The Prisoners who Used Fake Heads to Escape Alcatraz
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- There are some prisons so dark, so terrifying, they look like they’ve come straight out of a horror movie.
One of the most infamous of these is situated in San Francisco Bay, a mile off the coastline on its own little island, designed to securely incarcerate the most dangerous men convicted in the USA and ensure they had no chance of ever escaping.
The name of the prison was Alcatraz.
During its use as a federal prison, some of Alcatraz’s most famous residents included Alvin ‘Creepy’ Karpis, the original Public Enemy number 1.
The deranged and deeply violent “Birdman of Alcatraz: murderer Robert Stroud, who incidently, was not allowed to keep any birds in his cell on Alcatraz, as a punishment for being caught distilling alcohol at his previous prison.
And of course, the most infamous of them all, the tax-dodging gangster, Al Capone.
But the inmates who escaped from Alcatraz, the only men to ever succeed and make it off the island, were none of these.
Instead, it was a comparatively small-time career criminal named Frank Morris, and two bank-robber brothers, John and Clarence Anglin who etched their names in history as the Prisons only ever escapees, with a fourth collaborator, Allen West, failing in his part of the attempt.
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Credit:
Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Script Writer: Natasha Martell
Narrator:
Chris Kane
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Mythbusters recreated this escape and successfully made it to shore, proving it was possible that these men did make it.
*Plausible
I would say they show that it’s POSSIBLE that they made it
It is possible
They made it
@@ajitesh1335 If you say so Che Guevara
This story is told in the highly acclaimed film “Escape from Alcatraz” Starring Clint Eastwood, released in 1979.
We know it's you Clint Eastwood, drop the act!
Ever seen Beguiled? It's a Clint Eastwood movie that he kisses a 12 yr old little girl like she's a grown woman.
@@cliffordsmith8499 Directed in this film is Don Siegel
Another Alcatraz movie including The Rock, Point Blank & Birdman of Alcatraz
I love that film. Always interesting to see Clint Eastwood outside of the Wild West setting
Two things you left out of the story. You talked about the prisoner playing the accordion to cover up their noise they were making. While that was true. It only happened during what was called "music time" at Alcatraz Prison. Every day for an hour. Prisoners were allowed to play music instruments if they had any to play.
Also not mentioned was the help that Bumpy Johnson provided. When the four prisoners starred to dig at their air vents. One prisoner saw what they were doing, and that was Bumpy Johnson. Bumpy told the other black prisoners to stay quiet on what the four were doing. And Johnson was the one that sent Morris the magazine about how to make homemade life raft and floatation devices out of every day material.
English
You're absolutely correct about the inmates chipping away at their cell vents while the rest of the general population played their instruments during music hour. But the thing with Bumpy Johnson is more of a conspiracy theory. We don't know if it's 💯% true.
Alan was a true legend, his sacrifice will never be forgotten
@YO YOU KNOW ME shush
Who's paul
@@n-s-a7113 nevermind that do penguins taste like chicken 😂😂✌️🙏
How was he a legend
@@52Brickz-278 he helped his teammates and didn’t snitch when he couldn’t escape
The aura of ambiguity regarding their fates only makes this incident all the more noteworthy if not legendary.
"The greatest trick the devil ever devised was to convince the world that he did not exist."
This sentiment could be applied to Morris and the Anglin brothers in perspective of their success in escaping Alcatraz. You don't go advertising your survival of an escape attempt if those looking for you think you're already dead.
Can we all take a moment to appreciate the work that prisoner has done to escape Alcatraz?
That prisoner gave us an amazing story.
And come back and terrorize society!
The guy above me is a bot
@@eiyobang8585 of course he is
@@Geniusinventor are you a bot?
I was there 2 weeks ago, they cutted a lot of the stories they used to tell, I went there 2 year ago and it was much different, I think the pandemic hit it hard. It's a great experience highly recommend to visit the island
I don’t mind visiting the island, but I am not stepping foot in San Francisco. That city has gone downhill and is only getting worse.
@@cali115 Only a nuke can clean that place up.
@@cali115 Really? How so?
@@angelredvivar general poor city conditions; homelessness & crime
It’s quite interesting how so many people have positive feelings about them. I imagine that has something to do with the movie and them being seen as underdogs
They weren't murderers or child molesters, and they pulled off an ingenious escape. Not a lot of guilt in admiring their accomplishment.
@@TJDious yeah I think you’re right
As much as most America hates criminals we also love sticking it to the big man and that is pretty much what these guys did that why think we like stories like this
Yep, you hit the nail on the head. We humans are just stupid lol.
They're sort of folk heroes, regardless of what they did to get in jail their predicament of being there is something we have empathy for, and their escape was impressive. Similar to a lot of other prison escape (and other fugitive) situations, real or fictional, where in popular culture or the movie itself, the prisoner - whether they be guilty or innocent, or what they were guilty of - is sort of the protagonist. I'm thinking of things like Shawshank Redemption, The Great Escape, Runaway Train, Catch Me If You Can, and so on. Some of those characters were hardened criminals, some were wrongfully convicted or framed, some were prisoners of war and "the good guys." And as others mentioned here, were not seen as doing anything unforgivable by our culture - just financial crimes and theft. Not murder or child molestation or anything. Nobody - not even other prisoners - have sympathy for them. What would be an interesting pair of movies would be one from the prisoner's perspective, and the other from the wardens' perspective, each the protagonist in their respective movies. Perhaps even released without it being advertised that they are the same story from different perspectives, let fans figure that out. And ultimately which side they support - or both, as each are "right" in their own way.
I believe that they escaped successfully because I remember something from the popular television series Mythbusters and they proved that it's possible to escape from *The Rock*
Yeah they've had swimmers make the run, and contrary to legend the waters aren't shark infested.
Wait why did dwayne the rock Johnson imprison the myth busters
@@areallyhappyarcticfox1240 lol
@@TJDious even if they were they wouldn't do anything to humans
The Mythbusters are not very rigorous in their experiments, but they aren't meant to be so either. And it's somewhat misleading to imagine that science is excluded to merely the most rigorous of research. A lot of times the stuff that Mythbusters studies is in the realm of "is this even remotely possible or not?" And in those cases the level of rigor that they use is often quite appropriate and can lead to valid results. However, that in and of itself doesn't not necessarily conclude that it's definitively possible.
My favorite Alcatraz story is when four men shoot through hordes of zombies. Such a classic.
1 of the zombies maps of all time
My favorite is when a group of former military Special forces turn mercenaries ,steal nerve gas and take Alcatraz over as a base to launch nerve gas on San Francisco if the don't get paid millions of dollars.
Bo2?
@@rylandarce1200 yep
I keep waiting for the simple history episode on Weasel, Sal, Finn and Billy to come out but it never does! Such an incredible, factual story
I've heard this story over a dozen times & I still love it.
It's worth noting that the Anglin's family claims to have received postcards, including a picture, from the brothers in South America. The FBI is still looking for them apparently. If they're still alive they'd be in their 90s.
I think they made it.
Do “The Battle of Alcatraz” it’s a hostage situation that must be remembered
YES PLEASE!!! 🤗🤗🤗🥰💖❤️
I seriously doubt anonymously sending mother's day gifts is really a prank...
I'm willing to bet if home boy had an IQ of 130 and busted out, he'd be smart enough to disappear properly. Probably purposely left the gear behind specifically TO be found.
You guys should do a video on The Battle of Alcatraz. While it wasn’t actual battle, it was a prison riot, It’s referred to as such since the army was called in to quell the riot.
I remember watching a documentary on the escape and retired FBI agents said this kept them up at night. They seemed pretty convinced they made it
IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
Ok got to be honest... the fact they made a raft out of raincoats and (probably) successfully escaped is much more impressive than the heads. I him seen the irl heads, not very realistic
The hair on the heads was VERY realistic, though
@@WheresYourToque That’s because it was real hair from the prison’s barber.
@@00M_Clanks I know, that's what I meant
I was waiting and finally Simple History does a video on Alcatraz! They've got to make one on the Battle of Alcatraz in 1946! 😍😍☺😊😊❤❤❤
Like the video the only Inaccuracy I noticed What is The one carbine rifle Which is a semi automatic rifle was depicted as a bolt action
Great story, and story telling, cheers
Please do a video on the battle of Delville wood. As a South African it would be truly amazing to see our troops remembered on this channel.
Thank you...
Coincidentally I just watched the 1979 film starring Clint Eastwood, I must say what happened to Doc was too cruel.
This story is crazy. The film “escape from Alcatraz” is really good. The end credits showed a still frame of a closeup of one of the dummy heads, accompanied by haunting music. It’s stuck with me since I first saw the film. 😳
Clint Eastwood at his finest....
At least until he did "Gran Torino."
@@robertsandberg2246 *spits tobacco
Please do one on the battle of cable st.
The last sentence in this video is incorrect. There was a known successful escape. 6 months after this escape, another prisoner, John Paul Scott not only escaped but swam all the way to San Francisco. He suffered hypothermia and was recaptured. However he had no life raft and was in the water in December, whereas the previous attempt was in warmer water temperature of June. The two bank-robber brothers were known to be strong swimmers since childhood. I think they very likely made it.
and considering that the mastermind of the group had an iq of 130 he probably was smart enough to make it seem like they died at sea and never get caught
Don't forget Captain John Patrick Mason escaped as well, immortalized with the well put together documentary "The Rock".
Congrats hitting 4 Million Subs Comrade
Frank Morris wasnt a small time crook... Hes Clint Eastwood!!!
The resourcefulness is genuinely incredible.
Hey Simple History, by any chance are you able to make a video prisoners escaping the Tower of London?
There were actually 2 more who escaped from the machine shop by sawing through bars and hiding the saw marks with grease
I went to Alcatraz and we saw the actual prison cells where the prisoners left the fake heads and carved the holes in the wall it was really cool
I love Simple History!
I like it too
@Finally 🅥 It was never here. It never existed
I’ve been to the Alcatraz prison when I was 4 in 2008 it was a great experience during my time in California when I visited my family friends.
I legit thought Alcatraz was like, where the *worst* of the *worst* went.
And somehow car thief's and night-time bank robbers are sent?
I guess its where repeated offenders and escapee attempters go but still that's just kinda lame.
Al Capone was there
@@attigator Capone probably created the public misconception.
Alcatraz was used to house people who were dangerous enough that they might escape or be busted out.
Alcatraz also housed FBI's most wanted criminals.
Is nobody gonna talk about the 4th dude that got left behind lol
i do know of an experiment, were they tried to prplicate the escape and they succeeded whit relative ease to cross the bay using the currents to help.
I have a graphic novel based on the escape. It depicts a what if scenario for Frank Lee Morris following his and the Anglin Brothers' escape and how Morris gave himself a second chance at building a new life for himself living in the town of Bolinas in the years after his escape.
Amazing video
The video is 9 minutes long and you judged the video within 2 minutes of the video published
@@yosefas8207 I already knew it is was gonna be good, I like the topic, sorry I left a positive comment
I swam from ALCATRAZ, 42 minutes andi floated for 2 Minutes looking at the Golden Gate Bridge. Love the movie, had to try the swim
After Morris and the Anglin brothers weren't found, another inmate made an attempt using jugs or something similar to keep afloat. He made across the bay but was so exhausted that he fell asleep on the sandy shore and that is where authorities found him. AND people swim across every year without raincoat rafts or any kind of floatation devices just to prove that it can be done.
that tower guard just manipulated a ruger mini14 like it was a bolt action.
simple history's quality has gone down over the years
Finally Alcatraz!!! Story after years 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 thank you @ simple history
Brilliant content as always
0:15 is that the rock?
Nice video but you forgot to mention a bunch of other inmates were in on their plans and either gave them materials or advice on how to make their raft, and other necessities for the escape cuz they wanted The Anglins, Morris, and West to achieve the seemingly impossible and escape the prison island
Reminds me of that Malcolm in the Middle episode where the boys used fake heads in their beds while they escaped their room while supposed to be grounded. Reese used a balloon and when their dad kissed the balloon (mistaking it for Reese’s head) and it popped, scaring him.
00:24 Did they literally just use a bolt action animation for an M2 Carbine?
I mean sending flowers to the mother you bet your bottom dollar they made it.
Escape from Alcatraz is a really good movie and Clint Eastwood did great playing as frank Morris and frank Morris and the 2 brothers John anglin and Clarence anglin all 3 escaped together
Love these videos. Could you please do a segment on the Irish Republican Army?
John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris if I'm not mistaken
Hi Simple History :) Is there any chance that you could do episode about The North Hollywood Shootout, where Los Angeles Police Department had to face two heavily armed bank robbers?
And I really thank you for making the episode about that escape from Alcatraz. It really made my day :).
Always enjoy learning more about this situation, so interesting
“I gotta get out of this prison cell, someday I’m going to free looorrrrd!” Queen
good video
Boi you are true
Its intesting
Funny thing is you are 1st comment lol
how did you escape Alcatraz
"I read a 5 minute crafts magazine with my Choombas"
Do a video on Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo Bay prison please
Wonder how the public responded to this
This movie was full of suspense I love it had me on edge the whole time they were escaping.
luv your vids man
The escapees left the wallet and the life jacket at a 'safe' place is to fool the FBI into believing the escapees did not make it to the shore. So that FBI treated it as ' case close' and these escapees can live without much worry.
Smart dudes.
Very good job fellows!! Congratulations.
This story is told in the highly acclaimed film “Escape from Alcatraz” Starring Clint Eastwood, released in 1979.
“Welcome to the Rock”
I have a request, that you would do a video of Queen Victoria and the seven times that she evaded assassination.
Now Prisoners gonna start making dummies out of themselves
Regardless if the Anglin brothers and Frank Morris died or survived during the escape, they all escaped as free men.
Wasn’t Bulger there too?
Can you do the Hatfields and mcCoys?
Please do your next video on the 1946 Battle of Alcatraz
Plz do how James earl ray escaped rusty Mountain state penitentiary
Now do a video on the "Battle of Los Angeles" Incident in 1942.
i love simple history
The walls they chiseled through were quite weak. The reason being that during a riot that happened there in the 50s the Marines called into help used grenades to blast their way through weakening some of the prison walls.
Also, didn't the salt in the ocean water corrode and weaken the concrete walls over time ?
US government: Lmao we've built an escape proof prison
A few random prisoners: *Escape*
US government: No, this isn't how you're supposed to play the game
I got severe second hand FOMO from thinking about the guy who missed out lol
I wa about to DM u about making an Alcatraz video
I commend them and their endeavor. They certainly prove their freedom and possibly lived their lives of a Saint. Probably.
next vedio about shawnshaw redimption
3:05 since when theres balaclava?
Last time I was at Alcatraz there was a zombie invasion and demon dogs
MAX AMMO
Chris Morris
The legendary escapeer
If you can, watch the episode of Mythbusters about this, it's fantastic.
i remember watching the movie of this
I doubt that untested raincoat raft stayed afloat for very long, and swimming fully dressed would not be easy, but maybe they did make it.
If you are willing to risk your personal safety visiting California, I highly recommend visiting Alcatraz. It’s probably the best museum I ever visited. Just be sure to park your car in the parking structures and not on the public street parking lots. It’s better to pay a higher parking fee than to lose all your belongings and pay for the damages to your vehicle. SFPD don’t really enforce the law in SF and criminals often break-in cars during the day in front of everyone. Don’t expect any law abiding citizens to stop a non-violent crime from occurring; they just don’t care. Speaking from experience as a victim in SF during my visit to Alcatraz. That’s California!
i like to think they scaped, i mean cmon... dude's werent even the wost kind of criminals thare one could find... i hope that they had a badass scape and lived a long life out of crime, maybe with some money that the bank robbers brothers saved.
Warden “ nobody has ever escaped from here and nobody ever will”
Whats the music used for the uhhhh harmonica
0:24 bolt action m1 carabine lmao.
the old fake head trick
I like these history curiosities. Reminds me of the good old days of history channel before naked reality shows and alien Hitler.
I just watch the movie last night!
I like to think they made it but they probably drowned
They made it 100%
HISTORY!!!!
m1 carabine bolt action really
?
Nice video
Absolutely escaped. I'm sure they were smart enough to discard their raft and vests to make it seem like they failed, that and of course the feds would wanna cover up a successful escape as to not tarnish the reputation Alcatraz had