The Delancey Thrones were a Manhattan-based street gang that appeared in Sol Yurick's 1965 novel The Warriors. Led by Ismael Rivera, the gang sought to expand their control of New York by uniting several major street gangs together. The gang's uniform were simple ice-cream pants and red shirts. The Gramercy Riffs are their film counterpart.
In The Novel[]
The Thrones were an African/Hispanic gang that operated on Delancey Street in Manhattan, New York. By the time of novel, the gang is over ten years. Over the course of a decade, the Thrones were brought to the brink of collapse due to infighting and multiple leadership changes.
The gang found good fortune when a social worker from the Youth Board, Mannie Bernstein, took the boys under his wing in hopes they would straighten up. He was responsible for acquiring the gang's fancy clubhouse, and as such was always invited in, however reluctantly.
Bernstein took a special pride in Ismael, the gang's leader, teaching him about history and the world, and was proud to see him doing better in school and keeping up a better public image. However, Ismael still held complete contempt for authority and polite society. Bernstein's mentoring made Ismael more ambitious, and gave him the dreams of a Napoleon or Alexander the great.
Ismael, thanks to Bernstein's tutelage had become not only a fierce fighter, but a brilliant commander. He had won more fights than any other Warlord, and had challenged, conquered or assimilated multiple other gangs, making The Thrones the most powerful crew in New York. Ismael formed connections to nearly every other gang in New York City by offering his men as mercenaries. Other gangs would hire them to aide in rumbles, decimating their enemies.
Ismael organized a meeting in Van Cortlandt Park with every major gang in the city, stipulating that no one was allowed to bring weapons, save for a single handgun as a peace-offering to Ismael. Though Ismael's talk of unity and power was appealing to the gangs, the meeting still devolved into fighting and arguing. The meeting place was raided by police officers called by Bernstein, who believed the gangs were going to rumble. Ismael was blamed for ratting out the other gangs and was shot with the very guns he sought as gifts. Several other members of the gang, including Chauffeur, are arrested or killed in the melee.
The ultimate fate of the gang is unknown. It is possible they were wiped out by the gangs or all their members were arrested. If the gang survived, it is likely one of Ismael's lieutenants took over.
Members[]
- Ismael Rivera (Warlord)
- War Counselor (Main Lieutenant, Speaker)
- Secretary (Lieutenant)
- Chauffeur
- Benny the Scout
Appearances[]
In The Film[]
The Gramercy Riffs are the movie's clear analogue to the Thrones. Like the Thrones, The Riffs are a high-class gang with a heavy reputation, influence over other gangs, a massive clubhouse and many members. Cyrus is the film's version of Ismael, as both are well-educated and ambitious gang leaders who seek to unite the gangs of New York, and both are killed at their own meeting. Additionally, both gangs have territory in Manhattan.
Trivia[]
- Ismael's lieutenants are not named, and are simply referred to by their rank in the gang.
- Just as The Gramercy Riffs beat down Cleon, The Thrones beat down the Dominators' leader, Papa Arnold, when he strays too near Ismael's corpse. However, while Cleon is implied to have been killed, Papa Arnold survives.