John Binder isn’t tied to the mob, but you could definitely call him the Godfather of gangster tours.
After all, the River Forest resident has been giving his “There Goes the Neighborhood” tour for 10 years now, and it’s that time once again. Binder’s first jaunt of the season kicks off May 22.
Pardon the pun, but throughout the last decade, Binder’s tours have become a big “hit.”
“It seemed a natural, given how many hoods lived in the area, and the addresses I had already when I got the idea, plus what I knew about these lives of these guys,” said Binder, author of “The Chicago Outfit.”
There are 14 houses on the approximately two-hour bus tour. See for yourself where some of the most notorious goons (some with very strange names) ever lived. There’s Paul “the Waiter” Ricca, “Tough Tony” Capezio, Tony Accardo, Sam Giancana, “Machine Gun” Jack McGurn, Frankie Lake, “Three Fingered Jack” White, and “Slippery Frank” Rio, to name a few.
Although you’ll see the home’s exteriors only, while doing so you’ll hear tales covering the Prohibition Era to almost present day. Binder answers questions and discusses each home’s unique features and its former owner’s criminal past, as well as what was happening with their family. You’ll hear stories of bullet-proof glass windows, built-in bank vaults, murders and much more.
“I know about some tunnels, secret rooms, hidden stairs …,” said Binder, who teaches classes at the University of Illinois at Chicago and also does a variety of consulting work.
Some of the houses are rather plain, said Binder, who co-authored the book, “Philadelphia Organized Crime in the 1920s and 1930s.” Others have some very ornate features, such as the mansion Accardo owned at 915 Franklin with its unique ceiling moldings, as well as gold-plated plumbing fixtures on the second floor. Also, the master bathtub was cut from one solid piece of white onyx and originally cost $10,000.
“Overall, 915 Franklin, which has been fully restored by the current owners, is magnificent inside and out,” Binder said. “Several of the houses also have very nice marble around the fireplaces, surely in some cases imported directly from Italy.”
Some of the most prominent leaders in organized crime lived in Oak Park and River Forest, said Binder, whose interest in gangsters was piqued around seventh grade after he read a book about Chicago Mafia. Binder has now been inside 10 of the 14 homes you’ll see, so this year he’ll have some interesting new interior details to reveal.
“Nothing super dramatic,” Binder said. “[It’s] just that I’ve been in a few more of the houses recently.”
So whether you’re a mob buff, history lover or just curious about these renowned thugs, join Binder for an interesting and informative couple of hours.
“I think anyone who is interested in the history of the Chicago mob or who lived in or lives in Oak Park and River Forest would enjoy the tour,” Binder said.
The “There Goes the Neighborhood” tour is $30 per person ($27 for seniors and military). The tour bus departs from and returns to the Oak Park Visitor Center, 1010 Lake St. Call 708-848-1500 or visit www.visitoakpark.com for tickets. You can also hit Binder’s website at www.oprfgangstertour.com
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.Felicia Dechter is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.