Playboys, Pulaski Park, Ventures gangs - Gangs in Polish Chicago

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

Play Boys | Ventures | Pulaski Parkers

Play Boys, Ventures, and the Pulaski Parkers were three Northside Chicago Stone Greaser gangs that had formed an alliance. This alliance was once a rival of the Gaylords, but for a period of time in the 70s there was a Play Boy Ventures Gaylord unity.

Devil, from the original H&W Ventures, had this to say: “The Playboys were originally called the Polish Viking Playboys but cut it down to Playboys, and the three white Gangs from around Ashland and Division Ventures, Playboys and Pulaski Park boys all got together and formed the PVPs. I became a Venture after Doc and Kong got killed and Hung at St. Mary’s Church with the North and Damen Jousters, playboys and Ventures. . I went from that Last Stand against the Ricans up to Lawndale and fought at that last Stand..... Wouldn't change a Thing.”

GreasersUnited

P.V.R. was another alliance that stood for Play Boys Ventures Rice Boys

Pee Wee Cragin Park Play Boys 1986

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The Almighty Cragin Park Play Boys

The Playboys, or P.V.R, were part of the United Five Organization (UFO), which included: Gaylords, Playboys, C-Notes, and the Taylor Jousters. This alliance started in the early 1970's and lasted into the 1980's prior to the People/Folk Unities.