Welcome to
"My Al Capone Museum"
Due to an abundance of recent emails over a new massacre theory featured in a newly released book, I have now put up a research page about this subject at the location below.
Newly found photo of Ralph Capone hanging out around at Hot Springs.
(By the kind permission of Susan)
Please Read!
This personal non-profit site was made strictly for your enjoyment and mine. It took me many years and money out of my own pocket to make. I do not associate myself with any author, writer, Capone relative, supposed Capone relative or any other Capone website, unless it's specified here, or if their book, site or name appears here. Some people research this subject to see their name in lights. Some do it for fame and glory, others for the money. For me, it's merely about the passion of it all.This educational website is strictly about telling the story of Al Capone and the Roaring twenties and sharing it with the true history buffs. Nothing more, nothing less!
If after your visit you liked what you saw, then please take the time to sign the guestbook by clicking on Capone's fountain pen below. It's really appreciated by me, and by those who contribute to this site! (Historians, buffs and relatives of these subject entries).
I don't ask for any money, and everything on the site is free for you to look at, learn and enjoy. If you somehow feel grateful enough to contribute something to the cause, then please do a good deed and either help a local charity, support your local history museum or just help the elderly. They are the door to the past and it's history making moments. By doing this, I'll be happy, and you will feel good!
Enjoy clicking through this site and
Thank-you for all your support!
After your visit,
Some website reviews
"My Metal Band just finished our newest album and it's all based on Early Gangland Chicago. Your site was a one stop shop for all the great old info. Thanks. I'll thank you on the album."
Steve - THESE ARE THEY - CHICAGO DEATH METAL SUPREME!
"After doing months and months of research on Capone's life for my one man show; King of the City; an evening with Al Capone, I discovered Mario's site and was blown away. The info on Al, his collegues, the pictures, facts and items, etc. are amazing. This is the Bible of the Underworld! "
Robert Gallo, Hollywood Actor, Starred in the mob drama "Street Boss" and co-starred with Talia Shire in a comedy called "The Deported". Has appeared on many television shows such as Becker, The Ex- files, NYPD Blue, ER, Lois and Clark, Cagney and Lacey, The A-Team, St . Elsewhere, Falcon crest etc..
"The Al Capone Museum is an important biographical archive which chronicles the life of Al Capone. It offers a fascinating slice of useful social and cultural history that Al Capone helped define. The magic of this on-line resource is that the history is presented not only through narratives and photographs; but emerges as a vibrant archive containing personal artifacts to help bring this history to life. Mario Gomes knows the territory and is the definitive source on Capone. I highly recommend Mario's website to both the serious and casual researcher."
Michael Esslinger author of the book Alcatraz: A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years
"Love your site".
Matt Lee, Editor - in- Chief ,The Men's book / Modern Luxury magazines
"I thought I knew quite a bit about Chicago’s Prohibition Era mobsters -- until I encountered Mario Gomes. His knowledge of the period must exceed that of any person living, and his memory for details is rivaled only by his research capabilities. He should have been the keeper of Al Capone’s personal memoirs, except that we’d probably have lost him to Frank Nitti’s purge of old Outfit loyalists, or to some vengeful remnant of the North Side gang."
William J. Helmer, author of The Gun That Made The Twenties Roar,The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Madman In The Tower.
coauthor of Public Enemies; America's Criminal Past 1919-1940 ,The Complete Public Enemy Almanac,Baby Face Nelson,John Dillinger The Untold Story,The Quotable Capone.
Mario Gomes has provided the interested reader an invaluable and exhaustive gold mine of information on the gangster era. It is the straight story, correcting misinformation and providing a wealth of new information. This is the source for anyone looking for facts on the famous gangsters!
Jim Ridings, author of "Len Small, Governors And Gangsters."
"No man alive knows Al Capone better than Mario Gomes.
His aid to me has been incalculable and his Al Capone
Museum website is the product of years of dedicated
research and a tremendous ongoing crusade for both
detail and accuracy. One could read every Capone
biography to date and still not attain Mario's massive
expertise on Capone and Twenties Chicago. This site
blazes like a Tommygun."
Rick Mattix, co-author of The Complete Public Enemies Almanac
"The internet's oldest and strongest Capone site. Mario has been interested in Capone and Chicago gangland history since 1987 (and it shows)! He's talked to all the historians and researchers, as well as some knowledgeable family members, to find out what there is to find out about the man and his times."
John Binder, Chicago Gangland historian and author of The Chicago Oufit.
"Highly recommended for the serious researcher or the casual reader, Mario's My Al Capone Museum is a clear oasis of fact amongst a plethora of websites that often blur real Capone and Chicago Prohibition gang history with the usual hand-me-down legends and myths. Arguably among the most knowledgeable persons of the era, Mario is the real deal! Stay here or else..."
Mars Eghigian Jr., author of After Capone: The Real Untold Life and World of Chicago Mob Boss Frank 'the Enforcer" Nitti.
"If this was Prohibition Era Chicago, Mario Gomes would be bumped off for knowing too much. When it comes to Al Capone & the golden age of Chicago gangland; if Mario doesn't know about it, it didn't happen."
Patrick Downey, author of Gangster City : The History of the New York Underworld 1900-1935
"Mario Gomes has given us an encyclopaedic treatment of the Chicago
gangster. Packed with unique photos, personal anecdotes, and information
collected from official sources, this website presents current and future
researchers of Chicago's gangster past with all they need, whether it's to
write a book report... or even a book!"
Rose Keefe, Author of Guns and Roses: the Untold Story of Dean O’Banion, Chicago’s Big Shot Before Al Capone , The Man Who Got Away: The George ‘Bugs Moran Story and The Starker: Big Jack Zelig, the Becker-Rosenthal Case, and the Advent of the Jewish Gangster
"Great Website you have."
Chuck Goudie, Chicago's ABC 7 Investigative reporter.
Alphonse Capone
“The older I get, the more I realize that the light you think you’re radiating is not the light other people see when they look at you. I wonder how Al Capone felt about himself as he looked in the mirror in the privacy of his own bathroom. I’m sure he thought of himself as a very human guy.”
Hollywood Legendary Actor Paul Newman, 1989.
Welcome to my personal homepage. Welcome to My Al Capone Museum web site. In the past 23 years, I have collected items belonging to and dealing with the Granddaddy of all American gangsters, Alphonse Capone. My fascination with Capone started out with Robert De Niro's outstanding perfomance as the eminent Chicago underworld king. My curiosity was peaked.I wanted to know more about Al Capone and his era. I immediately began my search and soon found out that the facts were far more exciting than any of Hollywood's made up fiction. Al Capone was a multi-faceted man. He could be kind,vicious,loyal and quick with a joke. I must say outright that he was a gangster and a criminal. I do not endorse his way of life by any means, but I will admit that I am fascinated with his staying power (still popular 80 years after his era and 63 years after his death)! This non profit website was made to educate and satisfy various people interested in this particular era of history. People from all walks of life visit and enjoy these pages. It all started with a single web page and then quickly snowballed into what you see today. After coaxing by some media people,(they almost had to twist my arm, literally!) I finally gave in and appeared on History channel T.V. documentary, participated in some newspaper and television news stories for my Capone research / collection. Click through to let me share the past and some of my collection with you. Enjoy!
Mario Gomes
A telling postcard from Chicago, circa 1908
The Museum Directory
Please visit my links page for further historic gangster related sites.
They are now found here
My Al Capone Tattoo
Finally got my Al Capone tattoo.This is the beautiful result after spending 7 hours in the chair.
Excellent and professional tattoo/artist Maxime Gariepy manned the gun. My special thanks to him for this awesome tattoo.
MY Al Capone Museum
Mario Gomes can be contacted at margomes@total.net
In Memoriam
St. Louis Police Chief and fellow collector Mike Webb.