The Frank Sinatra Willie Moretti Connection in The GODFATHER

Frank Sinatra

    Guarin "Willie" Moretti was the notorious Underboss of The Genovese Crime Family in New Jersey. He was born in Bari Italy in 1894. Moretti was shot dead Gangland Style (Whacked) at Joe's Elbow Room in Cliffside Park, New Jersey on October 4,  1951 ...

In the mid - 1930's Willie Moretti's name came to light when he became friends with an unknown singer named Frank Sinatra. Sinatra's then wife Nancy Barbatp was related to John Barbato who was a soldier in Moretti's crew. At the time Sinatra had a tough time booking singing ingagements so Moretti helped him book New Jersey Clubs in return for a percentage of his earnings. By 1941 Sinatra was known throughout the United States and was on the verge of signing a lucrative contract with a national promoter. However years earlier he had signed a contract with band leader Tommy Dorsey who was reluctant to let Sinatra out of the contract. With the help of Moretti, Frank was able to get out of this contract. Moretti shoved aPistol down Dorsey's throat and threatenedto Kill Dorsey if he didn't release Sinatra. Sinatra was then free to sign a lucrative Record Deal as well as the contract with the national club promoter. 

Around the same time Moretti also became acquainted with up-and-coming comedians Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis who performed several nightclubs he frequented. Jerry Lewis and Dean Martina s well as Milton Berle and Frank Sinatra all performed at the Wedding of Moretti's daughter in Hasbrouk Heights New Jersey. That wedding was the inspiration for the wedding scene of Don Vito Corleone's daughter Connie in Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo's The Godfather.

Willie Moretti lies dead on the floor of Joe's Elbow Room

Cliffside Park, New Jersey

October 4, 1951

MARIO PUZO'S Best Selling Novel

The GODFATHER

It is without question that Frank Sinatra is the inspiration for Johnny Fontane and Mob Boss Vito Corleone threatening to Kill band leader if he didn't release Frankie from his contract they had together . Frank Sinatra would never admit this, but all those close to him at the time, know that it is the factual truth.

In the novel and film, Fontane is a famous crooner and occasional film star in the vein of Frank Sinatra. He is also the godson of Vito Corleone, the head of a major Mafia crime family. The Corleone family intervenes four times to aid his career. The first, years before the novel's and film's main time frame, Vito used violent persuasion (an "offer he can't refuse") to buy out Fontane's ironclad contract with a big bandleader; after the bandleader declines Vito's first offer to buy out the contract, he orders his personal assassin Luca Brasi to place a gun to the man's forehead, telling the bandleader that either his signature or his brains would be on the contract.

The second, the infamous "horse-head" scene, is an act of intimidation, carried out at the Godfather's behest to ensure Fontane is cast in a war film that could revitalize the singer's career. The film's producer, Jack Woltz, despises Fontane for "ruining" an actress he was grooming for stardom and had been having an affair with, and thus blacklists the singer from the production. After Corleone family consigliere Tom Hagen fails to persuade Woltz to cast Fontane, Woltz awakens soon after to find his prize racehorse's severed head in his bed as a warning. Terrified, Woltz relents and casts Fontane. Months later, Vito uses his Hollywood connections to ensure that Fontane wins the Academy Award for Best Actor. Finally, the Corleones finance Fontane's film studio.

"You can act Like a Man" !!!

Al Martino (left) as Johnny Fontane

and MARLON BRANDO as Don Vito Corleone

THE GODFATHER

by Francis Ford Coppola

Learn How 

to Make SUNDAY SAUCE alla SINATRA

alla CLEMENZA

in Daniel Bellino's SUNDAY SAUCE

SUNDAY SAUCE is Available on AMAZON.com ... CLICK

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Best Dressed Mobsters

Frank Sinatra Favorite Italian Food

   

A Young Frank Sinatra  ....  Hoboken, New Jersey

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Frank Sinatra

"Come Fly with Me" !!!

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PATSY'S  "Franks Favorite Restaurant"

Frank's Favorite Restaurant in The World, was Patsy's on West 56th Street in New York, in 

The Theater District near Times Square .. Frank's Favorites were; Calms Posillipo, Spaghetti Pomodoro,  Veal Milanes (extra Thin & Crispy) and Spaghetti & Meatballs of which patsy's makes The Best in The City ..

FRANK & AVA GARDNER

FRANK & DEAN

DEAN MARTIN & FRANK SINATRA

"MANGIA BENE"

F

RANK'S FAVORITE ITALIAN BREAD ... 

PARISI on MOTT STREET, LITTLE ITALY, New York, NY

FRANK'S FAVORITE ITALIAN BREAD

PARISI BAKERY MOTT STREET

LITTLE ITALY, NY NY

FRANK'S FAVORITE PIZZA 

"PATYSY'S"

East Harlem

FRANKS FAVORITE PIZZA

PATSY'S in EAST HARLEM

No Relation to PATSY'S on 56th STREET

PASTY'S PIZZERIA       

 

SINATRA at JILLY'S New York with Friends and Daughters NANCY and TINA

Frank loved going to his close Pal JILLY RIZZO'S New York Restaurant JILLY'S where Frank would eat Chinese Food, tell stories, and drink JACK DANIEL'S to the Wee Hours of the morning ...

SUNDAY SAUCE

Dean Martin looks on as Sammy Davis Jr. pours Frank a Jack Daniels

Jack Daniel's and Frank Sinatra

FRANK SINATRA with Cigarette & JACK DANIELS

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Vito Genovese Minestrone Genovese

VITO GENOVESE

MINESTRONE alla GENOVESE

RECIPE : 

Ingredients :

1/4 pound Cannellini or Borlotti (cranberry) beans, soaked overnight

3 tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 leeks, washed and chopped, white part only 1 medium eggplant (1 pound), peeled and diced 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 2 ribs celery, sliced 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced 2 medium tomatoes, diced 2 cups hot chicken broth 4 cups hot water, plus extra if needed 1 cup chopped raw spinach 1 cup diced zucchini 1 cup shredded green cabbage 1/4 pound vermicelli or stelline pasta 3 tablespoons Basil Pesto Salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION 

Drain the beans from the overnight soaking water, place them in a pot, cover with water, cook about 30 minutes or until still quite al dente, and set aside.

In a large pot, heat the oil. Add the onion, leeks, eggplant, carrots, celery and potatoes and sauté for about 8 minutes, or until the vegetables just begin to exude their juices.

Add the tomatoes, hot broth, hot water, beans and additional hot water to just cover the mixture. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer, and cook covered for about 30 minutes.

Add the spinach, zucchini, cabbage and pasta and cook another 20 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. Stir in the pesto. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

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BASIL PESTO for MINESTORNE GENOVESE 

and to Sauce the PASTA of Your Choice

Who doesn't Love Pesto ? Well I guess there may be some, but for the most part, just about everyone loves this wonderful no-cook Italian Sauce that highlights some of Italy's most iconic ingredients which include ; fresh garden Basil, Italian Olive Oil, garlic, Pignoli Nuts, and Parmigiano Reggiano . In Genoa and Liguria where Pesto was first born and is famous for there, there are primarily two ways to use this wonderful cold sauce, number one is to coat any one of a variety of pasta shapes to make a tasty pasta dish of Maccheroni & Pesto or pesto's second most important use is as the main flavor enhancer of Minestrone Genovese, the greatest vegetable soup of all.

RECIPE : BASIL PESTO

• 3/4 cup pine nuts (6 ounces)

• 5 cups basil leaves, chilled and very dry

• 6 small garlic cloves, quartered

• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for sealing

• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Put the garlic in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Toss in the nuts, Parmesan, if using, pepper and salt and chop until the nuts are finely crushed, about 1 minute. Add the basil, oil and lemon juice and pulse for 1 minute more, until smooth. 

2. To store, transfer the pesto to a sterilized jar with a tight-fitting lid. Pour a thin layer of olive oil on top of the pesto, seal and refrigerate up to 10 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Joe Gallo Shot at Umberto's Clam House in Little Italy

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UMBERTO'S CLAM HOUSE

MULBERRY STREET , LITTLE ITALY 

NEW YORK , NY

The flamboyant criminal career of Joey Gallo was ended early yesterday by a lone gunman who surprised the gregarious gangster in a downtown restaurant where he was continuing the celebration of his 43d birthday.

Gallo was struck only twice, but police estimated that about 20 shots, most of them fired by Gallo aides, were exchanged. Also wounded was Gallo bodyguard Peter (Pete the Greek) Diapioulas, 40. Police arrested him for possession of .32 caliber revolver.

The dramatic death of the Brooklyn mob boss - whose flair for violence earned him the nickname Crazy Joe - sent police to gangster haunts throughout the city in an attempt to head off a possible all-out mob war.

With Gallo in Umberto’s clam bar, 129 Mulberry St., when he was shot was his bride of three weeks, Sina, and her daughter, Lisa, 10. Also in the party, which had gone to the Little Italy restaurant after attending comedian Don Rickles’ opening night performance at the Copacabana, was the hood’s sister, Mrs. Ella Fiorella, and a friend, Edith Russo.

Diapioulas also sat at the table, which was on the right side and in the rear of the small restaurant. Police say that one and possibly two other Gallo men were seated on stools in the front of the restaurant.

Crazy Joe Gallo & Brother Larry

ENTERED TROUGH SIDE DOOR

Gallo had arrived at Umberto’s shortly after 5 a.m. and, according to witnesses, was loud and happy. The party ordered house specialties such as Scungilli, Calamari and Mussels. Wine was brought to the table.

A Plate of MUSSELLS CLAMS SCUNGILLI & CALAMARI

Besides the Gallo party, there were nine other customers in the restaurant, which opened three weeks ago. The gunman entered through a side door and went directly to behind Gallo’s table.

The man, described as about 5-foot-8, stocky, about 40 years old and with receding dark hair, fired twice, striking Gallo in the left shoulder and, as the hood fell over, in the left buttock. Diapioulas drove for cover but was also hit in the buttock.

The killer calmly turned and walked out into Mulberry St. to a waiting car. Diapioulas apparently fired three times at the gunman. Other Gallo hoods ran to the street and began blasting at the car as it sped away.

Gallo managed to stagger toward the front door. He stumbled and then fell, smashing the plate glass. Gallo then plunged through the entrance and staggered 15 feet more before collapsing in the middle of the intersection of Hester and Mulberry Streets.

Patrolman Felice Agosta of the Elizabeth St. station, summoned to the scene, found the gang leader, Diapioulas at his side, lying on the street. The cop took both to Beekman-Downtown Hospital, where Gallo was pronounced dead.

Police estimate that as many as four guns, including the still missing murder weapon, were used in the shootout. Only Pete the Greek’s weapon was recovered, police said. Several buildings, including Graziano’s funeral home, directly opposite Umberto’s side entrance, bear pock-marked evidence of being struck by slugs.

Although Gallo had recently said he was retired from all criminal activity and was writing a book, police sources said this was not true, that in fact the mobster had built up a considerable organization since his parole from prison last June.

CALAMARI

or as da Boys would say,  "Gal-a-Mar

Gallo, who had spent nine years in Attica prison after being convicted for an attempted extortion, from a Little Italy restaurant owner, quickly became engaged in extortion, shakedowns and shylocking on his parole, according to ranking police officer.

The swaggering tough guy reportedly attempted also to move in on several night clubs that were controlled by other mob factions, and this activity may have led to the rubout.

Gallo’s death was not mourned in Little Italy. Most of the shopkeepers and people in the neighborhood refused comment. Underworld figures simply shrugged and said, “It had to happen.”

Gallo first came into underworld prominence in the early ’60’s when he and brothers, Larry and Albert (Kid Blast), broke away from the Joseph Profaci “family” and engaged in a gang war that left 14 dead and four other hoods missing.

Profaci died of cancer in 1962 and Joseph Colombo reportedly took over the family and patched up the grievances with the Gallo gang. Larry Gallo also died of cancer, in the mid ’60’s.

SHRIMP MARINA

UMBERTO'S FAMOUS SHRIMP MARINARA

LINGUINE VONGOLE

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