Former USP-Alcatraz prisoner #1259AZ William Garnet 'Bill Baker', shares 'real stories of life on 'the Rock' as a 'Rock-Con' in the late 1950's. Alcatraz escapes, escape attempts, daily routines, celebrity prisoners, Al Capone, the 'Birdman of Alcatraz', Frank Morris, the Anglin brothers, 1962 escape, former prisoner friends, life after prison, returning to Alcatraz Island, prison life, and much more! Spend some quality time with the 'real-deal' - 'Bad Boy' Baker was finally released from USP-Leavenworth at the age of 78 five years ago! Hear, first-hand, vivid recollections of unforgettable Alcatraz experiences in this 41-minute video recorded on Alcatraz at the annual 'Alcatraz Reunion in August 2017. Former Alcatraz prisoner William 'Bad Boy' Baker has some real stories from 'the Rock' to share - as a matter of fact, a lot of great stories to share! Having spent over half of his adult life incarcerated - 30+ years in total - and the other half leading an exciting and prosperous life 'on the run' - there is no shortage of insightful prison-life memories!
Arriving at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary at the tender age of 23 - as an 'escape risk' - 'Bad Boy' Baker would learn a new life 'trade' from another 'Rock-Con' - the fine-art of corporate payroll-check counterfeiting. These skills would serve Bill well on 'the outside'... until he got caught - again and again!
Join us, as we witness this colorful former 'Rock-Con' relive his formative experiences at America's first 'Super-Maximum Security' Federal Penitentiary - with some of the most notorious criminals of the time. Hear first-hand recollections of daring escape attempts during his stay on Alcatraz - including the drowning death of best friend Aaron Burgette.
Spend time 'face-to-face' with this seasoned 'Convict' - on Alcatraz - and gain a clear understanding of what prison-life on 'the Rock' was truly like. Learn Bill Baker's perspective on the most amazing Federal prison break in American history - the 1962 Frank Morris led 'Escape from Alcatraz' - made famous by the Hollywood movie of the same name - which starred Clint Eastwood.
Listen as Bill Baker explains why this experienced 'escape-artist' declined to make an escape-attempt himself from America's 'in-escapable' prison. One fellow con and friend, John Bayliss, a.k.a. 'Jack-Rabbit,' made two un-successful attempts and the young Bill Baker learned from his failures. "That damn water was just too much!"
In 2013, former Alcatraz prisoner Bill Baker, a.k.a. #1259AZ, returned to 'the Rock' fifty years after his release. Still on federal parole, he carried with him a manuscript recalling his 'stint' at USP-Alcatraz, aptly titled - 'Alcatraz 1259'. Bill had been released from his final 'stay' in a Federal prison, USP- Leavenworth in Kansas, just two years earlier at the age of 78, and now, was embarking on a very surprising - and legal - epilogue to his unique Alcatraz story!
Enjoy your time with 'Wild Bill' Baker - one of our favorite former Alcatraz prisoners! We think you will enjoy his recollections! Please 'subscribe' and 'like'- if you do! More to come!
See you on 'the Rock'.