Alcatraz Escapee Cell

by Gordon Beck

Title

Alcatraz Escapee Cell

Artist

Gordon Beck

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Late one June night, 1962, three inmates tucked papier-mâché heads resembling their own likenesses into their beds, and broke out of Alcatraz, an island-based prison several miles off the San Francisco, Ca., coast. They had chiseled out and widened cell ventilation ducts enabling them to get into an unused utility corridor, and then on to the roof. From there, they slid 50 feet down a kitchen vent pipe to the ground and departed the island on an improvised inflatable raft never to be heard from again. Authorities presumed they drowned in the cold waters surrounding the island, but no bodies were ever found. This is one of the escape cells. Note the painted cardboard grille on the floor used to disguise the damaged wall and hole under the sink.

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March 5th, 2024

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