Sheesh. Some days ya feel like a piano got dropped on yer head. Ya wake up swollen like ya did more'n you can remember from the night before and better not to ask.
Been a while.
Been a good long while.
Felt a stir a few months back, but like was one of them Phantom Limbs ya hear about. All twitch and no gimme.
Don't much more to say.
Keep yer feet dry.
7/19/12
4/23/11
PUNCTURE a sharp picture
"Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) is a talented young Houston lawyer and a functioning drug addict. Paul Danziger (co-director Mark Kassen), his longtime friend and partner, is the straight-laced and responsible yin to Mike's yang. Their mom-and-pop personal injury law firm is getting by, but things really get interesting when they decide to take on a case involving Vicky (Vinessa Shaw), a local ER nurse, who is pricked by a contaminated needle on the job. As Weiss and Danziger dig deeper into the case, a health care and pharmaceutical conspiracy teeters on exposure and heavyweight attorneys move in on the defense. Out of their league but invested in their own principles, the mounting pressure of the case pushes the two underdog lawyers and their business to the breaking point.
Brothers and first-time directors Mark and Adam Kassen bring this real-life story to the screen with all the urgency and passion of the subjects themselves. The result is an effective issue-driven drama that finds its footing in a contemporary David and Goliath story. The performances are solid and Chris Evans refreshingly infuses Weiss with crackling charisma while grounding him with real insecurities and compassion."
-Genna Terranova - from the 2011 TRIBECA Film Festival website.
Fresh visuals and precise performances from the entire expert ensemble highlight this smart and compelling story which finds an unexpected angle on the not unfamilliar little-guy-vs-the-world scenario. A hearty congratulations to the Kassen Brothers and Chris Lopata on the flick! And keep an eye out on your local bijou for PUNCTURE which is as they say, coming soon.
3/12/11
An Early Look at VanBebber in 'THE BOTTLE, THE CHAIN AND THE DAMAGE DONE'
TEASER #1
THE BOTTLE THE CHAIN AND THE DAMAGE DONE from DAVID BECKER on Vimeo.
Produced by David Becker, Joe Bosco, Daniel Buran
Directed by Joe Bosco
THE BOTTLE THE CHAIN AND THE DAMAGE DONE from DAVID BECKER on Vimeo.
Produced by David Becker, Joe Bosco, Daniel Buran
Directed by Joe Bosco
9/21/10
HBO Renews 'Boardwalk' After One Episode
 |
| By NELLIE ANDREEVA | September 21, 2010 Deadline Hollywood |
"The ratings for the Sunday premiere of HBO's prohibition era extravaganza Boardwalk Empire were barely in this morning when the pay cable network announced a second-season pickup for the drama from Martin Scorsese and Terence Winter. HBO made the decision "following resounding critical approval and high viewer numbers", it said. The series starring Steve Buscemi debuted with 4.8 million viewers to become HBO’s most watched series premiere since the 2004 opener of Deadwood behind The Sopranos. (I feel that is only appropriate because there are similarities in the tone between Boardwalk andDeadwood.) Because of HBO's big investment in building elaborate sets forBoardwalk, including an actual boardwalk, a second season renewal was always considered a given as networks look to amortize upfront costs. Still, the overwhelmingly positive reviews and solid premiere ratings probably sealed the deal."
HBO RENEWS BOARDWALK EMPIRE FOR SECOND SEASON
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21, 2010 – Following resounding critical approval and high viewer numbers for the series’ Sept. 19 debut, HBO has renewed BOARDWALK EMPIRE for a second season, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming.
“All the ingredients aligned for this one, from Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson’s initial pitch, to Martin Scorsese’s enormous contributions as director and executive producer, to the genius of Terry Winter and the expertise of Tim Van Patten, to a stellar cast led by Steve Buscemi,” said Lombardo. “The response from the media and our viewers has been nothing short of amazing.”
From Terence Winter, Emmy® Award-winning writer of “The Sopranos” and Academy Award®-winning director Martin Scorsese, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is set in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition, when the sale of alcohol became illegal throughout the United States.
Among the early critical raves, People called the show “not-to-be-missed,” hailing Steve Buscemi’s “brilliant, brutally funny performance,” while USA Today observed that BOARDWALK EMPIRE “looks to be the season’s best new show on any outlet.” The Philadelphia Inquirer said the series “stands at the pinnacle of TV achievement,” with the New York Observer noting, “It’s really, really good.”
The Sept. 19 premiere of BOARDWALK EMPIRE averaged 4.8 million viewers during the 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) airing to score HBO’s largest premiere of any program in over six years (since March 21, 2004 – “Deadwood” with “The Sopranos” as lead-in). With additional plays at 10:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., BOARDWALK EMPIRE was watched by a combined 7.1 million viewers for the night.
Season one credits: Created by Terence Winter, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg; co-executive producers, Gene Kelly and Lawrence Konner; producers (series), Rudd Simmons and Rick Yorn; producer (pilot), David Coatsworth; supervising producers, Howard Korder and Margaret Nagle.
“All the ingredients aligned for this one, from Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson’s initial pitch, to Martin Scorsese’s enormous contributions as director and executive producer, to the genius of Terry Winter and the expertise of Tim Van Patten, to a stellar cast led by Steve Buscemi,” said Lombardo. “The response from the media and our viewers has been nothing short of amazing.”
From Terence Winter, Emmy® Award-winning writer of “The Sopranos” and Academy Award®-winning director Martin Scorsese, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is set in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition, when the sale of alcohol became illegal throughout the United States.
Among the early critical raves, People called the show “not-to-be-missed,” hailing Steve Buscemi’s “brilliant, brutally funny performance,” while USA Today observed that BOARDWALK EMPIRE “looks to be the season’s best new show on any outlet.” The Philadelphia Inquirer said the series “stands at the pinnacle of TV achievement,” with the New York Observer noting, “It’s really, really good.”
The Sept. 19 premiere of BOARDWALK EMPIRE averaged 4.8 million viewers during the 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) airing to score HBO’s largest premiere of any program in over six years (since March 21, 2004 – “Deadwood” with “The Sopranos” as lead-in). With additional plays at 10:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., BOARDWALK EMPIRE was watched by a combined 7.1 million viewers for the night.
Season one credits: Created by Terence Winter, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg; co-executive producers, Gene Kelly and Lawrence Konner; producers (series), Rudd Simmons and Rick Yorn; producer (pilot), David Coatsworth; supervising producers, Howard Korder and Margaret Nagle.
9/20/10
DEADBEAT at DAWN at Cinema Wasteland
The centerpiece of this year's show is our man Jim Van Bebber's first feature, Deadbeat at Dawn. And why? Well, here's how CW put it,"Deadbeat at Dawn has earned it’s cult status over the years by supplying fans with class A entertainment on an independent B movie budget. Join director and star, Jim Van Bebber, along with producer and cinematographer, Mike King, as well as “Bone Crusher” himself, Marc Pitman, for a screening of DEADBEAT on Friday night this October 1, 2010."
Our pal, filmmaker Victor Bonacore, of Chainsaw Kiss, will be shooting footage all weekend for his currently-in-production documentary on Van Bebber, Diary of a Deadbeat, so give him a slap on the back if ya see him.
Get the skinny on all the guests attending the con right here and check out the events page for even more.
Director Jim Van Bebber Honored with Screening
The screening came about because, as the good folks at Cinefamily put it on their website,"Deadbeat at Dawn is our new favorite movie, and we can’t wait for it to be yours."
It's quite an honor and should be a terrific night. We look forward to seeing you there.
The theater is located at 611 North Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles, CA 90036 / (323) 655-251.0
You can get the full details here.
BOARDWALK triumph
HBO's new series Boardwalk Empire made it's debut last night and we were mighty impressed. Sleek, intricately designed, wonderfully cast, exceptionally well written and acted, Boardwalk more than lived up to high expectations. That said, the show is not above employing a heavy dose of dramatic license and plays it fast and loose with historical events. What stuck in our craw the most was their portrayal of the Big Guy, played by British actor Stephen Graham.
Midway through the pilot episode, we are presented with a scene that has Johnny Torrio, Big Jim Collisimo, Al Rothstein and Lucky Luciano traveling to Atlantic City for a sit down with Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) to strategize, a meeting which seemingly took place mere days after Prohibition became the law. As any student of the subject matter knows, this event is highly unlikely. Meanwhile, Al waits outside with Nucky's sidekick, Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) and it is his character which is later shown inspiring Al to greater, criminal ambitions, even enlisting him in a highjacking scheme. Now, at five feet five, Graham is a good five inches shorter than the historical Al, and that choice had him come across as a bit of a flunky to young Jimmy, and Al was nobody's flunky. We suspect Executive Producer Martin Scorsese was hoping to evoke a bit of the fireplug nature of the great Edgar G. Robinson.
Still, it's one hell of a show and our man, actor Vic Noto, is set to appear in no less than two episodes in the coming weeks, so keep watching.
Accessory to a massacre?
"No one is sure if Aurora man's 1927 Cadillac really was used by Capone's men on Valentine's Day 1929. The car certainly ain't talking. Greg Zanis, of Aurora, owns a 1927 Cadillac that, the story goes, once cruised Chicago carrying its most notorious crime boss, a man who ordered the luxury car's involvement in the city's most infamous, unsolved crime at the very height of the Prohibition era.
By any account, it's a great yarn. It's just that it might not be true."
Get the whole story here.
7/21/10
Sonny?
Christopher Knight Capone poses in front of a photo of Al Capone.
Growing Up Capone: Mobster's Kin Go to the Mattresses
Book About 'Uncle Al' Sparks Family Feud; Seeking to Exhume Body
Chris Knight Capone...claims to be a grandson of Al.
Chris Knight Capone...claims to be a grandson of Al.
The 38-year-old New Yorker filed a lawsuit in Chicago last year to have the mobster's remains exhumed so he can obtain genetic proof of his ancestry. Mr. Capone hired a ghostwriter and self-published a book, "Son of Scarface," in 2008.
Deirdre Marie Capone, a great niece of Al Capone, spent years concealing her connection to the legendary mobster. Like a lot of his relatives, she used a different last name. She even kept the family tie hidden from her children.
"He has absolutely no proof of anything he says," says Deirdre Marie Capone.
Says Chris Knight Capone: "My proof is my blood."
You can get the whole story at WSJ.com.
7/20/10
VanBebber Returns to Acting
Our own very Eric VonZipper has finally taken on a brand new acting challenge, and this time it's for a real Savage. Director Mark Savage, the filmmaker behind Sensitive New-Age Killer and 2004's Defenceless: A Blood SymphonyHere's an excerpt from Fangoria.com's recent coverage of VanBebber's latest and maybe even strangest performance yet!
"Currently shooting in LA, THE CLOTH DAGGER “is a psychosexual thriller about a priest who both facilitates perversion and exacts a strange type of vigilante justice through the confessional,” Savage tells Fango. “Jim plays a wandering psychopath with a fondness for creating crime scenes.
- You can get the whole story here.
6/28/10
Moose Jaw, Canada aka "Little Chicago?"
Apparently, according to writer Rebecca Lawrence, underneath the town of Moose Jaw, Canada lies a series of tunnels with a vague link to Al Capone. At least that's how they're playing it. These tunnels have now become a tourist attraction where, with the help of a group of actors, that questionable 'history' is revealed.
The tour takes you behind Main Street where ‘Miss Fanny’ leads you through several different rooms – including a secret bar. The premise is that visitors are bootleggers hoping for some illegal alcohol. You are left with the impression that Al Capone frequently travelled to Moose Jaw and are even taken into his ‘office’ to see his suits.
There isn’t actually any real proof to say Al Capone did travel to the city but the tunnels would have been perfect for storing alcohol. Moose Jaw was also popular because of its red light district on River Street (now a popular shopping area). As a result of Moose Jaw’s link to Chicago and the transporting of illicit alcohol, the city did become known as ‘Little Chicago”.
If you take the tour with a pinch of salt, it tells a great story and it’s certainly an entertaining way to spend an afternoon if you find yourself in Moose Jaw.
You can find an entire article on the tunnels here.
Now More Than Ever
We have always been confident in the ability of smaller, independant films to make mincemeat out of the bigger (bloated) studio fare, which more often than not alienates most by trying to appeal to all, so it's damn gratifying to see that validated by cold hard facts. Case in point? This excerpt from today's Variety:
Indie pics rebound may be at hand
By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK
Indie film biz watchers have been holding their breath waiting for a winning streak to signal a much-desired resurgence in the sector. Well, they can breathe again, but slowly.
In the last three months, a number of solid base hits have fired up the indie realm after a long downturn that threw the specialty biz into a serious identity crisis. These pics may not be generating the sorts of grosses that make for blaring headlines, but they are good enough where it counts: The pocketbook.
With a glut of product a thing of the past and more shelf space, a handful of films have found a following and harnessed that old-fashioned marketing tool -- word of mouth -- to stay in theaters and build their audience.
Fox Searchlight's dramedy "Cyrus" raised hopes when it opened June 18 with the second-highest per-screen average of the year -- $45,429. Directed by Mark and Jay Duplass, the comedy grossed $181,714 from four theaters before scoring strong weekday biz last week.
"There is still life in the market, even as audiences are being more selective," says Fox Searchlight president Steve Gilula, who runs the division with Nancy Utley.
Successes have included "City Island," quietly holding and banking money since March; "Babies" and "Exit Through the Gift Shop," showing that there could still be life in the theatrical documentary market.
The past few months' films are a diverse crop, ranging from obvious crowd-pleasers to more challenging sells of documentaries and foreign-language films. And success stories for "City Island" and "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" are all the more impressive considering they were released by tiny Anchor Bay and Music Box Films. "These are big successes for these companies," a studio specialty exec says.
Even the tough-to-sell arthouse drama "Winter's Bone," from director Debra Granik and distributed by Roadside Attractions, has gotten off to a promising start, with just over $500,000 in since its June 11 opening.
- Get the whole story here.
Indie pics rebound may be at hand
By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK
Indie film biz watchers have been holding their breath waiting for a winning streak to signal a much-desired resurgence in the sector. Well, they can breathe again, but slowly.
In the last three months, a number of solid base hits have fired up the indie realm after a long downturn that threw the specialty biz into a serious identity crisis. These pics may not be generating the sorts of grosses that make for blaring headlines, but they are good enough where it counts: The pocketbook.
With a glut of product a thing of the past and more shelf space, a handful of films have found a following and harnessed that old-fashioned marketing tool -- word of mouth -- to stay in theaters and build their audience.
Fox Searchlight's dramedy "Cyrus" raised hopes when it opened June 18 with the second-highest per-screen average of the year -- $45,429. Directed by Mark and Jay Duplass, the comedy grossed $181,714 from four theaters before scoring strong weekday biz last week.
"There is still life in the market, even as audiences are being more selective," says Fox Searchlight president Steve Gilula, who runs the division with Nancy Utley.
Successes have included "City Island," quietly holding and banking money since March; "Babies" and "Exit Through the Gift Shop," showing that there could still be life in the theatrical documentary market.
The past few months' films are a diverse crop, ranging from obvious crowd-pleasers to more challenging sells of documentaries and foreign-language films. And success stories for "City Island" and "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" are all the more impressive considering they were released by tiny Anchor Bay and Music Box Films. "These are big successes for these companies," a studio specialty exec says.
Even the tough-to-sell arthouse drama "Winter's Bone," from director Debra Granik and distributed by Roadside Attractions, has gotten off to a promising start, with just over $500,000 in since its June 11 opening.
- Get the whole story here.
6/25/10
Essentially Deadbeat
A tip of the hat to the Cool Ass Cinema blog which recently included our own Jim Van Bebber's Deadbeat at Dawn in it's Most Controversial, Disturbing & Essential Exploitation/Grindhouse Movies list. Here's the entry:
Director, star, writer and pretty much everything else, Jim Van Bebber
Goose, the leader of the Raven's, a street gang involved in a turf war against the Spiders, decides to hang up his violent ways to live a normal life with his girlfriend. However, in his absence, the two gangs form an alliance and don't take kindly to Goose quitting for a more stable existence. Savagely butchering his girlfriend and leaving him for dead, Goose goes out for violent and bloody revenge.
Jim Van Bebber is a one man war machine in this, his first feature film. Not only does he both star and direct, but he also wrote, edited, did the special effects and also did stunts and fight choreography! DEADBEAT AT DAWN (1988) is a jaw droppingly amazing, ultra violent, comic bookish two buck shoestring wonder. Hopelessly cheesy at time, the chuckles (the conversation with Goose and his drug addicted dad is priceless!) set off the grim nastiness very nicely. Van Bebber (THE MANSON FAMILY) has an enormous amount of talent and it boggles the mind he has yet to be snatched up by a major to helm a big Hollywood action picture.
Beginning on a rather stale note, it only takes a few minutes for this 16mm marvel to kick into high gear. Aside from all the over the top violence, bloodshed and bad acting, several scenes and dialog exchanges are pulled off with poignancy and undeniable skill. DEADBEAT is a one of a kind underground splatter action revenge movie whose no budget level of accomplishment is staggering to say the least. Very few filmmakers can do so much with so little. There's a ton of creative energy in this nifty little cult obscurity. The no holds barred, gore drenched finale is worth the DVD alone.
DEADBEAT AT DAWN (1988)
Directed by Jim Van Bebber
Directed by Jim Van Bebber
Director, star, writer and pretty much everything else, Jim Van BebberGoose, the leader of the Raven's, a street gang involved in a turf war against the Spiders, decides to hang up his violent ways to live a normal life with his girlfriend. However, in his absence, the two gangs form an alliance and don't take kindly to Goose quitting for a more stable existence. Savagely butchering his girlfriend and leaving him for dead, Goose goes out for violent and bloody revenge.
Jim Van Bebber is a one man war machine in this, his first feature film. Not only does he both star and direct, but he also wrote, edited, did the special effects and also did stunts and fight choreography! DEADBEAT AT DAWN (1988) is a jaw droppingly amazing, ultra violent, comic bookish two buck shoestring wonder. Hopelessly cheesy at time, the chuckles (the conversation with Goose and his drug addicted dad is priceless!) set off the grim nastiness very nicely. Van Bebber (THE MANSON FAMILY) has an enormous amount of talent and it boggles the mind he has yet to be snatched up by a major to helm a big Hollywood action picture.
Beginning on a rather stale note, it only takes a few minutes for this 16mm marvel to kick into high gear. Aside from all the over the top violence, bloodshed and bad acting, several scenes and dialog exchanges are pulled off with poignancy and undeniable skill. DEADBEAT is a one of a kind underground splatter action revenge movie whose no budget level of accomplishment is staggering to say the least. Very few filmmakers can do so much with so little. There's a ton of creative energy in this nifty little cult obscurity. The no holds barred, gore drenched finale is worth the DVD alone.Al's Custom Car
Yesterday, we linked to a story from the Daily Herald about Al Capone's 1927 Armored Cadillac going on display and as a result this morning an official press release with further details (and pix) showed up.
Official Unveiling of Al Capone’s 1927 Armored Cadillac
On Wednesday June 24, 2010, at 1pm the Lincoln Highway Association will be stopping at 76 S. LaSalle Street in Aurora Illinois on a buss tour to view the recently discover 1927 Armored Cadillac that was formerly owned by Al Capone. This car will be at this location for a very limited time and may be sent out for restoration. The car is in its original un-restored condition. In the interior of the vehicle all the original armored plating is visible. This includes a drop down rear window with a tempered steal gun port. This 1927 Cadillac is a part of Chicago’s history in that it is believed to have been involved in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre which took place on February 14, 1929. The owner has recently obtained a receipt from Al Capone great-granddaughter who wishes to maintain her privacy. The showing is from 1-2pm. The public is welcome to attend. Please call Maria Zanis for more information at 1-815-690-0641 or email her at mariazanis@me.com
The 1927 Caddy used in the infamous St. Valentine Day Massacre on February 14, 1929 in Chicago Illinois was owned by the notorious Al Capone. This 1927 Cadillac was specially created for Al Capone and was modified and molded for the way Al Capone ran his business. This car had the following modifications:
The custom body is lined bullet-proof armor.
Fisher Co. custom-made the body using aluminum in order to offset the weight of the bullet proofing.
There are compartments throughout the car to stash weapons and ammunition.
Each door contains small compartments to hold pistols. The backseat has a large compartment that is large enough to stash larger weapons like shotguns and the famous Tommy gun.
The custom roof hatch opens facing the rear of the car in order to allow two gunmen to fire at chasing vehicles.
The armor that covered the rear window has a small shutter in which to allow a means to fire weapons through.
The car was painted green and black to look like a Chicago Police Car.
The mounted running board included a search light.
The Buffalo wire wheels where filled with hemp rope in order to prevent a flat tire if shot.
The car has two spare wheel options, which include dual side mounts in the front fenders.
The front bumper contains a plow bar.
A back up reservoir that holds twenty gallons of antifreeze.
Four backup batteries.
Dual cover lights.
A two gallon tank of oil is mounted under the dashboard with copper wiring that runs along heated pipes to the rear of the car, thus creating a smoke screen effect for pursuing cars.
The floor of the car has a small hatch door that was used to drop roofing nails in order to deflate the tires of their pursuers.
A twenty gallon tank that contains kerosene which was dispensed onto the ground to create “oil slicks”
A new and aerodynamic VV windshield.
An exterior sun visor.
Optional Cadillac wing windows.
There is much more to this car. The history, high speed chase scenes, and the role it played for Al Capone and his men will always be a piece of Chicago.
6/24/10
Al Capone's car passes through Aurora, IL
A piece of Chicago's gangland history was put on display Wednesday afternoon in Aurora for passing-by members of the Lincoln Highway Association.
Sugar Grove resident Greg Zanis and his daughter Maria Zanis displayed their 1927 armored Cadillac, believed to be owned by Al Capone and driven to the St. Valentine's Day massacre, at downtown Aurora's historic Theiss Building of the Arts, 76 S. LaSalle.
"My dad paid Al Capone's son $1,300 for the car in 1973 and has never restored it, but it's just a beautiful car," Maria Zanis said. "I plan on restoring it for him so we thought we'd put it on display, in it's original condition, first."
Members of the Lincoln Highway Association just happened to be in town and swung by to take a peek.
Several of the car's custom features include a lined bulletproof armor body, and a roof hatch that opens facing the rear of the car in order to allow two gunmen to fire at chasing vehicles.
Maria Zanis of Sugar Grove shows off the 1927 armored Cadillac once owned by Al Capone. Zanis' dad Greg bought the car in 1973 and she grew up with it. Looking on are Thomas Coenen, left, of Woodbine, Iowa and Lynn Urban of Racine, Wis.
- Story courtesy of the Daily Herald
6/20/10
Former wife of the Rolling Stones musician, was courted by Capone's grandson
Jo Wood, the former wife of the Rolling Stones musician Ronnie Wood, says she has been courted by Al Capone's grandson. Recently linked with John Collins, a polo-playing pal of the Prince of Wales, Jo Wood is courted by an altogether more unusual figure.The former wife of Ronnie Wood, the Rolling Stones guitarist, has been on a series of trysts with an American she says is the grandson of Al Capone, the Chicago Prohibition-era gangster.
"He was lovely, a perfect gentlemen," she said of Peter Capone, 70, an architect, before joking: "I have to admit, I was quite taken with the idea of being with a proper mobster."
She added at the Dorchester hotel in Mayfair, London, that she was enjoying being single. "Why do I want to get caught up with another man just yet?" she asked. "I don't need a man at all, but I love the company of men and going out on dates with them."
Wood's former husband, who had battled with drink problems, left her two years ago to live with Ekaterina Ivanova, a Russian waitress.
Courtesy of the UK Telegraph
6/18/10
Images of Al
Here's the box cover of the 8MM version of Al Capone from the incredible 16MM, 8MM & Super 8 section of A1 Video's online store.
6/16/10
Up in Smoke
Sadly, another little bit of history is lost as Al Capone's old hangout, the Riviera Roadhouse, burns to the ground.
6/15/10
Sonny v.s. Ted
Here's an odd tidbit from the recent story on Ted Kennedy's FBI file:
"The FBI...released over 2,000 pages from its files on the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. The...files detail a wide range of threats, many by people who were deemed mentally ill or drunk; most of the threats were reported by people who heard them being made over the phone, either at a payphone or in an office such as the Palm Beach newspaper. One threat came in via pay phone from the New England Oysterhouse in Coral Cables - from somebody identified as Sonny Capone. The FBI says "he may be identical with Francis Capone, Jr., the son of the late notorious Chicago hoodlum, Al Capone."
Read all about it here.
"The FBI...released over 2,000 pages from its files on the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. The...files detail a wide range of threats, many by people who were deemed mentally ill or drunk; most of the threats were reported by people who heard them being made over the phone, either at a payphone or in an office such as the Palm Beach newspaper. One threat came in via pay phone from the New England Oysterhouse in Coral Cables - from somebody identified as Sonny Capone. The FBI says "he may be identical with Francis Capone, Jr., the son of the late notorious Chicago hoodlum, Al Capone."
Read all about it here.
6/12/10
IT'S COMING
Scorsese's New 'Boardwalk Empire' Trailer made it's debut today and it looks like dynamite.
Now if only some enterprising company would see the potential synergy here and greenlight
CAPONE...
5/26/10
Hatchet 2 Panel a Huge Success
File this one under "Pals of Capone:" Our own Jimmy VanB attended Creation's Weekend of Horrors convention this past weekend in L.A. to show support for the good people at Dark Sky Films, who backed his opus, The Manson Family, and to lend support to their biggest production yet, director Adam Green's forthcoming horror flick Hatchet 2. Check out the straight dope here, or hit the link below for a detailed look at the whole con. Bravo, fellas!
5/20/10
"Last Call" for Prohibition
5/11/10
Deadliest Warrior: Al Capone Gang vs Jesse James Gang
This series on Spike TV pits history's deadliest warriors against each other in theoretical showdowns and recently featured the Big Fella's crew, Capone expert Johnny Fratto and some nifty recreations. Here's a link to the Deadliest Warrior episode and be sure to check out the Aftermath - featuring a lively debate on the outcome.
5/5/10
By the Book
There's a great new book out on the rise and fall of of the Big Guy, "Get Capone: The Secret Plot That Captured America's Most Wanted Gangster," and you can visit the official site by clicking here. We've been highlighting a lot of the press this ground breaking work has been racking up lately. Author Jonathan Eig, a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal, recently appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Here's a look:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Jonathan Eig | ||||
| ||||
4/28/10
Why Chicago is still Al Capone’s town
Image via Wikipedia
Chicago and Al Capone are linked more tightly than any other city and historical figure in America. Some memorable pairs do exist – Detroit and Henry Ford, New York and Boss Tweed, Philadelphia and Benjamin Franklin –but none are as vivid in the popular imagination.
For a while, Michael Jordan became the international symbol for the Windy City, but that’s faded since his retirement. If you mention to someone in Oslo or Tokyo or Cairo that you come from Chicago, you’re going to be greeted once again with a mimed tommy gun and “Ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack!”
It’s a lead-pipe cinch that this will become more ingrained with Jonathan Eig’s new biography, Get Capone: The Secret Plot that Captured America’s Most Wanted Gangster. The book, released today, has gotten rave early reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and the Chicago Sun-Times, among others, for its gripping story and thorough research. Eig, who has written award-winning biographies of Lou Gehrig and Jackie Robinson, brings a journalist’s panache and a scholar’s eye to a larger-than-life criminal that everyone thinks they already know.
In an email exchange, I asked Eig about the role of Chicago in Capone’s epic rise and unprecedented fall.
Capone was not from Chicago, but actually New York. Was there really no place for him in NY, or was the Chicago market that appealing?
Capone was nothing but a two-bit thug when he left New York, so it’s not as if he expected to make it big here. In all likelihood, he left New York to get away from the cops, or from another two-bit thug who wanted him dead, or some gal he knocked up. He made the move in 1920, so no one yet imagined that Prohibition was going to make two-bit thugs rich and powerful. Like a lot of American icons, he was more lucky than smart.
Like Capone, you’re from New York. Is this any kind of coincidence, or is there something about Chicago that calls to you?
Like Capone, I’m from Brooklyn. Like Capone, I started losing my hair when I was a teenager. Like Capone, I try to make peace with my competition, but when all else fails I destroy them. OK, strike that last one. I think it’s the beer that calls me to Chicago. But the same probably could have been said of Portland or Dubuque.
Like Capone, I’m from Brooklyn. Like Capone, I started losing my hair when I was a teenager. Like Capone, I try to make peace with my competition, but when all else fails I destroy them. OK, strike that last one. I think it’s the beer that calls me to Chicago. But the same probably could have been said of Portland or Dubuque.
Capone was obviously ruthless and intelligent. Were there any other factors that contributed to his huge success? Could another mobster have become the face of corruption during Prohibition?
There were plenty of ruthless mobsters and quite a few intelligent ones. The key to Capone’s huge success–and to his failure–was his appetite for fame. He was the first and only celebrity gangster. He loved the spotlight. That’s why he became the model for Edward G. Robinson and all the other actors playing gangsters. That’s why he made the cover of TIME magazine. And that’s why, at least in part, the feds came down on him with such force. Capone was making them look foolish. Turns out there was a good reason the other big gangsters didn’t seek publicity.
Other cities (e.g., New York, Detroit, Kansas City) had violent criminal underworlds. Why did the “romance” of Capone last in Chicago for so many decades? Was it really the most corrupt American city back then?
Chicago was probably a little bit more corrupt than most cities, but that doesn’t really explain the city’s lasting reputation for gangland violence. Much of it has to do with Capone’s celebrity. Some of it has to do with the city’s great newspaper reporters, who loved Capone and loved making him out to be a kingpin. Even some New York reporters, like Damon Runyon, got in on the act. Finally, I think Chicago was just a great drinking town. It was so easy to drink here. The cops didn’t care. And there was speakeasies on practically every corner. That’s why they called it “that toddlin’ town.”
Yours will probably become the definitive Capone bio for some time. Did it surprise you that he hadn’t been covered extensively before?
It’s not that Capone wasn’t covered. Fred Pasley wrote the first Capone bio in 1930. It was pretty good. John Kobler wrote another good one back in 1971. Robert Scheonberg did nice work with a Capone book in 1992. But I wanted to put the man in historical context. I wanted to make him seem more human. I tried to strip away some of the varnish that came to cover his story. Also, I had a ton of secret government documents those guys didn’t get. But the bottom line, I guess, is this: I live in Chicago and I could see that Capone still towered over the city. Yet most people didn’t really know anything about him. I hope this book changes that.
What was in the government documents you obtained? Did they shed light on his character or clear up inconsistencies?
The government documents showed the feds had an incredibly weak case against the Big Man and they knew it. It showed that Capone had a legitimate claim when he said he was being persecuted. I also found Capone letters and interviews from Alcatraz that revealed much about his character. For example, when it came to his family, he was a big sap.
Around the Midwest, locations too numerous to count take a perverse pride in saying “Al Capone slept here.” Are most of these apocryphal?
Well, he slept a lot of places. But who knows? I’d still wager that 90 percent of all “Capone slept here” stories are in fact apocryphal. Every building in Chicago that has a coal chute claims it was a Capone escape tunnel. Every apartment with a turret window was a machine gun nest.
On the other hand, Capone and his men really did live and do business here. So it’s pretty cool to think he probably walked the street where I lived. And I pass the site of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre almost every day. That’s why I created the Chicago Gangland Tour. It’s an iPhone app. You can use it to see where Capone really did sleep. And where his enemies slept with the fishes!
Did organized crime “learn” anything after Capone was convicted of tax evasion?
Yes. A lot of underworld figures learned to pay their taxes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
