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books and culture All or Nothing at All Russell Shorto explores his family roots, the small-town mafia, and a unique period in postwar America. Arts and Culture “You got good genes.” That’s what an old, self-described “con man” tells Russell Shorto in a nursing home. Shorto’s familial roots and all their intricacies are the subject of his new book, Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob. A distinguished writer of narrative history, including works on Amsterdam and Manhattan, Shorto returns to his Pennsylvania hometown for his latest exploration. The central character is his namesake grandfather, “Russ,” who was once second-in-command in Johnstown’s mob. With the help of his father and the reminiscences of an aging, local rat pack Shorto investigates the life of Russ, an elusive and corrosive figure. The result is a riveting and at times moving account of Shorto’s family, Johnstown, and life in postwar America. ....
Courtesy of Russell Shorto toggle caption Courtesy of Russell Shorto The author s grandparents, Russell and Mary Shorto, socialize at Club Harlem in Atlantic City, N.J., in the mid-1950s. Courtesy of Russell Shorto Hollywood portrayals of the American Mafia often focus on major cities, but writer Russell Shorto says there have been active mob organizations in countless small and midsize cities in the United States. Shorto knows this firsthand: His grandfather was a mob boss in the industrial town of Johnstown, Pa. Shorto says his grandfather s involvement with the Johnstown mob initially began as an offshoot of Prohibition, which opened doors for Italian Americans facing employment discrimination. ....
Author Digs Into Family’s ‘Smalltime’ Mob Operation, Finds Family Secrets By Dave Davies February 2, 2021 Hollywood portrayals of the American mafia often focus on major cities, but writer Russell Shorto says there have been active mob organizations in countless small and mid-sized cities in the U.S. Shorto knows this firsthand: His grandfather was a mob boss in the industrial town of Johnstown, Pa. Shorto says his grandfather’s involvement with the Johnstown mob initially began as an offshoot of Prohibition, which opened doors for Italian Americans facing employment discrimination. “When Prohibition happened, here was an opportunity,” Shorto says. “In this case, there was an old Italian guy in the neighborhood who seemed to have organized families to operate stills.” ....
Johnstown native’s book explores gambling, murder, the mob Follow Us Question of the Day
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A few years ago, Johnstown jazz musician Frank Filia asked his second cousin, Russell Shorto, an internationally known author, a question: “What are we gonna do about the story?” Shorto instantly knew what “the story” was. TOP STORIES His grandfather and namesake, Russell “Russ” Shorto, had been a central figure in the Johnstown mob during the city’s 20th Century heyday. His writer’s mind started to develop ideas as they spoke, but, at that moment, he told Filia he was not interested. ....
An interview with the author Many Americans enjoy researching family histories. But a Johnstown native who’s also a noted history writer takes the practice to a higher level in his new book. Admittedly, Russell Shorto also had unusually rich material to work with. “Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob” (W.W. Norton & Co.) is a painstakingly researched, multi-generational look at his grandfather’s career as a mobster in Johnstown, Cambria County, and how it affected those close to him. Shorto was born in 1959, and his grandfather, also named Russell Shorto, lived until 1981. They knew each other, but “Smalltime” could easily never have happened. ....