Johnny Fratto Grew Up Gangster

Photo: The Howard Stern Show

Johnny Fratto called in–but before he could get to the real reason for his call, Howard asked about the perks young Johnny enjoyed by having a Mafia-affiliated father. Johnny said his father once brought home a NASA space capsule and installed it in their backyard. When Johnny tired of that, his dad started “inviting” his famous friends to the house. First came the entire cast of Bonanza: “Everyone of ’em. And they were dressed like Bonanza…they were there like all day. My mother was cooking. Her sisters were cooking. And they fed ’em. They watched TV.” Later visitors included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. All were treated well, but only Jackie Gleason received anything like true Mafia Don respect.