In the chill of a pre-Christmas Eve morning in 1968, Johnny Machine sat at the 55 Christopher Street bar sipping coffee with Jameson's, his nose resembling that of a tugboat, and his friend Beansie by his side. They were planning another robbery, this one to take place on Christmas Eve, less than a block away from their hangouts.
The pair, known for their past exploits as "take-off artists," had both done time - Johnny for three years for robbery, while Beansie served five for pistol-whipping a bartender in 1962. Their friendship and history of street smarts led them to consider another score at the hip Buffalo Roadhouse, which promised a big payday.
However, their plans were complicated by the fact that they had previously used a similar method with disastrous consequences - ending up in Sing-Sing prison and losing a significant portion of their ill-gotten gains to loan sharks. In an attempt to rectify this situation, Johnny proposed a new plan involving Santa suits, bell-ringing, and a shotgun disguised as a sack of presents.
Their scheme involved wearing Santa hats and beards to the Roadhouse, brandishing the shotgun, and intimidating patrons into handing over their wallets. They hoped that their faces would not be recognized due to their disguises, but Beansie raised concerns about Johnny's distinctive nose.
As they navigated through the stormy New York City streets, the duo began to realize the absurdity of their plan. They were now volunteering as street Santas at a Salvation Army storefront near Canal Street, ringing bells and collecting donations in hopes of making ends meet.
Their seemingly innocuous Santa-clad personas seemed an unlikely precursor to their impending crime spree.
The pair, known for their past exploits as "take-off artists," had both done time - Johnny for three years for robbery, while Beansie served five for pistol-whipping a bartender in 1962. Their friendship and history of street smarts led them to consider another score at the hip Buffalo Roadhouse, which promised a big payday.
However, their plans were complicated by the fact that they had previously used a similar method with disastrous consequences - ending up in Sing-Sing prison and losing a significant portion of their ill-gotten gains to loan sharks. In an attempt to rectify this situation, Johnny proposed a new plan involving Santa suits, bell-ringing, and a shotgun disguised as a sack of presents.
Their scheme involved wearing Santa hats and beards to the Roadhouse, brandishing the shotgun, and intimidating patrons into handing over their wallets. They hoped that their faces would not be recognized due to their disguises, but Beansie raised concerns about Johnny's distinctive nose.
As they navigated through the stormy New York City streets, the duo began to realize the absurdity of their plan. They were now volunteering as street Santas at a Salvation Army storefront near Canal Street, ringing bells and collecting donations in hopes of making ends meet.
Their seemingly innocuous Santa-clad personas seemed an unlikely precursor to their impending crime spree.
I just can't believe the audacity of Johnny Machine and Beansie's plan! I mean, who tries to rob a place by dressing up as Santa and wielding a shotgun disguised as a sack of presents? 
It's like they wanted to get caught on camera so their 15 minutes of fame could be legendary. And poor dude with the nose – it's almost like he's trying to sabotage his own plans! 
The idea that they ended up volunteering at a Salvation Army storefront is just too rich – what's next, will they try to rob the Christmas cookie jar? 
I'm literally dying over here thinking about these two dudes, Johnny Machine and Beansie. Like, what were they thinking?! 
I mean, a Christmas Eve heist in a Santa suit? With a shotgun disguised as a sack of presents? It's like they wanted to get caught! 
I mean, it's not like they were destitute or anything (although, let's be real, who isn't, right?), but still, the audacity of their plan was just... wow! 
It's like, hello, guys! You can't just put on a Santa hat and suddenly become a master thief again! 
So I'm wondering, what do you guys think about this story? It's crazy how Johnny and Beansie went from planning a big heist to volunteering as street Santas. 
️ It just goes to show that sometimes life takes unexpected turns.
Either way, it's definitely a wild story. What do you think about this transformation from thieves to Santas? 
It's like they're trying to turn their life around or something. But let's be real, you can't just waltz out of trouble that easily. Those loan sharks aren't gonna take a hit because Johnny and Beansie are feeling charitable 
.
but hey, at least they're using their skills for good now? 
and so they just ended up dressing up as santa's and ringing bells instead 
! So these two guys, Johnny and Beansie, they're like the ultimate New York City characters 
. The fact that Johnny and Beansie are wearing Santa suits just doesn't add up - it's like they're trying too hard to blend in. And can you imagine the looks on people's faces when these tough guys start ringing bells? 
