of the most gigantic businesses. By the 1930s, the underworld annually was "taking" in about $12 million to $18 million, which was more than the Washington Government.
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Gangsterism was really close to what the movies have always depicted isn't it? Good post!
ReplyDeletei like your pictures ! The " We want beer" picture is really funny :)
ReplyDeleteThese gangsters are definitely not the "gangstas" of today. Who knew a fat guy who doesn't look that scary could be an awful murder? I liked your post!
ReplyDeleteI guess Washington should talk to the gangsters and get a few tips on how to make money. Nicely done Andrew.
ReplyDeleteYa know, Al Capone has been romanticized to the point that it's weird to think of how many people he killed and robbed. Gansters too have been romanticized. And it makes sense because, as your post shows, they got the money and they "controlled" the cities. Also, they provides some.....services... to the people that weren't legal but were still in high demand.
ReplyDeleteGood post Andrew. The "We Want Beer" picture is really funny.
It must have been scary to live in the same cities with those guys! They were definetly up to no good. I really liked the mafia sticker
ReplyDelete( pretty funny)... Good Job!
Well, I see the Roarin' Twenties weren't all fun and games, not with Capone and his boys running around. I like the pictures, especially "We want Beer" and the mafia sticker.
ReplyDeleteOverall, your post was equally hilarious and informative. Great job!
Andrew, this was a great topic for you. You know what book you should read? "Al Capone Does My Shirts" Any way, Al Capone was crazy, but wicked good at what he did, which really isn't a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI saved the best for last Andrew. Excellent pictures and a great read. Romantic crime like the Capone syndicate and the depression era bank robbers has gone away, but the spirit lives on! I love the We want beer protesters picture.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good review of this topic. It is amazing how so many still feel the appeal of Capone and his world. Like a-dizzle said, he was "wicked good at what he did" so I guess that accounts for some of it, and as Jackie points out, they were actually providing some services... and no doubt films (like the recent Public Enemy) have also played a role in idealizing criminality. I just don't think you would've like Capone if you met him!
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