Mafia House Tour on Google Street View

I’ve been addicted to Google Street View since its debut. I enjoy just wandering through Belgium or Botswana, or course, but I love when people do freaky things with Google Street View. Like Geoguessr or Mapcrunch or Address is Approximate or Streetview Player. And I especially love Hardcore Architecture, which takes the mailing addresses listed with old punk record reviews and shows what comes up on Google Street View for those addresses. The juxtaposition is usually hilarious or poignant or both.

So when I got my hands on the book Mafia, which reprints U.S. Bureau of Narcotics files on hundreds of organized crime figures around 1960, I was excited to see that along with rap sheets and mug shots, most of the Mafiosi files listed home addresses. In seconds, I could see where these guys lived.

Here are a couple dozen former Mafia homes across the country, chosen almost at random, plus mug shots and quotes from the resident’s Fed file circa 1960. Like Hardcore Architecture, I’ve left the addresses off, so as not to pester the current residents. (You can find them yourself in Mafia, if you must.)

Notice how the class structure of the mob is clearly reflected in these dwellings, from the tropical mansions of the capi to the cruddy near-tenements of the muscle goons. What they all have in common, though, is that whole banality of evil thing, the dark secrets behind the most unassuming little bungalow. I always wonder, do the current residents have any idea who once lived there…?

Gerardo Catena, South Orange, NJ
"Used strong-arm methods to gain control of vending machine industry in northern N.J."

Jack Lansky, Hollywood, FL
"An underling of his brother, Meyer Lansky."

Leonard Calamia, Chicago, IL
"A professional killer for the Mafia and a wholesale dealer of narcotics. Frequents the Poodle Dog restaurant."

Michael Polizzi, Detroit, MI
"One of the most prominent younger members of the Detroit Mafia who is taking over the place in the organization formerly held by his deceased father Angelo. Graduate of Syracuse University."

Henry Selvitella, Boston, MA
"Listed as sole owner of Noyes Dry Cleaning Salon, which he operates with his son George. A top member of the Mafia in the Mass. area."

Dante Gasbarrini, Burlington, Ontario
"Taking over gradually the Mafia leadership of Ontario, Canada. Large scale narcotic smuggler and distributor."

Meyer “Mickey” Cohen, Los Angeles, CA
"Though non-Italian he has strong ties with influential Mafiosi and is reputed to be behind-the-scenes controller of Los Angeles area boxing and bookmaking. Since 1933 he has had over 20 arrests for offenses ranging from failure to register as an ex-con to suspicion of murder."

Salvatore “Solly One-Eye” Pisano, Chicago, IL
"Operates fruit store. Frequents Eat-A-Bite Grill. Engaged in the interstate narcotic traffic."

Joseph Civello, Dallas, TX
"Controls all rackets in Dallas and vicinity."

Thomas “Tough Tommy” Contaldo, Brooklyn, NY
"Vicious Mafia strong arm man and killer."

Rosario Dionisio, Pueblo, CO
"The most influential member of the Mafia in Colorado. Former owner of the Colorado Cheese Co."

Alphonse LaRocca, San Francisco, CA
"Owns LaRocca & Sons, a seafood business. Has an interest in a number of commercial fishing boats. Suspected narcotic smuggler."

Anthony Buffa, Cleveland, OH
"Lower echelon Mafioso who is noted more for brawn than brains and is called on by more important Mafia members to carry out strong-arm assignments. Occasional construction worker & salesman."

Frank “Weatherbird” Russo, St. Louis, MO
"A trusted associate of the St. Louis Mafia and an interstate narcotic trafficker. Operated fruit and produce stand (1957); still in such business, location unknown."

Anthony Ranzino, New Orleans, LA
"An important Mafia member in the New Orleans area. Specialized in swindling."

Frank Occhino, Bronx, NY
"A young Mafia member, dealing in narcotics in the NYC area and interstate."

Frank La Rocca, Kansas City, MO
"An influential member of the Mafia and receives a share of the proceeds from all of the illicit activities in which the local organization is engaged. Arrested on two occasions in 1920 for murder, and in 1921 for investigation of another murder. All records relating to this subject have been removed from files of the police department and county prosecutor’s office."

Angelo Bruno, Philadelphia, PA
"Considered one of the upper echelon of the Mafia organization in the Phila. area, he is in a policy making position with the Mafia. Reported to own an interest in a casino in the Plaza Hotel, Havana, Cuba."

Frank Zito, Springfield, IL
"Has interests in tavern operations, cigarette machines and juke boxes in Springfield area. Frequents Cloverleaf Pool Room and Schoenle’s Tavern, both in Springfield."

Gaspare “Jasper” Matranga, San Diego, CA
"With his brother Liberante he operates the Cuckoo Club. A professional assassin."

Raymond Patriarca, Providence, RI
"A leader of Mafia in New England area; one of the heads of all gambling rackets in New England. Arrests for violation of Mann Act, white slavery, assault with dangerous weapon, larceny, armed robbery."

Anthony Scarpelli, St. Louis, MO
"A member of the Mafia organization in St. Louis and closely associated with known Mafia narcotic traffickers there."

Frank “Cowboy” Ippolito, Tampa, FL
"Involved in the large scale bookmaking lottery and bolita operation of the Tampa Mafia. Sometime bodyguard."

Pasquale “Patsy” Matranga, Brooklyn, NY
"A close associate of Lucky Luciano to whom he brought an Oldsmobile to trip to Italy in 1948. Formerly owned the Garden State Construction Co., Palisades, NJ. Currently self employed as a retail salesman of olive oil from his residence. Activities now curtailed because of advanced age."

There are so many more of these I could do (and maybe I will), but you get the idea. Speaking of ideas, if you have an idea for combining Google Street View with address-based ephemera of the past, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. Or, better yet, do it yourself!