The Mafia's Presence in Cleveland | Sitdown with Michael Franzese

Comments · 1.9K

• TI

  @tim3line · 3 years ago

  I'm a Black native to Cleveland and I can confirm Little Italy is one of the coolest places this city has. It's probably a little modernized but the heart and soul of it is still there.

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• VI

  @victorwagner6158 · 3 years ago

  Cleveland native here and I genuinely want to meet you. I live a little outside Little Italy. Cleveland is a little gem that so few people take advantage of city.

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• DI

  @dimestorephilosopher3308 · 11 months ago

  I believe around 1900, Cleveland was like the 5th or 6th biggest city in the U.S.

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• TR

  @tr1522 · 3 years ago

  My grandpa was approached by the Cleveland Mafia to make wine for them during prohibition. According to my Dad, my grandpa had a great personality and basically told the Mafia that they could have &nbsp;all the wine they wanted and can come over anytime to drink some, but he would not sell them any. The mafia respected that and let my grandpa alone. <br>My grandpa made wine for 50 yrs and never had a bad bottle! His red was strong, but very good. Just don’t get any on a white shirt!

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• JA

  @jamess4535 · 2 years ago (edited)

  Michael. &nbsp;My grandmother Edith provided a safe haven during prohibition times in Little Italy for Capone&apos;s men traveling to Chicago. &nbsp;She would cook for them and they saw her as a place to go to be safe in Murray Hill. &nbsp;My father told me the whole story about this in 2010, which involved the man before my grandfather who was abusive to her. &nbsp;One time, Capone&apos;s men came and had stopped as usual for her wonderful Italiana Kitchen cooking, and saw my Grandmother beaten by this man. &nbsp;They asked where he was... &nbsp;and soon after he was never found... My grandmother then met my wonderful Grandfather, Giovanni. I have the mob to thank that I am alive today. &nbsp;I grew up in Little Italy, but we moved out to the suburbs by the end of the 70&apos;s.

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• HY

  @hypexxcloutgodxx3152 · 1 year ago

  What&apos;s also crazy is Eliot Ness was also very prevalent in Cleveland, many were in favor of him being mayor

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• ED

  @eddietwolime · 3 years ago

  The movie Casino by Scorsese actually mentions the Cleveland mafia

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• BR

  @brushhogg1 · 3 years ago

  Danny Green used to come to our house to buy fireworks from my dad. I remember him as a loud but hilarious character.

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• NI

  @nickrusssso · 3 years ago

  Really cool to hear you talk about Cleveland! My family is from the east side, and my nonno had a grocery store called Russo&apos;s Stop-N-Shop through the 60s and 70s. My uncles have told me a few stories so it&apos;s always interesting to hear about where/what you come from. Whenever i&apos;m home my family always goes out to eat in Little Italy! You should come down one year for the Feast of the Assumption festival it&apos;s awesome to see!

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• TE

  @tedh.8356 · 3 years ago

  Elliot Ness was also Cleveland&apos;s Safety Dir. not Chicago&apos;s, the Untouchables TV series used Chicago because of notoriety but he actually was a Cleveland figure.

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• JA

  @janetrooney1667 · 3 years ago

  When I think of the Cleveland family I can’t help but think of Danny Greene and the way he embarrassed the mob in Cleveland by waging a one man war on them that they started by messing with him! Lol

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• TH

  @TheBuckeyeHistoryGuy1776 · 2 years ago

  Dude, as a fan of your channel, history buff, and a northeast Ohioan I’m excited for this episode

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