Tuesday 25 November 2008

BIG VINNY'S PLACE

Go over to East Third Street - where number 77 is the headquarters of the Manhattan chapter of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. This is a functioning clubhouse: be discreet. It is recommended that you don't park a vehicle directly outside as tyres tend to become slashed, do not ask to go inside to use the rest-room nor ask the members inside to come outside to pose for photo's with your loved one's. Even the smallest digital camera can be extremely painful to surgically remove from tight orifices.

The Manhattan chapter was chartered in 1969 by Sandy Frazier Alexander - an ex-marine who moved to New York in 1967 joining the Aliens motorcycle club. He decided they weren't tough enough and established Hell's Angels in Manhattan and soon Alexander's power and reputation rivaled that of the most famous angel in the country, Sonny Barger, of Oakland, California.

Originally little more than hell-raisers, they quickly attracted the interest of the law enforcement agencies and, a massive raid here on May 2, 1985 resulted in scores of arrests on drug charges and splintered the chapter. Alexander was sentenced to 16 years in prison and at a later trial William "Wild Bill" Medeiros, testified for the government that the gang had imported massive quantities of amphetamines for resale and had murdered at least two members suspected of informing.

A mural and bronze plaque in the form of a leering skull can be found opposite, on the building accommodating the six closed-circuit security cameras trained on the facade of the Angel's lair, and memorises Vincent "Big Vinny" Girolama, a particularly ferocious and intimidating member of the Manhattan chapter. He distiguished himself in Angel annals on September 21, 1977, when he threw a 32-year-old Mary Ann Campbell to her death from the clubhouse roof as other members cheered him on. Before he could stand trial he died in 1979 from a ruptured spleen suffered during a fight with a fellow Angel in Oakland, California.

Residents in the area say they feel more secure as the presence of the Angel's HQ tends to make local criminals think twice about attracting the wrath of the chapter members. And who can blame them as on the Manhattan Chapter's website it gives the following piece of advice:-

ANGELS AND THE DEATHHEAD LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OWNED BY THE HELLS ANGELS MOTORCYCLE CORP........SHOULD WE FIND YOU USING ANY OF THESE WE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND HURT YOU.

Can't say fairer than that then, can you?

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Sandy worked at the electric circus, was not a member in 1967 while I lived in new York after a motorcycle accident in 1968 while I was in the aliens and still count my self as an alien I moved to California, had a twin brother named bill that was a piece of shit he did the world a favor and died, respect to all.ALIEN Larry

Unknown said...

Do you know why sandy was thrown out of the Manhattan chapter of the Hells angels?

threepoint14r8 said...

My dad had a pretty serious run-in with them back in the early 1980's. A couple of prospective members lifted some items from one of the leather shops my dad ran in the village/east village back then, and he went over to the clubhouse and ran over all their bikes with his truck, and put a pistol to Sandy's head demanding the return of the stolen items or as he put it "There'll a crater where your clubhouse within 24 hours".

Well, Sandy ran around the village asking people if they knew who this maniac was, and all the other shopkeepers were like "Dick? He was the guy who created the US army special forces and was the army's top demolitions expert all through the 50's. He'll do it."

The next day, Sandy returned the stolen items with a case of beer and sincere apology. Never had a headache with them again. Even tough guys get scared of tougher tough guys.

Franma said...

My husband knew Sandy back to the electric circus where I believe Sandy worked the trapeze. Sandy had fallen and was hospitalized. My husband helped after he fell, when to see him in hospital and brought him food. He was sandys only visitor. Fast forward to early to mid 1970s and my husband Steve decided to reconnect with Sandy in the village. NOw he was leader of the pack and warmly greeted Steve. We both had infant sons. I went into his home with his wife and she was cooking a pot of ham hocks on the stove and baby needed changing badly. One of his crew, for whatever reason, did not take kindly to my husband. Jealousy? Sandy told my husband that this was his family now and that we should leave. I was anxious to do just that. I think the crew guy seriously had the mental capacity of a 3 year old. And no, I would never be going back there again and I didn't.l

Cory said...

1-Arron Bank creates the Special Forces.
2- the Hells Angels in the 1980’s had the best leather smiths on the
planet that would do the stuff free,
so they didn’t leather, no need.
3-if your dad did anything to a bike on 3rd st in the 1980’ you would
have not been born.
Your dad bull shitted you.

merryoldp said...

These people will never admit to coming 2nd place! it's just not in their nature.

Unknown said...

three-point you are full of shit.

Nick Sant Nicola said...

Who threw him out?

Nick Sant Nicola said...

I worked at the Electric Circus in 1968-69. Sandy did an act there, dressed as a clown, and he'd slide down from the balcony onto the dance floor. He then walked among the crowd giving out sugar cubes. Me and friends got to know him; he was part of The Alien Nomads. The next year they joined the Hells Angels. Me and friend Mike went to the 3rd Street clubhouse for the party. We knew members Mario, Big Vinny.. and Sandy's girlfriend Colette. If they liked you, you were a brother worthy of protection. If they didn't like you, better move to another city! Last time I saw Sandy was about 1975 or 76 outside bar Max's Kansas City. We talked about 1968 and 1969. I moved to Miami Beach in 1980 and forgot about my years in NY, until the mid 90s when actor Mikey Rourke opened a biker friendly bar and Chuck Zito was his close friend and a regular there.

Nick Sant Nicola said...

I can't believe this story. The Angels would have given that guy a very severe beating!!!

Nick Sant Nicola said...

I remember reading in the mid 90s on the early internet that Sandy was out of the Angels ...and in serious trouble with Sonny Berger!

Tim Turner said...

My dad invited Sandy and their chapter in 1970 to a tour of a Navy ship. I have a picture of Sandy and Sam with my dad.

Geoffrey Johnson said...

Does anyone know what happened to sandys son?

Unknown said...

I lived there with an Angel in my youth. First apt on the right. Ginzo & Lorna, Howie & Mary lived on the other floors.

Mr. Outlaw said...

Thats bullshit.....You run over one of their bikes, you go down.

Unknown said...

To Unknown…I’ve never heard of Lorna. But Ginzos wife was Mary and they are still kicking 😊

Unknown said...

I was a kid about 13 in 1968 I lived at 124 2nd ave right across from gems spa so I got a lot of hells angels stories there was one particular time I recall inside gems spa an angels mama was sippin on an egg cream she had really long blonde hair anyway this spade cat snuck up in back of her real sneaky like and took out a lighter and flipped it to the bottom of her hair man all that blonde hair went up like it was a barbecue anyway the soda jerk behind the counter leapt on top of her to smother her flaming head and one of the angels instinctly blasted the counterman knocking him like 2 feet in the air bottom line is the joint went wild but you know nobody caught what the spade cat did except me so to say I kept my mouth shut last I seen of that guy he had dark glasses and a big smirk as he slipped away he looked like a dope addict. I'm sure he didn't know that he just beat a death sentence by the skin of his teeth.crazy episodes like that happened all the time in 1960's east village

Unknown said...

Geoffrey…Sandy’s son was killed while riding his bicycle in Florida