A Historical Look at Organized Crime in Boston

From gunmen to gangsters, from mob to Mafia, organized crime has left a mark on Boston, reaching back to the beginning of the last century to the recent capture of notorious mobster James ÒWhiteyÓ Bulger. On this evening, two veteran journalists will untangle the threads of BostonÕs mob history in a multi-media presentation that covers the beginnings of organized crime in the 19th century to the current status of todayÕs wise guys. Based on their book, The Boston Mob Guide: Hit Men, Hoodlums & Hideouts, authors Beverly Ford and Stephanie Schorow will discuss the wiles of Whitey Bulger, the rages of Joe ÒThe AnimalÓ Barboza, and the double dealings of Stephen ÒThe RiflemanÓ Flemmi. ÊUsing dramatic photos and diagrams, they will travel back to Prohibition with the story of bootlegger Charles ÒKingÓ Solomon and the murderous standoff between the Irish Gustin Gang and the emerging North End Mafia. They also look at the complicated Irish mob wars of the 1960s and 1970s, which left a trail of bodies in ÊCharlestown and Winter Hill, Somerville. ÊWhile BostonÕs gangsters are undeniably fascinating, Ford and Schorow never glamorize their subjects and never lose sight of the horrendous cost of violence on innocent victims.