On April 7, 1972, around 4:30 a.m., “Crazy Joe” Gallo and his family entered Umbertos Clam House in Manhattan’s Little Italy to celebrate his 43rd birthday. Earlier that evening, the Gallo party had visited the Copacabana to see a performance by comedian Don Rickles and singer Peter Lemongello. Once at Umbertos, the Gallo party took two tables in the back corner, with Gallo and his bodyguard Peter “Pete the Greek” Diapoulas facing the wall. Gallo had invited Rickles and Lemongello to join them at Umbertos, but they managed to find an excuse to get out of the engagement, possibly saving their lives.
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