New York Greasers
187th and Belmont Fordham Baldie Turf
HONORING ALL GREASERS FROM THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK
- GAYLORDS (sometime around the real early 50s)
- CONDORS and CONDORETTES (around the mid 50s)
- COUNTS From Buhre Avenue
- DISCIPLES
- DUKES from Buhre Avenue
- GOLDEN GUINEAS: 1955 From Buhre Avenue, Italian gang. They attended St. Michael's High School in the Bronx. Their main rival was the Navajos gang.
- NAVAJOS: 1955 They attended Haaran High School in the Bronx. Their main rivals were the Golden Guineas of Buhre Avenue.
- THE DIABLO'S
- TURFBUSTERS Fordham Road and Grand Avenue (mid 1960's)
- TINTON HUNS: from Tinton Avenue about 147th Street
- SAPPERS: from Crimmins avenue
- DRAGONS: 137th Street between Brook and St Anns
THE BRONX
Map of Old School Bronx Gangs
Mount Carmel Candy Store Home of the Best New York Egg Creams
621 East 187, Bronx, NY 10458- FORDHAM BALDIES AKA. FORDHAM DAGGERS AND DAGGERETTES The baldies were not bald. They got there name from a guy named Gerbaldy, or from the Bald Eagle. The older members were the FORDHAM DAGGERS. The Fordham Baldies had many brutal rumbles with the Harlem Redwings. "I knew the older Baldies from Jennie's Luncheonette, where they hung out.
- SCORPIONS: 50s Rivals to the Fordham Baldies. August, 5, 1957, the Fordham Baldies and the Scorpions were involved in a gang fight which made the papers.
Also the younger Daggers and the Baldies from Piggy's Candy Store. The time period was 1954 through 1965. Do you remember the shooting at Piggy's in 1954 or 55? It was the Harlem Redwings retaliation on the Baldies for an incident that day at Orchard Beach." The Fordham Baldies were one of the gangs featured in the movie "The Wanderer". Turns out he was an innocent bystander. Unless this was a separate incident, the gang was not the Redwings, but the Sinners. I remember them strutting their stuff on the boardwalk dressed in black bikini bathing suits with red piping. They all wore sleeveless tops with Young Sinners on the back. The front had the letters YS and an image of a young devil sucking on a baby bottle while holding a pitchfork in his hand. Hard to forget. The skirmish happened in the water. A Baldy broke a beer bottle over a Sinner's head and stuck the glass in his thigh. The Sinner took his revenge at Orchard Beach with a semi-automatic that he made in shop class. Violent ingenuity!
The East 187th and Belmont Egg Cream
Greaser Dog in the Bronx
- DUCKIES: 1957 to 1964. The Duckies got their name because the original guys hung out at the Duck pond in the Bronx Botanical Gardens and shot at the ducks with slingshots, therefore, they eventually called themselves "Duckies". A Retired member described the Duckies, a gang featured in the Movie "The Wanderer": "The Ducky Gang (not just boys) lol. Not embarrassed to say I was a member and yes, they were very real. The balcony on 204th and the 'tunnels', and the whole area surrounding Twin Lakes was our turf! Was a wild time growing up, some bad, some good, but many learning experiences came from those times. The Ducky was not predominantly irish or anything else, but yes, we were certainly a 'large' group. On any given weekend night, as you reached the 'balcony', you started the Ducky 'whistle'. This let anyone down in the park know you were coming. We also used the 'whistle' as an all clear after the cops had given up chasing us around and it was safe to come back out. We burned fires in the tunnels in the winter to stay warm, and we went swimming in the Bronx river when it was hot. On weekdays, there was always some 'ducky members' to be found playing hooky." "I was a member of that Ducky gang, did some streetsmart growing up with them. I've watched the movie The Wanderers each time it's been on, and still get a kick out of how the Ducky gang was supposed to be represented. lol" Another former gang member from the Garrisons had this to say about the Duckies: "If you were planning to visit the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx you needed to concern yourself with the "Duck(ie)s." Legend has it, if you are visiting the Bronx Botanical Gardens and blast out a 'Duckie Whistle', Duckies will show up to greet you till this day!
- THE WANDERERS: 60s An ex-Wanderer had this to say: I was a Wanderer! Richard Price lived in Parkside Projects and hung out with a different crowd then us. Even some of the names used are real. The story is really about our group of friends, our football team and yes, a rival crowd on the other side of Bronx Park. We did not have a name but the name Duckie Boys did exist. If they wandered to our side of the park, Bronx Park East or we into their side there was trouble. Basically the territory was divided by the Bronx River that ran through the park. If you remember the scene where they tied a rope to the penises of two guys on a bridge and threw a cinder block over the side down to the a river, that was the Bronx River near French Charlie's baseball field.
- GARRISONS: 188 Street and Tiebout Avenue A retired Garrison member had this to say: "Part of the crew I ran with decided to take on the 'Garrison' name because we all wore Garrison Belts and we liked the way it sounded."
- YOUNG LORDS Their turf was between the FORDHAM DAGGERS and the IMPERIAL HOODS. The Young Lords started as a gang, but many will remember them as an activist, civic group known to have been the starting point for such persons as Felipe Luciano and Geraldo Rivera.
- SCARLET ANGELS: Early 50's near the ps 6 or ps 50 area, the eastchester.
- EXCUTIONERS: 60's from Bronx Park East.
- EASTCHESTER JUNIORS: 60's
- BEACONS: 50s
- ROM 65: 60's
- IMPERIAL HOODS the Imperial hoods took their name from the Imperial Farms Milk company.
- YOUNG SINNERS from Simson street
- HONDOS
- SHAMROCKS: South Bronx 50s
- DESTINATION LORDS From JHS 22 in the late 50s. They all wore green and black sweaters with a big DL on the front and Destination Lords on the back.
- NAPOLI BOYS: from Morris Avenue (50s) Courtlandt Avenue had mostly Italian residents. There were 2 gangs from there that I remember - The Guinea Dukes and the Napoli Boys. They would fight with gangs from other neighborhoods, sometimes in the schoolyard of PS 3 on E. 157 St. around the corner from Courtlandt Ave. I lived on that street and remember the commotion when there was a 'rumble.' There was always a lookout who would yell 'Chickie' when they saw the cops coming. They didn't bother the neighborhood people; they just protected their 'territory.'
Rivals: Allerton Avenue gang, Parkside gang, and the Wanderers gang.
Lost Boys of the Bronx: An Oral History of the Ducky Boys By James Hannon
Arthur Avenue Gang Turf
- STARS: Started as a softball team in the late 1940s. They were from 150th Street & Morris Avenue, and became a gang during the 50s
- OUTLAWS: Girl gang
- GAELS: Morris Avenue during the 50s
- CYPRESS LORDS DEBS: A tough gang of Irish American Girls.
- NOBLE GENTS: Beech Terrace: Black gang.
- SUICIDES: 144th between Brook and Willis.
- SPANISH DEVILS: 140th between St. Ann?s and Cypress.
- PURPLE KNIGHTS: Brown Place and 137th St, .Jimmy Legs and the Montalvo Bros. ran that gang.
- LITTLE PEOPLE: Cypress and 140th to Bruckner Blvd. They were called that because they were all short.
- ROMAN KINGS: 141st St from St Anns to Crimmins Aves.
- SOCIAL SEVEN: Brook and 140th St.
- BULLS: from St. Peter's and Frisby Avenue
- LIGHTENINGS: from Stebbins Avenue The lightnings had members all through the south Bronx not just on Stebbins ave. At one time(late 40s early 50s) we had as many as 200 members. Our main rivals at that time were the Rockets from the Brook ave. area. One of our leaders Teddy S. was killed by a Rocket after leaving a dance. Our club jackets were black and gold reversable.
- BLACK DUKES: from Southern blvd
- DAPPERS: from somewhere around 138th Street, 140th St and Brook
- DAPPERETTES and DAPPER DEBS:
- JOLLY STOMPERS: over behind St Marys Park
- Cimmins Avenue between 141st and 143rd Street
- SHEIKS from Intervale Avenue
- GUINEA DUKES: from Courtlandt Avenue (and Morris Avenue) "That was a great group of guys, The Guinea Dukes. Sally Ga Ga was one of us. Probably not many left."
- SLICKSTERS
- COMMANCHES
- APACHES Slicksters, Commanches, and Apaches were from Paterson Projects, and many went to Clark JHS.
- SIMPSON STREET BOYS
- T-BIRDS: Hung out around the P S 103 area (East 229th Street and Carpenter Avenue). To get into the "gang" you had to steal a T-Bird emblem off a car and wear it like a necklace.
- HOGARTY GANG: (concourse 174th)
- BACHLORS: from Concord and Jackson Avenues
- SOCIAL DUKES
- BLAZONS: from 151st Street
- PHOENICIANS
- IMPERIAL CROWNS
- SEVEN CROWNS
- CYPRESS KINGS: Brook and 140th Street
- BRIGGS BOYS: 1970s 194th St. and Briggs Avenue, home corner of `the Briggs Boys. My gang in the 1970's. About fourty of us use to hang out on these corners.
- SENATORS
- MYSTIC KNIGHTS
- BARONS: from 137/138th Streets and Willis Avenue "I lived on 150th and Tinton Avenue from 1956 to 1967. During that time I belonged to the Barons SAC (remember that? SAC= Social Athletic Club, which was in small letters under the "club" name on the back of the sweater... lol), but there were also the Bachelors from Concord and Jackson Aves, the Social Dukes from nearby, the Blazons from 151st St, the Barbarian Knights, the Phoenicians, the Imperial Crowns, the Seven Crowns. Then over by Brook and 140th, I remember the Cypress Kings, the Senators, and several others. I would love to hear from any former members of any gangs who still have their sweaters. I have pics of myself in a sweater of a gang I wanted to join, but never did." (concourse)Mt Eden to 163rd Street, Jerome to Sherman Avenue(big area)
- KROYWENS AC: 137th Street and Willis and Brook Ave area
- BULLETS AC: same area only further east St Anns and Cypress Avenue
- WILBRIDGE AC: 135th Street to about 138th Street and Willis Avenue
- SHAMROCKS AC: 137th STreet and Willis Avenue
- LINCOLNDALES: approximately 134th Street to 138th on Lincoln Avenue.
- SCIMITERS AC: 140th Street and Willis Avenue All the above were in to stickball, baseball, softball and football weren't considered gangs.
- MC GINTYS: 139th Street, Brook and St Anns
- HAWKS
- TROJANS Hawks and the Trojans were from the University & Morris Heights areas.
- LINCOLN LORDS
- LITTLE LORDS Who were the younger kids of the Lincoln Lords from 133rd Street and Lincoln Avenue.
- SCOTCHMEN KNIGHTS
- KINGSMEN
- CROWNS: 1959 A.k.a. Valiant Crowns, a Latino Bronx gang whose main rival was the Royal Knights. The Valiant Crowns attended Morris High School in the South Bronx.
- ROYAL KNIGHTS: 1959 Latino Bronx gang whose main rival was the Royal Knights. The Royal Knights attended Morris High in the South Bronx.
- IRISH DUKES: 139th Street and Willis Avenue All form the South Bronx from 150th south. "It was a wild time in those days. I remember a lot of gang wars between the Crowns and Kingsmen because of gang sweaters and who had the right to put a Crown on them. I lived on 137th street and Willis from 1944 to 1967. The best years of my life. I was associated with guys from Beech Terrace, and sang on the corner with groups like the Vocal 5, and the Evoniers. Beech Terrace is located just back of St. Ann's, near St. Mary's Park. "
- HARLEM REDWINGS: hung out at Jakes Candy Store Tremont and Vyse.
- VICTORY BOYS: Hung out in Mario's in the early '50's across from the 52nd.
- WARLORDS: "Hung out around Olmstead & Ellis Avenue and Castle Hill in the 40's and 50's. My friend's older brother, FK, was the 'head' as I understood it. I never saw any fights but he sure has some reputation. Most of the other older guys in this gang were Italian."
- REBELS
- WILLIS DUKES
- DUDES: included DUDE JUNIORS
- DEVILS
- ASSASSINS
- CRUSADERS The Rebels, Willis Dukes, the Devils, the Crusaders, and the Assassins all the gangs had Debs, Tims, Tots, and such
- SAVAGE SKULLS: The Savage Skulls' clubhouse was on the corner of 156th and Fox Streets.
My uncle was Stephen DiDio and his best friend was Johny Steele, both members of the Lightenings. I used to listen to my uncle tell stories about his days with the Lightenings and the brother gangs and also, their enemies. I believe also that the Fordham Baldies were also enemies of the Lightenings as were a few other gangs, or clubs, from that area, including, as was stated on the website, the Rockets.
My uncle, Steve, just passed away on May 5th of this year. Johny Steele passed away about a year ago. We were all very close. The stories they both told really meant a lot to me. It was quite an era, those days in the Bronx.
Interestingly, they were both very close friends with Al Pacino, who also grew up in that area, though he may not have been in any of the gangs.
- IKES: Woodycrest Avenue 165th St. - 166th St.
- SATANIC DUKES: (Top of the School Steps in back of PS 73)(mostly fought the Napoli Boys).
- SPARTANS: (Spartans & Ikes all hung out together and were like one group). Woodycrest Avenue 165th St. - 166th St.
- JR. IKES: (Younger brothers of Ikes) Woodycrest & 165th -166th also Ogden Avenue & 168th)
- MIDGET IKES: (Still younger) -Same location as Jr. Ikes
- HIGHBRIDGE LORDS (168th & Shakespeare Ave.)
- HIGHBRIDGE DUKES: Woodycrest Avenue and 162nd Street
- IRISH KNIGHTS: on Highbridge Highbridge was a very unique area. You had a lot of gangs, who at times may or may not have gotten along with each other, but if there was a threat from outside of Highbridge all the Highbridge groups became one.
Highbridge
Bronx River Houses gangs
THE 5TH (EAST,TREMONT AND MAPES AVE.) area in the 1970's: THE BLACK SPADES, PEACE MAKERS, HARLEM TURKS, 7 IMMORTALS, P.O.W.E.R. BRONX, UPTOWN SPADES, HARLEM TURKETTES, SATAN ANGELS, SAVAGE SKULLS, ROYAL JAVILINS, GESTAPO CREW, THE UNIVERSAL ZULU NATION, and THE REAPERS 1ST DIV/MAIN DIV/ AND Juniors.
Italian Dukes Turf in Corona Queens
- TANGLEWOOD BOYS - A big New York street gang. All Italian teenagers. Their turf's in Yonkers.
- The Tanglewood Boys is an Italian-American gang from Yonkers, New York, USA. They are named after the shopping mall that they frequent, located on a busy shopping strip, Central Avenue, in Yonkers. They have been around since the 1970s, as a "starter gang" or recruitment for the Italian Mafia, specifically the Lucchese crime family.
Yonkers
Former Latin Kings President
Gang wars were very infrequent and when they did occur hardly ever was there any firearms used. Usually it was chains or sticks; knives and zip guns occasionally. Often it was handled one on? one fistfights and it would be over. This is how I remember it because I was raised in El Barrio and in Washington Heights from the early 50s and 60s. Pichon, President of the original Latin Kings of Highbridge Park, '63, currently living in the West Coast. I'll always have the memories of those times.- (1) The Harlem Redwings did a "drive-by" on the Fordham Baldies, on Belmont Avenue, near East 189th Street. A 25 year-old hanger- on/associate of the Baldies was killed--shot to the head, and two Baldies wounded.
- (2) Police busted up a rumble between two (South) Bronx gangs. They had zip-guns.
- (3) Police busted up a potential rumble and arrested some Gowanus Dukes, as they were waiting for the "Chaplins" (Chaplains) to arrive.
- Police break up gang rumble in the making on a Saturday night in Astoria. The battle lines between opposing armies had already formed. Five leather jacket clad Astoria gangs almost mix it up with bayonets, brass knuckles, and garrison belts before officers swoop down on them.
- One group gathered at PS 171 at 30th Ave and 14th Street, the other at the Astoria Houses at 27th Ave. Patrol cars screamed into both areas at 8 PM. On the west side of Astoria, members came from the Bucks, the Gents and the Garrisons gangs. From the east side, are the Saracen Lords and the Nobles. Most were dressed in the 'uniform of the day,' black leather jackets dungarees and boots.
- Teenage Gangs Kill One, Injure Six: one shot and killed, one stabbed, and four beaten in a gang fight at a dance between the Lucky Lords and the Counts. A Mother of one of the Lucky Lords was arrested with a gun.
New York Times for June 2, 1954
November 1955
New York Times For March 19, 1953
Corona Queens - Best Italian Ice in New york City
- Spaghetti Park Movie: based on a true story about the Corona Dukes.
- Corona Queens Corona Dukes neighborhood.
- Viceroys/Dragons article From the New York Times West Side Story article.
- Fordham Baldies New York gang violence article.
- SBB Garfield Boys verses Red Hook Tigers article
- Capeman Murders Capman Murders website.
- Brass Knuckle Tales 50's Street Gang Looks Back
- Gangs of New York Project
- Jimmy the Gent Burke Rest in Peace Article a.k.a Jimmy Conway.
- Henry Hill Rest in Peace Article
- Paulie Vario Rest in Peace Article a.k.a Paulie Cicero.
- History of Italian Harlem
- My Italian Harlem"
- Italian Harlem Wordpress"
- A Little Italy Wordpress"
- Da Italia Blog"
- Harlem Red Wings/Northmen Street Gang article
- Red Wings/Fordham Baldies article
- Red Wings/Golden Guineas article
- Red Wings/Vice Roys article
Links
Italian Harlem Links
- SCAVENGERS: 1970s Scavengers that lived in the New Brighton section.
- SAVAGE SKULLS: 70s
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