The Early Days of Organized Crime in Hollywood
The connection between organized crime and the film industry is a long and complex one, dating back to the early days of cinema. As inventor Thomas Edison sought to maintain control over motion picture technology, he employed hired goons to intimidate competitors, many of whom were Jewish businessmen from the east coast. That set the stage for the studio-town system that Hollywood would later become known for.
The same era gave rise to organized-crime outfits on the east coast, among them Chicago's Outfit and New York's mafia. It wasn't long before these two worlds collided, with the mob's influence on Hollywood growing during the Prohibition era. The documentary series 'Hollywood Crime Story' explores this complex relationship, tracing the tangled relationship between organized crime and the movies, from cinema's earliest days up through 1990.
Key Players in the Mob's Hollywood Takeover
One of the key figures in the mob's Hollywood takeover was Al Capone, who dispatched his underling Johnny Roselli to explore new business opportunities in the city. Roselli quickly established himself among Hollywood's top stars and moguls, including Harry Cohn, the co-founder and president of Columbia Pictures. A half-million-dollar loan from Roselli let Cohn buy out his partners at Columbia — the mob's first genuine foothold inside a major studio.
Other notable figures, such as Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel and Mickey Cohen, also played a significant role in shaping the industry. Siegel, a suave but volatile gangster, moved to Hollywood and quickly began rubbing shoulders with the industry elite. Cohen, on the other hand, got his start in crime at the age of nine, holding up a movie theater, and later became a key figure in the mob's Hollywood operations.
The Legacy of Organized Crime in Hollywood
The legacy of organized crime in Hollywood is a complex and lasting one. While the mob's influence on the industry has waned in recent years, its impact can still be felt. The documentary series 'Hollywood Crime Story' provides a fascinating look at this complex relationship, shedding light on the key players and events that shaped the industry.
The series also highlights the ways in which organized crime became more intertwined with Hollywood over time, with the mob's influence becoming more mainstream-accepted. This is evident in the story of Tom Mount, former president of Universal Studios, who sat in on a meeting chaired by director Alfred Hitchcock alongside super-agent Lew Wasserman and former mobster Mo Dalitz, among others. This meeting, which saw these powerful figures 'carve out' parts of Hollywood for themselves, is a testament to the mob's lasting impact on the industry.