Brooklyn Gangs Bronx Gangs Queens Gangs New York Gangs Staten Island Gangs

HONORING ALL GREASERS FROM THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK

THE BRONX

Map of Old School Bronx Gangs

GAYLORDS (sometime around the real early 50s)

CONDORS and CONDORETTES (around the mid 50s)

COUNTS From Buhre Avenue

DISCIPLES

DUKES from Buhre Avenue

GOLDEN GUINEAS: 50s, 60s, 70s

The largest Italian gang in predominantly Italian North East Bronx which was situated around the Quarry Ballfield by Arthur Avenue & Oak Tree Place between Hughes Ave. & Quarry Road across from St. Barnabas Hospital. With rival gangs throughout the Bronx and adjoining boroughs, there were notable conflicts leading up to several rumbles that caught the attention of the local authority. One such fight escalated into the inspiration for West Side Story. It was a real incident involving the Bronx Golden Guineas. The story goes they chased a few South Bronx Navahoes, a Spanish gang that wore the same gold and black jackets, out of the neighborhood. In retaliation the Navaho teamed up with a North Bronx gang from the Edenwald Projects called the Enchanters and went looking for Italians. It wasn't long before they ran into two white teenagers William Blankenship and a friend. A Puerto Rican Enchanter nicknamed Superman pointed a gun, but Blankenship stood-up to him. Another bantam Puerto Rican Navaho nicknamed "Taza" grab the gun out of the hand of his cohort he shot and killed Blankenship. It made the papers in 1955, most of the antagonist were arrested that very same night. All served time with 17-year-old Frank "Taza" Santana sentenced to 25 years.

The Golden Guineas also faced off against the Young Lords, the Harlem Redwings, and just about any disrespectful intruder on their turf. (Golden Guineas is dubbed after the first British machine-struck gold coin, minted between 1663 and 1814, gold mined from the Guinea region in West Africa. Not from the term Guineus, a generic term for the black African populace south of the Senegal River in West Africa in contrast to the "tawny" Zenaga Berbers, whom they called Moors. Although the similarity and cross-reference led to twisting the word "Guinea" into a vile derogative, an offensive slang term synonymous with the N-word).

(Taza is the son of Cochise and briefly chief of the Chiricahuas Apache. Santana saw Rock Hudson as Taza in the 1954 film "Taza, Son of Cochise" directed by Douglas Sirk)

NAVAJOS: 1955

Their main rivals were the Golden Guineas of Buhre Avenue.

THE DIABLO'S

TURFBUSTERS Fordham Road and Grand Avenue (mid 1960's)

TINTON HUNS: from Tinton Avenue about 147th Street

SAPPERS: from Crimmins avenue

DRAGONS: 137th Street between Brook and St Anns

SCORPIONS

EGYPTIAN CROWNS: 50's

Rivals were the Sinners.

SINNERS: 50's

Rivals with the Egyptian Crowns.

Mount Carmel Candy Store Home of the Best New York Egg Creams

621 East 187, Bronx, NY 10458

FORDHAM BALDIES AKA. FORDHAM DAGGERS AND DAGGERETTES

The baldies were not bald. They got name from an Italian hero, warrior and soldier who lived in NY around the 1850's, Giuseppe Garibaldi (they mistakenly called him''Gary Baldi''), whose bronze statue -made by Giovanni Turini- is located in Washington Square Park in Manhattan, ever since 1888-1889. The older members were the FORDHAM DAGGERS. The Fordham Baldies had many brutal rumbles with the Harlem Redwings. "I knew the older Baldies from Jennie's Luncheonette, where they hung out. The Baldies had white jackets--I think their name was also in gold. The Baldies' girlfriends had cardigans in white. Inside the school, Evander Childs H.S, teachers and assistant principal, Mr. Alpern, were often quite terrified by the power of these gangs. They arranged the classes so that no members of both gangs were ever in one class at the same time.Mr Alpern was often accompanied by a uniformed policeman as he patrolled the halls--each classroom's wooden door had a small window in it, and we students could see Mr. Alpern and the policeman each look in the little window, presumably to check if there was a problem in the classroom. There were a lot of fights in the empty lot across from the school. Poor Italians lived on that lot in huts they constructed themselves and they kept goats there. One time, the gang war resulted in one of the goats getting killed, which led to a lot of anger at the gangs

Also the younger Daggers and the Baldies from Piggy's Candy Store. The time period was 1954 through 1965. Do you remember the shooting at Piggy's in 1954 or 55? It was the Harlem Redwings retaliation on the Baldies for an incident that day at Orchard Beach." The Fordham Baldies were one of the gangs featured in the movie "The Wanderer". Turns out he was an innocent bystander. Unless this was a separate incident, the gang was not the Redwings, but the Sinners. I remember them strutting their stuff on the boardwalk dressed in black bikini bathing suits with red piping. They all wore sleeveless tops with Young Sinners on the back. The front had the letters YS and an image of a young devil sucking on a baby bottle while holding a pitchfork in his hand. Hard to forget. The skirmish happened in the water. A Baldy broke a beer bottle over a Sinner's head and stuck the glass in his thigh. The Sinner took his revenge at Orchard Beach with a semi-automatic that he made in shop class. Violent ingenuity!

SCORPIONS: 50s

Rivals to the Fordham Baldies. August, 5, 1957, the Fordham Baldies and the Scorpions were involved in a gang fight which made the papers.

The East 187th and Belmont Egg Cream

Greaser Dog in the Bronx

DUCKIES: 1957 to 1964.

The Duckies got their name because the original guys hung out at the Duck pond in the Bronx Botanical Gardens and shot at the ducks with slingshots, therefore, they eventually called themselves "Duckies". A Retired member described the Duckies, a gang featured in the Movie "The Wanderer": "The Ducky Gang (not just boys) lol. Not embarrassed to say I was a member and yes, they were very real. The balcony on 204th and the 'tunnels', and the whole area surrounding Twin Lakes was our turf! Was a wild time growing up, some bad, some good, but many learning experiences came from those times. The Ducky was not predominantly irish or anything else, but yes, we were certainly a 'large' group. On any given weekend night, as you reached the 'balcony', you started the Ducky 'whistle'. This let anyone down in the park know you were coming. We also used the 'whistle' as an all clear after the cops had given up chasing us around and it was safe to come back out. We burned fires in the tunnels in the winter to stay warm, and we went swimming in the Bronx river when it was hot. On weekdays, there was always some 'ducky members' to be found playing hooky." "I was a member of that Ducky gang, did some streetsmart growing up with them. I've watched the movie The Wanderers each time it's been on, and still get a kick out of how the Ducky gang was supposed to be represented. lol" Another former gang member from the Garrisons had this to say about the Duckies: "If you were planning to visit the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx you needed to concern yourself with the "Duck(ie)s." Legend has it, if you are visiting the Bronx Botanical Gardens and blast out a 'Duckie Whistle', Duckies will show up to greet you till this day!

Rivals: Allerton Avenue gang, Parkside gang, and the Wanderers gang.

Lost Boys of the Bronx: An Oral History of the Ducky Boys By James Hannon

THE WANDERERS: 60s

An ex-Wanderer had this to say: I was a Wanderer! Richard Price lived in Parkside Projects and hung out with a different crowd then us. Even some of the names used are real. The story is really about our group of friends, our football team and yes, a rival crowd on the other side of Bronx Park. We did not have a name but the name Duckie Boys did exist. If they wandered to our side of the park, Bronx Park East or we into their side there was trouble. Basically the territory was divided by the Bronx River that ran through the park. If you remember the scene where they tied a rope to the penises of two guys on a bridge and threw a cinder block over the side down to the a river, that was the Bronx River near French Charlie's baseball field.

GARRISONS: 188 Street and Tiebout Avenue

A retired Garrison member had this to say: "Part of the crew I ran with decided to take on the 'Garrison' name because we all wore Garrison Belts and we liked the way it sounded."

YOUNG LORDS

Their turf was between the FORDHAM DAGGERS and the IMPERIAL HOODS. The Young Lords started as a gang, but many will remember them as an activist, civic group known to have been the starting point for such persons as Felipe Luciano and Geraldo Rivera.

SCARLET ANGELS: Early 50's

near the ps 6 or ps 50 area, the eastchester.

EXCUTIONERS: 60's

from Bronx Park East.

EASTCHESTER JUNIORS: 60's

BEACONS: 50s

ROM 65: 60's

SEVEN IMMORTALS: 60s

BALL BUSTERS: 60's

DECEPTACONS: 60's

INTER-CRIME: Edenwald Projects

VALLEY BOYS

ZULU NATION: 70's

A.K.A. Mighty Zulu Nation and Universal Zulu Nation. Mighty Zulu Nation, Universal Zulu Nation Gang history

FUNK 2

WHITE REBELS: 70's

BE_BOPS: 61-62

They killed a Puerto Rican youth who was visiting in the neighborhood and waiting for a bus one night. They beat him to death with baseball bats. They were caught and some went to jail.

The sister of the youth who was bludgeoned to death lived on my block (Evergreen avenue between 172nd street and Weestchester avenue). Her brother lived in the Hunts Point area.

BLACK SPADES: 60s

Started 1968: Originally called the Savage Seven - they eventally changed their name to the Black Spades. Their turf was the Bronxdale Houses in the Soundview section of the Bronx. They eventually spread out throughout the South Bronx. Rumor has it - that they were depicted as the Riffson's in the movie - The Warriors.

The Black Spades was the most notorious gang in South Bronx. The leader of the gang changed the direction of the gang and merged with other gangs across New York to promote peace, unity, love and having fun among the black and Latino gang members. The leader founded HipHop Culture, and thousands of youths incorporated the teachings of this leader into various forms of artistic expression, with a focus on promoting Peace, Unity, Love and Having Fun through five physical elements: Knowledge, Breakdancing, Graffiti, and Dee Jaying.

BRONX, NYC 70'S GANGS..SEGREGATION Claims that the Black Spades had white and Latino gang members in the original section.

In the early 70s - the Blade Spades and the Ghetto Brothers got together to stop the Hells Angels from coming into the South Bronx.

IMPERIAL HOODS

the Imperial hoods took their name from the Imperial Farms Milk company.

YOUNG SINNERS from Simson street

HONDOS

MIDNIGHT BACHELORS

1970's Bronx gang.

SHAMROCKS: South Bronx 50s

DESTINATION LORDS

From JHS 22 in the late 50s. They all wore green and black sweaters with a big DL on the front and Destination Lords on the back.

NAPOLI BOYS: from Morris Avenue (50s)

Courtlandt Avenue had mostly Italian residents. There were 2 gangs from there that I remember - The Guinea Dukes and the Napoli Boys. They would fight with gangs from other neighborhoods, sometimes in the schoolyard of PS 3 on E. 157 St. around the corner from Courtlandt Ave. I lived on that street and remember the commotion when there was a 'rumble.' There was always a lookout who would yell 'Chickie' when they saw the cops coming. They didn't bother the neighborhood people; they just protected their 'territory.'

Arthur Avenue Gang Turf

STARS:

Started as a softball team in the late 1940s. They were from 150th Street & Morris Avenue, and became a gang during the 50s

OUTLAWS: Girl gang

GAELS: Morris Avenue during the 50s

CYPRESS LORDS DEBS: A tough gang of Irish American Girls.

NOBLE GENTS: Beech Terrace: Black gang.

SUICIDES: 144th between Brook and Willis.

SCHEMERS: 60's

Shared their turf with the Suicides.

SCOTCHSMEN LORDS: 60's

Turf was Patterson Houses. Fought the Fordham Baldies with the Diamond Lords.

DIAMOND LORDS: 60's

Turf was the Patterson Houses. Fought with the Scotchmen Lords against the Fordham Baldies when they assaulted the Eastside Settlement House in the Patterson Projects.

SPANISH DEVILS: 140th between St. Ann?s and Cypress.

PURPLE KNIGHTS:

Brown Place and 137th St, .Jimmy Legs and the Montalvo Bros. ran that gang.

LITTLE PEOPLE:

Cypress and 140th to Bruckner Blvd. They were called that because they were all short.

ROMAN KINGS:

141st St from St Anns to Crimmins Aves.

SOCIAL SEVEN: Brook and 140th St.

BULLS: from St. Peter's and Frisby Avenue

LIGHTENINGS: from Stebbins Avenue

The lightnings had members all through the south Bronx not just on Stebbins ave. At one time(late 40s early 50s) we had as many as 200 members. Our main rivals at that time were the Rockets from the Brook ave. area. One of our leaders Teddy S. was killed by a Rocket after leaving a dance. Our club jackets were black and gold reversable.

My uncle was Stephen DiDio and his best friend was Johny Steele, both members of the Lightenings. I used to listen to my uncle tell stories about his days with the Lightenings and the brother gangs and also, their enemies. I believe also that the Fordham Baldies were also enemies of the Lightenings as were a few other gangs, or clubs, from that area, including, as was stated on the website, the Rockets.

My uncle, Steve, just passed away on May 5th of this year. Johny Steele passed away about a year ago. We were all very close. The stories they both told really meant a lot to me. It was quite an era, those days in the Bronx.

Interestingly, they were both very close friends with Al Pacino, who also grew up in that area, though he may not have been in any of the gangs.

BLACK DUKES: from Southern blvd

DAPPERS: from somewhere around 138th Street, 140th St and Brook

DAPPERETTES and DAPPER DEBS:

JOLLY STOMPERS: over behind St Marys Park

Cimmins Avenue between 141st and 143rd Street

SHEIKS from Intervale Avenue

GUINEA DUKES: from Courtlandt Avenue (and Morris Avenue)

"That was a great group of guys, The Guinea Dukes. Sally Ga Ga was one of us. Probably not many left."

SLICKSTERS

COMMANCHES

APACHES

Slicksters, Commanches, and Apaches were from Paterson Projects, and many went to Clark JHS.

SIMPSON STREET BOYS

WILD CATS: 60's

Turf was around Simpson Street in the same area as the Seven Immortals.

SEVEN IMMORTALS: 60's

T-BIRDS:

Hung out around the P S 103 area (East 229th Street and Carpenter Avenue). To get into the "gang" you had to steal a T-Bird emblem off a car and wear it like a necklace.

HOGARTY GANG: (concourse 174th)

BACHLORS: from Concord and Jackson Avenues

SOCIAL DUKES

BLAZONS: from 151st Street

PHOENICIANS

IMPERIAL CROWNS

SEVEN CROWNS

CYPRESS KINGS: Brook and 140th Street

BRIGGS BOYS: 1970s

194th St. and Briggs Avenue, home corner of `the Briggs Boys. My gang in the 1970's. About fourty of us use to hang out on these corners.

SENATORS

MYSTIC KNIGHTS

COFON CATS: 60s

GHETTO BROTHERS: 60s/70s

Eventually grew to 2000 members in New Jersey and Connecticut in the sevenites. Ghetto Brothers headquarters on E. 162nd St. off Prospect Ave.

BARONS: from 137/138th Streets and Willis Avenue

"I lived on 150th and Tinton Avenue from 1956 to 1967. During that time I belonged to the Barons SAC (remember that? SAC= Social Athletic Club, which was in small letters under the "club" name on the back of the sweater... lol), but there were also the Bachelors from Concord and Jackson Aves, the Social Dukes from nearby, the Blazons from 151st St, the Barbarian Knights, the Phoenicians, the Imperial Crowns, the Seven Crowns. Then over by Brook and 140th, I remember the Cypress Kings, the Senators, and several others. I would love to hear from any former members of any gangs who still have their sweaters. I have pics of myself in a sweater of a gang I wanted to join, but never did." (concourse)Mt Eden to 163rd Street, Jerome to Sherman Avenue(big area)

KROYWENS AC: 137th Street and Willis and Brook Ave area

BULLETS AC: same area only further east St Anns and Cypress Avenue

WILBRIDGE AC: 135th Street to about 138th Street and Willis Avenue

SHAMROCKS AC: 137th STreet and Willis Avenue

LINCOLNDALES: approximately 134th Street to 138th on Lincoln Avenue.

SCIMITERS AC: 140th Street and Willis Avenue

All the above were in to stickball, baseball, softball and football weren't considered gangs.

MC GINTYS: 139th Street, Brook and St Anns

HAWKS

TROJANS

Hawks and the Trojans were from the University & Morris Heights areas.

LINCOLN LORDS

LITTLE LORDS

Who were the younger kids of the Lincoln Lords from 133rd Street and Lincoln Avenue.

SCOTCHMEN KNIGHTS

CROWNS: 1959

A.k.a. Valiant Crowns, a Latino Bronx gang whose main rival was the Royal Knights. The Valiant Crowns attended Morris High School in the South Bronx.

ROYAL KNIGHTS: 1959

Latino Bronx gang whose main rival was the Royal Knights. The Royal Knights attended Morris High in the South Bronx. Bitter rivals with the Valiant Crowns. 1959, ten members were implicated in a shooting of a Valiant Crown.

IRISH DUKES: 139th Street and Willis Avenue

All form the South Bronx from 150th south. "It was a wild time in those days. I remember a lot of gang wars between the Crowns and Kingsmen because of gang sweaters and who had the right to put a Crown on them. I lived on 137th street and Willis from 1944 to 1967. The best years of my life. I was associated with guys from Beech Terrace, and sang on the corner with groups like the Vocal 5, and the Evoniers. Beech Terrace is located just back of St. Ann's, near St. Mary's Park. "

HARLEM REDWINGS: hung out at Jakes Candy Store Tremont and Vyse.

VICTORY BOYS: Hung out in Mario's in the early '50's across from the 52nd.

WARLORDS:

"Hung out around Olmstead & Ellis Avenue and Castle Hill in the 40's and 50's. My friend's older brother, FK, was the 'head' as I understood it. I never saw any fights but he sure has some reputation. Most of the other older guys in this gang were Italian."

REBELS

WILLIS DUKES

DUDES: included DUDE JUNIORS

DEVILS

ASSASSINS: 50's

Bitter rivals with the Sinners.

SINNERS: 50's

in 1959, two gang members were shot in a gang fight between the Assassins and the Sinner.

CRUSADERS

The Rebels, Willis Dukes, the Devils, the Crusaders, and the Assassins all the gangs had Debs, Tims, Tots, and such

SAVAGE SKULLS:

The Savage Skulls' clubhouse was on the corner of 156th and Fox Streets.

White 1970's North Bronx Gangs

BRONX MINISTERS: 60's

Italian. They hung around Castle Hill and Parkchester areas in the late '60's to mid ,70's. 

WAR PIGS: 1970's

"War Pigs" - Pelham Parkway area. They were allies with Golden Guineas. * You listed "Bronx Ministers" on your site. They were also known as "Ministers Bronx". "Ministers Bronx" was a confederation of the Golden Guineas and War Pigs gangs. They joined forces to battle Black Spades at Stevenson High School.

GRATEFUL DEAD GANG

"Grateful Dead gang". They wore vests that said Grateful Dead with large swastika and skull on back.

BRONX ALIENS: 1970's

Bronx Aliens: white gang from Bronx. They later became a Motorcycle club by the same name and spread to other areas of New York State.

MACE MOB: 1970's

"Mace Mob" white gang from Bronx in 1970's.Mace ave was their turf. Battled Black Spades.

WHITE LIGHTNING: 1970's

North Bronx 70's gang.

JUNIOR KKK: 1970's

North Bronx gang.

WHITE ASSASSINS: 1970's

WHITE ANGELS: 1970's

PLAYBOYS:

They ruled from the Magenta Street Playground across from the Gun Hill projects. Many of them lived off White Plains Rd. from 211 st up to 216 st. .... and many more all around up to Allerton Ave. ... They wore Black leather jackets so you always knew who they were. It was only when the Executioners formed that they were somewhat neutralized as the major gang of the area.

Highbridge

IKES: Woodycrest Avenue 165th St. - 166th St.

SATANIC DUKES:

(Top of the School Steps in back of PS 73)(mostly fought the Napoli Boys).

SPARTANS:

(Spartans & Ikes all hung out together and were like one group). Woodycrest Avenue 165th St. - 166th St.

JR. IKES:

(Younger brothers of Ikes) Woodycrest & 165th -166th also Ogden Avenue & 168th).

MIDGET IKES:

(Still younger) -Same location as Jr. Ikes.

HIGHBRIDGE LORDS (168th & Shakespeare Ave.)

HIGHBRIDGE DUKES:

Woodycrest Avenue and 162nd Street.

IRISH KNIGHTS: on Highbridge

Highbridge was a very unique area. You had a lot of gangs, who at times may or may not have gotten along with each other, but if there was a threat from outside of Highbridge all the Highbridge groups became one.

Bronx River Houses gangs

THE 5TH (EAST,TREMONT AND MAPES AVE.) area in the 1970's: THE BLACK SPADES, PEACE MAKERS, HARLEM TURKS, 7 IMMORTALS, P.O.W.E.R. BRONX, UPTOWN SPADES,HARLEM TURKETTES, SATAN ANGELS, SAVAGE SKULLS, ROYAL JAVILINS, GESTAPO CREW, THE UNIVERSAL ZULU NATION, and THE REAPERS 1ST DIV/MAIN DIV/ AND Juniors.

Italian Dukes Turf in Corona Queens

Yonkers

TANGLEWOOD BOYS -

A big New York street gang. All Italian teenagers. Their turf's in Yonkers. The Tanglewood Boys is an Italian-American gang from Yonkers, New York, USA. They are named after the shopping mall that they frequent, located on a busy shopping strip, Central Avenue, in Yonkers. They have been around since the 1970s, as a "starter gang" or recruitment for the Italian Mafia,specifically the Lucchese crime family.

Former Latin Kings President

Gang wars were very infrequent and when they did occur hardly ever was there any firearms used. Usually it was chains or sticks; knives and zip guns occasionally. Often it was handled one on? one fistfights and it would be over. This is how I remember it because I was raised in El Barrio and in Washington Heights from the early 50s and 60s. Pichon, President of the original Latin Kings of Highbridge Park, '63, currently living in the West Coast. I'll always have the memories of those times.

New York Times for June 2, 1954

(1) The Harlem Redwings did a "drive-by" on the Fordham Baldies, on Belmont Avenue, near East 189th Street. A 25 year-old hanger- on/associate of the Baldies was killed--shot to the head, and two Baldies wounded.Fordham Baldies/Italian Red Wings Gang War

(2) Police busted up a rumble between two (South) Bronx gangs. They had zip-guns.

(3) Police busted up a potential rumble and arrested some Gowanus Dukes, as they were waiting for the "Chaplins" (Chaplains) to arrive.

November 1955

Police break up gang rumble in the making on a Saturday night in Astoria. The battle lines between opposing armies had already formed. Five leather jacket clad Astoria gangs almost mix it up with bayonets, brass knuckles, and garrison belts before officers swoop down on them.

One group gathered at PS 171 at 30th Ave and 14th Street, the other at the Astoria Houses at 27th Ave. Patrol cars screamed into both areas at 8 PM. On the west side of Astoria, members came from the Bucks, the Gents and the Garrisons gangs. From the east side, are the Saracen Lords and the Nobles. Most were dressed in the 'uniform of the day,' black leather jackets dungarees and boots.

New York Times For March 19, 1953

Teenage Gangs Kill One, Injure Six: one shot and killed, one stabbed, and four beaten in a gang fight at a dance between the Lucky Lords and the Counts. A Mother of one of the Lucky Lords was arrested with a gun.

Corona Queens - Best Italian Ice in New york City

Jewish Harlem

The Jewish part of East Harlem was mostly west of 2nd Avenue. The area between Pleasant and 1st, and blocks between 1st and 2nd were predominately Italian.  After 1940, the Jewish population faded and their diaspora paved the way for the hispanics to settle there. Although the Jewish residents of East Harlem moved to other areas of NYC, they stayed in the neighborhood to sell their wares, either door to door, or via a storefront business.

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

The Micheal Farmer killing was an incident that happened during the showing of West Side Story. This event took place in Washington Heights, NYC. Farmer was a polio stricken kid who was attacked by a gang called: "The Egyptian Dragons". A close knit group that consisted mainly of blacks and Puerto Ricans, who descended on Micheal Farmer in the city owned: Highbridge swimming pool, whom they perceived that Farmer was a member of a rival gang called "The Jesters" (It's not known whether or not Farmer was a gang member though...even to this day).

Back then, Washington Heights neighborhood consisted mainly of Irish and Jews. Hispanics and Blacks were just coming into prominence in the late 50's.

Links

Spaghetti Park Movie:

based on a true story about the Corona Dukes.

Corona Queens

Corona Dukes neighborhood.

Viceroys/Dragons article

From the New York Times West Side Story article.

Fordham Baldies

New York gang violence article.

SBB Garfield Boys verses Red Hook Tigers article

Capeman Murders

Capman Murders website.

Brass Knuckle Tales 50's Street Gang Looks Back

Gangs of New York Project

Jimmy the Gent Burke Rest in Peace Article

a.k.a Jimmy Conway.

Henry Hill Rest in Peace Article

Jolly Stompers 1973 newspaper article

Paulie Vario Rest in Peace Article

a.k.a Paulie Cicero.

Cosa Nostra News

Great articles on Mafia figures and the Costabile Gus Farace junior execution.

Sonny's Mob Social Club

Sonny'sMob Cafe "I Refuse to Answer..."

Italian Harlem Links

History of Italian Harlem

My Italian Harlem"

Italian Harlem Wordpress"

A Little Italy Wordpress"

Da Italia Blog"

Harlem Red Wings/Northmen Street Gang article

Red Wings/Fordham Baldies article

Red Wings/Golden Guineas article

Red Wings/Vice Roys article

Greaser Movies

Greaser Movies

Crime in the Streets - Movie

Rita Moreno (Anita West Side Story)

Bensonhurst Gangs

All the gangs recognized and even esteemed one another showing respect. Many of us had guns, although I never knew of any used in a fight. By the way, there were always fights yet it was all handled with reverence, one on one. If anyone stepped in, (stepped out of turn) he was accounted for verbally and brutally. The '50s and '60's were a time when loyalty actually meant esteem, consequence, and prestige.

GOLDEN GUINEAS: 1950s, 60s, 70s

Recognized and even esteemed by not just other gangs and the local mob but the entire neighborhood. Their reputation was colorful. Their influence diminishes their notoriety. Word on the street had this as the largest Italian gang in New York City. Entrenched in the Bronx as well as Brooklyn. In Bensonhurst mostly found about 68th to 75th street on 18th Avenue, but they practically "owned" the streets, eliciting tall tales that trickled down mostly by younger relatives to other street corner gangs. These Stories were all incredible, describing gang wars and all-out rumbles. Personalities stood out in these accounts, just about everyone who knew a Golden Guinea could relate an anecdotal adventure many of which revealed tragedy as well as "achievements". The Brooklyn Golden Guineas were in league with the North Bronx gang of the same sobriquet.

STILETTO's 60s and 70s:

The coolest gang (one all youngsters wished to get in) were the Stilleto's. With several divergent cliques, the gang would meet on any given night by New Utrecht HS on the corner under a huge vertical pharmacy display that read "Drugs", which was not a hangout. Bensonhurst called these thirty tough guys "Hitters", distinguished from the 1950's "Greasers" who were before our time. Deliberately not drawing attention by wearing jackets with insignias and gang names were as far removed as possible. Serendipity always played a hand with so much to do and places to be. This was the Psychedelic '60s, definitely a very singular time. The comradery was truly fantastic. Any number of us in the day could be found in Chookies Soda Shop with the high school students or Tony's Pizza Place or with our girls in Jahns on 86th Street or enjoying nights in Manhattan especially Greenwich Village. From time to time the Stilleto's were pawns of the local mob. Personally we all had to prove our worth with fist and not by doing in innocent victims as in today's cowardly drive-bys. Fights were one on one if anyone stepped in, he was verbally reprimanded. Street gangs recognized neighboring gang "members" intuitively. Brooklyn back than inferred respect. Sure many of us had guns (crimes), although I never knew of any firearm used in a fight or even a rumble. Prior to 1980 loyalty had a profound significance. Until any action ensued we assumed a low profile as prestige came with consequences. If one stood out the cops were all over you. In the '60s and '70s the local heat was uptight, hungry. The times were apprehensive. Kids had to stay one step ahead, their attitude was composed and cool.

RAINBOW PARK BOYS

Tough Street Corner Gang. Neighbors and school chums, respect earned.

77TH STREET BOYS

Tough Street Corner Gang. Neighbors and school chums, respect earned.

CROPSEY PARK CROWD

Large diverse clique attracted by topical and common discipline.

SETH LOW PARK CROWD

Great kids amongst lost souls who made good despite the odds.

OWLS HEAD PARK GANG

Beautiful neighborhood with this large park rising over the Narrows. A cool gang that took over an abandoned FireHouse.

69TH STREET BOYS

Tough Street Corner Gang. Hard-working chums, respect earned.

STATEN ISLAND

THE BAY BOYS:

Named Upper New York Bay near Tottenville.

A mid-70's youth gang in Staten Island Great Kills neighborhood. Compared to boppin gangs from the other four boroughs they weren't much of a gang, and never rumbled against other gangs. Never had a real turf, or defended their turf against other gangs. Known to attack gay prostitutes in the West Village area. Costabile Gus Farace junior, a low-level criminal, was the most famous Bay Boy. This was their only claim to fame since they had no record of fighting any of the real gangs from Brooklyn, The Bronx, or Jersey City.

SCAVENGERS: 1970s

Scavengers that lived in the New Brighton section.

SAVAGE SKULLS: 70s

NEW SPRINGVILLE BOYS: 1980s

New Springville Boys

THE WANDERERS: 1980s

The Wanderers

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BROOKLYN GANGS

South Brooklyn Boys (SBB): See South Brooklyn Boys

SOUTH BROOKLYN ANGELS

SOUTH BROOKLYN DIAPERS

THE WANDERERS: Featured in the movie "The Wanderers"

Brooklyn Suicides Gang: Little People Suicides

Brooklyn 7th Avenue Boys: Brooklyn 7th Avenue Boys

DEGRAW STREET BOYS

FRENCHMEN - Brownsville(Brooklyn)

ROMAN LORDS - Brownsville(Brooklyn)

“Beebop,” the President of the Roman Lords, a Brownsville gang who rumbled with the Liberty Boys, hesitated before giving his boys the okay to use zip guns prior to a rumble. “If any of you want to use zips go ahead. Just make sure the things shoot straight. You will look silly laying on the street from your own bullet.”

JOLLY MIDGETS: 50s/60s

Late 50s early 60s There was a gang called the Jolly Midgets, The little people was the Tiny Midgets rival gangs was the Roman Lords Brownsville.

The jolly midgets were from sackman st between east new york ave and liberty ave in brownsville brooklyn they were also a division of the phantom lords of williamsburg.

LIBERTY BOYS - Brownsville(Brooklyn)

BUCCANEERS: 40's Harlem, 50's and early 60's Brooklyn - Bed Sty

STONEKILLERS: 60's Bed-Stuy

TOMAHAWKS: late 60s

Rivals: Jolly Stompers Tomahawk Website

SNAKE PIT QUEENS: 50s

Black Deb gang from Brownsville, Brooklyn.

86th STREET BOYS: 50s

Bay Ridge Italian gang.

CLIPPERS: 50's

Hung around Putman Park.

BLEEKER BOYS: 50's

Bleeker Boys from PS 81 on Bleeker and Cypress

HEL CAT BACHELORS:

The Bachelors started out on Vernon Ave near Marcy right across the street from an old precinct that was being dismantled in Brooklyn near the border of Bedford Stuyvesant and Williamsburg. There were three major divisions, TNT, Senior and Brooklyn which we were all under if that makes sense to anyone.

From the former president of the TNT: I was president of the TNT during 1973. There were only 12 bachelors when it first started in brooklyn and I was one of the founders. I can't remember the names of most but in one summer from 71-73 I believe the group exploded in numbers. The main objective was to stop the drug dealing and to stop the black gangs push into the Puerto Rican area. You forgot to mention the senoir bachelors, whom were all arrested for kidnapping and other charges, except for possibly just two of us who did not get arrested since we had not participated in the kidnap.

FOUNTAIN AND PITKIN: early 60's

HIGHLAND PARK: early 60's

LIBERTY PARK: early 60's

ROYAL KNITS: (NITS) 50s

THE HORSEMEN: 49 Pk in Brooklyn? 60's

BREWERY RATS: 50s

PRESIDENTS: 50s

SHAMROCKS: 50s

SOCIALISTIC GENTS: 50s

Midget Socialistic Gents.

HAWKS: 50s

RED HOOK RIPPERS: 1950s

RED HOOK BOYS: 1950

Spanish-Italian gang. Main rival - the RIppers

RED HOOK TIGERS: 1950

Italian - rival South Brooklyn Boys. Prospect Park.

RIPPERS: 1950

Black gang in Red Hook Brooklyn. Main rivals were the Red Hook Boys.

SACKETT STREET BOYS

RAMPERS: 60's

Bensonhurst Italian gang which Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano was a member.

SB DEVILS: (Union Street 4th Ave.)

GARFIELD BOYS: (Garfield and 5th)

BUTLER GENTS

PIGTOWN BOYS:

Included Pig Town Angels; Very tough Italian gang 1950's from the Pigtown section of East Brooklyn, East New York section. A few retired from the gang and ended up with good jobs working for the City of New York.

DUKES OF WILLIAMSBURG:

1950s and 1960s. Started out as a social club. Hung out around Hooper and Grand.

JOLLY STOMPERS: 60's

held sway in Brownsville Brooklyn. The Jolly Stompers, evolved in the neighborhood of CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN, NY. The JOLLY STOMPERS, original members, Leader, and War Lord reenacted the LORDS,in the movie:The Education of Sonny Carson. One famous member of the Jolly Stompers was: Mike Tyson - who met them living in Brownville Brooklyn.

The Jolly Stompers clubhouse was on Schenectady Ave between Crown st & Montgomery st. They controlled or held down  Lincoln Terrace Park and Albany Park.

Sovereign Fords: 60s

NAVY YARD BOYS: 50s

BLACK HAWKS

MEDALLION LORDS

SUICIDE RINGO BISHOPS:

Fulton and Bedford Street areas. They had about 5 divisions in the bedstuy area:

Suicide Ringo Bishops 1st D.V (Franklin Avenue & Fulton Street)

Suicide Ringo Bishops 2nd D.V (Franklin Avenue & Dean Street)

Suicide Ringo Bishops 3rd D.V (Franklin Avenue & Eastern Parkway)

Suicide Ringo Bishops 4th D.V (Franklin Avenue & St.Johns Place)

Suicide Ringo Bishops 5th D.V (Franklin Avenue & Classon Avenue)

DIPLOMATS:

Dekalb Ave & Adelphi Street area; rivals to the Stonekillers. Debs were Diplomat Queens who were arrested in a subway gang fight with the Chaplains in 1956.

CROSS-PARK CHAPLINS:

The Cross-park Chaplins-"brother"gang to the Diplomats occupied same area-South Green Area-Fort Green;major rival-The Stonekillers.

ST. FELIX STREET BOYS:

Lower Fulton Street near Brooklyn TEch.

TERRACE KINGS

MAU MAU: mid 50s - 1962

They originated in Brooklyn but had chapters throughout the city. The Puerto Rican gang which started in the Fort Green Section of Brooklyn.their most famous surviving member being Pastor Israel Israel Narvaez. In 1954, the Mau Mau's were a gang called the Apache's.

CHAPLAINS:

A 50s Black gang. There leader was called "Tarzan" and they got a group of Irish guys (in the Bronx) that came from Tolentine to join them. They had chapters Marcy, Ft Green, Dekalb, and Albany

ITALIAN SAND STREET ANGELS: 1955 to at least 1959

From the Farragut section of Brooklyn.One of their members - Lavonchino - was shot and killed by a Mau Mau chaplin from Fort Greene February 23, 1959. The Sand Street Angels were enemies with the Mau Maus and Chaplains from Ft. Greene. 

ROCKAWAY AND FULTON:

Brownsville/East New York area. Large Italian gang whose leader was John Gotti.

JEFFERSON STUMPERS: 60's

FORT GREEN STOMPERS: 50's

BROOKLYN BOPSTERS: 50s

LITTLE HOODS: 50s

CELESTIAL KNIGHTS: 50s

SPARTANS: 50s

ROYAL CZARS: 50s

EIGHT MEANIES: 50s

Halsey Bops 1960's

Hung out in Halsey Park in Bushwick. Fought with the Junior Sinners and the Jefferson Stumpers.

JUNIOR SINNERS: 60's

EL QUINTO: 1955

Spanish gang. Main rival was the Mau Mau Chaplians. In a gang fight against the Chaplians, one of their members was stabbed to death with a sword.

RAILROAD BOYS:

From 1961-1963, constantly battled the Flaming Satians, and the Chaplins from Evergreen and Cooper. Some of the guys in the Railroad Boys were, Gypsy, Georgie, Bobby (Action), Icabod, George, and Billy. Also the stabbing of Mo 21 times? There was also a Life Magazine article between 61' to 63' which featured the gangs of Bushwick namely the Railroad Boys from Granite St., Furmen Ave., and Broadway. Any info will be appriciated.

PHANTOM LORDS: from Williamsburg

JONGUILS: 50s Crown Heights

Bitter rivals with the Corsair Lords.

CORSAIR LORDS: 50s Bedford Section

In a 1958 gang fight with the Jonguils - two guys were stabbed - one died from his wounds.

CHAPLAINS: Bedford Stuyvesant: 50's

Implicated in a murder of a rival gang member in 1955.

AVENUE U BOYS: 50s

Lino of the Bananno Family was a member.

VEE JEE'S: 50s

Avenue V and Ford Street, Sheepheads Bay.

ROACHES: 50s Crown Heights

AVENUE N BOYS: 50s

FIVE PERCENT GANG: 50s

Brownsville Black gang

HELL BURNERS: 50's/60's

A.k.a. Hellburners: (enemies of the PHANTOM LORDS and allied with the MAU MAUS in 1955 to fight the PHANTOM LORDS) from Williamsburg.

YOUNG BURNERS: The "LITTLE PEOPLE version of the HELL BURNERS.

PHANTOM LORDS: 50's/60's

YOUNG LORDS: (the "LITTLE PEOPLE" version of the PHANTOM LORDS). In 1960, a Young Lord was implicated is a stabbing death of a Young Burner.

BISHOPS: from Bedford Stuyvesant (enemies with the MAU MAUS).

A.K.A. Junior Bishops. Implicated in the murder of a civilian in 1955.

EL QUINTOS: East Williamsburgh

JACKSON GENTS: 50s Jackson street settlement

DUKANES: 50s Jackson street settlement

BLACK DIAMONDS: Broadway and Flushing

MARCEY CHAPLIAN: Bed Sty

COUNT BISHOPS

YOUNG DEMONS: Bed Sty

BUSHWICK BOYS

YOUNG HORSEMEN

CHEYENNES

GOWANUS ST. BOYS

GOWANUS DUKES: 50s

DRAGONS (one of several DRAGONS' gangs in NYC.)

ELLERY BOPS: 1950's

Ellery St between Tompkins and Marcy Avenue was their turf.

JOKERS: 1959

The jokers were from what would be called either Windsor Terrace or Park Slope.

IMMORTAL HOMOCIDES: Coney Island

IMMORTAL DEBS: Girl gang of the Immortal Homocides

SAVAGE SKULLS

TINY TIMS

LADY ASSASINATORS: Fort Green

ROYAL COACHMEN: Sheepheads Bay

Ruled the Nostrand Housing Projects.

Canarsie, Brooklyn

AVENUE L

In the late 50's and early 60's the L gang was a real gang. It's main competition came from a group called the Blacktops. Later on the group that hung out on the L like Spook,Jimmy Hofaker(rest in peace) were a bunch of GOOD tough kids not a gang as we understand a gang to be.

They were a gang, and back in 1969 there was a turf fight that broke out in the cafeteria over drug selling rights leading to the L gang breaking into the school and messing a lot of people up with chairs before several buses full of cops arrived and broke things up. The African-American kids were taken home in a whole batch of empty city buses that came an hour or so later. The school was closed for a few days. Cops in full riot gear patrolled the school for weeks afterward, and certain people in black Cadillacs...like a funeral procession, just circled the school around and around all day also for weeks. The tension was beyond belief. Everybody was waiting for gun battles to break out at any minute. Eventually it all settled down.

89TH STREET BOYS

The 89th Street Boys were of 3 generations. When we were teens, I remember the oldest guys, there were about 8-10 of them. They were pretty tough and often in gang wars. I think they were in their early 20's. We kept out of their way. Then there were boys of my older brother's age, late teens, ready for the military, just finishing high school. They were also tough, but not as much. They occassionally would be in fights, mostly with kids from other neighborhoods, turf battles. There were about a 6-8 of them. Then there were my group - the 60's hit and there were distractions. Our hair was longer and although there were a few gang wars, they were rare and we were more peaceful. We didn't always find our way to school but hung out on Ave L when we weren't on our street. There were a half dozen of us.

BREUKLIN BOYS

Flatbush, Brooklyn

DITMAS DUKES: 50s

Billy Di, Charlie and Anthony C, Joey S, Joey R, Carl N. They hung out on Oceon Parkway near Ditmas Ave. They had a bitter rivalry with the Gremlins, which in 1958 caused a guy to be killed during a gang fight.

PARK CIRCLE GREMLINS

FOSTER GENTS: 50s

INSECTS

DEVILS REBELS: 70's Bushwick - 83rd Precinct.

SYNDICATE

FLATBUSH TIGERS: Italian mid 1950s

Richie and his brother Vinnie were the leaders. They hung around Rosie?s Candy Store on Albany and Farragut Rd across from the park, and they spent a lot of evenings in the PS 198 school yard. A Jewish-Italian gang who wore very cool reversible jackets made at Friedman's.

AMBER KINGS AMBER QUEENS

FARRAGUT ROAD BOYS: 1950s

OLLIES:

Some claim they were the most feared gang in East Flatbush. They were known to carried bats and intimidate other gangs.

BENNIES from Avenue D:

Mickey, Bozo, Mau Mau, and Dom. They fought the Ollies and the Insects. Turf was Avenue D and 59th Street.

F.I.D.O: Flatbush International Drinking Association 50s

Brooklyn Clubs

These were all pretty much in the same area and were all converted store fronts with bars. Girls drank free. I have very fond memories of all the people I met there. Can't remember all their name and only some of their last names. This was 1960 through 1962.

CLUB EXOTIC: Hooper Street, South Williamsburgh

CLUB 32: 32 Ten Eyck Street, Williamsburgh

Members: Freddie, Jeanette, Loretta, Marty, Ziggy, Joe, Don, Maureen, Mary Ann, Eddie, Sal, Tony, Vinnie, Bobby, Louise, Barbara, Sara, Johnny, Ruthie, Paulie, Doc, Richie

CLUB ALCO

Danny,Billy, Vinnie, Carmen

CLUB DIMENSION

CLUB ILLUSION

CORINTHIANS SOCIAL CLUB:

Williamsburgh Brooklyn

Red Hook 70's Gangs

Homicide Dozen, The Hustlers, The Web, El Kavons, Cobras, and The Murder Junkies

QUEENS GANGS

BARONS: 50s Jackson Heights Gangs

THE VANDALS: Novel

The novel about the Vandals was written by an autor from that era: The Vandals.

WOLVES: 30s - 40s

Maspeth in the 30's& 40's,there was two groups a younger and older group,they were located in Pollack Alley and they wore jackets that had a Wolf on the back and they were reversible so the cops couldn't identify them.

ASTORIA ENCHANTERS:

Early 1950's. Battled the PARK SIDE GENTS, HOBO LORDS, QUEENS BRIDGE PROJECTS gangs, and other Astoria gangs.

PARKSIDE GENTS:

Phil was really the leader of the club. In the summer, they hung out by the bridge. In the Winter, at Henrys or Mannys Candy Store. In the summer, the sun deck of the Astoria park. Their rivals were the Enchanters that came from Queensbridge, along with the Corsairs and Progressive Lovers. Astoria had the Scotmens and White Hunters who usually fought Chappies or Midnites or Jokers. We seniors-Juniors and tots.

The main gang in Astoria were the Gents, who had separate divisions - Ditmas Ave. and Five Corners.

CORONA ENCHANTERS: Started in the late 1950's.

Included the LITTLE ENCHANTERS, BABY ENCHANTERS, BIG ENCHANTERS, and the LADY ENCHANTERS. The general feeling in among the Corona Enchanters was that the guys sharing our name in Astoria were cool and the Gents were our enemies too.

In 1961, a battle for control of Newtown High School took place, with the Enchanters and Chaplins temporarily putting there differences aside, combining to fight the Dukes. The outcome of the main melee around the high school was considered a victory by the black clubs but the Dukes thought differently. The Newtown High fight signalled changes to come.

The SAINTS: Italian/Irish gang

The Saints are said to have started in the late 1940's and had lasted up until the 1960's.

LUCKY SEVEN:

Faction of Hells Kitchen WESTIES gangs in Astoria

SUTTER LORDS:

Sutter Lords in Ozone Park around 1962 or 1963, hung around PS 63.

DIABLOS: Sunnyside

CORONA BOPPERS: 50s

1956 article in the Long Island paper talked about a gang fight between the Harlem Englishmen and Boppers where Daddy-O was killed.

HOBO LORDS:

Hobo Lords--Astoria(Queens)and Red Hook(Brooklyn)

SADDLE TRAMPS: Astoria

NORTHERN BOULEVARD BOYS:

The Northern Boulavard Boys have a play in New York city - Northern Boulevard Boys Play Flier.

CHAMPIONS: 50s white

Hung out at the Mapleways Bowling Alley, at 163-10 Northern Boulevard.

CORONA JENTS

Jackson Heights Gangs: Jr Bachelors

CHEROKEES: Sunnyside

SCOTCHSMEN:

QueensBridge, Long Island City(Queens)

PARK SIDE GENTS: Astoria

BLACK ANGELS: 1951

Black Angels were from Queens Village in Jamaica Queens. Their main rival were the Breakers from Ozone Park.

BREAKERS: 1951

The Breakers were an Italian gang from Ozone Park Queens. Their main rival were the Black Angels.

BAYSIDE WEST ZOMBIES: 1950's

BAYSIDE WEST CARMENS: Social Club

WOODSIDE CHIEFS

CHEYENNES - South Jamaica

POLITICIANS - Harlem(Manhattan), Corona(Queens)

In 1956, they were implicated in a stabbing outside a Harlem bar.

APOSTLES: 1958-1966

Forest Hills/Rego Park area. A gang formed after the Drag Masters left the neighborhood for the Army. Gang fights mostly with the Elmhurst gangs and the Lord Lanterns from Woodside. Fun times before Nam.

DUKES: Corona - Italian.

They had a clubhouse just off 108th St. that was a finished basement in a house. They were sharp dressers and had nice cars. They operated south of Roosevelt Ave. and had the area around Newtown High School sewn up. The Dukes scared a lot of people and supposedly even intimidated white gangs from distant neighborhoods like Astoria's Park Side Gents.

The Son of a Cherokee had this to say: My mom knew all the Dukes she was in a female gang called the Cherokees some old timer recently told me a guy once touched one of the Cherokees & the girls beat the guy unconscious at a gas station also the Dukes had a big riot at a concert at Sunnyside Gardens in queens and the singer Fats Domino had to run for his life. At lot of Italians hang around 104 street at Tony?s restaurant and Bar.

The Corona Dukes were mentioned in the book "Serpico". He was credited for being their Youth Worker prior to becoming a NYPD. More on the Corona Dukes.

POLK AVENUE BOYS: 1950s

Hung out on 37th avenue (Polk Avenue) Polk movie theater and Carvel ice cream store on the triangle block across the street, Jackson Heights, Queens, Long Island,not far from the Corona Dukes gang to the East (Junction Blvd,was the dividing line)the Northern Blvd Boys to the North(Boulevard theater, Tannenbombs convenience next door,Joost Luncheonette,and the Astoria Gents Gang to the West(Astoria Blvd),not far from Manhattan just over the 59th Street Bridge connecting Manhattan, New York to Long Island.

Woodside Chiefs: Expressions Doo Wop

Woodside Chiefs

The Woodside Chiefs, of whom I was a member were not a gang. The Woodside Chiefs were a Pop Warner, multi-division, football team from 1955 thru 1965.

The Woodside Chiefs, teenage boys, were self funded. Each of us bought our own uniforms and equipment and we all chipped in for our bus fees for away games.

A famous quote about the Woodside Chiefs is in a book by Robert Timberg titled "State of Grace" Simon & Shuster, 2004. The quarterback of the Lynvettes, Thomas "Tommy" Wall, a Woodsider and former Chief QB said about the Chiefs "in the off season we were a gang." That was all tongue in cheek.

NEW YORK GANGS

Woodside Chief Video

Viceroys - The Swinging Man's gang

From the movie - Young Savages

The Viceroys were a Puerto Rican gang from 103rd Street, between Park and Madison Avenues. Their rivals were the Harlem Dragons, who killed one of their own in 1955.The Demons who they had vicious rumbles with. In 1957, the Viceroys stabbed and killed an Enchanter. In 1959, a member of the Dragons was killed in a fight with the Viceroys.

TURKS: Central Harlem

The Turks and Turkettes were from the General Grant Houses on 125th Street in central Harlem. The Turks never had a chapter or division in the Bronx. We were an exclusively Harlem N.Y.C. based gang from the early 70's. There was also a Turks gang in Harlem during the 50's but they didn't have anything to do with the 70's Turks or Turkettes. I was one of the original presidents of the Turks gang during the early 70's. Clovis. Harlem 1972 Peace Treaty

VAMPIRES: Manhattan West. They were located on west 72nd street and Broadway Avenue.

Leader was Dracula. Responsible for "The Capeman Murders" August 29, 1959.

NORDICS:

Late 1950s, Irish/Italian gang out of Hell's Kitchen.

DRAGONS: 50's

Spanish Harlem. Their turf was South of 106th Street.

PITT STREET DRAGONS: 1960

THE CRUSADERS: 1960

SMITH BOYS: 1960

CENTURIONS: 1960 -Lower Eastside

Includes the Junior Centurions.

LUCKY LORDS: 1953

COUNTS: 1953

HARLEM LORDS: mid 50s

EGYPTIAN KINGS: 405/50s

IMPERIAL KNIGHTS: Harlem

NORSEMEN: East Harlem

One of their members was killed by an Italian Red Wing.

TROUDERS: Spanish Harlem

ENGLISHMEN: Harlem 50s

Noble Englishmen and Mighty Englishmen are the same gang. They reportedly got into a fight with the Corona Bobbers and a Daddy-O was killed in 1955.

ENCHANTERS: Harlem

Implicated in a Harlem shooting in 1955.

ENFORCERS: Harlem(Manhattan)

TINY TOTS: Inwood, Manhattan

TURKS - Harlem

VALLEY BOYS

BOPPING BALLERINOS - Lower Eastside

SPORTSMEN: 50's

Avenue D on the Lower East Side Black gang. Main rival - the Forsyth Street Boys. They were implicated in a knifing at a Bronx dance in 1955. In 1959, a Sportsmen member was implicated in the stabbing of a Forsythe Boy.

FORSYTH STREET BOYS: 1959

Lower East Side gang - mixed Black and Latino. Main rival was the Sportsman.

DEMONS

Bitter rivals with the Viceroys.

BOPS a.k.a. BeBoppers: mid 50s

Stylish dressers with stylish names, wore all black, white and brown. Also had a chapter in Jersey City, New Jersey. These guys were instrumental in promoting the Bebop sound which came out of the fifties.

JESTERS

COMMANCHES: 60s East Harlem

There turf was East 111th st on Lexington avenue.

ROYAL CEPTORS: 60s from midtown

TURBAN QUEENS

PYTHON KNIGHTS JUNIORS:

Python Knights Jrs - we were located at 115th st between Park and Madison Avenue; during the early 50s.(1952-1957)our main rivals were the Enchanters, Englishmen, Imperial Knights, Red Wings, Viceroys, Sportsmen, Chaplains, Bishops. We were the most feared gang in New York. Ralphie Copeland was president.

SATAN SPADES 70s East Harlem: See 1972 Harlem Peace Treaty

When they were filming the scene with the Lizzy's in the movie "The Warriors," they got $500.00 from the production crew as protection money for the company's vehicles.

PRISON BROTHERS: 1972 Harlem Peace Treaty

COPIANS: 40s/50s Harlem

Rival of the Chancellors. They had chapters in Harlem (Manhattan), South Bronx and in Jamaica and Corona (Queens) and other areas.

CHANCELLORS: 40s/50s Harlem

Cigar Mob: Harlem

70’S & 80’S Black gang from Harlem Stabbed a kid in Julia Richman HS

Italian Connection: Italian Harlem

70’s & 80’s E 116th Street & Pleasant avenue Harlem, a teenage crew of Italians...wore green sweat shirts with their name across the chest. claimed allegiance to the Purple Gang also from Harlem and The Golden Guineas from the Bronx.

The Purple Gang: Italian Harlem:

70’s & 80’s Very serious Italian crew from East Harlem, Turf was Pleasant Avenue from 114th Street to 120th Street, they were known as the “Farm Team” to Luchese, Bonanno, and Genovese crime families of New York. NYPD credits them with at least 17 homicides in the late 70’s.

2nd Avenue Social Club: 70’s & 80’s Yorkville

section of Manhattan turf was 2nd Avenue from 81st to 83rd mostly Hungarian Gypsies with a few Irish, main hangouts were Ali’s Pizzaria and Brady’s Pub were notorious for committing burglaries. Rivals were The Green Shamrocks allegiance with 84th street Bombers.

Apaches: East Harlem 80’s

Puerto Ricans from East Harlem not to be confused with the Commanches also from Harlem...tough violent crew known to have committed at least 1 homicide.

68th Street Park Boy’s: Lenox Hill

70’s to mid 80’s Hung out in the school yard and park behind Julia Richman HS, wore green & white satin jackets with their name on the back.

Omegas: Lenox Hill 80’s

small mixed race crew frequented John Jay Park, wore black and white t shirts and sweat shirts with their name on the chest.

84th Street Bombers: Yorkville

Mid 70’s to Mid 80’s Yorkville section were a Mixed race crew of Irish, German, Hungarian, Italian, and Puerto Ricans, turf ran from 83rd street to 85th street on both 1st & 2nd avenues. frequented Fresca’s Pizzaria on 83rd and 1st, Enzo’s Pizzaria on 85th and 2nd, The Minstrel Boy Pub on 85th street, Brady’s Pub on 82nd street and the Clan Den Pub on 86th Street. Colors were black and yellow and they had Sweatshirts and Football jerseys with their name on the chest.

Club dissolved over a two or so year period between 1983 and 1985 where 2 homicides were committed by two different core members around the same time several of the other core members joined the military. after the loss of approximately 9 main members to both the military and prison the few remaining members simply disbanded.

This group also related to a racial incident between 2 members of the 2nd Avenue Social Club and 4 black males from Harlem who had a fight resulting in a stabbing of one of the white members of 2ASC and two of the blacks, during this fight 2 members of the Bombers got into the mix to help the members of 2ASC, this incident which preceded the later homicides brought unwanted police attention to the crew and their turf.

Crazy Homicides: East Village

Early 80s East 14th Street Puerto Rican Gang.

Junior Cut Throats: Yorkville

80’s Mixed race crew from east 89th Street.

Green Shamrocks: Lenox Hill Late 70’s Early 80’s

really tough Irish and German crew from east 70th & 71st Street they liked to drink and they liked to fight and they were hooked up with a chop shop in Queens where they would bring cars they would steal from all over the city. they all had a Green Shamrock tattooed on their chest over their heart with W.N.B. in each of the leaves which stood for What Now Bitch.

They were implicated in a double homicide of a drug dealer and his girlfriend on E 80th street where they set the apartment on fire to hide any evidence. Rivals 2nd Avenue Social Club.

NEGRO SABRES

SOCIALISTICS

SACRED LORDS: Spanish Harlem 70s

From the President of the Sacred Lords: The Sacred Lords fought against drugs and violence in East Harlem. The Sacred Lords were one of the gangs that attended the Harlem Peace Treaty in1972. The Sacred Lords united with 34 gangs and formed what became known as the Third World. Sacred Lord Video 1970s The video description announces an upcoming book.

SACRED LORD TOTS

There were The Sacred Lords Tots of the Young Sacred Lords Of The 1950's. The Young Sacred Lords Of The 50's Were A Division Of The Old Viceroys. They Were Started By The 3 Torres Brothers And The Pres. Of The Young Sacred Lords Of The 1950's Was Johnny Ace. The Sacred Lords Gang Of The 1970's Were Anti-Drugs & Violence Because They Didn't Want The Kids Of The 70's To Grow Up The Same Way They Did. The Sacred Lords Fought Drug Dealers, Crooked Cops, & All The Rival Street Gangs In NY That Were Pro Drugs. They Fought All The Negative Elements In The Streets And Won! This Is Why Certain People Tried To Bury Us & The Other 34 Gangs That Were Our Brother Clubs Which Fought Alongside Our Club Against Drugs & Violence. But To Try Is To Fail And Soon The Truth Will Be Told In Our Autobiography (The Sacred Lords Gang Of The 1970's) All The Royalties From Our Book Will Go To The Children At Saint Judes Hospital In NY for their Cancer Research Program.

- Bullet S.P. Pres. S.L.

PALS OF SATAN: 40s/50s Harlem

SLICKSTERS: 40s/50s Harlem

MYSTERIOUs FIVES: 40s/50s Harlem

IMPERIAL HUNS: 40s/50s Harlem

ITALIAN DUKES Lower East Side

Seward High School area numbering around 30 guys. They became brother gang to the Fordham Baldies and the Harlem Italian Red Wings.

BUDWIESERS: 70's - 80's Yorkville

70’s through mid 80’s White gang of mixed nationalities from the Isaac Houses (Projects) on First Avenue Yorkville Neighborhood...also often called The Project Boys, they were a tough and violent crew.

ITALIAN RED WINGS:

REDWINGS: once held Italian Harlem (East Harlem), which is now Spanish Harlem. They were a cousin gang to the Golden Guineas in The Bronx. Their rivals were the Dragons and the VICEROYS (East 110th Street).

Legend has it, that in the movie "The Young Savages" (starring Burt Lancaster and Deana Merrill, 1960), The Italian "Thunderbirds" were loosely based on the "Italian Redwings". There was Pepsi, Stretch, Moochie, to name a few. The Young Wings were the Midgets, and were initiated into the Red Wings when they got older. The RED WINGS and the DARLING DEBS were known to hang around 120TH and Pleasant Avenue in the area of the Wagner Projects. Red Wing hangouts included: Shep's Candy Store on the corner of 115th and Pleasant Ave. right across the street from Franklin, Artistries on 118th St. and Pleasant Ave, the Night Hawks on 119th St and Pleasant Ave and Osies Candy Store on 116th St. between 1st and Pleasant Ave.

A Benjamin High School woman from Red Wing's neighborhood had this to say: What I remember is that they didn't like the Hispanics living around there...they were mostly from 114 street to 119th street...after a while I know they were ok with the Spanish girls but not with the guys....then we had the Christians and the Elegants I think they were formed because of the red wings...they would have gang wars sometimes...but it was never dirty fights...no guns ....once in a while if it got too heavy there would be knives and chains... Oh yes the Christians came from 117th... too close to 119th street... we had a park on 120th street next to the east river drive....and that?s where the red wings and other gangs would have their wars...they didn?t want others in their turf. It was a different world then....now it?s pretty bad with the gangs...

Racial problems in East Harlem

A 1963 Black student graduate from Benjamin High School had this to say about the Harlem Red Wings:

I can't forget them. They were gangs, and I was afraid of being seen by them. I am from the JWJ projects in East Harlem, and they were terror!!!!

Frank Sinatra Appearance

A former Benjamin High School student had this to say about the Frank Sinatra incident in Italian Harlem:

The Sinatra episode is significant. I believe it happened during or just after WWII. There were racial problems at Benjamin Franklin H.S. and Mr. Sinatra came in to help quite things down. There also is a short 5 minute video on the internet about this incident. Mr. Sinatra also wrote or at least sang What America means to me. I recommend that every one check out this bit of Italian American History. I personally feel that Mr. Sinatra should be memorialized with a plaque placed within the High School which is no longer Benjamin Franklin but it is now called Manhattan Center for Math and Science.

Italian Harlem's Downfall

Italian Harlem consisted of Italians mostly of the poorer southern provinces of Calabria and Sicily, who settled in the area east of 3rd Avenue, between 110th-125th Streets, known as "Dago Harlem." During the 40s, 50s and early 60s, a street gang known as the Harlem Redwings controlled this turf. Their main rivals in East Harlem were the black Dragons and the Enchanters, a few Irish gangs from Irish Harlem, along with the Puerto Rican Viceroys - who controlled 86th Street - (Remember the beginning of the "Young Savages" movie, the first scene was a wall that was tagged "Thunderbirds", "Horsemen", and the "Viceroys"). They also fought vicious turf wars with two powerful Bronx Italian gangs, the Golden Guineas and the multi-generational Fordham Baldies.

An Ex-Italian Harlem resident had this to say about East Harlem:

"Italian Harlem as an Italian American enclave was devastated by the building of Franklin Plaza. The residents were sold out by the local politicians and property owners. It was truly a stake through the heart of the neighborhood. Many people promised apartments there never got them. A good portion of East Harlem's displaced residents settled in Throggs Neck between the years 1955-1965. Most of the neighborhood where I lived was leveled, though oddly enough the building I lived in on First Avenue between 108th and 109th Streets is still standing. I travel up First Avenue every month and ride through looking to see what's missing now."

Italian Harlem today

which was located on Manhattan?s east side between 96th Street and 125th Street from Lexington Avenue to the East River, and was known as one of New York City?s ?Little Italys": Still home to fifty thousand Italian Americans, Italian Harlem was largely intact in 1950. By 1960, fewer than sixteen thousand Italian Americans resided in East Harlem.

The 1990 Census shows only 918 Italian-Americans living in Italian Harlem. Most of these predominantly older residents are clustered around Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, where in a ten-block area (stretching from East 114th Street to East 118th Street and from Second Avenue to Pleasant Avenue) the remaining typical social clubs and business still operate.

Upper West Side - Mousetown

HANCOCKS

RAINBOWS

IRISH DUKES

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