Alcatraz: A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years

by Michael Esslinger

  On average, inmates were required to spend sixteen hours per day confined in their cells. Those who had no work assignment would spend twenty-three hours a day in lockdown.

  John Paul Chase, the partner of Baby Face Nelson, was convicted for the murder of an FBI Agent, and was an avid artist during his tenure at Alcatraz.

  Guard Towers

  An armed officer standing on the exterior walk of the Road Tower. Visible in the distance is the Model Shop Tower.

  Two exterior views of armed officers standing on the catwalk of the Road Tower. Guard Tower Officers stood ready to fire upon any inmate who attempted to escape, or any vessel that breached the 200-yard perimeter.

  The guard towers were considered one of the worst post assignments by correctional officers. The towers were typically cold and boring during the long shifts and activities such as reading or listening to a radio were prohibited.

  The Federal Bureau of Prisons built six guard towers which were manned by armed officers carrying high-powered rifles and machine guns.

  The Dock Tower.

  The prison had six watchtowers that were constructed as tactical lookouts. The Dock Tower was located at the north end of the dock area. The officer assigned to this post would watch for any vessels that failed to maintain a minimum 200-yard distance, and he would also be the keeper of the keys to the prison launch. The Main Tower was originally located on the northeast roof area of the main cellhouse. It was manned twenty-four hours a day during its seventeen years of operation, and was ultimately removed in 1951. Had it been left in place, this tower would likely have prevented the famous Morris and Anglin brothers’ escape in 1962. In the early years of the prison there was also a Powerhouse Tower located at the northeast end of the island, adjacent to the powerhouse. It was eventually abandoned when the Dock Tower was rebuilt to a higher elevation. The Model Tower was located on the rooftop of the Model Industries Building and was staffed only during daylight / work hours. The Hill Tower was located between the main prison yard and the prison industries and there was a long catwalk that ran from the recreation yard wall to the Model Shop Building. The tower was positioned to allow the officer on-duty to provide assistance to officers posted at these locations. The Road Tower was accessed by a catwalk leading from the prison yard catwalk and was isolated by a barbed wire cyclone gate in the middle of the walkway.

  Most of the tower posts had their own toilets and running water. Nevertheless, officers considered these posts to be the worst assignments of any on the island. Former Captain of the Guards Philip Bergen, who was assigned to Alcatraz from 1939 until 1955, later commented: “There was nothing worse than being assigned to a tower or on the yard wall. I had that duty on a number of occasions and it was hell. Your lips and skin were always chapped from exposure, and the cold metal [of your gun] would numb your hands.” The tower assignments were typically cold and extremely boring. Radios were considered a dangerous diversion and were strictly prohibited. The tower officers were well armed with a variety of weapons, in a different configuration for each post. The weapons used included Thompson submachine guns, powerful .30-06 Springfield rifles, Colt .45 pistols, gas guns and gas grenades. Former Correctional Officer Al Bloomquist recalled his assignment to the Road Tower:

  “At night, it was freezing cold and if the fog was thick enough, it had a very eerie feeling. You couldn’t see anything when the night fog shrouded the island and I can still remember hearing the deafening screech of the seagulls that would startle the hell out of you. It always made you a little nervous, especially after knowing that those desperate inmates had rushed Stites (an officer assigned to the Model Shop Tower during a 1938 escape attempt). When they finally gave me a day assignment in the industries, I can remember never being happier. I used to think that this was worse than being locked in one of those cells on the inside of the prison.”

  Warden James A. Johnston 1934 –1948

  A photograph of the first Warden of Alcatraz, James A. Johnston. This image was produced for his book Prison Life is Different. He authored several other publications, including a book on Alcatraz entitled Alcatraz and the Men Who Live There

  In November of 1933, the U.S. Attorney General chose James A. Johnston, a strict disciplinarian with a humanistic approach to reform as the new warden of Alcatraz. Johnston came to the position with a broad-based background in business and twelve years of experience in the California Department of Corrections. James Johnston was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 15, 1874, to Thomas and Ellen Johnston. He moved to California to attend the Sacred Heart College in San Francisco to study law. In 1905 Johnston married Ida Fulton and the couple decided to remain in California. From 1912 until 1913, Johnston served a brief term as the warden at Folsom Prison on the appointment of the Governor of California. His successful term at Folsom led to another position as the warden of San Quentin Prison, where he would remain until 1925. After leaving the prison system, Johnston became the Vice-President of the American Trust Company and later took an appointment as a chief appraiser for the Federal Home Loan Bank Corporation.

  Two photographs of James A. Johnston as a young man, during his terms as Warden of Folsom Prison in 1912-1913, and as Warden of San Quentin Prison from 1913-1925.

  The Department of Justice considered Johnston a “scientific penologist,” and he had a remarkable track record of successfully returning a high percentage of inmates to productive society. Johnston had become well known for the programs he implemented in the area of prisoner reform and he was also a promoter of inmate rights. He abolished the wearing of striped uniforms, which he considered demeaning to the inmates and he advocated active inmate participation in religious services. He didn't believe in chain gangs, but rather in having inmates report to a job where they were respected and rewarded for their efforts.

  Nicknamed the "Golden Rule Warden" at San Quentin, Johnston was praised in newspaper articles for the California highways that were graded by San Quentin prisoners. Although inmates were not compensated for this work, they were rewarded with sentence reductions. Johnston also established several educational programs at San Quentin, which proved successful for a good number of inmates. He invited famous actors and actresses of the era to entertain on special occasions, including such greats as Mary Pickford and Sarah Bernhardt. Johnston purchased a motion picture projector for the inmates at San Quentin and vaudeville companies were permitted to perform for the prisoners. But despite Johnston’s humane approach to prison reform, he also carried a reputation as a strict disciplinarian. His rules of conduct were among the most rigid in the correctional system and harsh punishments were meted out to defiant inmates. During his tenure at "Q," Johnston also oversaw the executions by hanging of several inmates.

  Johnston abolished the wearing of striped prison uniforms, which he considered demeaning to the inmates. He didn't believe in chain gangs (depicted here in a movie still with the men walking in what was termed as “Lock Step”), and he advocated having inmates report to a job where they were respected and rewarded for their efforts. Johnston held a remarkable track record of successfully returning a high percentage of inmates to productive society, by teaching them job skills that could translate to employment outside of prison.

  Warden Johnston served as Warden of Alcatraz from 1934 until 1948.

  James Johnston was considered an icon of San Francisco during his term as Warden of Alcatraz. He is seen here during a public fundraiser, circa 1942.

  At Alcatraz, Johnston was allowed to hand-pick his correctional officers from the entire federal prison system. Johnston’s first appointment was Cecil J. Shuttleworth from St. Paul, Minnesota, who he chose as his Deputy Warden. He also appointed four lieutenants who were all well versed in the federal prison system. They were Edward J. Miller and Paul J. Madigan (who was later to become Warden himself) from Leavenworth, Edward Starling from Atlanta, and Richard Culver from Virginia. Fifty-two other correctional officers would be transferred to Alcatraz to assume guard posts
.

  The Guards of Alcatraz

  A letter detailing officers’ salaries for their new appointments at Alcatraz.

  A group photograph of the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary Personnel, taken on June 4, 1936. Warden Johnston is seen sitting in the middle. To his left is Deputy Warden C.J. Shuttleworth, and to his right is future Deputy Warden E.J. Miller.

  A small group of Alcatraz officers posing in 1953. Standing on the far left is Captain of the Guard Emil Rychner.

  Alcatraz officers receiving martial arts training.

  The guard-to-prisoner ratio on Alcatraz was one to three, which compared favorably with other prisons where there could be twelve or more inmates to every guard. The Alcatraz guards were able to keep extremely close track of each inmate, thanks to the Gun Galleries at each end of the cellblocks and the high frequency of prisoner counts. Because of the small number of inmates on Alcatraz, the guards generally knew each one by name. Salaries for the correctional staff were also better than at most other penitentiaries. In 1934 the average annual salary of a correctional officer at Alcatraz was $3,162, and by the time the prison closed in 1963, salaries for officers had risen to nearly $5,000 a year. Officers at Alcatraz were provided with extensive training, and were considered to be the best in the federal system. After being signed into service on Alcatraz, they would undergo a formalized program to help prepare them for their new position.

  A photograph of Captain of the Guard Emil Rychner (standing), during an officer training session.

  The shooting range at Alcatraz, which was used for weapons training.

  The guard-training curriculum was condensed into an extremely intensive four-week program. The classes covered self-defense skills, aggressive Judo as well as defensive maneuvers. Officers also were expected to qualify with the various firearms used at the secure posts. They would learn how to operate the cell mechanisms and became versed in the rules and regulations governing the prison. Furthermore, officers were trained in basic psychology, including role-playing techniques for deescalating potential riot situations and identification of unusual behavioral patterns. Inmates frequently made contraband weapons that could put the unarmed officers assigned to inmate areas at significant risk. As an additional precaution, officers would learn the language of the underground prison code and the importance of not getting too friendly with the inmates. The officers were expected to remain firm, and to enforce the regulations to the letter.

  Warden Johnston and Attorney General Sanford Bates created a set of rigid guiding principles under which the prison would operate, and the first of these was that no prisoner would be directly sentenced to Alcatraz from the courts. Instead, wardens from the various federal penitentiaries were polled and permitted to send their most incorrigible inmates to The Rock. They chose inmates with histories of unmanageable behavior and escape attempts, but they also sent high-profile inmates who were receiving privileges because of their status and notoriety. Assistant Director of the Bureau of Prisons James V. Bennett later commented, “In a sense, I was a talent scout for Alcatraz. One of my jobs was to review the records of all the men in the various federal prisons and decide who would be sent to the Rock.” Inmates would be required to earn their way back to another federal institution before they could be considered for parole. Those who sought an attorney to represent them while incarcerated at Alcatraz would have to do so by direct request to the U.S. Attorney General. All privileges would be limited, and no inmate, regardless of his public stature, would be extended special entitlements.

  Visitation and Inmate Rights

  Another training photograph with Associate Warden Arthur Dollison seated in the center, and Warden Paul Madigan seated on the far right.

  The visiting area, called Peekin’ Place by inmates because they were only allowed to talk with visitors through small bulletproof glass portals. The visiting area was located next to the main prison entrance. The barred gate on the right was the access gate to the stairway leading to the prison Chapel.

  Bureau officials are seen here posing as visitors seated in the visitors’ gallery. No physical contact was allowed between family visitors and inmates for any reason.

  An inmate talking with family members in the visiting area, using a hands-free intercom.

  A correctional officer sitting at the desk in the inmate visiting area.

  Conversations were monitored by prison officers, and the visit was immediately ended if an inmate violated the prison rules and regulations pertaining to visits.

  Inmates had to earn visitation rights, but no visits would be allowed for the first three months of their residence on Alcatraz. The warden would personally approve all requests and only one visit, per month, per inmate would be permitted. The visitor was required to be a spouse or blood relative, and would be allotted two hours. Visitors were not allowed any physical contact with the inmate, so there would be no opportunity for a visitor to pass any form of contraband. All visitors were conducted through a two-inch-thick bulletproof squared porthole, via a telephone intercom that was monitored by a correctional officer. Any discussion of current events, topics specific to the prison or other inmates, or anything that could have a potential link to crime would be forbidden. An inmate or visitor who violated this rule would immediately be cut off and the visit terminated. For inmates with relatives traveling from outside California, the Warden would sometimes allow consecutive visits (i.e., January 31st and February 1st).

  Inmates were given restricted access to the prison library, but no newspapers, radios, or other non-approved reading materials would be allowed. Mail service was considered a privilege, and all letters, both in-coming and out-going, were to be screened, censored, and typewritten. Work was also assigned as a privilege and not a right. Consideration for work assignments would be based on an inmate's conduct record.

  Each prisoner was assigned his own cell and allotted only the basic necessities, such as food, water, clothing, and medical & dental care. Inmate Willie Radkay (who occupied a cell next to Machine Gun Kelly at Alcatraz), later indicated during an interview that having your own cell was a great advantage over other federal prisons. When inmates lived in separate cells, the chances of being sexually violated were reduced, and the privacy afforded was also a cherished benefit. Personal property was generally limited to a few photographs, and the cells were subject to meticulous inspections that were frequent, random and unannounced.

  The inmates’ contact with the outside world was completely cut off. Convicted spy Morton Sobell stated that the rules at Alcatraz were so stringent that inmates were never allowed to explore the cellhouse on their own. They would be marched from one location to another, always in a regulated manner. The routine was unyielding, day after day, year after year, and even on most holidays. As quickly as a right was awarded for good behavior, it could be taken away for the slightest infraction. Johnston would tell the press on opening day: “The essence of Alcatraz is a maximum security prison, with minimum privileges”.

  Transition to a Civilian Prison

  When the Military evacuated the island on June 19, 1934, they left behind thirty-two hard-edged prisoners to serve out their sentences on Alcatraz. The remaining military inmates were assigned Alcatraz numbers alphabetically with Frank Bolt as 01-AZ. These men later became resentful of being imprisoned with what the media had publicized as America’s worst criminals. There was a thread of dissention among these inmates, who thought that they should be released to more lenient institutions. The first civilian to be held at Alcatraz was Frederick Grant White, who arrived on July 13, 1934 from McNeil Island. The next civilian inmate had an interesting connection to the island prison. Robert Bradford Moxon had once served at Alcatraz as a soldier. Ironically, after being discharged, he was arrested on charges of forgery and sent back to serve out his sentence on the Rock, arriving on August 2, 1934.

  Frank L. Bolt was Alcatraz inmate #AZ-01.

  Bolt’s dishonorable discharge papers from the US Army.


  Frederick Grant White was the first civilian inmate at Alcatraz. He arrived on July 13, 1934 from McNeil Island.

  A telegram to Warden Johnston, providing transfer details for inmate White.

  A photograph of military inmate John Miller, one of the thirty-two inmates left to finish out their sentences at Alcatraz following the prison’s transition to a civilian institution. Miller’s photograph illustrates one of the rare instances of leniency at the prison, which would be short lived. Mustaches were not allowed at Alcatraz during its tenure as a Federal penitentiary.

  Robert Bradford Moxon

  Warden Johnston on August 18, 1934, leading a tour for dignitaries. Pictured from left to right are San Francisco Mayor Angelo Rossi; Attorney General Homer Cummings, one of the conceptual founders of the prison; Warden Johnston; and San Francisco Police Chief William Quinn. The photograph opposite shows the group leaving the prison.