Underbelly fans are about to travel back in time to the very mean streets of Sydney's Darlin'hurst in the roaring 1920's. All the sly grog, cocaine, whores and gambling spilling into the alleys and lanes of East Sydney. Along with the blood of the latest razor slash victim drying in the harsh, hungover Sydney sun of a Berwick Lane morning are vividly portrayed in this captivating new chapter in the Underbelly juggernaut.
Gone, are the speakeasys and brothels of Darlinhursts maze of sandstoned laneways. The buildings now as silent as the criminals who frequented them, but on the 21st of August 2011 their spirits will once again be raised like a glass of bootleg liquor. 1927 is the year and what a year it was. With the Pistol act came a law that forbade persons carrying firearms in the street, the mugs and wise guys needed a new angle. When Norman Bruhn got run out of Melbourne by Squizzy Taylor he hit Sydney as a desperate man, a wife and two young children to support Norman needed money, and he needed it fast.
Sydney was a closed shop. Unless of course you knew the password, but everyone knew the password.
Mum's the word has been such a part of the vernacular many forget it's origin, but all know it's meaning. To keep it secret, keep it quiet. Keep it on the down low. Kate Leighs' sly grog and cocaine empire was only rivaled by her arch enemy Tilly Devine, Queen of the Razorhurst brothels. When Norman Bruhn blew in from Melbourne he couldn't believe that the Sydney Underworld was run by a couple of Sheilas!
He decided to tear the whole thing down, but he couldn't use guns because the Coppers were all over them. Everyman had a straight Razor at home, or he had a beard. The Razor was fast and frightening and wouldn't get you hanged as long as you didn't cut too deep. Norm and his gang of cut throats Snowy Cutmore, George Wallace and Razor Jack Hayes started a war. They took on Kate Leigh, Tilly Devine Phil Jeffs and all the muscle of Darlinghurst.
They were trying to hit the big time but all they created was a legend.
