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Smaldone: The Untold Story of an American Crime Family
"I never thought it would end."—Clyde Smaldone Started by Italian brothers from North Denver, the high-profile Smaldone crime syndicate began in the bootlegging days of the 1920s and flourished well into the late twentieth century. Connected to such notorious crime figures as Al Capone and Carlos Marcello, as well as to presidents and other politicians, charismatic Clyde Smaldone was the crime family's leader from the Prohibition era to the rise of gambling to the family's waning days. Uncovering the good and the bad, best-selling author Dick Kreck captures the complexity of Clyde, brother Checkers, and their crew, who perpetuated a shadowy underworld but exhibited great generosity and commitment to their community, offering food, money, and college funds to struggling families. Through candid interviews and firsthand accounts, Kreck reveals the true sense of what it meant to be a Smaldone, and the mix of love and dysfunction that is part of every American family. Dick Kreck retired from The Denver Post after thirty-eight years as a columnist. He previously worked at The San Francisco Examiner and the Los Angeles Times . He is the author of four other books, the twenty-two-week bestseller Murder at the Brown Palace , Anton The Boy Murderer , Colorado's Scenic Railroads , and Denver in Flames . He lives in Denver, Colorado.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
February 24, 2012
My former Denver Post colleague Dick Kreck takes on one of Colorado's most beloved and feared families in straightforward, journalistic fashion. This is the kind of story that would make any novelist (or HBO) salivate - if only there were a few more bodies lining the streets. Instead, Kreck does what he does best - he tells the story in a human and unsensational way. Granted unprecedented access to the Smaldone progeny, Kreck simply allows his subjects to tell the story from their own vantage point, which opens a rare window into the mundanity and, oddly, honor that goes with running a crime syndicate out of a small, deeply Catholic neighborhood that benefited greatly from the Smaldone largesse. Having gone to Regis High School myself with several Smaldones and having visited many of the establishments mentioned in the book made "Smaldone" a trip down a memory lane that I never really traveled down in the first place. I think it would be great fun to lead a walking tour of the northwest Denver neighborhood Dick's book brings alive. If you live in Denver, the homes, restaurants, businesses and addresses mentioned mean something. One exchange takes place in the drug store where my grandparents met as teens. Ultimately the book confirms what we have long known about organized crime in America: If you ban it (booze, gambling, drugs), that doesn't mean we want it any less.
February 1, 2016
Good read, and I think those who are familiar with the North Denver and Pueblo areas would find this book more interesting than those who are not. There are lots of specific addresses and street names/locations that probably don't mean much if you've never lived in Denver, heard of them, driven by or frequented the places mentioned. I definitely found the epilogue to be the most poignant of the book, which explained the effect of what it meant having the Smalldone name for Clyde's sons. The letter from Chuck to his father ("daddy") in prison will make your heart ache.
February 4, 2013
A good inside look at the family and its workings. There are so many myths and half-truths about who the Smaldones were and what they did that it's good to have some clarity brought to the story.
Of course that takes quite a bit of reading between the lines.
There were obviously some quid pro quos involved in order for the author to get access to Clyde and the other family members. And while that may be objectionable from a "hard" journalism standpoint, it did give insights that might otherwise have died with the family members.
But let's not forget that while Clyde and his family may have been "gangsters with hearts of gold," they were still gangsters who were more than slightly familiar with extortion, bribery, intimidation, and murder. The fact that they stayed away (for the most part) from prostitution and drugs is a minor point in their favor, to be sure, but that's of small comfort to the people who ran afoul of them.
The larger story is that the proliferation of organized crime was made possible in large part by populist movements that sought to dictate the behavior of citizens by prohibiting actions the do-gooders found objectionable. The repeal of Prohibition was the first nail in the coffin of the Smaldones and their ilk, and widespread legal gambling beginning in the seventies was more or less the coup de grace. But there are still plenty of ways that criminal enterprises will flourish with each new attempt to regulate behavior.
I wonder which will be harder to get in a few years, salty food, Big Gulps, cigarettes, or guns? Regardless of the laws, I'm sure there will be a way.
Of course that takes quite a bit of reading between the lines.
There were obviously some quid pro quos involved in order for the author to get access to Clyde and the other family members. And while that may be objectionable from a "hard" journalism standpoint, it did give insights that might otherwise have died with the family members.
But let's not forget that while Clyde and his family may have been "gangsters with hearts of gold," they were still gangsters who were more than slightly familiar with extortion, bribery, intimidation, and murder. The fact that they stayed away (for the most part) from prostitution and drugs is a minor point in their favor, to be sure, but that's of small comfort to the people who ran afoul of them.
The larger story is that the proliferation of organized crime was made possible in large part by populist movements that sought to dictate the behavior of citizens by prohibiting actions the do-gooders found objectionable. The repeal of Prohibition was the first nail in the coffin of the Smaldones and their ilk, and widespread legal gambling beginning in the seventies was more or less the coup de grace. But there are still plenty of ways that criminal enterprises will flourish with each new attempt to regulate behavior.
I wonder which will be harder to get in a few years, salty food, Big Gulps, cigarettes, or guns? Regardless of the laws, I'm sure there will be a way.
February 23, 2021
The epilogue had me crying and the rest of the book had me enthralled because of my own Denver connections. As Tolstoy said, “All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” I find that comes to mind while reading about the Smaldone family.
January 16, 2022
What an interesting story of Denver’s own mob. I really enjoyed this colorful Colorado history of the Smaldone family businesses and lives.
September 3, 2016
This was a very short and informative read. Having married into an Italian family from North Denver, I have heard my share of whisperings about the Colorado mafia and have been intrigued by them ever since. This book centers around the Smaldone family and their exploits. I am not sure I always trusted Clyde Smaldone's interpretation of events or his excuses for some of his actions, but the book shows that he was a very complex character.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the history of prohibition in Colorado and reading about the restaurants and other places that my in-laws like to frequent.
The language is very simple- you don't need a dictionary to read this. But Dick Kreck was a reporter for a long time, so this makes sense and it doesn't take away from the narrative.
Overall, a fun adventure into Colorado history.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the history of prohibition in Colorado and reading about the restaurants and other places that my in-laws like to frequent.
The language is very simple- you don't need a dictionary to read this. But Dick Kreck was a reporter for a long time, so this makes sense and it doesn't take away from the narrative.
Overall, a fun adventure into Colorado history.
July 12, 2020
Back in 2009 retired reporter Dick Kreck wrote an interesting book about the Smaldone Family, which was Denver’s version of the Italian mob from the 1920s to the 1980s. It was an authorized account; brothers Chuck and Gene Smaldone wrote the Foreword. I recommend Smaldone: The Untold Story of an American Crime Family because it exposes a hidden slice of Colorado history. While the inner workings of the Family were interesting, I was most interested in the networks the Smaldone men nurtured, including friendships with President Hoover, Candidate FDR, and future president Harry Truman. They knew everybody who was anybody. They also operated Gaetano’s Restaurant in north Denver (34th and Tejon or so). There’s limited sugar-coating here. Kreck explains the illegal activities and violence, from bootlegging to games of barbooth and from shootings to bombings. It’s a good read.
July 2, 2018
Denver History De Mystified
So many people think hey know about the Smaldones in Denver... many many do... for those that don’t but want to know more, Dick Kreck has written an engaging and thoughtful biography of the family. I really enjoyed this increasingly readable book. I found that there were things that I didn’t even know and some of the gossip and mythology that I had heard throughout my life was debunked or confirmed.
Really enjoyed reading this and I hope you do too!
So many people think hey know about the Smaldones in Denver... many many do... for those that don’t but want to know more, Dick Kreck has written an engaging and thoughtful biography of the family. I really enjoyed this increasingly readable book. I found that there were things that I didn’t even know and some of the gossip and mythology that I had heard throughout my life was debunked or confirmed.
Really enjoyed reading this and I hope you do too!
December 26, 2021
The Smaldone family was notorious in Denver as the outfit that ran organized crime in this city, but mostly unknown elsewhere because compared to crime families in other cities they were strictly small-time operators. Dick Kreck's book provides an engaging look at this slice of local history, although for the most part it does not go much deeper than the old newspaper articles which were the author's primary source of information.
The exception to the rule is that Mr. Kreck was able to interview a few of the peripheral players in the story, including former Denver Police Capt. Jerry Kennedy (who also became notorious when he provided off-duty security for Elvis Presley during his last tour through Denver and Presley rewarded Kennedy and the other officers on the security team by giving them brand-new Cadillacs) and, more importantly, family kingpin Clyde Smaldone's sons Chuck and Gene Smaldone. The picture that emerges is of a relatively normal American family - albeit one in which the housewife got a new Cadillac every year) whose breadwinner happened to run illegal gambling in the Denver metropolitan area.
Despite their line of work, the Smaldones appear to have been basically decent, honorable men. The family gave generously to charity, especially Catholic charitable organizations. Perhaps even more importantly, they appear not to have harmed anyone who did not voluntarily become involved in their ventures. Although there were a few gangland-style slayings in the 1970s, no non-gangsters met their end in a hail of bullets ordered by the Smaldones. Also, the gang didn't try to force innocent third parties to become involved in their ventures. For example - in a story not included in the book - my sister-in-law's grandfather ran a garage in North Denver during the Smaldone family's heyday. The garage had a back room which evidently was an ideal location for illegal gambling - secluded, inconspicuous, and situated so that any nosy cops could be spotted in time to hide the cards, dice, and other tools of the trade. The Smaldones proposed what essentially would have been a joint venture under which he allowed them to use his property for gambling in return for a percentage of the take. He said no, and they left him alone after that. Making offers one couldn't refuse wasn't one of the Smaldones' business tactics.
The Smaldone Family's criminal enterprise was destined to die out almost from the moment it began. The tight-knit North Denver Italian community split apart after WWII as people integrated into the mainstream and moved to other neighborhoods, and, more importantly, the Smaldone wives accepted what their husbands did for a living but insisted that they not bring their children into the business. As a result, the Smaldones had only limited means of recruiting new members. Federal law enforcement agencies continually turned up the heat on organized crime throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Clyde Smaldone's prediction made during the 1950s that the government would take over the gambling business if it every realized how much money it generated proved to be spot-on. Today, on street corners where Smaldone associates once furtively ran the numbers racket, convenience stores and gas stations openly and legally sell lottery tickets, and the towns of Central City and Blackhawk, where the Smaldones once furtively placed slot machines with the connivance of city leaders, are filled to the brim with legal casinos. People may have regarded the Smaldones' gambling business as immoral, but it apparently wasn't immoral enough for the government to keep its hand out of the till.
As an aside, most people who lived in Denver during the 1970s and 1980s will remember the ubiquitous commercials for the Fred Schmidt tv and appliance store chain and their catchy "Ask your neighbor about Fred Schmidt" jingle. Many years later, I serendipitously learned though my legal practice that by 1980 or so the Smaldones more or less had taken over the company and were using it as a front for their other businesses. I asked Mr. Kreck about this at a book signing and he didn't know anything, but did say the eponymous Fred Schmidt liked to gamble. He no doubt lived to regret his efforts to beat the odds.
The exception to the rule is that Mr. Kreck was able to interview a few of the peripheral players in the story, including former Denver Police Capt. Jerry Kennedy (who also became notorious when he provided off-duty security for Elvis Presley during his last tour through Denver and Presley rewarded Kennedy and the other officers on the security team by giving them brand-new Cadillacs) and, more importantly, family kingpin Clyde Smaldone's sons Chuck and Gene Smaldone. The picture that emerges is of a relatively normal American family - albeit one in which the housewife got a new Cadillac every year) whose breadwinner happened to run illegal gambling in the Denver metropolitan area.
Despite their line of work, the Smaldones appear to have been basically decent, honorable men. The family gave generously to charity, especially Catholic charitable organizations. Perhaps even more importantly, they appear not to have harmed anyone who did not voluntarily become involved in their ventures. Although there were a few gangland-style slayings in the 1970s, no non-gangsters met their end in a hail of bullets ordered by the Smaldones. Also, the gang didn't try to force innocent third parties to become involved in their ventures. For example - in a story not included in the book - my sister-in-law's grandfather ran a garage in North Denver during the Smaldone family's heyday. The garage had a back room which evidently was an ideal location for illegal gambling - secluded, inconspicuous, and situated so that any nosy cops could be spotted in time to hide the cards, dice, and other tools of the trade. The Smaldones proposed what essentially would have been a joint venture under which he allowed them to use his property for gambling in return for a percentage of the take. He said no, and they left him alone after that. Making offers one couldn't refuse wasn't one of the Smaldones' business tactics.
The Smaldone Family's criminal enterprise was destined to die out almost from the moment it began. The tight-knit North Denver Italian community split apart after WWII as people integrated into the mainstream and moved to other neighborhoods, and, more importantly, the Smaldone wives accepted what their husbands did for a living but insisted that they not bring their children into the business. As a result, the Smaldones had only limited means of recruiting new members. Federal law enforcement agencies continually turned up the heat on organized crime throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Clyde Smaldone's prediction made during the 1950s that the government would take over the gambling business if it every realized how much money it generated proved to be spot-on. Today, on street corners where Smaldone associates once furtively ran the numbers racket, convenience stores and gas stations openly and legally sell lottery tickets, and the towns of Central City and Blackhawk, where the Smaldones once furtively placed slot machines with the connivance of city leaders, are filled to the brim with legal casinos. People may have regarded the Smaldones' gambling business as immoral, but it apparently wasn't immoral enough for the government to keep its hand out of the till.
As an aside, most people who lived in Denver during the 1970s and 1980s will remember the ubiquitous commercials for the Fred Schmidt tv and appliance store chain and their catchy "Ask your neighbor about Fred Schmidt" jingle. Many years later, I serendipitously learned though my legal practice that by 1980 or so the Smaldones more or less had taken over the company and were using it as a front for their other businesses. I asked Mr. Kreck about this at a book signing and he didn't know anything, but did say the eponymous Fred Schmidt liked to gamble. He no doubt lived to regret his efforts to beat the odds.
August 6, 2020
Dick Kreck got a lucky break. The sons of Clyde Smaldone shared with him their stories of growing up with their father. Even better, one of them recorded conversations with Clyde Smaldone during his twilight years. These sources offered Kreck the rare luxury to see a much softer side to a rackets boss. The result is a highly biased book that appears to draw on a handful of magazine and newspaper stories to augment family history. What could have been a much more solid book then became average as the latter chapters focused on the private lives of the racketeers.
Kreck wrote an interesting book. The Smaldones were not major gangsters. Their story is minor. However, they were the dominant underworld power in Denver ca. 1930-1980s. Kreck begins with the 1910s and 1920s. The chronology is a bit confusing. The Smaldones would have barely been teenagers in the 1910s. It is difficult picturing them running booze from Iowa to Colorado. The problem with chronology straightens out in the later chapters where Clyde's sons can draw on their own memories rather than oral history or audio tapes.
Apparently, Clyde's sons did not ask him about the bloody 1920s. At one point they may have directed the conversation to the murder of Joe Roma. Clyde Smaldone benefited the most from the murder. But Clyde's own words do not betray any hint of his involvement. "It don't bother me one way or the other," he stated decades after the fact. It is clear that many observers thought he was involved. Clyde admitted he was in the house shortly before his boss was murdered. Kreck did not directly contradict the audio interview. However, he makes it abundantly clear that Smaldone was a key suspect.
From the opening chapter on Roma's murder to the epilogue of the book, Kreck allows Clyde Smaldone to tell his story. In this sense, Clyde is much more self-serving, diplomatic, family-oriented, God-fearing, and honest. The attempted murder of a rival in the 1930s, the jury tampering conviction, reform administrations, and any criminal activity other than gambling (and possibly loan sharking) are minimized, twisted, or directly contradicted. Kreck does not challenge any notion that the Smaldones were gamblers. Only in a rare instance or two does Kreck dig a little further to contradict the audio stories.
The last chapters in the book focus on the private lives of the gangsters. Checkers Smaldone's son was involved in narcotics. His actual role in the family business is not clear. Checkers supported his son (or he didn't. Again, not clear). This in turn led to a rift between Clyde and Checkers. What the rift meant is not clear. Clarence Smaldone had women problems. What this meant is spelled out in detail. The last chapters were something of a bore to finish. Clyde recalls that he saw increased scrutiny by law enforcement to imprison them, and withdrew from the business just before Checkers, Clarence, and some others were busted on several charges. Kreck is not clear if he believes Clyde was semi-retired in the 1960s and 1970s. So, a lot is left open for discussion.
Overall, Kreck had a potential gem. He did not dig much further than the surface. His motives are his own; but it significantly reduces the book to a propaganda piece, something not too far removed from an autobiography. It presents Clyde Smaldone in the best possible way and minimize his activity. The true Clyde Smaldone must have had other qualities to retain an underworld stature for so long. Nevertheless, it is an interesting story that offers a new perspective to readers interested in growing up in a mob family.
Kreck wrote an interesting book. The Smaldones were not major gangsters. Their story is minor. However, they were the dominant underworld power in Denver ca. 1930-1980s. Kreck begins with the 1910s and 1920s. The chronology is a bit confusing. The Smaldones would have barely been teenagers in the 1910s. It is difficult picturing them running booze from Iowa to Colorado. The problem with chronology straightens out in the later chapters where Clyde's sons can draw on their own memories rather than oral history or audio tapes.
Apparently, Clyde's sons did not ask him about the bloody 1920s. At one point they may have directed the conversation to the murder of Joe Roma. Clyde Smaldone benefited the most from the murder. But Clyde's own words do not betray any hint of his involvement. "It don't bother me one way or the other," he stated decades after the fact. It is clear that many observers thought he was involved. Clyde admitted he was in the house shortly before his boss was murdered. Kreck did not directly contradict the audio interview. However, he makes it abundantly clear that Smaldone was a key suspect.
From the opening chapter on Roma's murder to the epilogue of the book, Kreck allows Clyde Smaldone to tell his story. In this sense, Clyde is much more self-serving, diplomatic, family-oriented, God-fearing, and honest. The attempted murder of a rival in the 1930s, the jury tampering conviction, reform administrations, and any criminal activity other than gambling (and possibly loan sharking) are minimized, twisted, or directly contradicted. Kreck does not challenge any notion that the Smaldones were gamblers. Only in a rare instance or two does Kreck dig a little further to contradict the audio stories.
The last chapters in the book focus on the private lives of the gangsters. Checkers Smaldone's son was involved in narcotics. His actual role in the family business is not clear. Checkers supported his son (or he didn't. Again, not clear). This in turn led to a rift between Clyde and Checkers. What the rift meant is not clear. Clarence Smaldone had women problems. What this meant is spelled out in detail. The last chapters were something of a bore to finish. Clyde recalls that he saw increased scrutiny by law enforcement to imprison them, and withdrew from the business just before Checkers, Clarence, and some others were busted on several charges. Kreck is not clear if he believes Clyde was semi-retired in the 1960s and 1970s. So, a lot is left open for discussion.
Overall, Kreck had a potential gem. He did not dig much further than the surface. His motives are his own; but it significantly reduces the book to a propaganda piece, something not too far removed from an autobiography. It presents Clyde Smaldone in the best possible way and minimize his activity. The true Clyde Smaldone must have had other qualities to retain an underworld stature for so long. Nevertheless, it is an interesting story that offers a new perspective to readers interested in growing up in a mob family.
July 21, 2024
If I weren't familiar with Denver, especially North Denver, I'd probably have rated this lower.
I bought the book for my parents soon after it came out, but they never read it, which is too bad since I know they would have enjoyed it ... and I would have heard more stories from their past when they compared their memories with what's related here.
Mom and Dad were both raised in N Denver; Mom is French but Dad is Italian. My Dad says that his father was in jail for about 2 years in the early 1930s, supposedly because he had bootleg liquor in his garage. The 'neighbors' took care of my grandmother while g'pa was in jail. Why didn't I ask more questions about this incident? Was he in jail or prison? Was it really for 2 years? Could the Smaldone's have provided the financial support? (My Dad's memory is foggy, and he was only about 3 or 4 when this all happened.)
I knew some of the people mentioned in the book, and heard of many of them, especially Paul Villano (who attended North HS with Mom and Dad). Apparently everyone liked Paul, and were pleased when he got out of jail in time for their high school reunion.
November 22, 2017
This book is interesting on several levels. First, it is a vivid tale of the lives of the heads of a prominent crime gang in Denver, from its beginning in the 1880s to its demise in the 1060s. Yhe specificity and familiarity makes this as an interesting read as a Sue Grafton novel.
Second, this book gives us insight into how corruption happens and how difficult it is to eliminate - it can take years of effort. In this case, the efforts were aided by the fact that the Smaldones kept their crime family tight. It was remarkable how the Smaldones would go gangbusters in one field of crime, say bootlegging, then drop that and pick up a new field of crime like gambling. What we don't learn is why officials were susceptible to bribery.
Third, this is a fascinating look at a man who lived a life of crime, but was generous and community oriented. The North Denver community really owed its strength to Clyde Samldone. Today their are only faint traces of that community in that neighborhood.
Second, this book gives us insight into how corruption happens and how difficult it is to eliminate - it can take years of effort. In this case, the efforts were aided by the fact that the Smaldones kept their crime family tight. It was remarkable how the Smaldones would go gangbusters in one field of crime, say bootlegging, then drop that and pick up a new field of crime like gambling. What we don't learn is why officials were susceptible to bribery.
Third, this is a fascinating look at a man who lived a life of crime, but was generous and community oriented. The North Denver community really owed its strength to Clyde Samldone. Today their are only faint traces of that community in that neighborhood.
August 13, 2018
Fascinating look at the Smalldone crime family and their impact on Denver and the Colorado Front Range. Much of this information was a new and intriguing addition to Colorado's colorful history. The story was a bit scattered and hard to follow, although it keeps readers on their toes as they look back to see who participates in various events. The impact of the name on descendents is very insightful.
March 2, 2021
An interesting book primarily about Clyde Smaldone, and his brother Checkers, and a glimpse into the ways of this crime family in the 20th century Denver and Pueblo area. They began with bootlegging during prohibition and moved on to illegal gambling enterprises while surviving gang rivalries and more times than not, the law.
January 8, 2024
I'm distantly related to the Italian mafia in Denver, so this was a must-read. Fascinating glimpse of a pair of brothers who actually did a shocking amount of good with thier ill-gotten gains, and not in a way that particularly hurt anybody. We'll never see the likes of them again, though that's probably a good thing.
September 1, 2019
I found it interesting, probably more so because I live in Denver and recognize some of the locations mentioned. The picture of what life was like in the 1920s and 30s is fascinating to me, and all the photographs helped make the stories more real.
September 21, 2019
I wanted to read this because I grew up with the Smaldones and other kids in the "family". It was fun to read as I could envision exactly where things took place in the book and I could reminisce about all the good food we ate in their restaurants.
September 3, 2020
I chose this book for my family book club read. Living in Denver, and having a father-in-law that went to high school with some of the Smaldone children, I've always been fascinated by the history. Very well written, great insight.
July 17, 2022
Smalldones were well known when I was growing up in Denver but I was too young to understand their activity and influence. It was fun to read about places I’ve been, areas of town I knew. Good book if you’re from Denver for sure.
June 1, 2025
Growing up in Arvada, suburb of north Denver, I was curious to read about the Smaldone family. My parents had interactions with the Smaldones and it was interesting and nostalgic to read about their legacy. I will definitely go eat at Gaetano's next time I'm in Denver.
September 23, 2017
Loved learning about this slice of Denver history!
October 21, 2018
Got bored, had to stop.
October 16, 2019
When most people think of organized crime and the mob, they think of New York however this book provides an in depth look at Clyde Smaldone, who was the head of an crime family based in Colorado.
September 21, 2021
Fun to read some Denver (and Colorado) history!
October 16, 2021
Fascinating learning about mob history in Colorado. Pictures really added to the story as well.
September 18, 2024
Fascinating read.
I had often heard some of these stories but, it was nice to fill in the blanks. I was really fulfilled.
I had often heard some of these stories but, it was nice to fill in the blanks. I was really fulfilled.
January 4, 2025
Interesting read about a Denver crime family. Fun to read about some local history and consider visiting the old family restaurant, although no longer in the family.
February 18, 2025
I find the content in this tiny fishing very good and interesting.
November 29, 2025
good, about northwest denver
February 11, 2017
Great book lots of info
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