The Harvard Inn

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The infamous dance hall / cabaret where Al Capone supposedly got his infamous scars.

The scar story happening at the Harvard Inn is just a total myth! SEE Origins of the scars. While he did not get scarred there, he supposedly tended bar there and the only indication was a mention in his tax trial. A witness related that Al Capone had told him his first job was tending bar on Coney Island.****

Much speculation has been made over the years to find out exactly where was the Harvard Inn on Coney Island. This was the dance hall where Al Capone had briefly worked for Frankie Uale (Yale). After many years of perusing newspaper clips, maps, and postcards, we can now definitely pinpoint the area.

What made it difficult was that the Harvard Inn, as with other of the locations on Coney Island, frequently changed ownership and business models constantly. The Harvard Inn first saw the light in 1916. Before that year, the cabaret had been known as Kelley's.

**** Chicago Tribune October 13, 1931.

In 1914, the area where the Harvard Inn stood was called Kelley's.

(Brooklyn Daily Times July 10,1914).

Author Jonathan Eig had stated that Frankie Yale (Francesco Ioele) named it the Harvard Inn as a tongue and cheek joke relating to colleges since one of the versions of his last name was Yale. The truth is that it was not named by Yale at all. He wasn't the first owner, and it had already been named the Harvard Inn before he even took ownership. All the dance halls at that time went with that school theme. One cabaret across the Harvard Inn was called the College Inn. This may have been a cool theme for names at the time.

1915 -1916 the building was taken over by Mr. Scott.

(The Brooklyn Daily Times June 27, 1916).

In 1922, the proprietor of the Harvard Inn at the moment, Vincent Terranova is shot and killed.

The Harvard Inn was a two story building right across the famous Stauch restaurant and dance hall. The Harvard Inn tried to copy other money making cabarets such as the College Inn. The arrow points to the building that became The Harvard Inn.

When did Al Capone work there?

Al Capone probably only worked there for a very short time tending bar. He certainly would have worked there only part time because the job there was only seasonal. Why? Coney Island was closed down from October to April.

The only club opened all year round was Stauch's. They proudly used this publicity fact as an edge over competing cabarets .

As far as being put there by Frank Uale (Yale), this may also be dubious. Capone may have been offered the job via Torrio connections or other connections because Frank Uale was in prison for a year in 1918 for gun possession. That is the year Al Got his face slashed near his home at Garfield Place.

Circa 1916-17. A young Al Capone at Coney Island beach.

(Mario Gomes Collection)

Stauch's ads had the distinction of being opened year round.

1918 advertisment for The Harvard Inn on Coney Island. This is the place of imaginary legends.

One myth in particular as being the place where Al Capone got his famous scars.

For the true story please See ORIGINS OF THE SCARS

The only two story building on Seaside walk directly opposite of Stauch's dance hall.

There's much speculation as far as ownership. The building were said to be owned by John Cannava, who lived at 327 President Street, but maybe leased out to Frankie Yale in order to do underworld business. Cannava (Cannova) had many different enterprises such as printing, nuts and fruits wholesale and real estate. On April 25, 1920, Cannava, his brother and a waiter were arrested at The Harvard Inn for selling highballs and Manhattan cocktails to undercover Prohibition Agents. Cannava and his brother are both named as The Harvard Inn proprietors. Many other proprietors also showed up as owning the Harvard Inn. People such as Vincent Terranova. It is therefore deducted that Yale was merely managing the dance hall before any ownership. Yale was probably the one who hired Al Capone. The timeline can mean two things.

1) Capone would have worked there without the help of Yale anywhere between 1917 or 1919.

If he did work there when Yale owned it, then the date would most probably between 1919-1920.

Capone left for Chicago late 1920 to early 1921, and not 1919, as most authors and historians have stated through time.

So this is further proof that the slashing on a summer night in 1917 at the Harvard Inn just holds no water.

The Frankie Uale (Yale) connection.

Some mentions of Yale owning the cabaret.

Yale's first mention as being tied to the Harvard Inn was in 1920.

The Brooklyn Citizen July 25,1920.

Frankie Yale mentioned as proprietor.

New York Times July 24, 1921.

In a 1921 news story, it is mentioned that Frankie Yale is employed at The Harvard Inn.

Dunkirk Evening Observer July 15, 1921.

Another 1921, story mentions Yale as only a manager of The Harvard Inn.

Lots of violence surrounding The Harvard Inn and the area it was located.

The Melchiorre brothers are killed weeks apart.

New York Times July 24, 1921.

The above postcard points to the only two story building across Stauch's dance club.

The demise of the Harvard Inn

Fire destroys the Harvard Inn.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle January 24, 1925.

Another newstory with mention of the Harvard Inn burning down.

1907 Map used to illustrate where The Harvard Inn was located.

Side view of arrow pointing to The Harvard Inn.

Map of Coney Island today showing where the general area where the Harvard Inn once stood.

The area where the Harvard Inn was located. It was near Nathan's, which was back then a simple hot dog stand when the Harvard Inn was standing.

(Photo kind courtesy of Lisa Kennelly).

The general spot today where The Harvard Inn once stood. This would be looking at the back of the building. The front would have been on the opposite side of this lot.

(Photo kind courtesy of Lisa Kennelly).


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While he did not get scarred there, he supposedly tended bar there and the only indication was a mention in his tax trial. A witness related that Al Capone had told him his first job was tending bar on Coney Island.** Much speculation has been made over the years to find out exactly where was the Harvard Inn on Coney Island. This was the dance hall where Al Capone had briefly worked for Frankie Uale (Yale). After many years of perusing newspaper clips, maps, and postcards, we can now definitely pinpoint the area. What made it difficult was that the Harvard Inn, as with other of the locations on Coney Island, frequently changed ownership and business models constantly. The Harvard Inn first saw the light in 1916. Before that year, the cabaret had been known as Kelley's. ** Chicago Tribune October 13, 1931. In 1914, the area where the Harvard Inn stood was called Kelley's. (Brooklyn Daily Times July 10,1914). Author Jonathan Eig had stated that Frankie Yale (Francesco Ioele) named it the Harvard Inn as a tongue and cheek joke relating to colleges since one of the versions of his last name was Yale. The truth is that it was not named by Yale at all. He wasn't the first owner, and it had already been named the Harvard Inn before he even took ownership. All the dance halls at that time went with that school theme. One cabaret across the Harvard Inn was called the College Inn. This may have been a cool theme for names at the time. 1915 -1916 the building was taken over by Mr. Scott. (The Brooklyn Daily Times June 27, 1916). In 1922, the proprietor of the Harvard Inn at the moment, Vincent Terranova is shot and killed. The Harvard Inn was a two story building right across the famous Stauch restaurant and dance hall. The Harvard Inn tried to copy other money making cabarets such as the College Inn. The arrow points to the building that became The Harvard Inn. When did Al Capone work there? Al Capone probably only worked there for a very short time tending bar. He certainly would have worked there only part time because the job there was only seasonal. Why? Coney Island was closed down from October to April. The only club opened all year round was Stauch's. They proudly used this publicity fact as an edge over competing cabarets . As far as being put there by Frank Uale (Yale), this may also be dubious. Capone may have been offered the job via Torrio connections or other connections because Frank Uale was in prison for a year in 1918 for gun possession. That is the year Al Got his face slashed near his home at Garfield Place. Circa 1916-17. A young Al Capone at Coney Island beach. (Mario Gomes Collection) Stauch's ads had the distinction of being opened year round. 1918 advertisment for The Harvard Inn on Coney Island. This is the place of imaginary legends. One myth in particular as being the place where Al Capone got his famous scars. For the true story please See ORIGINS OF THE SCARS The only two story building on Seaside walk directly opposite of Stauch's dance hall. There's much speculation as far as ownership. The building were said to be owned by John Cannava, who lived at 327 President Street, but maybe leased out to Frankie Yale in order to do underworld business. Cannava (Cannova) had many different enterprises such as printing, nuts and fruits wholesale and real estate. On April 25, 1920, Cannava, his brother and a waiter were arrested at The Harvard Inn for selling highballs and Manhattan cocktails to undercover Prohibition Agents. Cannava and his brother are both named as The Harvard Inn proprietors. Many other proprietors also showed up as owning the Harvard Inn. People such as Vincent Terranova. It is therefore deducted that Yale was merely managing the dance hall before any ownership. Yale was probably the one who hired Al Capone. The timeline can mean two things. 1) Capone would have worked there without the help of Yale anywhere between 1917 or 1919. If he did work there when Yale owned it, then the date would most probably between 1919-1920. Capone left for Chicago late 1920 to early 1921, and not 1919, as most authors and historians have stated through time. So this is further proof that the slashing on a summer night in 1917 at the Harvard Inn just holds no water. The Frankie Uale (Yale) connection. Some mentions of Yale owning the cabaret. Yale's first mention as being tied to the Harvard Inn was in 1920. The Brooklyn Citizen July 25,1920. Frankie Yale mentioned as proprietor. New York Times July 24, 1921. In a 1921 news story, it is mentioned that Frankie Yale is employed at The Harvard Inn. Dunkirk Evening Observer July 15, 1921. Another 1921, story mentions Yale as only a manager of The Harvard Inn. Lots of violence surrounding The Harvard Inn and the area it was located. The Melchiorre brothers are killed weeks apart. New York Times July 24, 1921. The above postcard points to the only two story building across Stauch's dance club. The demise of the Harvard Inn Fire destroys the Harvard Inn. Brooklyn Daily Eagle January 24, 1925. Another newstory with mention of the Harvard Inn burning down. 1907 Map used to illustrate where The Harvard Inn was located. Side view of arrow pointing to The Harvard Inn. Map of Coney Island today showing where the general area where the Harvard Inn once stood. (Google). The area where the Harvard Inn was located. It was near Nathan's, which was back then a simple hot dog stand when the Harvard Inn was standing. (Photo kind courtesy of Lisa Kennelly). Turning to the left (Photo kind courtesy of Lisa Kennelly). The general spot today where The Harvard Inn once stood. This would be looking at the back of the building. The front would have been on the opposite side of this lot. (Photo kind courtesy of Lisa Kennelly).