An OLLI at FAU Lecture Series in the Vintage Gym
Jewish Gangsters in America:
This lecture delves into a seldom-covered aspect of the darker side of the immigrant experience: the rise and fall of Jewish gangsters who dominated crime from the 1920s until the end of WW2. Beyond exploring famous crime figures (e.g., Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky) and organizations (e.g., "Murder Inc.", "The Brownsville Boys"), we will learn about some lesser-known but fascinating characters such as Gangy Cohen, Waxy Gordon, Moe Annenberg, Longy Zwillman, and others. Although the focus is on the New York Metropolitan area, the lecture explores mid-Western gangsters such as the Purple Gang and Dave Berman, as well as Southern Florida. The subject is approached from sociological, psychological, and historical perspectives, attempting to understand the cultural drivers that created this group and ultimately led to its decline and integration into American society.
Speaker: Helene Herman, a retired marketing executive with over 30 years of global experience, now lectures on a wide range of historical and cultural topics. Formerly President of a 400-member lifelong learning club in Florida, she draws on her anthropology degree from NYU to bring depth and insight to her presentations.
Fees:
Member: $30.00
Non-Member: $35.00
Price at Door/One Day Pass: $35.00
Location: Vintage Gym at Old School Square
Address: 51 N. Swinton Ave (at Atlantic Ave), Downtown Delray Beach
Free Parking: Old School Parking Garage, 180 NE 1st St, Delray Beach, FL 33444