Interview with a 1970s greaser: Chicago Greaser!

Read about Greasers in the 1970s and 80s in the book "Lords of Lawndale".

Portrait of a Delinquent, by Barbara Levine

“Johnny,” a 15 year old delinquent who comes from the Lower East Side slums. He is the son of a worthless father and a hard-drinking mother. The boy is the president and the toughest member of the Third Street Gang.

After noting that Johnny had joined the gang when he was 12, the writer went on:

“Now let us view a typical day in his life.”

“He comes home from school at 3 o’clock. He meets his gang at the clubhouse. When he arrives, the members are discussing ways of fighting their enemies, the Second Street Gang.

“It is decided that the fight will be waged with clubs. They will sneak up and take them by surprise. They arrange to meet at 7 o’clock.

“The appointed time arrives, and we find Johnny and his gang ready to fight their adversaries. Slowly they tread along until they come to their foe’s clubhouse. Johnny gives the signal for attack. The Second Street Gang is unprepared for the melee, and so it is an easy fight. The victors destroy the clubhouse and trash the vanquished.

“Johnny goes back to his home late that night and finds his parents are having a argument about their lack of money. Under this tension he goes to bed and finally falls asleep.”

"Student Sketches Gang Delinquency" New York Times (1857-Current file); Feb 1, 1957;page 10.

"I heard the Horsemen were Busting out, bopping the gang on the next block so I went and had myself a look! It was a rumble for real with zip guns, jackhammers, the works!" From the movie: The Young Savages, 1960.

"We're going to have to bop our way back!" "What are we waiting for?" "The train would help. Unless you want to get japped on an open platform!" From the movie: The Warriors, 1979.

"Gang Slang" By PHILIP BENJAMIN New York Times (1857-Current file); Oct 20, 1957; pg. SM28