Photograph was edited for publication purposes. Jack Dragna was the leader of the Sicilian Mafia who was active in both Italy and the United States. He was involved in bootlegging in California during the Prohibition Era. In 1931, he succeeded Joseph Ardizzone as the boss of the Los Angeles crime family after Ardizzone's mysterious disappearance and death. Dragna was dubbed the "Capone of Los Angeles" and was boss of the Los Angeles crime family from 1931 until his death in 1956. Mickey Cohen was part of the Jewish mafia with ties to the American mafia. He became the West Coast crime boss after the assassination of Bugsy Siegel in 1947. On July 20, 1949, Cohen and 3 others were ambushed on in front of a restaurant on the Sunset Strip. Mickey's car drove up to the curb and gunmen hiding opened fire with shotguns. Mickey was the least seriously wounded. Dragna and Cohen were warring for control of bookmaking and other Southern California rackets. Photograph caption dated July 30, 1950 reads "This is the house that Jack Dragna built, a Spanish type mansion at 3927 Hubert Avenue. Five of Dragna's gang have been nabbed as suspects in the Mickey Cohen home bombing, but the 'Capone of Los Angeles' is still sought."
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
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