October 15, 1959 –
The TV show The Untouchables with Robert Stack as Eliot Ness, premiered on ABC-TV on this date.
According to testimony from Aladena Fratianno, (Jimmy the Weasel), a Mafia boss-turned-FBI informant, the Chicago family of the Mafia ordered the assassination of producer Desi Arnaz, because they didn’t like (a) the fact that the success of the show was focusing attention on the Mafia and (b) the show’s portrayal of Italians. Fratianno said that two hitmen hid themselves near Arnaz’s house one night waiting for him to show up, but he never did. Shortly afterwards, the assassination order was rescinded when it was realized that Arnaz’s murder would cause the Mafia more trouble than it was worth.
The Haus of Dcaligari 