ENOCH "NUCKY" JOHNSON: The Real Boardwalk Empire Story

A few years ago HBO aired a mini-series about Atlantic City, New Jersey called Boardwalk Empire starring Steve Buscemi as Enoch "Nucky" Johnson.

Enoch "Nucky" Thompson was a political figure who rose to prominence and controlled Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition period of the 1920s and 1930s. In the mini-series, Nucky interacts with several historical figures in both his personal and political life, including mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look up to him. The federal government also takes an interest in the bootlegging and other illegal activities in the area, sending agents to investigate possible mob connections but also looking at Nucky's lifestyle— expensive and lavish for a county political figure. Entertaining stuff... but the real story is, for those interested, probably more interesting than the fiction.

In November of 2012 I was talking to Battalion Chief Andrew Magee of the Camden Fire Department, who mentioned that he enjoyed watching this show. A few weeks later in the course of scanning material about Camden for this website, I found news clippings from July of 1941 covering in detail Nucky Johnson's trial and conviction on tax charges. These clippings are presented in their entirety below.

More will be added as I process them.

Phil Cohen
December 16, 2012

Camden Courier-Post * July 23, 1941

Camden Courier-Post * July 26, 1941