Bookmakers on a greyhound race course, Reading, Berkshire
A bookmaker, bookie, or turf accountant is an organization or a person that accepts and pays off bets on sporting and other events at agreed-upon odds.
History[edit]
In a far more simple time - from 1920 to the early 1950s - it was easy to find a little gaming action in Miami Beach. You could take an elevator to the ninth floor of the Floridian Hotel, walk. The changes at Bookie’s Club 870 coincided with several changes in music, culture and, even, the law at the time as the drinking age nationally went f rom 18 to 21 making it harder for younger people, without a fake ID, to get into clubs. Bookie’s Calendar – September 1981 (Courtesy of Kevin Knapp) By 1980-1981, punk was mutating.
- A bookmaker, bookie, or turf accountant is an organization or a person that accepts and pays off bets on sporting and other events at agreed-upon odds Contents 1 History.
- Led by Abe Bernstein, the Purple Gang was a mob of bootleggers and hijackers who operated out of Detroit, Michigan in the 1920s. This group of mostly young Jewish immigrants got its start in the Hasting Street neighborhood known as Paradise Valley in Detroit’s Lower East Side.
- A minor actress in the 1920s and ’30s, Peggy Hopkins Joyce reputedly inspired the rich-husband-stalking character Lorelie Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The most celebrated of Joyce’s six marriages were calculated liaisons that vaulted this woman of humble birth into high society.
The first bookmaker, Ogden, stood at Newmarket in 1795.[1]
Range of events[edit]
Bookmakers in many countries focus on accepting bets on professional sports, especially horse racing and association football (soccer). However, a wider range of bets, including on political elections, awards ceremonies such as the Oscars, and novelty bets are accepted by bookmakers in some countries.
Operational procedures[edit]
By 'adjusting the odds' in their favour (paying out amounts using odds that are less than what they determined to be the true odds) or by having a point spread, bookmakers aim to guarantee a profit by achieving a 'balanced book', either by getting an equal number of bets for each possible outcome or (when they are offering odds) by getting the amounts wagered on each outcome to reflect the odds.[2] When a large bet comes in, a bookmaker may also try to lay off the risk by buying bets from other bookmakers. Bookmakers do not generally attempt to make money from the bets themselves but rather by acting as market makers and profiting from the event regardless of the outcome. Their working methods are similar to those of an actuary, who does a similar balancing of financial outcomes of events for the assurance and insurance industries.
Legality[edit]
Depending on the country, bookmaking may be legal or illegal and is often regulated. In the United Kingdom, since 1 May 1961, bookmaking has been legal and has even been a small contributor to the British economy, with a recent explosion of interest with regard to the international gaming sector industry. However, gambling debts were unenforceable under British law until the Gambling Act 2005. Many bookmakers are members of IBAS, an industry organisation used to settle disputes.
Bookmaking is generally illegal in the United States, with Nevada being an exception due to the influence of Las Vegas. In May 2018, a United States Supreme Court ruling struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, which prevented individual states from legalizing bookmaking.
In some countries, such as Singapore, Sweden, Canada, and Japan, the only legal bookmaker is owned and operated by the state. In Canada, this is part of the lottery programme and is known as Sport Select.
United Kingdom gambling industry[edit]
The first bookmaker in the United Kingdom is considered to be Harry Ogden, who opened a business in the 1790s, although similar activities had existed in other forms earlier in the eighteenth century.[3][4]
Following the Gaming Act 1845, the only gambling allowed in the United Kingdom was at race tracks. The introduction of special excursion trains meant that all classes of society could attend the new racecourses opening across the country. Cash flowed to the bookmakers who employed bodyguards against protection gangs operating within the vast crowds.[5] Illegal betting shops were fined, but some, like Bella Thomasson, ran betting businesses that the police appeared to turn a blind eye to.[6]
In 1961, Harold Macmillan's Conservative government legalised betting shops, with tough measures enacted to ensure that bookmakers remained honest. A large industry has grown since. At one time, there were over 15,000 betting shops. Now, through consolidation, they have been reduced to between 9,100 and 9,200 in 2013.[7] The group of the largest bookmakers in the country, known as the 'Big Three', comprises William Hill, Ladbrokes, and Coral.[8]
Improved TV coverage and the modernisation of the law have allowed betting in shops and casinos in most countries. In the UK, on-track bookies still mark up the odds on boards beside the race course and use tic-tac or mobile telephones to communicate the odds between their staff and to other bookies, but, with the modernisation of United Kingdom bookmaking laws, online and high street gambling are at an all-time high. A so-called super-casino had been planned for construction in Manchester, but the government announced that this plan had been scrapped on 26 February 2008.
Internet gambling[edit]
Although online gambling first started in 1994 when the licensing authority of Antigua and Barbuda passed the Free Trade & Processes Act, bookmakers did not get involved until 2001. They were forced to act when research at the time found there were eight million online players worldwide.[9]
With the arrival of the World Wide Web, many bookmakers have an online brand, but independently owned bookmakers often still maintain a 'bricks and mortar' only operation as the software and hardware required to operate a successful online betting operation are complex and their costs are quite prohibitive; other bookmakers operate 'skins' or 'white label' websites, which they purchase from one of the large firms. The main websites require bets to be from countries where Internet gambling is allowed and from people over 18 years old. Some small bookmakers and startups purchase software from specialised white label solution providers. Since gambling products have a high conversion rate from one niche to another, most online betting websites also feature other gambling products such as poker, live dealer casino games, lottery, bingo, slots and other casino games. Controversially, the explosion in Internet gambling is being linked to a rise in gambling addiction, according to the UK's help and advice organisations for addicts, GamCare and Gamblers Anonymous.
Increasingly, online bettors are turning to the use of betting exchanges such as Betfair and BETDAQ, which automatically match back and lay bets between different bettors, thus effectively cutting out the bookmaker's traditional profit margin also called an overround.
These online exchange markets operate a market index of prices near but usually not at 100% competitiveness, as exchanges take commissions on winnings. True wholesale odds are odds that operate at 100% of probabilistic outcomes.
Betting exchanges compete with the traditional bookmaker. They are generally able to offer punters better odds because of their much lower overheads but also give opportunities for arbitrage, the practice of taking advantage of a price differential between two or more markets. However, traditionally, arbitrage has always been possible by backing all outcomes with bookmakers (dutching), as opposed to laying an outcome on an exchange. Exchanges, however, allow bookmakers to see the state of the market and set their odds accordingly.
With the increasing number of online betting exchanges, betting exchanges are now providing free bet offers in an attempt to lure customers away from the competition. These free bets are generally based on the size of the deposit made into the gambling account. For example, if a customer made a deposit of $20, the betting exchange would deposit an additional $20 for the customer to use.[10] Free bet rules vary depending on the betting exchange.
Some bookmakers have even taken to using betting exchanges as a way of laying off unfavourable bets and thus reducing their overall exposure. This has led to insecurity from some TABs in Australia, state-run betting agencies that attempted to deny Betfair an Australian licence by running unfavourable ads in the media regarding the company. When Tasmania granted Betfair a licence despite these efforts, the Western Australian state legislature passed a law that specifically criminalised using betting exchanges from within the state; however, the law was later ruled to be unconstitutional. As a result, internet gambling in Australia required a new legal framework. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 regulates the online gambling market in Australia, together with all its amendments. The last amendment was introduced on 13 September 2017. This bill states that online casinos, online poker and live betting is illegal in Australia. The Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) is the regulatory body that is in charge of all supervising online gambling activities. Online sports betting is legal, however.[11]
Bets are also taken via phones, using email and SMS text messages,[12] though poker and other sports are more suited to other media. As technology moves on, the gambling world ensures it is a major player in new technology operations.
Most televised sports in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe are now sponsored wholly or partly by Internet and high street bookmakers, with sometimes several bookmakers and online casinos being displayed on players' shirts, advertising hoardings, stadium signs and competition event titles. Sponsors are especially highlighted in the football category since football fans present a significant percentage of the target group the bookmakers serve.
Many of the bookmakers are sponsoring some of the major football teams in the major European football leagues,[13] although Werder Bremen are currently fighting the German courts for the freedom to continue featuring bookmaker Bwin on their shirts, as Germany and France take action against online gamers. For example, as of 1 January 2020, Germany bettors will not be able to bet more than €1,000 a month. The latest amendment of the ITG states that. New online sportsbook laws are expected in the near future in Germany, as this law is only temporary: the expiration date is set to be on 20 June 2020.[14]
The situation is not that strict in France, however. Online sports betting in France is divided into two sections: Autorité de Régulation des Jeux en Ligne (ARJEL) regulates online sports betting, while online horse betting is regulated by the law 'Decree 2010-498 from 17 May 2010. International bookmakers are allowed to enter the French market, thanks to the Law No. 2010-476 from 12 May 2010.[15][16]
With the recent banning of tobacco sponsorship[17] and the significant commercial budgets available to the gaming industry, sponsorship by car manufacturers, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and fast-food marketers is being rapidly replaced by sponsorship from gaming companies in the Far East and Europe.
The United Kingdom's Gambling Act 2005 introduced a new regulatory system for governing gambling in Great Britain. This system includes new provisions for regulating the advertising of gambling products. These provisions of the Act came into effect in September 2007. It is an offence to advertise in the UK, gambling that physically takes place in a non-European Economic Area (EEA) or, in the case of gambling by remote means, gambling that is not regulated by the gambling laws of an EEA state. The Gambling Commission is the body that makes sure all sites and operators follow the new restrictions. In addition to the Gambling Act of 2005, according to the new gambling bill, online gambling sites are only allowed to offer services within the United Kingdom, if they are registered at the UK Gambling Commission.[18]
1920s Cookies
The situation is more confused in the United States, which has attempted to restrict operators of foreign gambling websites accessing their domestic market. This resulted in 2007 in a ruling against the US government by the World Trade Organization.[19] However, common online gambling laws in the United States still don't exist - it differs from state to state. All forms of online gambling are illegal within the states of Utah and Hawaii, while the states of Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey took a different approach: almost all forms of online gambling are legal in these states. These are the only US states where online casino sites can be legally registered. It is important to mention that Native Americans have their own gambling legislation - the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. However, they need their state's approval in order to be able to offer their services online.[20]
See also[edit]
- Bookies – a German film
References[edit]
- ^Barrett, Norman, ed. (1995). The Daily Telegraph Chronicle of Horse Racing. Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Publishing. p. 10.
- ^Cortis, Dominic (2015). 'Expected Values and variance in bookmaker payouts: A Theoretical Approach towards setting limits on odds'. Journal of Prediction Markets. 1. 9.
- ^Munting, Roger (1996). An Economic and Social History of Gambling in Britain and the USA. Manchester University Press. p. 89.
- ^Vamplew, Wray; Kay, Joyce. (2005). Encyclopedia of British Horseracing. Routledge. p. 50.
- ^Dick Kirby, The Race Track Gangs, The Peeler issue 7 July 2002, 'Friends of the Met Police Museum'
- ^'Thomason, Ann Arabella [known as Bella Thomasson] (1874–1959), bookmaker'. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/56685.
- ^Gambling Commission Gambling industry statistics April 2009 to September 2012
- ^Vamplew and Kay, p. 51.
- ^'A history of online casinos: infographic'. rightcasino.com.
- ^'The Most Common Sportsbook Bonus Types'. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^Communications. 'Interactive Gambling Act 2001'. www.legislation.gov.au. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^'Betfred.com Chooses OtherLevels' Platform to Power Their Mobile Marketing Campaigns'. Market Watch. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^'A Look At Bookmakers Sponsoring Football Clubs'. ReliableBookies.com. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ^'Entwurf eines Dritten Staatsvertrages zur Änderung des Staatsvertrages zum Glücksspielwesen in Deutschland (Dritter Glücksspieländerungsstaatsvertrag)'(PDF). Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen.
- ^LOI n° 2010-476 du 12 mai 2010 relative à l'ouverture à la concurrence et à la régulation du secteur des jeux d'argent et de hasard en ligne (1). Legifrance. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^Décret n° 2010-498 du 17 mai 2010 relatif à la définition des courses hippiques supports des paris en ligne et aux principes généraux du pari mutuel. Legifrance. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^Holman, C D'Arcy; Donovan, Robert; Corti, Billie; Jalleh, Geoffrey; Frizzell, Shirley; Carroll, Addy. 'Banning tobacco sponsorship: replacing tobacco with health messages and creating health-promoting environments'. The British Medical Journal. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^'The Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014'. UK Gambling Commission. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^'WTO rules against US gaming ban'. BBC News. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^'Public Law 100-497-OCT. 17, 1988: An Act to regulate gaming on Indian lands'(PDF). Government Publishing Office [US]. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bookmaker&oldid=1010231995'
Ellsworth Raymond Johnson, better known as Bumpy Johnson, was an American mob
boss and book maker in the Harlem section of New York City.
boss and book maker in the Harlem section of New York City.
Johnson is famous for rising from an enforcer under Stephanie Saint Clair, to
taking over her operations and becoming the main black man whom the Italian
mafia would deal with.
taking over her operations and becoming the main black man whom the Italian
mafia would deal with.
Bumpy became so legendary that, despite passing away in 1968, he’s depicted
in several modern movies, TV shows, and songs.
in several modern movies, TV shows, and songs.
Let’s continue discussing this famed gangster by looking at his early life,
enforcer days, book making, and dealings with the Italian mafia, pop culture
references, and a modern controversy involving Frank Lucas.
enforcer days, book making, and dealings with the Italian mafia, pop culture
references, and a modern controversy involving Frank Lucas.
Bumpy Johnson’s Early Life
Although Johnson became famous in New York, his life began over 750 miles away
in Charleston, South Carolina.
in Charleston, South Carolina.
Born on October 31, 1905, Johnson grew up during the Segregation Era. It’s
during these early days that he earned the nickname Bumpy after hitting his head
and developing a large bump.
during these early days that he earned the nickname Bumpy after hitting his head
and developing a large bump.
Times were tough for Ellsworth and his brother, Willie, since blacks faced
racism and oppression, especially in the Deep South.
racism and oppression, especially in the Deep South.
When Bumpy was 10, Willie was accused of killing a white man. His parents
were worried that a lynch mob would kill him before a proper trial, so they sent
Willie up north to live with relatives.
were worried that a lynch mob would kill him before a proper trial, so they sent
Willie up north to live with relatives.
Bumpy wasn’t far behind because his parents were afraid that he, too, would
eventually be persecuted due to his temper and insolence towards whites.
eventually be persecuted due to his temper and insolence towards whites.
In 1919, Johnson was sent to live with his sister, Mabel, in Harlem – one of
the biggest urban areas that blacks poured into to fill labor shortages left by
World War I.
the biggest urban areas that blacks poured into to fill labor shortages left by
World War I.
From Selling Newspapers to Prison
Arriving in Harlem as a young teenager, Johnson sold newspapers and swept
floors to make ends meet.
floors to make ends meet.
He also began shooting dice and playing pool for money, which marked
Johnson’s introduction to gambling.
Johnson’s introduction to gambling.
Bumpy also met friends and future criminal associates in Natt Pettigrew and
Bub Hewlett. The latter became one of Johnson’s early partners as they charged
local stores protection money in typical mafia style.
Bub Hewlett. The latter became one of Johnson’s early partners as they charged
local stores protection money in typical mafia style.
Over the next decade, Bumpy would spend much of his life behind bars for a
number of crimes. Betonline refer a friend wants. But his life would take a huge turn by the age of 32, when he
started working for Stephanie St. Clair.
number of crimes. Betonline refer a friend wants. But his life would take a huge turn by the age of 32, when he
started working for Stephanie St. Clair.
The Queen of Numbers
Known as the Madame, or Queen of Numbers, St. Clair made her early fortune by
selling controlled drugs.
selling controlled drugs.
She later got into the numbers game, which is an illegal lottery that was
especially popular in ghettos during the early and mid-1900s.
especially popular in ghettos during the early and mid-1900s.
The numbers game involves bettors trying to match three digits that will be
drawn randomly the following day. The operation was very lucrative for St.
Clair, and she made $20,000 per year in the 1920s, approx. $285k today.
drawn randomly the following day. The operation was very lucrative for St.
Clair, and she made $20,000 per year in the 1920s, approx. $285k today.
This is key to Johnson because he would one day take over St. Clair’s
operations and assume control of the lucrative numbers game.
operations and assume control of the lucrative numbers game.
But in the beginning, he was brought aboard to provide protection against the
notorious gangster Dutch Shultz – a.k.a. the Beer Baron of the Bronx.
notorious gangster Dutch Shultz – a.k.a. the Beer Baron of the Bronx.
Johnson, St. Clair Refuse to Yield to Schultz
When the Prohibition Era ended in the early 1930s, Jewish and Italian
American mobs saw their bootlegging profits disappear. This caused some of them
to move into the Harlem gambling scene and demand protection money from those
running numbers games.
American mobs saw their bootlegging profits disappear. This caused some of them
to move into the Harlem gambling scene and demand protection money from those
running numbers games.
Schultz was the first and most ruthless gangster to move into Harlem, beating
and / or killing those who wouldn’t pay his protection fees.
and / or killing those who wouldn’t pay his protection fees.
While most numbers game operators yielded to the German Jewish American
mobster, St. Clair and Bumpy were one of the few Harlem based gangs to refuse.
mobster, St. Clair and Bumpy were one of the few Harlem based gangs to refuse.
This sparked a bloody war, where some of St. Clair’s allies were murdered by
Schultz’s mob. She complained about police corruption aiding Schultz to the New
York Police Department, but to no avail.
Schultz’s mob. She complained about police corruption aiding Schultz to the New
York Police Department, but to no avail.
By 1935, after being weakened by Schultz’s attacks, St. Clair made desperate
moves like attacking storefronts of the businesses that Schultz was supposed to
protect. She also tipped police off to his activities, which resulted in the
arrest of over a dozen of his men and the seizure of $12 million, or $216
million today.
moves like attacking storefronts of the businesses that Schultz was supposed to
protect. She also tipped police off to his activities, which resulted in the
arrest of over a dozen of his men and the seizure of $12 million, or $216
million today.
St. Clair and Johnson received a stroke of luck when Luciano had Schultz
assassinated after the latter went against his orders and tried to kill U.S.
Attorney Thomas Dewey.
assassinated after the latter went against his orders and tried to kill U.S.
Attorney Thomas Dewey.
Rather than maintaining the hostility that Schultz had towards St. Clair and
Bumpy, Luciano was interested in working with them.
Bumpy, Luciano was interested in working with them.
Bumpy Johnson Takes Over Harlem Numbers Game
After struggling with Schultz for years, St. Clair moved away from her
illegal operations and handed everything over to Bumpy. Not only was he her
loyal enforcer, but the two were involved in a relationship at the time.
illegal operations and handed everything over to Bumpy. Not only was he her
loyal enforcer, but the two were involved in a relationship at the time.
Johnson’s first order of business was to negotiate a deal with Luciano. They
struck a pact where numbers operators would remain independent as long as they
participated in the Italian mafia’s central gambling pool and paid tributes.
struck a pact where numbers operators would remain independent as long as they
participated in the Italian mafia’s central gambling pool and paid tributes.
The deal instantly increased Johnson’s respect in Harlem because prior to
him, black men had little success negotiating with the mafia.
him, black men had little success negotiating with the mafia.
Bumpy would continue running St. Clair’s lottery operation while also
expanding into the illegal narcotics trade. The gang grew under his command and
he eventually became the kingpin of Harlem.
expanding into the illegal narcotics trade. The gang grew under his command and
he eventually became the kingpin of Harlem.
Whether it was the Italian mafia or smaller gangs wanting to do illegal
business in Harlem, everybody now had to come through Johnson first.
business in Harlem, everybody now had to come through Johnson first.
Becoming a Celebrity & Marriage
With his numbers game, reputation, and net worth growing, Johnson became
increasingly popular throughout Harlem.
increasingly popular throughout Harlem.
This led to friendships with other famous Harlemites, including Cab Calloway,
Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Bojangles Robinson, and Sugar Ray Robinson.
Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Bojangles Robinson, and Sugar Ray Robinson.
In 1948, he met 34 year old Mayme Hatcher at Frasier’s Restaurant. Bumpy
quickly fell in love with Hatcher and they got married in an impromptu civil
ceremony.
quickly fell in love with Hatcher and they got married in an impromptu civil
ceremony.
“In October that year we were driving past 116th and St. Nicholas Avenue in
his Cadillac when he suddenly turned to me and said, ‘Mayme, I think you and I
should go ahead and get married,'” recalled Hatcher. “I was stunned, but I kept
my composure. I said simply, ‘Is that right?'” -Mayme Hatcher
his Cadillac when he suddenly turned to me and said, ‘Mayme, I think you and I
should go ahead and get married,'” recalled Hatcher. “I was stunned, but I kept
my composure. I said simply, ‘Is that right?'” -Mayme Hatcher
Being the wife of the richest gangster in Harlem not only meant enjoying the
finer things, but also dealing with rivals who loved Bumpy.
finer things, but also dealing with rivals who loved Bumpy.
![Book Book](/uploads/1/3/6/6/136649944/496007029.jpg)
“Before long I was known as Bumpy’s girl. It was a good title to possess. It
meant I could get in anywhere I wanted to go, I was treated as queen wherever I
went, and I was showered with gifts and jewelry on a steady basis,” she
explained.
meant I could get in anywhere I wanted to go, I was treated as queen wherever I
went, and I was showered with gifts and jewelry on a steady basis,” she
explained.
“It also meant that I was constantly accosted by other women who were in love
with Bumpy and wanted me out of the way. At first I was upset, but then I pretty
much learned to ignore them.”
with Bumpy and wanted me out of the way. At first I was upset, but then I pretty
much learned to ignore them.”
Mayme remained married to Johnson until he died of a heart attack in 1968.
Bumpy Sentenced to Alcatraz Prison
In the summer of 1952, Jet, a weekly magazine aimed at African American
readers, began profiling Bumpy and his lavish lifestyle.
readers, began profiling Bumpy and his lavish lifestyle.
Unfortunately, 1952 also saw Johnson indicted for selling heroin. Bumpy
argued that he was framed, but he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
argued that he was framed, but he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Jet reported that Johnson lost his appeal and was sentenced to 15 years at
Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay.
Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay.
Listed as inmate No. 1117, Bumpy’s term would last from 1954 to 63. He was
sent to Alcatraz because, with its island location, strong currents, and cold
waters, it was considered American’s most secure prison.
sent to Alcatraz because, with its island location, strong currents, and cold
waters, it was considered American’s most secure prison.
Despite this fact, unconfirmed reports suggest that Bumpy helped three fellow
inmates escape by arranging for a boat to pick them up once they escaped the
prison walls and reached San Francisco Bay.
inmates escape by arranging for a boat to pick them up once they escaped the
prison walls and reached San Francisco Bay.
This would be an incredible feat considering that, of the 36 men who tried to
escape Alcatraz, 31 were caught, shot, or drowned.
escape Alcatraz, 31 were caught, shot, or drowned.
Johnson is depicted by a character named English in the 1979 Clint Eastwood
film Escape from Alcatraz.
film Escape from Alcatraz.
Johnson was released from Alcatraz in 1963 and greeted with a parade upon his
return to Harlem.
return to Harlem.
![1920s Bookie 1920s Bookie](/uploads/1/3/6/6/136649944/667919597.jpg)
1920s Book Covers
In 1965, Bumpy arranged a sit down strike at a local police station to
protest their continued surveillance of his activities. Johnson was charged with
“refusal to leave a police station,” but was later acquitted.
protest their continued surveillance of his activities. Johnson was charged with
“refusal to leave a police station,” but was later acquitted.
Bumpy Johnson’s Death
By 1968, Johnson was under indictment again for drug related crimes. But he
would never go to court because he passed away due to congestive heart failure
on July 7 at age 62.
would never go to court because he passed away due to congestive heart failure
on July 7 at age 62.
His final moments were spent in Harlem’s Wells Restaurant, where the waitress
had just brought one of his favorite meals – chicken legs, hominy grits, and
coffee.
had just brought one of his favorite meals – chicken legs, hominy grits, and
coffee.
He was clutching his chest when childhood friend Finley Hoskins ran to the
Rhythm Club to get another friend, Junie Byrd. When Byrd arrived, he held
Johnson in his arms, and Bumpy opened his eyes and smiled before going
unconscious.
Rhythm Club to get another friend, Junie Byrd. When Byrd arrived, he held
Johnson in his arms, and Bumpy opened his eyes and smiled before going
unconscious.
He was pronounced dead at Harlem Hospital and buried in the Bronx’s Woodlawn
Commentary.
Commentary.
Bumpy Johnson Depictions in Pop Culture
Movies
- 1971 movie Shaft, portrayed by Moses Gunn as Bumpy Jones, a Harlem gangster
who needs Shaft’s help in saving his kidnapped daughter. - 1972 movie Come Back
Charleston Blue, portrayed by Godfrey Cambridge as Charleston Blue, a vigilante
who tries to help Harlem by killing criminals with a straight razor. He
disappears after setting out to kill Dutch Schultz with his razor. - 1984 movie
The Cotton Club, portrayed by Laurence Fishburne as Bumpy Rhodes, who intervenes
based on the cruel treatment of performers at Schultz’s Cotton Club. - 1997 movie Hoodlum, Fishburne again plays Johnson, who is embroiled in a bloody war with
the psychotic Schultz. - 2007 movie American Gangster, Clarence Williams III
portrays Johnson, who serves as a mentor to Harlem gangster Frank Lucas. This
film sees Bumpy die in a store during the day time, rather than in Wells
Restaurant during the night time.
Music
- Mentioned in the Lupe Fiasco song Failure: “I’m Bumpy Johnson I stick to the
streets.” - Mentioned in the Mac Dre song Genie of the Lamp: “I’m Samuel and
Denzel in one body and Bumpy faced Johnson, I’ll kill somebody.” - Mentioned in
the Nas and Damian Marley song Leaders: “Ellsworth Bumpy Johnsons, the
Harlemites and Garveyites, black as the credit card we swipe.” - Prodigy released his first full album in 2011 under the name The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson EP.
TV
- An episode of Unsolved Mysteries explores the report that Bumpy helped three
inmates escape Alcatraz and get to the shores of San Francisco. The episode
claims that Johnson arranged for a boat to pick the three men up at San
Francisco Bay, where it then dropped them off at Pier 13 in the city’s Hunters
Point District. - An episode of HBO’s The Wire called “All Due Respect” sees Tree
reference Bumpy right before killing Jelly over a dog fight. The men were
talking about how a legend where Bumpy attacked a police station by himself.
Frank Lucas Controversy
After seeing the release of American Gangster in 2007, Mayme Johnson took
exception to how the film misrepresented her late husband and Frank Lucas’
relationship.
exception to how the film misrepresented her late husband and Frank Lucas’
relationship.
Portrayed by Denzel Washington, Lucas is shown to be Bumpy’s second in
command, before Johnson dies of a heart attack in his arms.
command, before Johnson dies of a heart attack in his arms.
“Frank wasn’t nothing but a flunky, and one that Bumpy never did really
trust,” said Mayme. “Bumpy would let Frank drive him around, but you’d better
believe that he was never in any important meetings or anything. He would say,
you can trust a thief quicker than a liar, because a thief steals money because
he needs money, but a liar lies for the hell of it!” -Mayme
trust,” said Mayme. “Bumpy would let Frank drive him around, but you’d better
believe that he was never in any important meetings or anything. He would say,
you can trust a thief quicker than a liar, because a thief steals money because
he needs money, but a liar lies for the hell of it!” -Mayme
Mayme was especially angry after hearing Lucas’ account that her husband died
in his arms, noting that he probably thought the lie would stand because it
happened back in 1968.
in his arms, noting that he probably thought the lie would stand because it
happened back in 1968.
“Junie Byrd’s gone, Nat Pettigrew’s gone, Sonny Chance is gone, and Finley
Hoskin’s gone,” said Johnson.
Hoskin’s gone,” said Johnson.
1920s Book Characters
“Frank would never have said any garbage like that if one of them were alive
because he’d know they’d come after him. I bet he thought I was gone, too, but
I’m not. I’m 93, and I don’t have Alzheimer’s or dementia, and I’m not senile.
Frank Lucas is a damn liar and I want the world to know it.”
because he’d know they’d come after him. I bet he thought I was gone, too, but
I’m not. I’m 93, and I don’t have Alzheimer’s or dementia, and I’m not senile.
Frank Lucas is a damn liar and I want the world to know it.”
Mayme implied that if Lucas lied about Bumpy dying in his arms and their
overall relationship, then he probably lied about other elements of the American
Gangster story too.
overall relationship, then he probably lied about other elements of the American
Gangster story too.
Conclusion
1920s Cookie Recipes
From warring with one of the most feared mobsters of all time to helping men
escape from Alcatraz, Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson is a true legend.
escape from Alcatraz, Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson is a true legend.
His life started humbly in the deep South, but quickly changed when his
parents sent him to Harlem. It’s here where he started providing protection for
storefronts and eventually began working for Stephanie St. Clair – a.k.a. the
Queen of Numbers.
parents sent him to Harlem. It’s here where he started providing protection for
storefronts and eventually began working for Stephanie St. Clair – a.k.a. the
Queen of Numbers.
Following a bloody war with Schultz, Johnson furthered his legend by making a
deal with Lucky Luciano and taking over St. Clair’s illegal lottery.
deal with Lucky Luciano and taking over St. Clair’s illegal lottery.
Eventually, Bumpy became so rich and famous that he earned celebrity friends,
was profiled in magazines, and married Mayme – the love of his life.
was profiled in magazines, and married Mayme – the love of his life.
Unfortunately, his life was also met with struggles, including being arrested
40 different times and doing three lengthy stints in prison.
40 different times and doing three lengthy stints in prison.
1940s Boogie Woogie
By 1963, he had done his last prison stint in the notorious Alcatraz prison.
He was facing more prison time while under indictment in 1968, but he passed
away before the trial.
He was facing more prison time while under indictment in 1968, but he passed
away before the trial.