Contents at a Glance*****************************************************

Introduction ............................................ 3

Part I: The Clothes Make the Man ......... 4Chapter 1: It’s All About the Clothes ............... 6Chapter 2: Hair: The Slicker the Better .......... 8

Part II: FUGETABOUTIT! Learning the Lingo ............................................... 10Chapter 3: A Whole New Language ............. 12Chapter 4: Will You Fit In? ........................... 14

Part III: So You Want to be Your Own Boss? ........................................... 16Chapter 5: Rise to the Top, But Beware of the Fall......................................... 18

Appendix: How You Know This Stuff is Legit: Bibliography ................. 22

Introduction*****************************************************

So you want to be a gangster. But you don’t want to be just any old gangster. The large, loud, Italian lifestyle has always seemed interesting to you. And what’s better? You love pasta and cannoli.

You’ve decided on your goal. Now it’s time to figure out the next steps to become an Italian gangster. Yeah, you know the type. You have seen those guys in the fancy suits out on the street corner or in the barber shop. But seriously. They are always in a barber shop. We’ll touch on that later.

This book is designed to not only get you into one of those elite Italian groups, but you will discover tips and tricks of the trade to quickly rise to the top and become the boss of your very own Italian gang.

You will learn how to dress, style, talk, and how to become the best Italian gangster you can be. These skills will take you through the ranks and earn you instant respect and status. So what are you waiting for? Andiamo!

Part I

The Clothes Make

the Man

! In this part . . .This first part gives you a helpful account of the popular fashions worn by prominent Italian gangsters. You will meet fashion icons and learn just how fashion influences your status as a gangster.

Chapter 1

It’s All About the Clothes

*****************************************************Clothing is a very important component to the Italian gangster lifestyle. So one of the first skills you need to acquire is how to dress yourself appropriately.

When Italian Catholics first came to America, it was obvious that they were different. While projecting the “white” image that was typical of the average American, Italians brought something new to the scene. According to Grieveson, they way they dressed provided a stark contrast to the fashions that surrounded them. They brought styles from Italy and refused to modify their cultural heritage—clothing, culinary customs, and language. These soon began to become definitive marks of what made an Italian gangster.

Take Al Capone, the Chicago Mafia leader in the early 20th century, for example. Now that was one well-dressed man. A description of a

typical influential gangster written by David E. Ruth is usually used when talking about Capone:

Now doesn’t that sound like something you want to emulate? It is always said that you

should dress for the job you want, not the one you have. Well, in an Italian gang, this is no different. You want to impress your boss? Wear a white

suit. That always brings attention to yourself, and will convey that you are able to afford nice clothing.

Just remember: the more expensive and lavish your purchases are, the more you will be respected and trusted by your fellow Italian gangsters. So get out there and go shop. If you are ever lost for inspiration, just remember Al Capone, and you will be dressing like a gangster in no time at all.

The public enemy, energetic and confident, was successful in a competitive, highly organized business. A model of stylish consumption, he wore fine clothes, rode in a gleaming automobile, and reveled in expensive nightlife.

Chapter 2

Hair: The Slicker the Better

*****************************************************Have you ever seen a Hollywood version of an Italian gangster movie and thought to yourself, “Wow, those guys shave a lot!” and wondered why they are always in a barbershop? Well, a clean-shaven Italian gangster is a well-respected Italian gangster.

But you have to be careful when you’re in the chair. A lot of prominent men have died that way. Remember when Nino (Mafioso) walked into one and murdered a rival leader? In 1957, a notorious and deadly mobster named Albert Anastasia was murdered by two gunmen as he sat in a barber’s chair waiting for a

shave. Those assassins were

hired in order to stop Anastasia’s rapid rise in power and infamy. This shows that you have to be very cautious about those you trust-- even your barbershop.

But don’t worry. The hair on top of your head is much easier to take care of without risking a bullet through your head. It has to be slicked back with some sort of gel or styling product. I mean, you want to look your best when you’re on a hit, right? You can see any Hollywood Italian gangster movie, and the gangsters (including the head of the chain) all have their hair nice and sleek.

However, if you don’t have access to gel, or if you are really against slicking your hair back for whatever reason (I would advise you to reconsider), you may always purchase a hat. As with everything else you should be wearing now, it must be expensive. Find the best

hat you can find-- preferably in the style to the left (fedora).

Part II

FUGETABOUTIT!Learningthe Lingo

! In this part . . . You gotta talk the talk, and walk the walk, capisce? This section is all about language. You will learn how to impress your new acquaintances through gangster slang, and yes, even through your accent.

Chapter 3

A Whole NewLanguage

*****************************************************As I said before. If you got to learn how to talk the talk. If you want to be an Italian gangster, it’s probably best if you learn to speak Italian. Unfortunately, I cannot help you out with that task (take a look at our Italian for Dummies self-help guide). In the meantime, go over this short list of basic gangster slang below.

Joseph Pistone, an FBI agent, is tasked to infiltrate a New York City Mafia family under the name Donnie Brasco. He does this with such finesse that he ends up taking on all of the personality traits of a Mafia gangster, and

Administration: the upper level of the organizationAssociate: a person who works with the org., but is not yet a memberBoss: the head of the organizationClock: to keep track of someone’s movementsConsigliere: the highly trusted counselor for the bossEmpty suit: someone with nothing to offer the family, but hangs around anywaysHit: an assigned murder

drives a wedge between him and his family. You should be able to do this just as well.

Words are important in an organization such as this. Take the word “fugetaboutit.” Brasco explains it as such:

Paul Vitti, another powerful New York Mafia boss (“Don”), has been known to use the phrase “You! You!” while smiling and

wagging his finger in an approving manner. Knowing “mobspeak” is not just about verbal communication. You also need to know and master those subtle physical gestures.

“‘Fugetaboutit’ is like if you agree with someone, you know, like, ‘Raquel Welch is one great piece of ass, fugetaboutit.’ But then, if you disagree, like, ‘A Lincoln is better than a Cadillac? Fugetaboutit!’ You know? But then, it's also like if something's the greatest thing in the world, like, ‘mingia those peppers, fugetaboutit.’ But it's also like saying ‘Go to hell!’ too. Like, you know, like, ‘Hey Paulie, you got a one inch pecker?’ and Paulie says, ‘Fugetaboutit!’ Sometimes it just means ‘forget about it.’”

Chapter 4

Will You Fit In?*****************************************************Now that you have mastered both the verbal and physical arts of Italian gangster communication, you need to master the accent. In most American Hollywood movies, the Mafia is located in or near New York City. So if you want to fit in, you have to speak with an Italian-New York accent. It’s really not that hard. If Ben Sobel (Analyze This), a Jewish psychiatrist, can fit in with the heads of the most prominent New York Mafia families, you can too.

If becoming an Italian gangster is still your goal, then chances are you have been to New York once or twice before. You know what those people are like, and you know they have an attitude! Get it, and get it fast, or you can just fugetaboutit. You have to be confident. You are the most important person. Bar none. Except for the Don and the Administration, of course. Who cares what you are actually saying? It’s the way you say it that counts. Be

blunt, direct, and opinionated. You should be talking a lot.

If you skip this step, it’s not likely you will be included in the gangster family. Trust is not easily gained, and if you appear to be different in any way, it might count as a strike against you. Take Kay Adams (The Godfather), for example. She marries Michael Corleone who takes over as Don when his father passes

away. However, because she is not Italian and is not a blood relative of the family, she is never fully accepted into the business. That, and because of the fact she is a woman. Women

are never treated properly, trusted fully, or generally noticed at all. She is regarded as an “outsider” who is only fit to fill the roles of a wife and a mother.

Women “belong” to the Mafia, as one would own property. They are not trusted with important facts or secrets, and are only useful to the organization to pass down the tight familial culture of the Mafia to their children. So if you are a woman, I would advise you to put down this book. You will never have a trusted place in this patriarchal culture.

Part III

So You Want to be

Your Own Boss?

! In this part . . .This final part explains what to do once you have established yourself as an Italian gangster. Learn who to befriend, and who to avoid. But above all else, be wary of your inevitable downfall. Continua!

Chapter 5

Rise to the Top, But Beware of the Fall

*****************************************************Congratulations! By now you should be included as a member of your Italian gang, and you should be working your way to the top. You have the clothes, the style, the language, and the attitude. Now, it’s time for you to do whatever you have to in order to make it to the top. Jonathan J. Cavallero has this to say about gangsters who want to be on top:

Let’s follow the example of Rico Bandello (Little Caesar). Rico knows exactly when to follow orders and when to go his own way.

“They kill their way to the top of the mob world for no reason except their desire to be in charge, and once there, they bask in the glow of their infamy, exhibiting no respect for loyalty, intelligence, tact, or human life.”

At the beginning, when he is first accepted into the gang, he listens to his superior’s orders. But one night Rico takes things into his own hands and kills a high ranking police official-- going directly against the orders he received.

So when you are ready to take control of the organization, follow Rico’s example above, but then call out and undermine the current

leader’s authority in front of your fellow gangsters. They will see that you are the tougher man and accept the transition of power.

Just make sure to take care of any loose ends. Whatever that might mean. Capisce? Never tell any one person too much personal information. Rico failed to follow this rule and this ultimately led to his downfall.

Speaking of downfalls, watch out for yours. Now that you are the head of your own organization, it is inevitable that your glory and power will end suddenly and abruptly. Most likely with gunfire. Those of us who work on Italian gangster movies in Hollywood are well aware of this fact. Rico thought he was

invincible and what happened to him? He was shot to death in a gutter behind a billboard.

Scarface (1930) and The Godfather are two more examples of how power never lasts. Your downfall will occur when you are at the height of your career in your fanciest clothes and sleekest hair, speaking in your best accent while surrounded by money and minions.

Don Vito Corleone was shot while shopping for produce. He never regained health and eventually died as his young

grandson looked on. No one ever thought he could be touched, but one trip away from the house led to the end of his reign of power.

At least keep your dignity when your downfall happens. Tony Camonte (Scarface) begs for mercy when he is trapped by police, and spinelessly tries --and fails-- to run away. That

is no way for someone of such importance and prestige to go!

Some leaders give into drug use, others are forced into hiding, and still others are cornered into an impossible situation. However your downfall may happen, take solace in the fact that you made it. You made your mark as an Italian gangster.

We at Hollywood are glad we could offer our tips and advice to you as you journey through the ranks. Keep in mind that this book is just a guide. Not everything about becoming an Italian gangster could be written inside this book. If you are ever in need of more tips, or how to handle your acquaintances, please turn to any of our Italian gangster movies and they are sure to point you in the right direction.

*disclaimer: This is American Hollywood’s unofficial guide on how to be an Italian gangster. We write scripts and produce movies for a living. A lot of the information included in these pages is stereotypical Italian culture and may or may not pertain to life in an actual Italian mafia. We are in California and really have no idea about the subtleties of Italian gangs as they exist today. We cannot be held responsible for any action taken by our readers.

Appendix

How You Know This Stuff is Legit: Bibliography

*****************************************************"Donnie Brasco." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013.

DontHateOnJord. "You're Good You - Analyze This [HD]." YouTube. YouTube, 06 Sept. 2010. Web. 23 Jan. 2013.

Everett, Arthur W. "2 Masked Men Kill Anastasia." The Washington Post [Washington, D.C.] 26 Oct. 1957: A3. Print.

Graziosi, Marina. "Women, the mafia and legal safeguards." UNITED NATIONS CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION 1.2 (2001): 129.

Grieveson, Lee, Esther Sonnet, and Peter Stanfield. Mob Culture: Hidden Histories of the American Gangster Film. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers UP, 2005. 209. Print.

Horton, Andrew. "Eleven Cinematic Makeovers and Cultural Border Crossings." Play It Again, Sam. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013.

"How to Talk Like a New Yorker." WikiHow. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013.

"Kay Adams Corleone Michelson." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013.

"Little Caesar." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013.

"Mobspeak Glossary." Mobspeak Glossary. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013.

Ruth, David E. Inventing the Public Enemy: The Gangster in American Culture, 1918-1934. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1996. Print.