Smalltime

A Story of My Family and the Mob

By: Russell Shorto

Narrated by: Russell Shorto

Family secrets emerge as a best-selling author dives into the history of the mob in small-town America.

Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a city in its brawny postwar prime, is where Little Joe Regino and Russ Shorto build a local gambling empire on the earnings of factory workers for whom placing a bet - on a horse or pool game, pinball or Tip seal - is their best shot at the American dream. Decades later, Russell Shorto grew up knowing that his grandfather was a small-town mobster but never thought to write about him, in keeping with an unspoken family vow of silence. Then a distant cousin prodded him: You gotta write about it.

Smalltime, the story of Shorto's search for his namesake, delves into the world of the small-town mob, an intricate web that spanned midcentury America, stitching together cities from Yonkers to Fresno. A riveting immigrant story, Smalltime is also deeply personal, as the author's ailing father, Tony, becomes his partner in piecing together their patriarch's troubled past.

Moving, wryly funny, and richly detailed, Smalltime is an irresistible memoir by a masterful writer of historical narrative.

©2021 Russell Shorto (P)2021 Recorded Books

Johnstown Resident

Being from Johnstown this book meant so much. I knew the streets. The names. The establishments. It is so well written. I enjoyed the story of The Johnstown Mob and the Shorto family thoroughly.

Good story….

…good storyteller.

I do not understand why I need to pad the review with more words!

Great rendition of a family and small city

I was attracted to this book because I grew up in Johnstown PA and my family lived on Church Avenue from the 1800s until 2003 when my mother passed away. My father was a longtime patron of the Clinton Street poolroom. Being very familiar with the people in the book, they were brought back to life for me by Russell Shortlo’s wonderful account of his family and theirs and my home. This book is outstanding.

Very Different Mob Story

If you are thinking Goodfellas or The Godfather think again. This is a story about families and more specifically the relationships between fathers and sons. The mafia portion is secondary although relatable if you are from small town Western Pa as I am. My earliest memories are visiting a great aunt who lived in Johnstown in the mid 70’s.

Great historical read of Johnstown's own LCN

As an Italian American son growing up in Cambria County, I'd hear stories of these days gone by, of the men who ran Jtown behind the scenes, of the places and persons no longer here to share. The author does an amazing job bringing this era back to life. Great read, shared in a captivating way.