Ex Preston School of Industry (CA) Quiz

Answer: Rory Calhoun

Rory Calhoun appeared in a number of films, and television programs, active until 1993. He passed away at the age of 76, in 1999.

Alan Ladd's wife, Sue Carol was the agent who took Calhoun under her wing, and introduced him to Hollywood.

Audie Murphy was a Medal of Honor recipient from combat during World War II, who became a Hollywood actor following the war.

Gene Autry, the "Singing Cowboy", is well known for his illustrious career achievements.

Answer: Eddie Anderson

Of those listed, only Eddie Anderson is the real Rochester. His full birth name was Edmund Lincoln Anderson. I made up the others ...

Answer: Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard's school file notes that he "likes to sing and play the guitar". He is said to also sport a tattoo saying "PSoI". He spent his time at the age of 16 in 1953. After his release from Preston, Merle attended a Lefty Frizzell concert, singing along. Frizzell heard him, was impressed, and gave him his first break. The rest, as they say, is history.

Johnny Cash did spend time in detention, but not at Preston, nor, even as the song implies, at Folsom Prison.

Willie Nelson did not spend time in detention, but did run afoul of the IRS.

Waylon Jennings also did not spend time in detention, but with the others was part of the outlaw style of country music.

Answer: Tony Cornero

After teenage years spent at Preston, Tony Cornero became a successful bootlegger during the Prohibition years, and used his talents to develop a roadside casino, "The Meadows" in Las Vegas, switched to floating casinos when the mob torched "The Meadows" following attempts to extort money from him, and ultimately returned to Las Vegas to build the Stardust Resort and Casino. He died under questionable circumstances before the casino was completed, although it went on to become one of the premier spots on The Strip.

Al Capone was a Chicago mobster, and Frank Nitti was his right hand man.

For a time, Frank Sinatra held an interest in the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, and was on the FBI's watch list because of his friendship with several purported members of the Mafia.

Answer: Neal Cassady

Neal Cassady's "stream of consciousness" manner of speaking and writing significantly influenced Jack Kerouac, who rewrote his first draft of "On The Road" to reflect N.C.'s style. All four of these men, as well as Alan Ginsberg and Ken Kesey, were central to the Beat Movement, giving birth to "beatniks", and then progressing to the "hippie" movement.

Answer: Eddie Machen

Eddie Machen appeared to have it all, with a solid future in boxing, but his life never seemed to match the expectations. A lifetime record of 50 wins (29 KOs), 11 losses (3 KOs), and 3 draws, and the opportunity to box Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier, Ingemar Johansson among others didn't balance out with reality. He died at the age of 40 in a fall from a second story window. It has never been conclusively determined whether it was an accident or a suicide.

Answer: Don Jordan

Don Jordan took down Virgil Akins to win the welterweight championship, and later defended it in a rematch. After hitting rock bottom, he left the boxing world, going from job to job, finally finding steady work with Douglas Aircraft. Attacked and beaten senseless by unknown assailants bent on robbery in broad daylight, he went into a coma and passed away five months later. He was 62.

Carmen Basilio and Tony DeMarco were also welterweight boxers.

Answer: Tennis

Arrested for burglary at age 15, he spent a year at Preston, honing his skills on the tennis court. After release, he spent two years in the US Navy. He then re-entered the tennis world, establishing himself in the professional category.

Answer: Bill Sands

Bill Sands was influenced by Warden Clinton Duffy at San Quentin, and with the Reverend James Post developed the program. He also wrote a best-selling autobiography, "My Shadow Ran Fast".

The other two names are made up.

Answer: Joseph Cretzer

After a period of time in D-Block, Alcatraz's solitary confinement area, Joseph Cretzer was released back into the regular prisoner population. Given the opportunity to attempt another escape, he was involved in the taking of several guards hostage. When the attempt soured, he opened fire on the hostages, and was subsequently killed. It is not clear as to whether he was killed, or committed suicide when he was trapped.

Arnold Kyle was a fellow inmate as well as a member of his gang, and his brother-in-law.

The so-called "Battle of Alcatraz" has been depicted in two motion pictures: "Alcatraz - The Whole Shocking Story" with Telly Savalas portraying Cretzer (1980), and "Six Against The Rock" with Howard Hesseman as Cretzer (1987).