Registration deadline: Oct. 4th
Step into the shadowy world of 1930s Toledo, a time of G-Men, speakeasies, and infamous gangsters like Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, and Machine Gun Kelly on this fun, narrated bus tour. Brace yourself for the gripping tale of Thomas Yonnie Licavoli and his Detroit mob, who descended upon Toledo in 1931, leaving a trail of violence unlike anything the city had seen before—14 murders in just 36 months.
Historian Tedd Long will take us on a journey back in time to Toledo’s darkest days, when the Tenderloin district rivaled the city's gambling halls in notoriety. Find the former illicit hotspots and hangouts of the Licavoli Gang, the enigmatic club owner Jack Kennedy, kingpin Jimmy Hayes, and a colorful cast of characters—each meticulously researched and historically accurate.
The tour's climax centers around the most sensational crime of the era: the July 1933 assassination of Jack Kennedy, a young club owner and bootlegger, in Point Place. Experience Jack's gripping story firsthand during this two-hour driving tour, spanning downtown Toledo and the city's northern reaches.
At the end of the tour, we will enjoy a delicious lunch at Angelo's Northwood Villa, once a haven for alcohol, gambling & other organized crime activities. Operated by the gambling kingpin Jimmy Hayes, its location was perfect for smuggling whiskey from Canada, into Detroit, and throughout Michigan and Ohio. We will enjoy a pre-set menu of Angelo’s popular Chicken Marsala with a side of seasonal veggies and tiramisu for dessert. Beverages (served in pitchers for the whole table) will include Coca-Cola, Sprite, lemonade, and water. For the herbivores among us, a delicious Vegan Villa Salad will be available (request must be made upon registration). Please note: There will be no bar/alcohol service available.