In this gripping episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill welcomes former mobster and author Lou Ferrante to dive deep into the world of organised crime. Lou shares his remarkable journey from a life of crime in Queens, New York, to becoming a celebrated author of the Mafia trilogy: "Borgata: Rise of Empire," "Clash of Titans," and "Autumn of Empire."
Unveiling the Myths: Lou tackles the pervasive myths surrounding notorious mob figures, particularly Bugsy Siegel. He challenges the narrative that Siegel was killed due to the Flamingo's initial failures, exposing the far more complex reality of mob politics and financial control.
Bugsy Siegel's Downfall: Discover the truth behind Siegel's assassination, which Lou argues stemmed from his attempts to squeeze more money from bookies rather than a simple failure of the Flamingo casino.
The Role of Virginia Hill: Explore the misconceptions about Siegel's relationship with Hill and how their dynamic was misrepresented in popular culture.
Hollywood vs. Reality: Lou discusses how films like "Goodfellas" and "Casino" shape public perceptions of the Mafia, often distorting the truth for dramatic effect.
The Mafia's Influence: Lou provides insights into how the Mafia operated in Las Vegas, their control over the city, and the significant changes that occurred as the mob's influence waned in the late 20th century.
Guest Information:
Discover Lou's books: "Borgata: Rise of Empire", "Clash of Titans"
Follow Lou on Twitter: @LouFerrante.
Support History Rage on Patreon for early episode access, the chance to submit questions to guests, prize draws, and the exclusive History Rage mug at www.patreon.com/historyrage.
To catch up on all the rage from bygone times, visit our website www.historyrage.com.
If you want to get in touch with History Rage, email us at historyragepod@gmail.com.
Follow History Rage on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryRage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryRage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrage/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyrage.bsky.social
Stay Angry, Stay Informed - History Rage
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.