00:00:00 - 00:30:00In the documentary "Carlo Gambino: The Lion & The Fox," the focus shifts to the early life and rise to power of notorious mafia boss, Carlo Gambino. Born in Sicily, Gambino was drawn to the criminal underworld and the respect it commanded in his community. He grew up amidst the mafia, which played a significant role in Sicilian society through extortion and dispute mediation. At 19, Gambino was officially sworn into the mafia and later emigrated to America, where he quickly rose through the ranks of the New York underworld.
Gambino's talent for extortion and shrewd business acumen led him to work for various mafia families, including Joe Masseria. During the Prohibition era, Gambino's most lucrative revenue stream was the illegal liquor trade. He was a cunning and strategic player, adept at recognizing and avoiding traps while setting them for others.
As tensions between mafia families boiled over in the 1930s, Gambino saw an opportunity to move up in the ranks and became Lucky Luciano's second in command. Following Masseria's assassination, Gambino was well-positioned to move up within the reshaped organization, working for one of the heads of the new five families, Vincent "The Executioner" Mangano.
Gambino's strategic alliances and marriages, such as his son's marriage into the Luchesi family, helped strengthen his family's power and reduce potential future tensions. Despite his age and declining health, there was no obvious successor to the empire, leading him to settle on his cousin Paul Castellano as his successor.
Gambino's approach to power involved a renewed focus on expansion of legal operations to mask illegal earnings and consolidate power. He focused on the building industry, labor unions, and city services for extortion and profit generation. Gambino's underboss, Neil Dela Croce, was a strategic thinker who provided unwavering loyalty and ensured smooth operations at all levels of power.
The documentary highlights Gambino's unique balance of power and cunning, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, timing, and tactical maneuvers in achieving success. Gambino's ability to learn from others and continuously observe different mafia factions' operations enabled him to make informed decisions and navigate complex scenarios effectively. The documentary encourages viewers to learn from these valuable lessons and continue their exploration by watching the next video in the series.See more00:00:00 In this section of the documentary "Carlo Gambino: The Lion & The Fox," the focus shifts to the early life of the notorious mafia boss, Carlo Gambino. Born in 1902 to an honorable Sicilian family with strong ties to the mafia, Gambino grew up in Palermo surrounded by the interwoven criminal underworld. The mafia, or "honorable society," played a significant role in Sicilian society, mediating disputes and engaging in criminal activities such as extortion. Young Gambino was drawn to this world, witnessing the respect and admiration given to mafia members in his community. As members of the mafia began emigrating to America in search of opportunities, Gambino's path was set. He would go on to become one of the most ruthless Godfathers in mob history, embodying the cunning of a fox and the force of a lion.00:05:00 In this section of the documentary "Carlo Gambino: The Lion & The Fox," we learn about the early life of the future mafia boss, Carlo Gambino. Born in Sicily, Gambino developed a reputation as a shrewd and cunning young man with a strong presence and a keen sense of violence when necessary. He caught the attention of local Mafia operators and began working as an enforcer for the powerful Godfather Vito Genovese. Despite his small stature, Gambino's sharp nose and commanding presence helped him in this line of work. Extortion was an art that required finesse, and income streams were maintained through the extortion of local businesses. At the age of 19, Gambino was officially sworn into the mafia with a secret ceremony. However, the power dynamics were shifting in the 1920s as the emergence of Mussolini's fascism posed a grave threat to the established mafia practices. Young mafiosos like Gambino saw greater opportunity outside of Sicily, and in 1921, preparations were made for him to travel to America and contact his family already in New York. Upon his arrival, he was immediately welcomed by his kin and quickly immersed himself in the booming New York underworld, making a reputation for himself as a reliable and methodical businessman.00:10:00 In this section of the documentary "Carlo Gambino: The Lion & The Fox," we learn about Gambino's early years in organized crime, specifically his involvement in the illegal liquor trade during the Prohibition era. Arriving in the US in 1902, Joe Masseria had already established his organization and rackets for over a decade when he recognized Gambino's talent and recruited him. Primary activities included extortion, loan sharking, gambling, and increasingly, narcotics. However, the most lucrative revenue stream was that of illegal liquor. With the age of Hedonism in full swing during the 1920s, people had money to spend, and a strong demand for alcohol remained despite it being illegal. Gambino worked for various families during this period, observing their customs and mental ammunition for future use. He was not just a lion but also a fox, adept at recognizing and avoiding traps and setting them for others. As tensions between the families boiled over in the 1930s, Gambino saw an opportunity to move up in the ranks. He made a deal with Lucky Luciano to become his second in command and inherit Masseria's rackets. Following Masseria's assassination, Gambino was well-positioned to move up within the reshaped organization, working for one of the heads of the new five families, Vincent "The Executioner" Mangano, for nearly two decades. This period marked a crucial transformation for the mafia in New York, with prohibition having just ended and the more stable commission holding the five families together. Gambino continued to be a committed family man, marrying his wife and first cousin, Catherine Castellano, in 1932.00:15:00 In this section of the documentary "Carlo Gambino: The Lion & The Fox," the strategic marriage between Gambino and the Castalanos brought two important families closer together, leading to a period of relative stability. However, things changed in the early 1950s when Anastasia grew tired of taking orders and plotted to take over. After Anastasia's alleged murder, Gambino saw an opportunity to make his move and take command of the family. In 1957, Gambino organized a hit squad to take out Anastasia while he was getting a shave at the Park Sheridan Hotel. With Anastasia's death, Gambino finally became the capo of the newly named Gambino family at the age of 55.
Gambino's approach to power involved a renewed focus on expansion of legal operations to mask illegal earnings and consolidate power. He focused on the building industry, labor unions, and city services for extortion and profit generation. Gambino's underboss, Neil Dela Croce, was a strategic thinker and widely respected figure who provided unwavering loyalty and ensured smooth operations at all levels of power. Dela Croce's connections to the labor unions and building industry proved invaluable in Gambino's strategy. Overall, Gambino's methodical and businesslike approach to power shunned gratuitous violence and focused on consolidating power and shaping the organization to fit his needs.00:20:00 In this section of the "Carlo Gambino: The Lion & The Fox" documentary, the focus shifts to Gambino's strategic alliances and marriages to strengthen his family's power and reduce potential future tensions. He arranged for his son to marry into the Luchesi family, another powerful Five Families ruling New York, to increase opportunities for lucrative collaborations. Gambino's humble nature, reminiscent of the old ways in Sicily, contrasted with the new generation born in America. Despite his age and the emergence of a potential heir, there was no obvious successor to the empire. Gambino recognized his declining health and settled on his cousin Paul Castellano as his successor, continuing his preference for keeping power within the family. However, this move was seen as less shrewd due to perceived bias.00:25:00 In this section of the "Carlo Gambino: The Lion & The Fox" documentary, the life and leadership qualities of the notorious Mafia boss are explored. Gambino, who navigated the fiercest days of the Mafia wars and built his family's power to unmatched heights, was known for his unique balance of power and cunning. He embodied the metaphor of being both a lion and a fox, using his cunning to recognize traps and lay them out while also frightening potential rivals with his ruthless reputation. Makavelli's principle of a prince needing to be both a fox and a lion is discussed, emphasizing the importance of being able to recognize traps and scare away potential threats. The documentary also highlights the importance of adaptability and continuous improvement in life, as change is the only constant.00:30:00 In this section of the "Carlo Gambino: The Lion & The Fox" documentary, the focus shifts to Gambino's adaptability, timing, and tactical maneuvers that contributed to his rise in the criminal world. Growing up in Sicily amidst organized crime, Gambino learned the ways of the mafia. However, the emergence of fascism forced him to seek opportunities beyond Sicily, leading him to the United States. This ability to adapt to new environments is highlighted as a crucial factor in his success.
The documentary then draws a parallel between Gambino and exceptional military leaders like Napoleon Bonaparte, emphasizing the importance of timing and mobility in achieving success. Gambino's strategic assassination of Albert Anastasia is cited as a pivotal moment in his criminal career, demonstrating his understanding of when to make decisive moves for maximum impact.
Furthermore, the documentary discusses how Gambino learned from others and continuously observed different mafia factions' operations during his early years in the American Mafia. This mental ammunition gained from diverse experiences enabled him to make informed decisions and navigate complex scenarios effectively. The documentary encourages viewers to learn from these valuable lessons and continue their exploration by watching the next video in the series.
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