Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island () is a small island in San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military pris ...
has appeared many times in popular culture. Its appeal in film derives from its picturesque setting, natural beauty, isolation, and its history as a
U.S. penitentiary (now a museum) – from which, officially, no prisoner ever successfully escaped.
Prisoners
Most appearances of Alcatraz island in popular culture are related to its former status as a federal prison. Both real life and fictional accounts of imprisonment on the island have been popular.
One of the best-known of Alcatraz's historic inmates was Robert Franklin Stroud, known as "
The Birdman of Alcatraz". His biography was written by
Thomas E. Gaddis
Thomas Eugene Gaddis (September 14, 1908 – October 10, 1984) was an American writer most noted for his biography, ''Birdman of Alcatraz'' (1955), about convicted murderer Robert Stroud. It was adapted as a 1962 film of the same name, starring ...
and then adapted into
a film in 1962, with
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-yea ...
playing the lead role.
The 1995 film ''
Murder in the First'' depicts a man who spends three years in
solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a form of imprisonment in which the inmate lives in a single cell with little or no meaningful contact with other people. A prison may enforce stricter measures to control contraband on a solitary prisoner and use additi ...
at the prison.
One of the prisoners, Kyle Oberholzer, was charged with rape, murder and fornicating.
Portrayals in arts, media, and entertainment
Common fictional themes
Escape attempts
Many films and television series have exploited Alcatraz Island's reputation as a prison from which it was almost impossible to escape. For example:
* ''
Brute Force'' (1947), starring
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-yea ...
, although inspired by actual events during the
Battle of Alcatraz
The Battle of Alcatraz, which lasted from May 2 to 4, 1946, was the result of an escape attempt at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary by armed convicts. Two Federal Bureau of Prisons officers—William A. Miller and Harold Stites—were killed (Miller ...
, is a highly fictionalized account of an attempted prison break. It was unusual at the time for the level of violence it portrayed.
* ''
Birdman of Alcatraz
Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963), known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz", was a convicted murderer, American federal prisoner and author who has been cited as one of the most notorious criminals in the United S ...
'' (1962), starring Burt Lancaster, briefly depicts a largely fictional version of the battle which, from the start, is portrayed as a full-scale riot rather than a discrete escape attempt.
Robert Stroud
Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963), known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz", was a convicted murderer, American federal prisoner and author who has been cited as one of the most notorious criminals in the United S ...
, the "
Birdman of Alcatraz
Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963), known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz", was a convicted murderer, American federal prisoner and author who has been cited as one of the most notorious criminals in the United S ...
", is given unwarranted credit for ending the conflict.
*
Don Siegel
Donald Siegel ( ; October 26, 1912 – April 20, 1991) was an American film and television director and producer.
Siegel was described by ''The New York Times'' as "a director of tough, cynical and forthright action-adventure films whose taut ...
's thriller ''
Escape from Alcatraz'' (1979) portrays both the conditions of life in the prison and the difficulty of escaping from it, and chronicles the story of
Frank Morris and brothers
John
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second ...
and
Clarence Anglin
In June 1962, inmates Clarence Anglin, John Anglin, and Frank Morris escaped from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, a maximum-security prison located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Late on the night of June 11 or early morning o ...
, who escaped from Alcatraz in 1962, although it is not known whether the three escapees survived. The film implies that the escape succeeded.
* ''
Alcatraz — The Whole Shocking Story'' (1980) is a factually based TV drama of the events of the Battle of Alcatraz, incorporated into a larger narrative of the history of Alcatraz as seen through the eyes of its youngest prisoner,
Clarence Carnes
Clarence Victor Carnes (January 14, 1927 – October 3, 1988), known as The Choctaw Kid, was a Choctaw man best known as the youngest inmate incarcerated at Alcatraz and for his participation in the bloody escape attempt known as the "Battle ...
.
* ''
Six Against the Rock
''Six Against the Rock'' is a 1987 American film on TV about the Battle of Alcatraz
The Battle of Alcatraz, which lasted from May 2 to 4, 1946, was the result of an escape attempt at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary by armed convicts. Two Federal ...
'' (1987), starring
David Carradine
David Carradine ( ; born John Arthur Carradine Jr.; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor best known for playing martial arts roles. He is perhaps best known as the star of the 1970s television series ''Kung Fu'', playi ...
as Bernard Coy, is based on the semi-fictional book by Clark Howard.
*''Alcatraz'' (2018), is an independent film depicting the Battle of Alcatraz.
Hostages
Alcatraz's isolated and fortified image has meant that it has been used as a location for fictional hostage scenarios in various instances.
*Terrorists use Alcatraz as a hiding-place after taking the Mayor of San Francisco hostage in the third
Dirty Harry
''Dirty Harry'' is a 1971 American neo-noir
Neo-noir is a revival of film noir, a genre that had originally flourished during the post-World War II era in the United Statesroughly from 1940 to 1960. The French term, ''film noir'', translates ...
film, ''
The Enforcer'' (1976)
*The most successful of such films was ''
The Rock'' (1996), in which a group from the
United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance
Force Reconnaissance (FORECON) is one of the United States Marine Corps' special operations capable forces (SOC) which supplies military intelligence to the command element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Force Reconnaissance comp ...
holds 81 tourists hostage, demanding monetary reparations; to defeat the hostage-takers, the
Navy SEAL
The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's primary special operations force and a component of the Naval Special Warfare Command. Among the SEALs' main functions are conducting sma ...
team enlists the help and knowledge of John Patrick Mason, the only inmate of Alcatraz who ever successfully escaped
Safe haven
Alcatraz has also been portrayed often as a safe haven or
base of operations
Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top ...
in
post-apocalyptic fiction
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction in which the Earth's (or another planet's) civilization is collapsing or has collapsed. The apocalypse event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; astro ...
, such as the film ''
The Book of Eli
''The Book of Eli'' is a 2010 American post-apocalyptic neo-Western action film directed by the Hughes Brothers, written by Gary Whitta, and starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, and Jennifer Beals. The story rev ...
'' (2010).
Portrayals
Multimedia franchises
* The ''
Harry Potter
''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...
'' franchise features a wizarding island prison called
Azkaban
J. K. Rowling's ''Harry Potter'' universe contains numerous settings for the events in her fantasy novels. These locations are categorised as a dwelling, school, shopping district, or government-affiliated locale.
Dwellings
The Burrow
The Wea ...
which is partly based on Alcatraz.
Films
* ''
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel Capone (; January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface", was an American gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the ...
'' (1959) ends with the once-powerful crime boss being attacked by other prisoners after being sent to "The Rock" for income-tax evasion
* ''Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story'' (1980) stars
Michael Beck
John Michael Beck Taylor (born February 4, 1949), commonly known as Michael Beck, is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Swan in '' The Warriors'' (1979) and Sonny Malone in '' Xanadu'' (1980).
Early life
Beck was born in Memphis, T ...
and was directed by
Paul Krasny
Paul Krasny (August 8, 1935 – November 12, 2001) was an American film and television director.
Beginning his career in 1964, he amassed many credits in television. Some of his television credits include ''Hawaii Five-O'', '' Mission: Imp ...
*In ''
All Dogs Go to Heaven 2
''All Dogs Go to Heaven 2'' is a 1996 American animated musical fantasy adventure film, and a sequel to Goldcrest Films' animated film ''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' (1989). Produced by MGM/UA Family Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation, ...
'' (1996), Carface turns Alcatraz into the Devil's temple and a prison for angels.
* ''
Birdman of Alcatraz
Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963), known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz", was a convicted murderer, American federal prisoner and author who has been cited as one of the most notorious criminals in the United S ...
'' (1962), starring
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-yea ...
and directed by
John Frankenheimer
John Michael Frankenheimer (February 19, 1930 – July 6, 2002) was an American film and television director known for social dramas and action/suspense films. Among his credits were ''Birdman of Alcatraz'' (1962), ''The Manchurian Candidate'' (1 ...
, is based on
Thomas E. Gaddis
Thomas Eugene Gaddis (September 14, 1908 – October 10, 1984) was an American writer most noted for his biography, ''Birdman of Alcatraz'' (1955), about convicted murderer Robert Stroud. It was adapted as a 1962 film of the same name, starring ...
' eponymous 1955 biography of
Robert Stroud
Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963), known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz", was a convicted murderer, American federal prisoner and author who has been cited as one of the most notorious criminals in the United S ...
* In ''
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore'' (2010), Mr. Tinkles was locked up in a hidden prison on Alcatraz Island as a mental patient.
* ''
Escape from Alcatraz'' (1979), starring
Clint Eastwood
Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...
and directed by
Don Siegel
Donald Siegel ( ; October 26, 1912 – April 20, 1991) was an American film and television director and producer.
Siegel was described by ''The New York Times'' as "a director of tough, cynical and forthright action-adventure films whose taut ...
* ''
Half Past Dead
''Half Past Dead'' is a 2002 American action film written and directed by Don Michael Paul in his directorial debut, and produced by Steven Seagal, who also starred in the lead role, alongside Andrew Stevens and Elie Samaha. The film co-stars Morr ...
'' (2002) action movie starring
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal (; born April 10, 1952) is an American actor, screenwriter and martial artist. A 7th-dan black belt in aikido, he began his adult life as a martial arts instructor in Japan and eventually ended up running his father-in-l ...
, setting of the movie is at a modern Alcatraz
* ''
King of Alcatraz
''King of Alcatraz'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Robert Florey and starring Gail Patrick, Lloyd Nolan and Harry Carey. It was the film debut of Robert Preston.
Plot
Just as gangster Steve Murkil is escaping from Alcatraz prison, ...
'' (1938), starring
Gail Patrick
Gail Patrick (born Margaret LaVelle Fitzpatrick, June 20, 1911 – July 6, 1980) was an American film actress and television producer. Often cast as the bad girl or the other woman, she appeared in more than 60 feature films between 1932 an ...
and directed by
Robert Florey
Robert Florey (14 September 1900 – 16 May 1979) was a French-American director, screenwriter, film journalist and actor.
Born as Robert Fuchs in Paris, he became an orphan at an early age and was then raised in Switzerland. In 1920 he worked a ...
* ''
Meteor Storm
A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky. These meteors are caused by streams of cosmic debris called meteoroids entering Earth's atmosphere at extre ...
'' (2010)
* ''
Murder in the First'' (1995), a drama film about a fictionalized inmate at Alcatraz.
* ''
Occupation of Alcatraz 1969'', a documentary about the protest occupation of (the then defunct) Alcatraz
* ''
Point Blank
Point-blank range is any distance over which a certain firearm can hit a target without the need to compensate for bullet drop, and can be adjusted over a wide range of distances by sighting in the firearm. If the bullet leaves the barrel paral ...
'' (1967). This was the first major motion picture to be filmed on location at Alcatraz Island after the closure of the Federal prison in 1963
* In the
Popeye the Sailor
Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar.[animated cartoon
Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most anima ...](_blank)
"
Private Eye Popeye" (released on November 12, 1954), Alcatraz Island is where Popeye knocks the cartoon's main antagonist into after gaining a fresh burst of strength from eating spinach
* In ''
So I Married An Axe Murderer''
, Charlie and his friend Tony take a tour of Alcatraz
* ''
Star Trek Into Darkness
''Star Trek Into Darkness'' is a 2013 American science fiction action film directed by J. J. Abrams and written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and Damon Lindelof. It is the 12th installment in the ''Star Trek'' franchise and the sequel to the 2 ...
'', a 2013 science-fiction movie, in which the facility is destroyed when
Khan
Khan may refer to:
*Khan (inn), from Persian, a caravanserai or resting-place for a travelling caravan
*Khan (surname), including a list of people with the name
*Khan (title), a royal title for a ruler in Mongol and Turkic languages and used by ...
crashes his derelict starship into San Francisco
* ''
The Book of Eli
''The Book of Eli'' is a 2010 American post-apocalyptic neo-Western action film directed by the Hughes Brothers, written by Gary Whitta, and starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, and Jennifer Beals. The story rev ...
'' (2010) post-apocalyptic film that ends on Alcatraz
* ''
The Enforcer'' The third
Dirty Harry
''Dirty Harry'' is a 1971 American neo-noir
Neo-noir is a revival of film noir, a genre that had originally flourished during the post-World War II era in the United Statesroughly from 1940 to 1960. The French term, ''film noir'', translates ...
, (1976), movie climaxes with a shoot-out on Alcatraz
* ''
The Rock'' (1996), with
Sean Connery
Sir Sean Connery (born Thomas Connery; 25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a Scottish actor. He was the first actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond on film, starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983. Origina ...
,
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Kim Coppola (born January 7, 1964), known professionally as Nicolas Cage, is an American actor and film producer. Born into the Coppola family, he is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Gu ...
, and
Ed Harris
Edward Allen Harris (born November 28, 1950) is an American actor and filmmaker. His performances in ''Apollo 13'' (1995), ''The Truman Show'' (1998), ''Pollock'' (2000), and '' The Hours'' (2002) earned him critical acclaim and Academy Award n ...
, takes place at Alcatraz Island, featuring a rogue U.S. Marine Brigadier General and
US Force Recon Marines who have taken over the island,
stolen
Stolen may refer to:
* ''Stolen'' (2009 Australian film), a 2009 Australian film
* ''Stolen'' (2009 American film), a 2009 American film
* ''Stolen: The Baby Kahu Story'' (2010 film), a film based on the real life kidnapping of baby Kahu Durie ...
and are threatening to launch dangerous M55 rocket missiles filled with deadly VX gas, to eradicate large parts of
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
unless they are paid $100 million, forcing a government strike team to recruit John Mason (Connery), a former SAS operative and the only man to ever escape "the Rock", in order to break in and stop them
* ''
What's New Scooby-Doo?
''What's New, Scooby-Doo?'' is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation for Kids' WB. It is the ninth incarnation of the ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise that began with Hanna-Barbera's ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' and ...
'': Scooby and the gang investigate Alcatraz prison in order to solve the mystery regarding San Franpsycho, the ghost of a former Alcatraz inmate
* ''
X-Men: The Last Stand'' features Alcatraz as the development center for a "cure" for
mutants
In biology, and especially in genetics, a mutant is an organism or a new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is generally an alteration of the DNA sequence of the genome or chromosome of an organism. It ...
* The 1984 movie ''
Electric Dreams'' features the two lead characters on a date going on a tour of the facility. Their tour depicted the isolation cells, the recreation yard, and parts of the island shore.
Games
*The focus of ''
1954: Alcatraz'' (released in 2014), a
point-and-click adventure
An adventure game is a video game genre in which the player assumes the role of a protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and/or puzzle-solving. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based m ...
by
Daedalic Entertainment
Daedalic Entertainment GmbH is a German video game developer and Video game publisher, publisher based in Hamburg. They are best known for developing point-and-click adventure games.
History
Daedalic Entertainment was founded on 1 March 2007 ...
, is split between two separate player characters: Joe, who has been sent to
Alcatraz Prison
United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island, also known simply as Alcatraz (, ''"the gannet"'') or The Rock was a maximum security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, off the coast of San Francisco, California, United States, the site of a fo ...
for being involved in a robbery, and his wife Christine, who works on the outside in
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
trying to aid him in his escape
*
''Alcatraz'' (video game), a 1992 sequel to the Infogrames game (the sequel to ''Hostages''), involves US Navy SEALS infiltrating a terrorist-occupied Alcatraz and foil their plans
*''
Alcatraz: Prison Escape'' (released worldwide on November 23, 2001), developed by
Zombie Studios
Zombie Studios was an American independent video game developer. It was formed in 1994 as Zombie, LLC by Joanna Alexander and Mark Long, formerly of the Sarnoff Research Center. Alexander and Long founded Zombie after they completed the design o ...
and published by
Activision Value
Activision Publishing, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Santa Monica, California. It serves as the publishing business for its parent company, Activision Blizzard, and consists of several subsidiary studios. Activision is one o ...
, is a
computer game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...
based on, but not directly referencing, some famous escapes from the prison facility
*In ''
Call of Duty: Black Ops II'', DLC "Uprising", a zombies map titled "Mob of the Dead" takes place in a twisted, nightmarish version of Alcatraz Island, inhabited by zombies; however, it is not the real Alcatraz; it is more like a purgatory for the four characters
* In the ''
Call of Duty: Black Ops III'' final zombie map, "Revelations", Alcatraz Island makes a cameo appearance
*In ''
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4'' (2018), Alcatraz is the setting for the zombies map "Blood of the Dead"
*In
Call of Duty: Mobile, Alcatraz is a Battle Royale map first introduced in 2020 as part of the first anniversary event
*In
Call of Duty: Warzone (2020), Alcatraz is a Battle Royale map, under the name "Rebirth Island".
* In
''Cause of Death'', Alcatraz island appears in the last chapters of the first and fifth volumes
*In the RTS video game ''
Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge'', Alcatraz is featured in the introduction video setting up for its single-player campaign. The villain, Yuri, former leader of Soviet Psychic Crops, had built a Psychic Dominator and power plant on Alcatraz Island, as part of his global mind-controlling device network. The Allied
Harriers launched an air strike but failed. In the campaign, the player as commander must destroy the Psychic Dominator with the time shift by The Time Machine.
*In ''
Crysis 2
''Crysis 2'' is a first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek, published by Electronic Arts and released in North America, Australia and Europe in March 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Officially announced on Ju ...
'', the name of the main character is Alcatraz
* ''Escape from Alcatraz'' (2017), is a real time
escape room game from EscapeSF in San Francisco, that replicates the environment with using original props and background electronics
*In ''
Half-Life 2
''Half-Life 2'' is a 2004 first-person shooter game developed by Valve. It was published by Valve through its distribution service Steam. Like the original ''Half-Life'' (1998), ''Half-Life 2'' combines shooting, puzzles, and storytelling, and ...
'', The Combine Prison Nova Prospekt is heavily based on Alcatraz
* In ''
Homefront'', during the mission on the
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The structure links the U.S. city of San Francisco, California—the northern tip of the San Francisco Pen ...
, it is mentioned that US Navy SEAL Team Six has taken control of Alcatraz; it can also be seen in the distance
* In ''
Hulk
The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of ''The Incredible Hulk (comic book), The Incredible Hulk' ...
'', there are two chapters (five levels) that take place in Alcatraz
*In the
arcade game
An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily games of skill and include arcade v ...
rail shooter
Shoot 'em ups (also known as shmups or STGs
) are a sub-genre of action games. There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up; some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain types of chara ...
''L.A. Machineguns: Rage of the Machines'', a maximum security prison is established on Alcatraz Island in the year 2025, which falls under attack to the titular Rage of the Machines, a robotic terrorist force that attempts to free a number of convicts in the process. The player is tasked in thwarting the robots' assault, before taking on their leader, a larger amphibious robot named Xenophobia.
* The Albatross Island Prison in ''
Lego City Undercover
''Lego City Undercover'' is an action-adventure video game developed by TT Fusion and published by Nintendo for the Wii U in 2013. It was later re-released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows via Steam (service), S ...
'' is based on Alcatraz Island.
*In ''
Manhunter 2: San Francisco'', the player visits
alien
Alien primarily refers to:
* Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country
** Enemy alien, the above in times of war
* Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth
** Specifically, intelligent extrater ...
-occupied Alcatraz near the end of the game and frees captive mutants from the alien Orbs.
*In ''
Mean Streets
''Mean Streets'' is a 1973 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese and co-written by Scorsese and Mardik Martin. The film stars Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro. It was released by Warner Bros. on October 2, 1973. De Niro won the National ...
'',
Tex Murphy
Tex may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Tex (nickname), a list of people and fictional characters with the nickname
* Joe Tex (1933–1982), stage name of American soul singer Joseph Arrington Jr.
Entertainment
* ''Tex'', the Italian ...
visits Alcatraz at the end of the game, which houses the huge "Overlord" computer and then proceed to activate its self-destruct sequence.
*In ''
Operation 7'', an online free to play first person shooter managed by Netgame, Alcatraz is a playable map popular for the demolition or survival modes. It features a realistic map based on the cell blocks, cafeteria, and basement of the prison, finished with music that provides a creepy tone.
* The game ''
RollerCoaster Tycoon 2
''RollerCoaster Tycoon 2'' is a 2002 construction and management simulation game developed by Chris Sawyer and published by Infogrames Interactive. Released in October 2002 as the sequel to ''RollerCoaster Tycoon'', the game simulates the manage ...
'' has a scenario setting on the island, some time after the prison was closed down and abandoned.
* The game ''
RuneScape
''RuneScape'' is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Jagex, released in January 2001. ''RuneScape'' was originally a browser game built with the Java programming language; it was large ...
'' sends the player to an "escape-proof" island known as The Rock.
*Alcatraz also appears in ''
Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA'' again using the same layout as ''San Francisco Rush: The Rock''.
* The Stilwater Penitentiary in ''
Saints Row 2'' is based on Alcatraz.
* In the video game ''
San Francisco Rush: The Rock'', Alcatraz is the main setting. Players race cars on, above, and through the prison and the island.
* In the Ghostlight video game ''
Shadow Hearts: From the New World'' (developed in 2005), the party travels to Alcatraz to bust out
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel Capone (; January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface", was an American gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the ...
, who was formerly a real-life prisoner of the island.
* In the simulation game ''
SimCity 3000'', players can build Alcatraz Complex as their city's landmark.
*''
Sim City 4
''SimCity 4'' is a city-building game, city-building Construction and management simulation games, simulation Personal computer game, computer game developed by Maxis, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts. It was released on January 14, 2003. It is t ...
'' (released in January 2003) used Alcatraz as an historical building. It was developed by
Maxis
Maxis is an American video game developer and a Division (business), division of Electronic Arts (EA). The studio was founded in 1987 by Will Wright (game designer), Will Wright and Jeff Braun, and acquired by Electronic Arts, EA in 1997. Maxi ...
and published by
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry and promoted the d ...
.
* In the game ''
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3'', several hostages must be rescued from Alcatraz Prison.
* In the video game, ''
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
''Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4'' is a skateboarding video game and the fourth entry in the '' Tony Hawk's'' series. It was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision under the Activision O2 label in 2002 for the GameCube, PlayStation, Xbox, ...
'' (2002), the island is featured as a playable level and has many features of the real Alcatraz.
* The video game ''
Urban Strike
''Urban Strike'' is a video game developed and published by Electronic Arts. It was initially released for the Sega Genesis in 1994, with ports handled by Black Pearl Software to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Gear in 1995 and t ...
'' features Alcatraz as one of the secret bases of main antagonist H. R. Malone.
* In the video game ''
Watch Dogs 2
''Watch Dogs 2'' (stylized as ''WATCH_DOGS 2'') is a 2016 action-adventure game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the sequel to 2014's ''Watch Dogs'' and the second installment in the ''Watch Dogs'' series. It was ...
'', the player can walk around and visit Alcatraz Island.
* In the MMORPG, ''World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade'' there is a reference to Alcatraz through the Tempest Keep dungeon wing: The Arcatraz
*''
Saints Row 2''
* In ''
The Escapists
''The Escapists'' is a strategy game played from a top-down perspective. The game was developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and following a Steam Early Access release in 2014, was released in 2015 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox 360, Xb ...
'' Alcatraz is a DLC prison.
*In
Guitar Hero 3
''Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock'' (initially referred to as ''Guitar Hero 3'') is a music rhythm video game developed by Neversoft and published by Activision. It is the third main installment in the ''Guitar Hero'' series, following ''Guit ...
, Alcatraz is a part of the venues of this game, renamed to Shanker's Island
Literature
=Fiction
=
* ''
Al Capone Does My Shirts
''Al Capone Does My Shirts'' is a historical fiction novel for young adults by the author Gennifer Choldenko. In the book, Moose Flanagan and his family move from Santa Monica to Alcatraz Island when his father takes a new job as an electrician ...
'' and ''
Al Capone Shines My Shoes'' are historical fiction
young adult novel
Young adult fiction (YA) is a category of fiction written for readers from 12 to 18 years of age. While the genre is primarily targeted at adolescents, approximately half of YA readers are adults.
The subject matter and genres of YA correlate ...
s by
Gennifer Choldenko
Gennifer Choldenko (born October 20, 1957) is an American writer of popular books for children and adolescents.
Awards
''Al Capone Does My Shirts'' was a finalist for both the British Carnegie Medal and the American Newbery Medal
The John ...
, about a boy and his
autistic
The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...
sister living on Alcatraz Island
* In ''
Baccano!
is a Japanese light novel series written by Ryohgo Narita and illustrated by Katsumi Enami. The series, often told from multiple points of view, is mostly set within a fictional United States during various time periods, most notably the ...
'', the hitman Ladd Russo is imprisoned in 1932 and subsequently transferred to Alcatraz in 1934. The story arc "Alice in Jails" focuses on this and other inmates of Alcatraz prison.
* In ''Battle of the Labyrinth'', the fourth
Percy Jackson
Perseus "Percy" Jackson is a fictional character, the title character and narrator of Rick Riordan's ''Percy Jackson & the Olympians'' series. He is also one of seven main protagonists of the sequel series ''The Heroes of Olympus'', appearing ...
book, a Labyrinth entrance is located in one of the cells on Alcatraz Island and the worst nightmare of the Cyclopes,
Kampê, is a prison guard at Alcatraz.
* In an issue of ''
Psi-Force
''Psi-Force'' was a comic book series created by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson and published by Marvel Comics under their New Universe imprint from 1986 to 1989. It ran for 32 issues and an Annual (October 1987).
It concerned a group of adol ...
'', the group takes a sightseeing tour to Alcatraz and winds up getting attacked and temporarily imprisoned there.
* The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel fantasy novels series by
Michael Scott features Alcatraz in, for example, ''
The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel'' (2007), ''The Magician'' (2008) - in which Alcatraz is depicted as a prison for the immortal
Perenelle Flamel
Perenelle Flamel (October 13, 1320 – 1397) was the wife of the famous 14th-century scribe Nicolas Flamel. She was a generous benefactress who invested her wealth in churches and hostels and commissioned religious sculptures. Due to legends which ...
, and ''
The Sorceress: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel'' (2009)
*After
the mass depowerment of the
mutant race, the superhero team the
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in ...
move to Alcatraz and make it a safe haven for all mutants, renaming it Utopia
=Memoirs
=
A number of books were written or co-authored by former Alcatraz prisoners, e.g.:
* ''Alcatraz: The True End of the Line'', an autobiography by former inmate Darwin Coon
*''Alcatraz from Inside'' and ''Alcatraz from Inside: The Hard Years, 1942–1952'', by former inmate
Jim Quillen
*''From Alcatraz to the White House: An Autobiography'', by former inmate Nathan Glenn Williams
*''On the Rock: Twenty-five years in Alcatraz: The prison story of Alvin Karpis as told to Robert Livesey'', coauthored by
Alvin Karpis
Alvin Francis Karpis (born Albin Francis Karpavičius; August 10, 1907 – August 26, 1979), a Depression-era gangster nicknamed "Creepy" for his sinister smile and called "Ray" by his gang members, was a Canadian-born (naturalized American) crim ...
, the longest-held prisoner at Alcatraz
*''Public Enemy No. 1: The Alvin Karpis Story'', coauthored by
Alvin Karpis
Alvin Francis Karpis (born Albin Francis Karpavičius; August 10, 1907 – August 26, 1979), a Depression-era gangster nicknamed "Creepy" for his sinister smile and called "Ray" by his gang members, was a Canadian-born (naturalized American) crim ...
* ''The Birdman of Alcatraz'' (1955),
Thomas E. Gaddis
Thomas Eugene Gaddis (September 14, 1908 – October 10, 1984) was an American writer most noted for his biography, ''Birdman of Alcatraz'' (1955), about convicted murderer Robert Stroud. It was adapted as a 1962 film of the same name, starring ...
' 1955 biography of
Robert Stroud
Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963), known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz", was a convicted murderer, American federal prisoner and author who has been cited as one of the most notorious criminals in the United S ...
, which was adapted as an eponymous ''
1962 film''
* ''Alcatraz #1259'' (2012),
William G. Baker' 2012 biography of
William G. Baker, and his experience of being a prisoner of Alcatraz.
=Other non-fiction books about Alcatraz
=
* ''
Escape from Alcatraz'' (1963), by J. Campbell Bruce
* ''Last Guard Out: A Riveting Account by the Last Guard to Leave Alcatraz'' (2008), ), by Jim Albright
Music
=Groups
=
* Alkatraz, a Welsh rock band including former members of
Quicksand
Quicksand is a colloid
A colloid is a mixture in which one substance consisting of microscopically dispersed insoluble particles is suspended throughout another substance. Some definitions specify that the particles must be dispersed in a ...
*
Alcatrazz
Alcatrazz is a heavy metal band formed in 1983 by Graham Bonnet, Jimmy Waldo, and Gary Shea. Following an internal disagreement and split in 2020, there are currently two separate and distinct Alcatrazz line-ups, one featuring Bonnet, and ano ...
, a former American Heavy Metal band (1983–1987), notable for launching the careers of famed guitarists
Steve Vai
Steven Siro Vai (; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist for ...
and
Yngwie Malmsteen
Yngwie Johan Malmsteen ( ; born Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck, 30 June 1963) is a Swedish guitarist. He first became known in the 1980s for his neoclassical playing style in heavy metal, and has released 22 studio albums in a career spanning ov ...
; "Island in the Sun" (1983), the band's debut single, makes multiple lyrical references to Alcatraz Island
*
Alkatrazz
Alkatrazz were an English heavy metal band from Maidstone, Kent. Formed in 1980 as part of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) movement, the group originally featured lead vocalist Craig Stevens, guitarist and backing vocalist Bob Jenn ...
, a former British heavy metal band (1981–1983)
=Albums
=
*''
The Rock'' (1975) is an album by Scottish singer
Frankie Miller
Francis John Miller (born 2 November 1949) is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter and actor.
Miller wrote for and performed with many recording artists and is best known for his 1977 album ''Full House'', the singles "Be Good To Yourself", " D ...
*''
The Rock: Pressure Makes Diamonds'' (2006) is an album by the rapper
San Quinn
Quincy Brooks IV (born October 24, 1977), better known by his stage name San Quinn, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California. He is the cousin of Messy Marv, Stevie Johnson, and Ya Boy.
Early life
Brooks was born in Oakland, Califor ...
=Songs
=
* "17 Hills", by
Thomas Dolby
Thomas Morgan Robertson (born 14 October 1958), known by the stage name Thomas Dolby, is an English musician, producer, composer, entrepreneur and teacher.
Dolby came to prominence in the 1980s, releasing hit singles including "She Blinded Me ...
, from ''
A Map of the Floating City
''A Map of the Floating City'' is the fifth studio album by English new wave/ synth-pop musician Thomas Dolby, released on 24 October 2011. It was Dolby's first full-length studio album since 1992's ''Astronauts & Heretics'' and his last ...
'' (2011), narrates an ambiguously successful escape from Alcatraz
* "Alcatraz", by Benn hints at the ''
Call of Duty
''Call of Duty'' is a first-person shooter video game Media franchise, franchise published by Activision. Starting out in 2003, it first focused on games set in World War II. Over time, the series has seen games set in the midst of the Cold W ...
'' map "Mob of the Dead"
* "Alcatraz", by the indie rock band
Carbon Leaf
Carbon Leaf is a quintet from Richmond, Virginia, known for their alt-country, Celtic, and folk-infused indie rock. Though some of the band members have changed through the years, Carbon Leaf has been consistently creating and performing music ...
, is a song on their 2013 album ''Constellation Prize'' (2013)
* "Alcatraz" is a song performed by
June Carter Cash
June Carter Cash (born Valerie June Carter; June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter and dancer. A five-time Grammy award-winner, she was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash. Prior ...
* "Alcatraz" is a song written by
Leon Russell
Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges; April 2, 1942 – November 13, 2016) was an American musician and songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career that spanned multiple genres, including rock and ...
covered by
Nazareth (band)
Nazareth are a Scottish hard rock band formed in Dunfermline in 1968 that had several hits in Canada, the United Kingdom, and a number of other European countries in the early 1970s. The breadth of their popularity expanded internationally, in ...
on the album
Razamanaz
''Razamanaz'' is the third studio album by the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, released in May 1973. It was the band's first LP record to break the charts and was produced by Roger Glover of Deep Purple, who the band was on tour with at the t ...
* "Alcatraz", by the Proto-Punk Peruvian band Los Saicos, is sung from the point of view of a prisoner of the Rock
* "Alcatraz", a song on ''
The New Jim Jones
''The New Jim Jones'' is the debut album by rapper Dre Dog (currently known as Andre Nickatina). It was released on June 17, 1993 for independent record label, In-a-Minute Records and was produced by Dre Dog and T.C. The album featured one single ...
'' (1993) by
Andre Nickatina
Andre L. Adams (born March 11, 1970), better known by his stage name Andre Nickatina, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California. He previously performed under the stage name Dre Dog.
Personal life
Andre Adams was born on March 11, 19 ...
, includes the lyric, "Frisco, the home of Alcatraz"
* "Alcatraz (Pelican Island)" is a song performed by
Malvina Reynolds
Malvina Reynolds (August 23, 1900 – March 17, 1978) was an American folk/blues singer-songwriter and political activist, best known for her songwriting, particularly the songs "Little Boxes", "What Have They Done to the Rain" and "Morningtown ...
* "The Rock" is a song performed by Scottish singer
Frankie Miller
Francis John Miller (born 2 November 1949) is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter and actor.
Miller wrote for and performed with many recording artists and is best known for his 1977 album ''Full House'', the singles "Be Good To Yourself", " D ...
, on an album of the same name
* "Birdman of Alcatraz" is a song on ''
Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record
''Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record'' is a studio album by English keyboardist Rick Wakeman, released in November 1977 on A&M Records. After touring his previous album ''No Earthly Connection'' in August 1976, Wakeman rejoined the progressive rock ba ...
''
* "
Bullet in the Head
''Bullet in the Head'' () is a 1990 Hong Kong action film written, produced, edited and directed by John Woo, and starring Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tony Leung, Jacky Cheung, Waise Lee and Simon Yam. The film incorporates elements of the action, ...
", by
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine (often abbreviated as RATM or shortened to simply Rage) is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerfor ...
, features the lyric, "every home was like Alcatraz"
* Norteño band
Los Tigres Del Norte
Los Tigres del Norte (English: ''The Tigers of the North'') are a norteño band from San Jose, California. Originally founded in Mocorito, Sinaloa, Mexico, with sales of 60 million albums, the band is one of the most recognized groups in the g ...
filmed the music video of "Jefe De Jefes" at the Alcatraz prison
* "Frank Morris", by the
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music that features lyrics focusing on matters of Christian faith, often with an emphasis on Jesus, typically performed by self-proclaimed Christian individuals. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Ch ...
band
Capital Lights
Capital Lights was an American Christian pop rock band from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Formed in 2002 as Aftereight (stylized afterEIGHT), the band changed its name after signing to Tooth & Nail Records in 2008. The group initially disbanded in 2009, b ...
, tells the story of the escape attempt from the point of view of the prisoners
* In "Over The Wall", by the American bay area thrash metal band Testament, the lyrics talk about escaping Alcatraz
* "Save Me San Francisco", by the American rock band
Train
In rail transport, a train (from Old French , from Latin , "to pull, to draw") is a series of connected vehicles that run along a railway track and Passenger train, transport people or Rail freight transport, freight. Trains are typically pul ...
, mentions Alcatraz
* In a song from the musical ''
The Addams Family
''The Addams Family'' is a fictional family created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. They originally appeared in a series of 150 unrelated single-panel cartoons, about half of which were originally published in ''The New Yorker'' over a ...
'',
Gomez and
Morticia Addams
Morticia Addams (née Frump) is a fictional character from the ''Addams Family'' multimedia franchise created by American Charles Addams in 1933. She plays the role of the family's reserved matriarch. Morticia Addams has been portrayed in severa ...
mention that they took a week long trip to Alcatraz
* The German rock band,
Scorpions
Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always end ...
filmed the music video of "
No One Like You
"No One Like You" is a song by German rock band Scorpions. It was written by band members Rudolf Schenker (guitar) and Klaus Meine (vocals) and released as the lead single from the band's eighth studio album '' Blackout'' (1982). It was produce ...
" at the Alcatraz prison
People
*
Al Katrazz
Brian Fleming (born October 8, 1971) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known by his ring name Al Katrazz, a word play on the name of Alcatraz Prison and a reference Fleming's gimmick of a convict.
Professional wrestling career
Ul ...
(born 1971), ringname of wrestler Brian Fleming
Television
=Television series
=
* ''
Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island () is a small island in San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military pris ...
'' (2012), the short-lived TV series on
Fox
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush'').
Twelve sp ...
, starring
Sam Neill
Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. Neill's near-50 year career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he has been regarded as one o ...
,
Jorge Garcia
Jorge Garcia (born April 28, 1973) is an American actor and comedian. He first came to public attention with his performance as Hector Lopez on the television show ''Becker'', but subsequently became best known for his portrayal of Hugo "Hurley ...
,
Parminder Nagra
Parminder Kaur Nagra (born 5 October 1975) is a British actress of Indian Punjabi descent and Sikh heritage. She is known for portraying Jess Bhamra in the film ''Bend It Like Beckham'' (2002) and Dr. Neela Rasgotra in the NBC medical drama s ...
, and
Sarah Jones, and produced by
J. J. Abrams
Jeffrey Jacob Abrams (born June 27, 1966) is an American filmmaker and composer. He is best known for his works in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. Abrams wrote and produced such films as ''Regarding Henry'' (1991), '' For ...
,
involves prisoners from Alcatraz - which was not closed due to budget reasons, but because all 302 residents mysteriously disappeared on March 20, 1963 - reappearing in the present day, requiring a makeshift task force to track down the inmates and prevent them from committing further crimes while also determining the reasons for their return
=Television episodes
=
* In a two-part episode of ''
Avatar: The Last Airbender
''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' (abbreviated as ''ATLA''), also known as ''Avatar: The Legend of Aang'' in some regions or simply ''Avatar'', is an American anime-influenced animated television series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and ...
'' there is a Fire Nation prison for war criminals similar to Alcatraz called "The Boiling Rock", situated on an island in a boiling lake. Until two characters, Sokka and Zuko, infiltrate the prison and rescue the former's captured father and girlfriend, nobody had ever successfully escaped from it.
* In ''
Charmed
''Charmed'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Constance M. Burge and produced by Aaron Spelling and his production company Spelling Television, with Brad Kern serving as showrunner. The series was originally broadcast ...
'' episode 1.20, "
The Power of Two
''The Power of Two'' is a 2009 studio album by American vocalists Michael Feinstein and Cheyenne Jackson arranged by John Oddo.
Reception
The AllMusic review by William Ruhlmann awarded the album three stars and said "From the beginning, the t ...
",
Prudence Halliwell and her sister
Phoebe Halliwell
Phoebe Halliwell is a fictional character from the American television series ''Charmed'', played by Alyssa Milano from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006. The character was originally played by Lori Rom in the unaired pilot episode. However, Rom ...
vanquish the evil ghost of a
serial killer
A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A
*
*
*
* with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...
who was jailed in the Alcatraz prison and is seeking revenge on his judge and jury. The sisters must figure out how to vanquish this evil spirit and prevent his killing again without the Power of Three, as their sister
Piper
Piper may refer to:
People
* Piper (given name)
* Piper (surname)
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters Comics
* Piper (Morlock), in the Marvel Universe
* Piper (Mutate), in the Marvel Universe
Television
* Piper Chapman, lea ...
is vacationing in
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
* ''
Ghost Adventures
''Ghost Adventures'' is an American paranormal and reality television series that premiered on October 17, 2008, on the Travel Channel before moving to Discovery+ in 2021. An independent film of the same name originally aired on the Sci-Fi Chann ...
'' filmed season 8, episode 8 of paranormal ongoings at Alcatraz, on ''
Travel Channel
Travel Channel (stylized as Trvl Channel since 2018) is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which had previously owned the channel from 1997 to 2007. The channel is headquartered in New York, New York, United S ...
, titled "
Ghost Adventures
''Ghost Adventures'' is an American paranormal and reality television series that premiered on October 17, 2008, on the Travel Channel before moving to Discovery+ in 2021. An independent film of the same name originally aired on the Sci-Fi Chann ...
" (October 11, 2013)
* ''
Ghost Hunters''s 100th episode; season 6 episode 1 - "Alcatraz" (March 3, 2010), is a 2 hour premier special featuring a
paranormal
Paranormal events are purported phenomena described in popular culture, folk, and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described as being beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Nota ...
investigation at Alcatraz
*''
Ghost Lab
''Ghost Lab'' is a weekly American paranormal television series that premiered on October 6, 2009, on the Discovery Channel. Produced by Paper Route Productions and Go Go Luckey Entertainment, the program is narrated by Mike Rowe. It follows gho ...
'',
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Channe ...
's paranormal show, did an investigation of the prison in Season 1, episode 10: "Alcatraz" (December 8, 2009)
* The ''
G.I. Joe
''G.I. Joe'' is an American media franchise and a line of action figures owned and produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier ( U.S. Army), Ac ...
'' animated series aired a two-part episode titled "D-Day at Alcatraz" (1990)
* Alcatraz appears in the ''
Mummies Alive!
''Mummies Alive!'' is an animated series from DIC Productions L.P. and Northern Lights Entertainment. It originally aired for one season in 1997. The show was part of a general trend of "mummymania" in 1990s pop culture.
Plot
In ancient Egypt, an ...
'' episode, "Bird Mummy of Alcatraz"
* ''
MythBusters
''MythBusters'' is a science entertainment television program, developed by Peter Rees and produced by Australia's Beyond Television Productions. The series premiered on the Discovery Channel on January 23, 2003. It was broadcast internatio ...
'' aired "Alcatraz Escape" (December 12, 2003) on the Discovery Channel
* In the ''
Phineas and Ferb
''Phineas and Ferb'' is an American animated musical-comedy television series created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh for Disney Channel and Disney XD. Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series was originally broadcast as a ...
'' episode, "
Phineas and Ferb Get Busted!
"Phineas and Ferb Get Busted!" (broadcast outside the United States and Canada as "At Last") is the 45th broadcast episode of the first season of the animated television series ''Phineas and Ferb''. The episode aired on Disney XD in the United Stat ...
", the Smile Away Reformatory School is based on Alcatraz
* In the
''Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo'' (1979 TV series), Daphne's sudden sea sickness and sightings of a female vampire might be tied together when the gang visits Alcatraz Island
* ''
The Fairly OddParents
''The Fairly OddParents'' is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon. The series follows the adventures of Timmy Turner, a 10-year-old boy with two fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda who grant him w ...
'' features a prison in Fairy World called Abracatraz, based on Alcatraz.
* In ''
The Mighty B!
''The Mighty B!'' (stylized in all caps) is an American animated television series created by Amy Poehler, Cynthia True, and Erik Wiese for Nickelodeon. The series centers on Bessie Higgenbottom, an ambitious Honeybee girl scout who believes sh ...
'' episode, "Tour D'Alcatraz", Bessie and Penny were mistaken by an officer as criminals while on a tour in Alcatraz.
* ''
The Othersiders'' series finale featured an investigation of Alcatraz Prison
* In ''
The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, ...
'' episode, "
Bart-Mangled Banner
"Bart-Mangled Banner" is the twenty-first and penultimate episode of the fifteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 16, 2004.
Plot
Homer and Marge ...
", after the Simpsons get ostracized due to a misunderstanding, they get arrested and locked up in Alcatraz, along with people like
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore (born April 23, 1954) is an American filmmaker, author and left-wing activist. His works frequently address the topics of globalization and capitalism.
Moore won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for ' ...
and
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
* In ''
The Wild Wild West
''The Wild Wild West'' is an American Western, espionage, and science fiction television series that ran on the CBS television network for four seasons from September 17, 1965, to April 11, 1969. Two satirical comedy television film sequels w ...
'' (1960's TV series) episode, "
The Night of the Pelican",
Secret Service
A secret service is a government agency, intelligence agency, or the activities of a government agency, concerned with the gathering of intelligence data. The tasks and powers of a secret service can vary greatly from one country to another. For ...
agent James West goes undercover as a prisoner to Alcatraz
* The island location of the Duel Tower in the anime ''
Yu-Gi-Oh!
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuki Takahashi. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' magazine between September 1996 and March 2004. The plot follows the story of a boy named Yugi Mutou, w ...
'' was inspired by Alcatraz Island, and is called "Alcatraz" in the Japanese-language version
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alcatraz Island In Popular Culture
San Francisco in popular culture