ApexNews
Return to Main
Book

Joliet Prison Blues: A Century of Stories

2021

Synopsis

Named warden of the Illinois State Penitentiary in 1913, Edmund Allen arrived with a glamorous new wife and ambitious plans of reform that did away with years of striped uniforms and humiliating practices. Two years later, his wife was found murdered in her bed, shocking the country and throwing the prison into chaos. Over the past century, life behind bars at Joliet has often been a national spectacle. Infamous inmates like Leopold and Loeb, John Wayne Gacy, Baby Face Nelson and James Earl Ray drew headlines, and iconic scenes in movies like The Blues Brothers ensured that the prison walls themselves were instantly recognizable. From overlooked prisoner profiles to the kind of dramatic incidents that incited riots or inspired Hollywood, Amy Steidinger's stories cover the modern era of Old Joliet Prison.

Suggested Reading

The Riot of '73 Oklahoma State Penitentiary

On Friday, July 27, 1973, two records were set that day.The temperature climbed to 96 degrees, the hottest day recorded that year, and a riot at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary became the worst prison riot in U.S. history. Read the true accounts: four inmates died, and twenty-three hostages were sei...

Purchase on Amazon View Details

The Haunting of Joliet Prison: The Brutal Past & Paranormal Present of One of the World's Most Notorious Penitentiaries

From Ursula Bielski, winner of the Chicago Public Library Foundation award for outstanding contributions to Chicago's literary culture, comes the first-ever volume about haunted Joliet Prison. For more than a century and a half, Illinois' Old Joliet Prison state penitentiary hosted some of America's...

View Details

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.