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Prohibition is Back

Right around this time last year, we were more than excited by the filming of Boardwalk Empire at nearby restaurant John’s of 12th Street (check out photos from the filming HERE).  So we were thrilled last week when EV Grieve alerted us that the prohibition-era mob show would be back .  Today the HBO series was filming at Mary Help of Christians, the Roman Catholic Church on 12th Street and Avenue A about which GVSHP recently did some reporting.

The church’s surrounding environs were once a thriving Italian-American community.  Not unlike the South Village, the center of this Italian immigrant community was its church.  Although Boardwalk Empire mainly follows the Irish mob of Atlantic City, it often transports its viewers to New York City where the Jewish mob had held sway on the Lower East Side and the Italian mob had a large presence in the East Village.  The latter was concentrated in this area around Mary Help of Christians.

The big name in East Village Italian mobsters was Charles “Lucky” Luciano, who grew up on East 10th Street, ate at John’s, and held secret meetings in DeRobertis Pasticceria.  So it was no surprise that the show was also doing some filming today back at John’s.

Now, let’s get to the photos!

the crew getting things ready at Mary Help of Christians

the crew setting up John's of 12th Street
good thing the heatwave isn't arriving until tomorrow- those period costumes look hot!

We weren’t able to snap any photos of the show’s main characters, so if you were in the neighborhood today and got some, please share them with us!

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