Discover the rise and fall of Al Capone, the notorious mobster known for his violence and luxury lifestyle during Prohibition. Dive into his criminal empire, legal battles, and the attempt to bring him down by the 'untouchables' in Chicago. Explore the effects of Prohibition's repeal and the vibrant culture of the 1920s.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Seven men gathered in a Chicago garage on Valentine's Day 1929.
They were murdered by disguised police officers in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Al Capone's Early Life and Scar
Al Capone, born in Brooklyn in 1899, had a knack for numbers and a dislike for school.
He got his nickname "Scarface" after being attacked by Frank Gallucio at the Harvard Inn.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Capone Takes Over
Al Capone took over Chicago's Outfit at 26 after Johnny Torrio was attacked.
He became known as "Snorky" for his sharp dressing.
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This is the story of the rise and fall of Al Capone, and the last gasps of Prohibition.
No other gangster compares to Scarface. He’s remained prominent in the American consciousness for 100 years due to his overt violence and lavish lifestyle, funded by *ahem* unsavory business practices. He brazenly orders murders like the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, but he also doesn’t hesitate to get his own hands dirty when it comes to traitors. Capone seems to have jumped onto the mob scene ready-made, cutting his teeth on hustling New York shoeshine boys as a teenager. The consummate crime lord rises to the top of Chicago’s seething criminal underworld at just 26 years old, and boy, does he excel. He’s raking in millions from an unholy combination of alcohol sales, brothels, gambling halls, etc.
The well-dressed mafioso looks invincible, but Chicago’s “untouchables” (clean cops) are doing their best to bring Capone down. However, even though he’s taken to court, he’s got most of the Chicago police force in his pocket and witnesses keep disappearing—is it such a stretch to think that he’ll walk? And can the courts make the charges stick to this bootlegger when there’s talk of repealing Prohibition?
History That Doesn't Suck