Episode 1 / The Mayor of Little Italy (Mono Audio) (short film)
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- The Last Days of Little Italy: An Original Documentary Series.
Vinny Vella acted in more than sixty films often in the role of gangster. He is best known for the role of Artie Piscano in Martin Scorsese's Casino. He played Jimmy Petrille on the HBO series The Sopranos.
Little Italy, a historic haven for immigrant families from the old country, was once threatened by an ever-expanding Chinatown. But now the fatal blow is being delivered by the gentrifiers. Corporations, yuppies, and chain stores all moved in. How did Little Italy transform itself from a working class neighborhood of tenement buildings to the third most expensive zip code in the United States?
Part funny, part sad, the series explores the impact gentrification is having on Little Italy's long-term residents. The striking imagery captures the neighborhood before it is completely erased by sterile trendy stores and upper middle class sameness.
Will New York City lose another cultural touchstone to the forces of greed?
A Nolita Films Production
Written and Directed by Paul Stone
Produced by Claudia Montano
Cinematography & Editing by Paul Stone
Shot in New York City, Rome, Amalfi Coast & Puglia, Italy.
You will never see this life and neighborhoods like this ever again
Sad but true im just glad i was there and saw it,like another world,the people were unforgettable.The times in so many ways were BETTER.
Yep, sadly you're right
@trailblazer1047 me to the good old days at least we have the memories stay safe godbless
It’s a time that will never be seen again NY Boston Philly all over the country stickball the food the people the cars the Camaraderie the people life was simple all ages hanging out till the wee small hours on those hot summer nights to think in those neighborhoods you really didn’t have to lock your doors ! When I was a kid I knew it was never going to be better than this
I seriously get depressed and angry every time I visit anymore. Family all live in North Jersey (pops retired from the Bronx) amd ol man doesn't understand why I go into the city anymore. "The best Italian food is in Jersey now", he says.
My mom was born on Mott st in the late 20s. The stories she told me when she was growing up. Sometime in the 90s mom took me to her apt building and showed me around. Mom left in 2012, but I have great memories mom. Love you.
@@Astepatatimekvarn 🇮🇹💪🏻
I was Born & raised in Little Italy. Corner of Broome & Mulberry st, my Mom was still there until her passing last Year. I really miss what once was.
Thanks for watching David! Sorry to hear about your Mom.
@@PaulStoneFilms Thank you!
its sad that all these characters and this genunine generation will be gone soon and forever, nowadays you only see wanabes and idiots in little italy, some of the italian restaurants are not even run by italians anymore the owners are turkish or from bangladesh or watever... its sad to see little italy loosing its essence.
I was born at 177 Mulberry St across from Roma Cafe. My dad had a luncheonette on Grand St. next door to Ferraras..
No blacks live in little italy they are very racist people
Great 1st Episode. Loved Vinny.....I worked with Vinny on a webseries we were doing called "Finders Keepers" and we traveled from Philly to Little Italy quite often and hung out at La Mela on Mulberry St.
When my grandfather immigrated to the US from Sicily with his cousin Giuseppe Badagliacca at the turn of the century his destination was Elizabeth St. where Giuseppe had a barber shop. Since my dad was Irish, and my mom Italian, Rock & Roller Charlie Gracie called me the Irish Siggi, a moniker I wear proudly and which Vinny liked and also called me. Vinny was one of the nicest guys to work with. We were about the same age. He died on my birthday. He is missed.
Thanks for watching!
Came here to pay respect to Vinny Vella. A piece of the old NYC that is now lost. Rest in peace Vinny.
Thanks for watching!
its sad that all these characters and this genunine generation will be gone soon and forever, nowadays you only see wanabes and idiots in little italy, some of the italian restaurants are not even run by italians anymore the owners are turkish or from bangladesh or watever... its sad to see little italy loosing its essence.
@@PaulStoneFilms Artie Piscano - loved that character in Casino.
I too miss my parents. I think of them every hour of every day. God bless them and God bless you Vinny.
The Pope of Greenwich Village has some nice old-school shots of Little Italy. Classic film
@@Themantoday Charley lived on Carmine Street where my father grew up.
Awsome film.
Parts 1 and 2 made me weep. The history of these neighborhoods is priceless. The stories, the life struggles, joy, passion and pain...every single story is their life.
@@valerieneal2747 thanks for watching!
The gold jewelry, the suits, the food, the accents and slang, the brotherhood, the swag, the music and the MONEY!!! How can you NOT fall in love with this life?
@@Brian-wl4ndt Vinny was the best. Pinky ring and all. Thnx for watching!
Wow, all I could say is this is a mini masterpiece. The music in the back is so eerie but perfect. It’s also a similar story to my dad except he was from the Bronx. He’s 84 years old and still kicking. I hear all the stories about the way the Bronx was Used to get tired of the stories, but I guess if you saw your beloved neighborhood go completely down the drain, you may feel a certain way as well. He told me the grand concourse got its name because it was grand all the buildings had sunk in living rooms, and now if you go by, what a mess. And it’s only going to get worse. Back to this short movie I could watch it over and over again. Vinny sounds a lot like me. I’m 50 years old but drop out of school basically at 15 I hated school I got left back twice in second and third grade in Catholic school. Then I went to public school and didn’t like that neither. I eventually got my GED. Life is short, I’m 50 now looking back thinking where did the time go?
It’s scary how fast time flies. Thanks for watching!
time went with the wind.. straight ahead
Beautifully made, captured such a beautiful soul and wonderful history of a time in NYC. Vinny had such a way of lighting up a room everywhere he went. It was an honor to work on projects with him and get to know him and beautiful family too.
100 %! Thanks for watching!
its sad that all these characters and this genunine generation will be gone soon and forever, nowadays you only see wanabes and idiots in little italy, some of the italian restaurants are not even run by italians anymore the owners are turkish or from bangladesh or watever... its sad to see little italy loosing its essence.
RIP Vinny Vello from the real Little Italy in Manhattan . I just enjoyed your story of your past . And what I enjoyed listening to you speak . You miss your family . Your mother same here and my aunts and uncles they are gone . And Yes Little Italy was year’s ago in East Harlem were I was raised 221 east 114th street 3rd avenue . Back then it was Italian Harlem . I live now on the lower Eastside . I have watched films with you in them . Once again thank You . I no Italian American people who knew you from your neighborhood . They live on Fulton street and also Cherry street small world . Ciao
Such a heartfelt tribute - thank you for creating such a warm neighborhood memory. My family came from Ellis Island and moved to Mott St where my Dad was born in the 1930's. It was filled with Italian merchants and was very much a neighborhood in the truest essence.
Thanks for the kind words!
As Vinny used to say, "Who's better than you"! @@PaulStoneFilms
Wow, what a beautiful film and wonderful story. It's a lovely tribute and such an interesting history.
Thank you and thanks for watching!!
Came here from the IG that stole your work, glad I found you so I can support!
Thanks!
I worked at Napoli at the corner of spring and Sullivan when I first moved to the city 1979; this brings back such memories, who knows where the time goes! Rest in peace to these wonderful gents!
Fantastic! Love the episode and who cant love Vinny! One of a kind. Great job.
Thanks for watching Cuz! God broke the mold after Vinny was born.
He was great on film. I really liked him in Ghost Dog and Casino. RIP Vinny Vella . Beautiful short film.
Thanks for watching!
Miss you (as we always said) my favorite Brother in Law. Crying my eyes out as I watch this, miss you lots. You were always so kind and most of all Funny. How much fun hangin with Moe and Vinny. Moe was devasted when Vinny Passed, we all were Especially my Sister and little Vinny, but Moe couldn't even talk, they became such good friends. Miss you too Moe, sure your all up there having a blast. XXOO RIP
Thank you for sharing. My Dad was born on Oliver St. in 1911. So many memories. Grazie mille.
A time and neighborhood long gone. Italians moved up the economic ladder and have long since relocated. Little Italy exists only in movies, tv shows, history books, photo albums and memories. It will never be again.
@@spideraxis I don't think it was Italians moving up, I think it was Italians priced out by high rents and gentrification.
@@anthonytripp2251 That didn't happen too much in Little Italy. Gentrification was more of a trend on the UES, UWS of Manhattan, Harlem, Greenpoint and Williamsburgh In Brooklyn, Astoria and LIC in Queens. Italians wanted homes better than the dark, dingy tenements of the Lower East Side and Little Italy. Homes with windows, property, back yards, driveways and gardens. Once they moved a few steps up the economic ladder and could afford better, Little Italy no longer offered them a decent life.
@@spideraxis Nonsense.
Carroll gardens in Brooklyn was Italian and they have been completely priced out
@@anthonytripp2251it started by Italians moving up in society that left the he neighborhood cause it was a dangerous one and then there were the Chinese that slowly started pouring in taking over businesses and finally gentrification
Wow, thank you for the great film making and thank you for immortalizing people like Vinny.
Thanks for watching!
Awesome! Keep them coming!
Thanks! Will do!
This reminds me of my childhood sitting around the table as my grandparents, aunts & uncles would play cards, all Italian & filled with love. God Bless those memories and The Good Old Days. Thank you for this video.
@@RaiderX948 you’re welcome and thanks for watching
Nice piece. Vinny was a great guy. 👍🏻
These docs have been great but sad. Very emotional
@@Bobby-vj3su you’ll laugh, you’ll cry. Every goal of a director. 🇮🇹💪🏻👍🏼
My heart is full 💟 thank you 😊
Thank you! Please subscribe. 😁
Man, that was sad. RIP men of men
My whole life my dream was to make classic real life documentary's and write films about how I lived and my neighborhood but I made bad decisions and paid for them now I'm 33 and i will go down as 1 of the greatest to ever do this when its all said and done from the bottom, what a beautifully done series bro GODBLESS dude love from TRENTON NJ
Thanks for watching! More to come!
You're still young enough to do anything you want to do
@@frankmelotti3477 hey boss thank you so much for your encouragement and kind words the more I think about it I know your correct but I compare myself to others sometimes and play the victim in my head and think about all the years I lost to the street my poor judgement and incarceration but than again I think on it and realize God brought me through all these things survival for a real reason to succeed take care of my family and kids and show the younger kids that there's a better way honestly thx u bro GODBLESS LOVE FROM TRENTON NJ
I met Vinny at a cookie/pastrie joint at the corner of Mulberry & Canal st. He was really cool and my wife being italian so we took pictures. He would wear that gold necklace that the sopranos crew gave him. RIP 🙏
@@alangee79010 Thanks for watching. Vinny loved taking pictures with people. Heart of gold.
@PaulStoneFilms agreed and those people are a lost breed of Americana. I can't wait to see Ernie Rossi. Next time I migrate up to the city I hope to meet you. God Bless.
As soon I got to New York I went to Umbertos , to eat where Crazy Joe ate . Loved it (I know the location moved a few doors down from the original) . Great atmosphere
@@Lexington125 thanks for watching!
@@PaulStoneFilms loved it & I watched all 8. all the best from England 🏴 🙌🏻🙏🏼
I used to get the basket of shrimp at the side window. This was the old place. I think it was 4 dollars for a dozen jumbo shrimp and they were done right, cleaned like they're supposed to be.
We have a Little 🇮🇹 Italy in Mayfield, Ohio next to Cleveland. Mike Franzini talks about Guarino's Restaurant making the finest homemade Italian food just like my immigrant grandma Leoni used to make. Thank you for this wonderful documentary.
@@doberman1ism thanks for watching!
I was born in Manhattan too in 1960 French hospital, I’m never going back, it’s been 25 years. It would be like going to a wake if I did. End of the American empire. The old neighborhood is massage parlors with happy endings and boba store’s full of people from low trust societies…
Me too. 1954. West 30 between 8th n 9th. It's a condo now.
Good film thanks
@@chompers11 💪🏻🇮🇹
Love Vinny! Used to b.s. with him when I'd see him outside Albanese Meats. He knew my grandpa,Charlie Brody and uncle Raffie owner of Rays. Sneakers was his nickname cause he'd run when filming was going on. R.I.P.
Really enjoying this
Thanks for watching!
Standing O!!🙌🙌
Amazing Content just subbed to the channel. Cheers m8
@@Evan-Jame Thanks! 🇮🇹💪🏻
“Artie Piscano” from Casino. I had no clue this man died 5 years ago. 🥲😢😢😢 Rest in peace. 😔
6:24 When he talks about missing his parents and the way things were when he was growing up, it was heartbreaking.
I know you’re with them now up in heaven.
@@truthteller4442 Yea that gets me every time. Vinny was a gem. Thanks for watching!
I lived 15 years at 385 Broome Street ( with the Little Italy sign under my window)! The best period of my life! Thanks to all the “indigenous people” I have met on the streets of the only and unique Little Italy in the world! I miss it!!!!!
MIssing parents I felt that the most also..lovely video
@@Teri_kid___maybe Thanks!
Johnny Cha Cha will forever be The Mayor of Little Italy ❤ R.I.H.
Great documentary he was very well liked didn't realise how many movies he was in a real true wise guy God bless
Its sad, i grew up in the same kind of neighborhood, im watching it happen as i type
Excellent
Thanks for watching
Paul, love your channel. Believe it or not, I've got Tony Dapolito's cane. I got it from my brother Chris who did maintenance for vesuvio's and milady's. I've been holding it in storage like a holy relic.
That is awesome!
RIP Moe ❤ watching stories like these remind of sitting around the table with my pops and uncles talking about their heydays
Thanks for watching Whit!
Very sad but also very loving. I remember the old days too. May their souls rest with the Lord. Amen.
This guy's voice should be recorded and saved by the National Archives. It's perfect example of legacy dialect.
I live on the Gulf Coast of Texas and when I was young, the gulf coast twang was the norm. Now, it's hard to find people left that still speak with it. Most people are not from Texas that live here so the accent has been diluted and speech is now homogenized.
@@Atitlan1222 agree, 100% the New York accent is becoming extinct
Bravo
Thanks JImmy!
@@PaulStoneFilms like to see more like this !!!
Subscribe to the channel. A new episode goes live every week or so. @@jimmymusechuk6316
Rip Vinny & Moe grandi 🇮🇹💪
Rip Little 🇮🇹
Purtroppo i tempi cambiano ....triste
When did he pass away , 😢
Beautiful ❤
@@Costa998 thanks!
RIP, Vinnie Vella!!!😊
One day in 2009 I was walking on Elizabeth St and I saw Vinny sitting outside the butcher shop. I recognized him from a tv show. I thought about stopping to talk to him but I was busy and I said to myself I'll stop on the way back. Never saw him again.
@@atassaro sad story. You missed out on some good laughs and memories.
Guys like this must stick out in today's Little Italy.
I talked to VV on mulberry st. During the festival and several times since .
RIP Vin 🙏🏼✝️❤️
He is so Great !
The one and the only.
Grew up in Gravesend Brooklyn, 60's through Late 80's. Myy God it Was GREAT 👍.. Neighborhood was JUST Like Goodfellas...No matter Wat hour? Was ALWAYS Clean & SAFE! Nooo body Messed with People! Fond Memories! Great Food. GORGEOUS Girls, Mini bikes, Rock & Roll. They had Live Amature Bands in Lady Moody Square in the Summer. There was a Bacci Court. Fezzels Bakery had their Windows All Fogged up From these Huge Square Pues theyed make for us kids out for lunch frim PS 95. TEN Freakin CENTS a Slice! Heros From Dom & Sals! Ive Seen pictures of NOW! My God its ALL GONE! Makes ya wanna Cry! Fled to the Mountains Decades ago..I Relive & SEE it All in My Sleep 💤. Just Memories Now 😢... God Bless..
@@harleydavidson6851 🇮🇹💪🏻
I did not know he died 😢 , talked to him several times , struggling in the bizness decades we would talk about the bizness , i wish i could have gotten a break and been in something with him
I grew up on 265 Lafayette Street. My dad owned a Butcher Shop on the corner of Spring Street and Mulberry until 1975. The store is now a Falafel shop.
My Dad’s butcher I shop is in the movie “The Pope of Greenwich Village.” I miss my old neighborhood.
@@claramalafarina6362 awesome!
It should be noted that Vinny was an honorary member of the Steve Marshall Band. He was tasked with keeping the female 'deputies' in line. Talk about a character actor. Good dude'
@@lancebarbarino8178 the best. One of a kind.
This is very hard for me to watch. I grew up with family members much like Vinny. Beautiful old guy, may he rest in peace.
@@hotstepper1649 ❤️
Sad to see all that history and culture almost completely consumed. 😪
I believe we'll never see a place like this again pretty soon and that's sad. I'm 45, and in the last five years I've seen society change so drastically it's almost unrecognisable from when i was a kid.
@@georgepetrie5765 we are in serious decline for sure. Thanks for watching!
He was a great actor he is a great actor I used to grow up around Little Italy in Wilmington Delaware I can only imagine how it was in New York!! One Valentine's Day I went to New York City and I went to Little Italy and walked around I went to the mulberry Street bar where Donnie brasco and sopranos were filmed it's still there today 💯 FUGETABOUTIT 🇮🇹🇮🇹
The Mob those Stunods should have bought up all the RE in little italy and kept it Little Italy,and keep the rents for Italians that can afford.
Yes I agree with you now it's all Chinese predominantly I am not a racist I definitely respect culture
The Mafia isn't the same. No honor.
Joe the cat Laforte did own alotta the real estate in little Italy and his family still does own some but rents most of it out
Some of our families were smart enough to buy in the ,60's,70's,80's when they were still affordable but there's not many of us snd our kids are getting married and moving out to the burbs and S.I. 💚🤍❤
My family, the Scorsese's bought our meats at Albanese. We lived right across the street 241 Elizabeth.
This broke my heart! As a born and raised New Yorker who grew up in Bensonhurst (I live close by in Bay Ridge now) which was a thriving Italian neighborhood! All the mom and pop shops and social clubs everywhere are all gone. The streets were safe and clean back then. Everyone looked out for each other. Now it’s a whole another world. It doesn’t feel like home anymore. Everyone is so disconnected and the streets and store owners are filthy and don’t have respect for their neighbors. It’s absolutely heartbreaking. RIP Vinny, you were a gem 🙏🏻
Rest in peace Moe " the Butcher " and Vinny Vella may God bless you two and your families ✝️
@@Aztec73 Thanks!
@@PaulStoneFilms your welcome 🙂
Most of the first couple generations are dead and the children didn’t carry on tradition. Same thing happened in Philly. This life will never be back. I’m 51…I went to visit my Uncle Mike in Manhattan back in the 70s and 80s. You aren’t going to see people together on the corners anymore. Nobody knows what a social club is. Nor do they care…but they’ll run right over to listen to that jungle music in those dance clubs they go to.
Born n raised NYC, lower east side.
I remember the bocci court on Houston.
Say hi to Alex at 141 mulberry
I got to tell you, me and my wife are looking for a house for our daughter to grow up and where the neighborhoods are safe and everybody gets along well. The neighbors look out for each other. The neighborhood is tight and I’ll tell you what we just can’t find one to be back in the day when we were growing up when all the parents looked out for the kids, everybody everybody everybody hung out together in the cul-de-sac trying to find my kid. It’s been a rough road and I’m in Florida nonetheless might have to move to New York.
how many people moved to get away from crime and the mafia
Mafia looks out for their neighborhoods.
@truthteller4442 meanwhile, they were importing herion and cocaine . getting people in debt through gambling and loan sharking. they wanted control of the neighborhoods and control of the crime . how many peoples cars got stolen in little Italy. the mafia tells everyone over and over that the neighborhood is safer, so people believe it.
@truthteller4442 The mob looks out for themselves and no one else.
@@truthteller4442at least the old school mafiosos did. They had real street code
@@truthteller4442 Ofcourse they did, by extorting them. The only reason they looked out for “their neighborhood” was so no other crooks but them would get a piece of the pie.
Miss Vinny. He was a driver for the film and photography industry for years. He had an RV called Star (something). He was always great and always polite.
VINNIE! YO! VIN!
It’s decaying cause there’s a whole country/ world to see. More accessible than ever. Kids don’t wNt to be held back from seeing more than what their few blocks have. The older ones can’t see past what’s “easy” for them.
@@davidaustin4854 I guess you’re right my parents and grandparents never really traveled much.
Qnyone know where i can find short doc that was on Metro,NY area, about Vin's life and showing where his mom left him at home as a kid?
When was this produced?
@@jessewolf7649 it was shot in 2016. The short version had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. This new series was produced a few months ago. Thanks for the support!
RIP Vinnie Vella
It will be either Little Ramallah or Little Caracas in a decade or two.
I use to live in 284 mulberry street back in the 80s Italians started leaving around that time. The building 284 had toilets in the hallway how strange was that? But yea I was baptized right down the corner on Prince.
Thanks for watching!
Did you sell fireworks and buy clothes at Canal Jeans?
@@robertadinolfi4217 🤣 I’m 42 years old I was too young to sell anything.
@realnewyorkcityliving2065 I used to buy clothes at Canal Jeans and my sister and I bought fireworks from Italian kids on Canal Street in 82.
@@robertadinolfi4217 that’s awesome , I miss the Italian parade on Mulberry Street back in 87-88 I was 8 years old fun times
ROFLOL. Watch and you will know where I had my best laugh of the day. Enjoy this excellent series.
@@timeandplace4114 Thanks! Means a lot. 🇮🇹👍🏼🇺🇸
I lived on Elizabeth Street too.
Great video.
@@longlivingdude thanks!
@@PaulStoneFilms no problem, I'm binging through them all now.
Moe's gorgeous granddaughters runs the butchery now. 🙇♀️
Rest in power
Thanks for watching!
Wise guys country love 😘 it
WHEN WAS THIS FILMED? GENTRIFICATION/////
I like his Italian money clip. A rubber band. A hundred dollar bill is the embellishment not the gold plated clip. Cash is king.
@@ShakespeareCafe haha
Didn't this guy play in Ghost dog?
@@seamusohoulihan666 yes he did. Casino and Sopranos too
@@PaulStoneFilms nice
I dont have a chip a vision or yalls favorite live p.o.v. angles anymore
forget about it nobody can afford to live there anymore except bankers and entertainers. Unless you had the place for decades
Even though it's the rule of life losing your mom and pop is horrible, especially if at an early age
Same sad story for the biggest Little Italy East Harlem
@@jamespaolino7365 that's right. 116th St
Rent Control should be a National Mandate! Property owners should make a Profit, but not have the ability to destroy Society because of Greed. The local Governments should not Tax Citizens to the poor house either. Be careful who you Vote for.
I grew up in Chicago's lil Italy and what it turned into in present day is a joke. The good ole days are long gone
@@jimmycurrire7868 100 %
Im from arthur ave but my old man was from grant ave so we were always down lil italy
The Glory Days
Jimmy petrile he was a sweet old man❤😂😂😂😂
He was the best!
202 Hester Street 😀