What do you like to smoke? The Gangster and Their Stogies.
The association between gangsters and cigars has been romanticized in movies, television shows, and literature. This image often evokes a sense of power, wealth, and a certain old-school charm. Cigars have been symbols of status and luxury, which made them an addition to gangsters who often lived lavish lifestyles. smoking a cigar can be seen as an expression of authority. Smoking cigars requires some knowledge, time, and a certain level of sophistication to enjoy.
In classic gangster films, the cigar often plays a role in setting the scene or defining a character. For example, a mob boss might be shown leisurely smoking a cigar while making important decisions, reinforcing the idea that he is a powerful figure who controls his environment.
Martin Scorsese continued his association of cigars and wise guys in his most recent movie, The Irishman. Frank Sheeran, runs across is Philadelphia boss Angelo Bruno. Bruno smokes a Toscano Originale, is in Keitel’s hand, but it’s not clear that Bruno was a big cigar smoker.
Another Scorsese movie. In an impressive scene in the movie, Goodfellas, Paulie clenches a cigar between his teeth and smokes as Sonny tries to get Paulie to help by making him a partner in the restaurant.
Al Pacino was entertaining in Scarface and he certainly had the cigars a Cohiba, maybe?
In the 1930s, as a boss inside New York’s Bonnano crime family, Carmine Galante was nicknamed “Cigar.” Galante helped run New York’s organized crime from the 1930s to the 1970s. The competing Gambino family killed Galante after lunch on the patio at a Brooklyn Italian restaurant. The bloody scene shows Galante dead at 69, with a cigar in his mouth.
Al Capone was a regular cigar enthusiast. Many pictures depict him with smoking of his stogie or holding between two fingers. He enjoyed Cubans.
One of Sam Giancana’s nicknames was “Sam the Cigar” for the huge Cuban cigars he liked to smoke.
John Gotti enjoyed cigars, remembers his son, John Gotti, Jr., who attended a military school.
“My father used to love to walk the grounds when he visited me,” Gotti, Jr., told Cigar Aficionado. “He’d smoke a cigar and was never followed by any FBI agents up there. I always knew my father was different.”
Lucky Luciano smoked cigars, along with friend Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel.
The cigar also adds to the assertion of intimidation. The slow, deliberate act of smoking is a display of calmness and confidence, even in tense situations, which only enhances the fear and respect they command.
Gangsters were often depicted as smoking premium, well-known cigar brands that were associated with luxury and status. For Example:
Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Monte Cristo, Partagas, La Palina and Dutch Masters
These brands were status symbols, fitting the image of gangsters who sought to display their wealth and power through such luxuries.
If you enjoyed this article, you will love the book Secrets of the Mob.
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Allan C.T.
So much is known about the criminal careers and eventual prosecution of many of our most infamous underworld bosses; and yet, so little is known about their personal lives. In Secrets of the Mob: The Men and their Methods, Jay Baer uncovers intimate quirks and habits of the likes of Al Capone and John Gotti, providing the reader with insight into what made these dangerous and yet fascinating characters tick. An entertaining and informative read.