photo #1920578

Charlie Lucky was a guy with an explosive violent streak, but he had the ability to turn it on and off when he needed to. There is a great story told by Leonard Katz, author of “Uncle Frank. The Biography of Frank Costello”…about Frank witnessing the ferocity of young Charlie Lucania aka Charlie Lucky, later known as the infamous Charles Lucky Luciano, first hand. Frank told the story to his friend that Charlie was just a punk kid in those days, and they got into an argument in a speakeasy in Little Italy. In a flash, Charlie pulled out a switchblade and held it to his throat. His eyes were black and iced, a look that would frighten the devil. Frank said he talked him into putting the knife away, telling him that “violence was ignorance”. Finally, Charlie put the switchblade away with a smile.