Mob Myths I: Brooklyn 1935: Another date for my wife.
These stories are a possible history told in the reverse of the Elliott Roosevelt model; the main characters are fictional, but the side characters are historical. In this series, Moe and Sadie Bernstein are fictional. Actual mob members include Arnold Rothstein, Meyer Lansky, "Lucky" Luciano, Benny "Bugsy" Siegel, and "Dutch" Schultz. I have tried to at no point to have a plot point contradict known history, but where the history is disputed or unknown, I feel free to give my own possibility.
Moe Bernstein was impeccably dressed as usual. He was immediately escorted to his favorite table. He was respected in the neighborhood. He had just been in a meeting with his boss, Dutch, discussing how to keep his firm at the top of its field, and of course how to increase profits. The Church Avenue Deli was his Monday date with his wife, Sadie. Sadie arrived 15 minutes late as usual. She turned every male head in the restaurant as usual. He ordered his regular, brisket on rye. Sadie had a Jewish hush puppy. That's a frank encased in a knish rather than a roll. She also had her favorite noodle pudding.
"How did you spend your day, Sadie?"
"I visited my brother, Willie, at the Winter Garden theater. He is understudy to that handsome Brian Thurber, and hopefully will get on stage some time. They gave me the insider tour of the theater. Brian showed me all the nooks and crannies."
"And what did you do with Brian Thurber in the nooks."
"It was very proper, Willie was with us all the time."
"Great, the best chaperone I can get is Willie. I know that place. I once invested in a play there. Springtime for somebody. I will never do that again."
"Did you know that Brian and we have a mutual acquaintance. John Anderson, who used to work for you. He acted together with Brian in a couple of movies. He told Brian I was the prettiest girl in Brooklyn."
