Reading list: Johnny&#39;s Must Read-2025
At 53, I am deep into my reading and researchering actions. My main topic since at 5 yrs old my grandfather since the late 1890's/Pre-Prohibition, lived around the corner from a Capone owned, speakeasy, social club, and entertainment location. At 10 my grandfather who's apartment building was directly across the alley from an infamous Capone Night Spot, "The Circus Cafe", on 1857 W North Ave. ( between Honore St and Wood St.) was one of the most influential, deadly, and top earning of The Capone/ Torrio Syndicate-(The Chicago Out) Italian Organized Crime organization at that time Capone's Syndicate was going at it with deadly intentions to gain control over political, judicial, and law enforcement connections. Capone's luxury headquarters was located on the city's Italian South Side; Al used two luxury top grade hotels such as The 4 Deuce's and The Metropol. "The Big Guy Himself, walked into each establishment demanding "The Penthouse", and the next 3-4 floors, each room, and explained his organization was the only people to be able to occupy the 4 floors which was Capone's security detail; of top hitters, like Sam & Jake Guzik, "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn, Frankie Rio, & Phil D' Andrea.
The Circus Cafe, ran by WW1 vet, Irish strong arm earner & one of the most proficient hitters, who was from St. Louis, MO. & and influential member of the Egan's Rats, Capone's Crew's allies that begining with John "Screwey" Moore-" Claude Maddox" relocated to Chicago and joined his Syndicate. Maddox doesn't get the proper credit he deserves for his military ideology and uncanny strategic creativity in setting up large, very open & dangerous murders -heists! Following Maddox's lead, were a number of bank robbers, strong arm robbers of armored cash delivery vehicles, not to mention most of them had Wanted-Murder Warrants!
Maddox became an after-hours, speak-easy, live entertainment, and social club, which most of the St Louis immigrants , all on Capone's payroll, a regular joint, filled with friends, booze, and open 24/7. One winter night as my 10 yr old grandpa walked past the front, the bouncers were getting yelled at because of snow depth and ice, as the silk suited, vest, tie wearing owner; Claude Maddox, had used my grandpa for envelopes dropped off or needed picking up, small light weight, jobs his way of learning about grandpa; upon finding out how close their rear exits were, Maddox introduced him to his co-partner Capone Syndicate-"made man"
"Tough" Tony Capezio, and with Prohibition a yr away, those men had been calling upon my Grandpa all hours, any weather, but paid decent cash to have him unload/load shanty trucks of bootlegg liquour still sealed in it's container, and it could be a snow storm, will a wind chill of -20, but if a truck pulled behind and honked, my grandfather was always ready and in the alley checking shiping manifests and then what few new, Maddox owned his neighboring building which was filled with shelves and cold storage for the top shelf booze. Also the building was an arms& ammounition storage; but not all knew.