X-Rays at Alcatraz

x-ray history Feb 14, 2024

An old, somewhat eerie photograph of an x-ray room that was used often at the Alcatraz prison, known for its maximum-security facilities and historical significance.

Alcatraz Island, located in San Francisco Bay, was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and finally, as a federal prison from 1934 until 1963. During its 29 years of operation by the federal bureau of prisons, Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons, essentially making it the last stop for the country's most incorrigible inmates.

Alcatraz gained a notorious reputation due to the harsh conditions caused by the cold, strong currents of the surrounding bay waters, which were assumed to be too treacherous for successful escape attempts. Some of the most famous inmates included notorious criminals like Al Capone and Robert Franklin Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz."

Al Capone, also known as "Scarface," was one of the most infamous American gangsters of the 20th century. He was born on January 17, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian immigrant parents. Capone became involved in gang activity at a young age in Brooklyn and then moved to Chicago in his early twenties to take advantage of opportunities in the illegal liquor trade during the Prohibition era.

In Chicago, he joined the James Street Boys gang, and later the Five Points Gang. His charisma and ruthlessness allowed him to rise in the ranks of organized crime. By the late 1920s, Capone had become the boss of the Chicago Outfit, which was involved in various illegal activities, including bootlegging (illegal alcohol distribution), gambling, and prostitution. Under Capone's leadership, the Chicago Outfit gained tremendous power and wealth, and Capone himself became a notorious public figure.

Capone was known for his involvement in the violent side of the gangster lifestyle, including the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929, in which seven members of a rival gang were killed. Despite his criminal activities, he managed to evade arrest for many years due to a combination of political protection, bribery, and a careful avoidance of leaving any incriminating evidence.

Ultimately, the federal authorities were able to convict Capone on charges of tax evasion in 1931. He was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison and served part of his sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta before being transferred to Alcatraz in 1934. His time in Alcatraz was marked by a decline in health, exacerbated by syphilis and the effects of cocaine withdrawal.

Al Capone was released from prison in 1939 due to good behavior and his declining health. He retired to his estate in Palm Island, Florida, where he lived until his death on January 25, 1947, from cardiac arrest after suffering a stroke. Capone's life and persona have become emblematic of the Roaring Twenties and the public enemy era, and he remains a significant figure in popular culture.

Robert Stroud, known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz," was a notorious inmate who became famous for his interest in birds while incarcerated. Born in 1890, Stroud's life of crime began early, and he was first incarcerated for a manslaughter conviction in 1909.

His nickname, "Birdman," stemmed from his time at Leavenworth Penitentiary, where he discovered a nest with injured sparrows in the prison yard. He cared for them and eventually turned his cell into a makeshift aviary. Over time, he raised nearly 300 birds and began to study them, even conducting his own research on bird diseases. Stroud authored two books on canaries and their diseases, and he made significant contributions to avian pathology, especially considering his limited resources.

Stroud's deep interest in birds and his scientific work were ironic contrasts to his violent past and the severity of his imprisonment. He was originally sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter, but his sentence was extended, including a term of solitary confinement, after he stabbed a prison guard at Leavenworth. In 1942, he was transferred to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, where, contrary to popular belief, he was not allowed to keep birds. His life at Alcatraz was devoid of the avian interests that had previously brought him a sense of purpose and a measure of fame.

Despite his violent history and the severity of his crimes, Stroud's story was romanticized in the 1962 movie "Birdman of Alcatraz," in which he was portrayed by Burt Lancaster. The film depicted Stroud as a largely sympathetic character, which was a stark contrast to the real-life inmate known for being a difficult and dangerous prisoner.

Stroud spent 54 years of his life in prison, 42 of those in solitary confinement. He was transferred to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, in 1959, where he died on November 21, 1963. His life story, particularly the portion dealing with his interest in birds, has made him one of the most famous inmates in the history of the American prison system.

Despite its infamy, there were a number of escape attempts from Alcatraz; the most famous being the 1962 escape by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin, which was immortalized in the film "Escape from Alcatraz." To this day, it is unclear if the escapees survived the attempt.

The federal prison was closed in 1963 due to high maintenance costs and its deteriorating structure. Today, Alcatraz is a public museum and one of San Francisco's major tourist attractions, with tours offered to illustrate its rich and tumultuous history. For a Radiologic Technologist to enter into this historical space is truly worth the experience. And to think, all of these men were once x-rayed by an R.T.

By Lazar Lazarovski R.T.(R) | Connect with me on LinkedIn

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