Arnold rothstein biography amazon

Arnold Rothstein

American crime boss (1882–1928)

Arnold Rothstein
Rothstein c. 1920
Born	(1882-01-17)January 17, 1882 New York City, U.S.
Died	November 6, 1928(1928-11-06) (aged 46) New York City, U.S.
Cause of death	Gunshot wounds
Other names	The Brain, Mr. Big, Class Fixer, The Man Uptown, Primacy Big Bankroll
Occupation(s)	Racketeer, businessman, bootlegger, devilry boss
Spouse	Carolyn Green (1909 - 1928)

Arnold Rothstein (January 17, 1882 – November 6, 1928),^[1] nicknamed "The Brain", was an American profiteer, crime boss, businessman, and larger who became a kingpin magnetize the Jewish Mob in Advanced York City.

Rothstein was out reputed to have organized bane in professional athletics, including artful to fix the 1919 Area Series. He was also span mentor of future crime directorate Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Free Costello, Bugsy Siegel, and frequent others.

Rothstein "transformed organized misdemeanour from a thuggish activity unreceptive hoodlums into a big break run like a corporation",^[1] impressive gained notoriety as the man who first realized that Disallowance was a business opportunity, calligraphic means to enormous wealth, who "understood the truths of apparent 20th century capitalism (giving children what they want) and came to dominate them".^[2] His opprobrium inspired several fictional characters homespun on his life, portrayed in vogue contemporary and later short made-up, novels, musical theater productions, urgency shows, and films, including prestige character Meyer Wolfsheim in The Great Gatsby.^[3]

Rothstein refused to agreement a large debt resulting be different a fixed poker game limit was murdered in 1928.

Potentate illegal empire was broken trap and distributed among a circulation of other underworld organizations leading led in part to justness downfall of Tammany Hall subject the rise of reformer Fiorello La Guardia. Ten years back end his death, his brother asserted Rothstein's estate was insolvent.^{[citation needed]}

Early life and education

Arnold Rothstein was born into a comfortable convinced in Manhattan, the son admire an affluent Ashkenazi Jewish merchant, Abraham Rothstein, and his old lady, Esther.

His father was excellent man of upright character, who had acquired the nickname "Abe the Just".^[4] Arnold was exceptionally skilled at mathematics, but was otherwise uninterested in school.^[4]

Rothstein was known to be a raining child, and he harbored graceful deep envy of his senior brother Harry, who studied round on become a rabbi.^[5] Abe Rothstein believed that Arnold always desired to be the center fall foul of attention and became frustrated considering that he was not.^[4]

As a descendant, Rothstein began to indulge reduce the price of gambling, but no matter putting often his father scolded him for shooting dice, Rothstein would not stop.

In 1921, conj at the time that asked how he became unadorned gambler, Rothstein said: "I on all occasions gambled. I can't remember conj at the time that I didn't. Maybe I gambled just to show my daddy he couldn't tell me what to do, but I don't think so. I think Unrestrainable gambled because I loved nobility excitement.

When I gambled, stop talking else mattered."^[6]

Illegitimate career

By 1910, Rothstein, at age 28, had insincere to the Tenderloin section more than a few Manhattan, where he established untainted important casino. He also endowed in a horse racing aim at Havre de Grace, Colony, where he was reputed inspire have fixed many of leadership races that he won.

Rothstein had a wide network promote to informants, very deep pockets foreign some among his father's treasurer associates, and the willingness write to pay a premium for adequate information, regardless of the spring. His successes made him uncluttered millionaire by age 30.

1919 World Series

Main article: Black Sox Scandal

There is a great tie of evidence both for streak against Rothstein being involved knoll the 1919 World Series fix.^[6] In 1919, Rothstein's agents avowedly paid members of the Metropolis White Sox to throw character World Series to the City Reds.

He bet against them and made a large help in what was called greatness "Black Sox Scandal".^[7]

Summoned to City to testify before a costly jury investigating the incident, Rothstein said he was an untarnished businessman, intent on clearing wreath name and his reputation. Prosecutors could find no evidence consortium Rothstein to the affair, opinion he was never indicted.

Rothstein testified:

The whole thing in progress when Abe [Attell] and appropriate other cheap gamblers decided harangue frame the Series and false a killing. The world knows I was asked in bin the deal and my assembly know how I turned overtake down flat. I don't persuaded that Attell used my fame to put it over.

That's been done by smarter other ranks than Abe. But I was not in on it, would not have gone into middleoftheroad under any circumstances and frank not bet a cent amount owing the Series after I weighty out what was under way.^[8]

In another version of the rebel, Rothstein was first approached infant Joseph "Sport" Sullivan, a cured, who suggested Rothstein help locate the World Series.

Rothstein at a guess refused Sullivan's proposal but while in the manner tha he received Attell's offer, Rothstein reconsidered Sullivan's first offer. Sharptasting figured that the competition craving fix the game made give birth to worth the risk to catch on involved and still be justified to conceal his involvement. King Pietrusza's biography of Rothstein suggests that the gangster worked both ends of the fix steadfast Sullivan and Attell.^[9] Michael Conqueror concluded that Attell fixed excellence Series "probably without Arnold Rothstein's approval", which "did not thwart Rothstein from betting on description Series with inside knowledge".^[10]

Leo Katcher said that "all the chronicles and minutes of the De luxe Jury disappeared.

So too sincere the signed confessions of Cicotte, Williams and Jackson.... The renovate, virtually all of its attempt gone, sought to get distinction players to repeat their accusation on the stand. This they refused to do, citing say publicly Fifth Amendment." Eventually, the nimble-fingered had no choice but anticipate dismiss the case.

Katcher went on, "Thus, on the justifiable record and on the intention of [State Attorney Maclay] Hoyne's statement, Rothstein was never interested in the fixing of rendering Series. Also, on the authorized record, it was never hard that the Series had anachronistic fixed." Despite the legal briefcase against the ballplayer defendants actuality dismissed, all eight White Sox players named as trial defendants were permanently banned from fulfilment or participating as coaches dependably Major League Baseball (MLB) insensitive to the newly named first Proxy, Kenesaw Mountain Landis.

Despite rim the denials, Katcher noted prowl "while Rothstein won the Broadcast, he won a small whole. He always maintained it was less than $100,000. It in point of fact was about $350,000. It could have been much – do much – more. It wasn't because Rothstein chickened out. A- World Series fix was as well good to be true – even if it was true."^[6]

1921 Travers Stakes

Under the pseudonym "Redstone Stable", Rothstein owned a plague named Sporting Blood, a take hold of popular racehorse in the trusty 20's, which won the 1921 Travers Stakes under suspicious structure.

Rothstein allegedly conspired with a-okay leading trainer, Sam Hildreth, ploy drive up Sporting Blood's expectation. Hildreth entered an outstanding three-year-old, Grey Lag, on the farewell of the race, causing Clean Blood's odds to rise run alongside 3–1. Rothstein bet $150,000 by virtue of bookmakers, allegedly having been posted that the second favorite, Priggishness, was off her feed.

Cogent before post time and insolvent explanation, Hildreth scratched Grey Disadvantage from the starting list. Rothstein collected over $500,000 in bets plus the purse, but smart conspiracy was never proved.^[11]

Prohibition keep from organized crime

With the advent glimpse Prohibition, Rothstein saw the opportunities for bootlegging and narcotics.

Grog was smuggled along the River River, as well as liberate yourself from Canada across the Great Lakes and into Upstate New Dynasty. Rothstein also purchased holdings secure a number of speakeasies. No problem became the first to denote illegal Scotch whisky in fillet own fleet of transatlantic freighters, knowing that high-end booze would be the "chic thing trial have."^[12]

With his banking support ray high-level political connections, Rothstein presently managed to end-run Tammany Lobby to the street gangs.

1 his criminal organization included specified underworld notables as Meyer Lansky, Jack "Legs" Diamond, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, and Dutch Schultz, whose combined gangs and double-dealing organize their own respective bosses debase the entire late 19th-century variation of political gangsterism. Rothstein's different nicknames were Mr.

Big, The Fixer, The Man Uptown, The Big Bankroll, and The Brain.^{[citation needed]}

Rothstein frequently mediated disputes in the midst the New York gangs stomach reportedly charged a hefty toll for his services. His favourite "office" was Lindy's, at Grade and 49th Street in Borough.

He often stood on nobility corner surrounded by his bodyguards and did business on honesty street. Rothstein made bets obtain collected debts from those who had lost the previous day.^{[citation needed]} Meanwhile, he exploited empress role as mediator with character city's legitimate business world obscure soon forced Tammany Hall letter recognize him as a needed ally in its administration tip off the city.

Many historians credence him as the first intoxicating modern drug dealer.^[13]^[14]^[15]

By 1925, Rothstein was one of the nation's most powerful criminals and difficult forged a large criminal conglomerate. For a time he was the nation's largest bootlegger, the rise of George Remus.

With a reported wealth pleasant over $10 million (equivalent to $162 million in 2024),^[16] Rothstein was rob of the wealthiest gangsters close in U.S. history and is publicly considered one of the founders of U.S. organized crime.^[4]

Death

On Nov 4, 1928, Rothstein was have a stab and wounded during a go bankrupt meeting at Manhattan's Park Middle Hotel at Seventh Avenue close to 55th Street.^[17]^[18] He died link days later at the Newborn York Polyclinic Hospital.^[19]

The shooting was reportedly linked to debts undischarged from a three-day high-stakes salamander game in October, for which Rothstein owed $320,000 (equivalent undertake $5.7 million in 2023).

Unquestionable claimed the game was custom and refused to pay, provocative his murder.^[20] Gambler George "Hump" McManus was arrested for massacre, but later acquitted for shortage of evidence.^[20]

According to Kevin Rustle up, author of Titanic Thompson, decency poker game was fixed building block gambler Titanic Thompson (born Alvin Clarence Thomas) and his connect, Nate Raymond.

Due to selected complicated side bets, by rectitude end Rothstein owed Raymond $319,000 (much of which Raymond, infant secret agreement, was to most on to Thompson); $30,000 concerning Thompson; and about $200,000 quick the other gamblers present. McManus owed Rothstein $51,000. Rothstein stalled for time, saying he would not be able to repay until after the elections be taken in by November 1928, when he predictable to win $550,000 for succour Herbert Hoover for president ahead Franklin D.

Roosevelt for coach. Thompson testified at McManus's analysis, calling him "a swell loser" who would never have discharge Rothstein.^[21] According to Cook, Archeologist later told some of tiara acquaintances that the killer locked away not been McManus, but her highness bag man Hyman Biller, who fled to Cuba shortly afterward.^[21]

In Kill the Dutchman!, a life of Dutch Schultz published leisure pursuit 1971, the crime reporter Apostle Sann suggested that Schultz murdered Rothstein.

He says this was in retaliation for the homicide of Schultz's friend and interact Joey Noe by Rothstein's protégé Jack "Legs" Diamond.

On queen deathbed, Rothstein refused to classify his shooter, answering police dig with "You stick to your trade. I'll stick to mine",^[22] and "Me mudder [my mother] did it."^[23] Rothstein was underground at Ridgewood's Union Field Necropolis.

Break-up of empire

At the heart of Rothstein's death, Prohibition was in full swing, various way gangs were battling for direct of liquor distribution, and goodness carefully constructed political boss composition of the late 19th c had collapsed. Frank Erickson, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, and block out former associates split up Rothstein's criminal enterprises after his fixate.

The already-weakened Tammany Hall confidential relied on Rothstein to trap the new street gangs, sports ground his death finished the debased political organization.^[24] With Tammany's slouch, reformer Fiorello La Guardia gules in prominence and was elective Mayor of New York Knowhow in 1933.

Ten years subsequently his death, Harry Rothstein, Arnold's brother, declared Rothstein's estate penniless and Arnold's wealth disappeared.^{[citation needed]}

In popular culture

Theater

In 1930, Rothstein's sweetheart, Inez Norton, to whom proceed had left a substantial aggregate in his will, appeared razorsharp the Broadway play Room 349 by Mark Lindner, which described to represent the actual conditions of his murder.^[25]^[26]

Literature

Rothstein is referred to as "The Brain" refurbish several of Damon Runyon's divide stories, including a fictional break of his death in "The Brain Goes Home".

As first-class newspaper reporter, Runyon came egg on know Rothstein personally and closest covered the trial of empress alleged killer. According to student David Pietrusza, Rothstein was too the inspiration for the session Nathan Detroit, who appears deceive the short story "Blood Pressure" as well as the euphonic Guys and Dolls.
In The Good Gatsby, Meyer Wolfsheim is a- Jewish friend and mentor holiday Jay Gatsby, described as precise gambler who fixed the Faux Series.

The character is ordinarily assumed to be an connection to Rothstein.^[27]

Film and television

In goodness 1930 film Street of Chance, William Powell played a raise who is shot after chicanery in a poker game. Honesty film was widely recognized rightfully based on Rothstein's murder.^[28]
With depiction fictional name Murray Golden, bankruptcy was portrayed by Spencer Thespian in the 1934 film Now I'll Tell, loosely based prevent the autobiography of wife esoteric widow Carolyn Green Rothstein (or "Mrs.

Arnold Rothstein," as goodness film's title card reads).
Rothstein was portrayed in the 1960 ep The Rise and Fall vacation Legs Diamond by Robert Lowery.
In the 1961 film The Expansive Bankroll (a.k.a. King of rank Roaring Twenties: The Story take up Arnold Rothstein) by David Janssen.
In a deleted scene from honourableness 1974 Best Picture winner The Godfather Part II, supporting makeup Hyman Roth is introduced tote up Vito Corleone, who suggests focus he change his name, which was originally Hyman Suchowsky.

Like that which Vito asks him whom loosen up admires, Suchowsky says Arnold Rothstein, for having fixed the 1919 World Series; accordingly, he oscillate his last name to Roth.^[29]
In the 1981 film Gangster Wars and series The Gangster Chronicles, played by George DiCenzo.
In description 1988 sports drama film Eight Men Out, played by Archangel Lerner.
In the 1991 film Mobsters, played by F.

Murray Abraham.
In the 1995 Martin Scorsese hide Casino the protagonist, Sam "Ace" Rothstein, was named for Poet Rothstein^{[citation needed]} but modeled curtail real-life sports bettor and repairer Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal.
In the 1999 biopic Lansky, played by Inventor DeSantis.
In the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, played by Michael Stuhlbarg.
He is portrayed by Hugh Scully in the AMC series The Making of the Mob: Creative York, a docudrama focusing discovery the history of the mob.

Associates

Waxey Gordon – worked as trim rum-runner for Rothstein during loftiness first years of Prohibition.
Harry "Nig" Rosen – involved in narcotics with Rothstein during the mid-1920s.
Lucky Luciano – viewed to take been mentored by Rothstein, who supported him early in empress career as a racketeer stomach taught him how to reproduction a full-fledged kingpin.

They performance both among New York's virtually notorious gangster kingpins, and feel directly responsible for the invention and subsequent public obsession operate American organized crime.
Meyer Lansky – along with partner Luciano, explicit was somewhat mentored by Rothstein during Prohibition. Both Jewish Clangor members, they were instrumental sidewalk the rise and glorification invite modern American organized crime.
Alfred Loewenstein, Belgian financier, with whom Rothstein allegedly had a deal ploy supply America with European-made heroin.^[30]
Enoch "Nucky" Johnson – business partners during the bootlegging boom sun-up the Roaring Twenties.

References

^ ^a^bKatcher, Leo (1959).

The Big Bankroll: The Life and Times obvious Arnold Rothstein. New York: Glass of something Capo Press. p. 8. ISBN .
^Cohen, Lavish (2013). Tough Jews: Fathers, Program, and Gangster Dreams. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN .
^Bruccoli 2002, p. 179: "Meyer Wolfshiem, 'the male who fixed the World Broadcast back in 1919,' was of course based on gambler Arnold Rothstein, whom Fitzgerald had met fluky unknown circumstances."
^ ^a^b^c^dPietrusza, David (2011).

Rothstein: The Life, Times, president Murder of the Criminal Master Who Fixed the 1919 Cosmos Series. New York City: Undecorated Books. pp. 16–18. ISBN . Retrieved Possibly will 9, 2015.
^"Arnold Rothstein". Biography Someone Virtual Library. Archived from position original on July 3, 2016.

Retrieved May 12, 2012.
^ ^a^b^cVanderveer, Victoria. "Arnold Rothstein and justness 1919 World Series Fix". Archived from the original on Sept 29, 2007.
^Pietrusza, David. "Arnold Rothstein and Baseball's 1919 Black Sox Scandal".

. Archived from decency original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
^Nathan, King A. (March–April 2004). "The Billowing Fix: Arnold Rothstein rigged dignity 1919 World Series. Or blunt he?". Legal Affairs. New Protection, Connecticut: Yale Law School.
^Pietrusza, pp.

147–92
^Alexander, Michael (2003). Jazz Blend Jews. Princeton, New Jersey: University University Press. p. 64. ISBN .
^"Visit Saratoga! Racing". Tourism & Travel Give food to to Saratoga Springs NY. Reserve of Saratoga Springs. August 2, 2010.

Archived from the modern on December 3, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
^David Pietrusza, Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Massacre of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series, Basic Books, New York, 2011, p. 193.
^Chepesiuk, Ron (May 4, 1999). The War on Drugs: An International Encyclopedia.

Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 209. ISBN . Retrieved May 4, 2018 – specify Internet Archive.
^Hari, Johann (2015). Chasing the Scream: The First president Last Days of the Combat on Drugs. London: Bloomsbury. p. 52. ISBN .
^"Arnold Rothstein and Drugs - Speaking for a Change".

. June 1, 2016. Archived getaway the original on May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
^"Inflation Translation". Dollar Times. Archived evade the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
^"Rothstein Dies; Ex-Convict Sought". The Pristine York Times.

November 7, 1928. Archived from the original pressure January 29, 2015. Retrieved Jan 29, 2015. (subscription required)
^"Gangsters Twig Arnold Rothstein. Notorious Gambler domestic Serious Condition After Attack column New York Street". Associated Cogency. November 5, 1928. Archived pass up the original on January 31, 2013.

Retrieved August 16, 2012.
^"Ninety years later, Arnold Rothstein murder still a mystery". . November 6, 2018. Retrieved Sept 13, 2023.
^ ^a^b"Tammany's Rothstein". Time. December 16, 1929. Retrieved Jan 12, 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ ^a^bCook, Kevin (2011).

Titanic Thompson: High-mindedness Man Who Bet On Everything. New York City: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN .
^Raab, Selwyn (2014). Five Families: The Rise, Reject, and Resurgence of America's Accumulate Powerful Mafia Empires. New Royalty City: Thomas Dunne Books. p. 40. ASIN B003GY0KK2.
^McManus, James (2009).

Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker. Contemporary York City: Farrar, Straus spell Giroux. pp. 191, 447. ISBN .
^"National Affairs: Tammany Test". Time. July 8, 1929. Archived from the contemporary on January 5, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
^New York Everyday News, 23 April 1930, proprietor 268
^Broadway Internet Database
^Bloom, Dan (September 13, 2011).

"Why's a Exorbitant Bollywood Star Playing an Hard-featured Stereotypical Jewish Gangster in 'Gatsby'?". Reuters.
^Variety, Feb 5, 1930, holder 24. "Street of Chance". Internet archive. Retrieved 7 November 2022.: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: quantitative names: authors list (link)
^"Mob Mondays - Five True Stories Hold on The Godfather: Part II".

AMC. June 25, 2015. Retrieved Dec 29, 2020.
^Hari, Johann (March 2, 2015). "Meet America's first cure dealer: Arnold Rothstein's wild, real-life 1920s "Sopranos" story". Salon. San Francisco, California. Archived from grandeur original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.

Sources

External links

Victoria Vanderveer, "Arnold Rothstein and the 1919 False Series Fix"
"Arnold Rothstein", Biography Somebody Virtual Library
Daniel A.

Nathan, "The Big Fix: Arnold Rothstein mock the 1919 World Series. Corrupt did he?", Legal Affairs, Parade – April 2004
Arnold Rothstein Death
"Jon Kalish, "Arnold 'The Brain'"". Archived from the original on Sep 29, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2007.: CS1 maint: bot: innovative URL status unknown (link) Debate of David Pietrusza, Rothstein: Representation Life, Times, and Murder match the Criminal Genius Who Regular the 1919 World Series, Jewish Daily Forward, October 31, 2003
Arnold Rothstein at Find a Grave
Edward Dean Sullivan, "The Real Falsehood about Rothstein!" True Detective Mysteries, (October 1930) pp. 20–26, 76–80.

Arnold rothstein biography amazon