Behind Gray Walls

By Behind Gray Walls

What's Behind Gray Walls about?

“Behind Gray Walls” is a podcast featuring stories from inmates housed at the Old Idaho State Penitentiary. Each week, Skye and Anthony explore inmates whose crimes led them to serve time at the "Old Pen." Their history is explored in depth and compared to corrections topics faced in communities today.

To support this podcast, visit: https://store.history.idaho.gov/Donation.aspx?C=BGWOP

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LAST EPISODE

EP 67 - Ada County - Al Pri...

05.17.2022

In this episode, Skye and Anthony discuss the first five men to serve time in the Territorial Prison from Ada County - Al Priest and John Stuart Black (Highway Robbery), Charles LaDuke (Grand Larceny), Jacob Drake (Assault with Intent to ...

Behind Gray Walls episodes:

05.17.2022 EP 67 - Ada County - Al Priest - John Black - Charles LaDuke - Jacob Drake - Michael Donahue In this episode, Skye and Anthony discuss the first five men to serve time in the Territorial Prison from Ada County - Al Priest and John Stuart Black (Highway Robbery), Charles LaDuke (Grand Larceny), Jacob Drake (Assault with Intent to ...
05.03.2022 EP 66 - Boise County - Ah Hood - On Gow - Dennis Crowley In this episode, Skye and Anthony discuss the first three men to serve time in the Territorial Prison from Boise County - Ah Hood (Robbery and Assault with Intent to Commit Murder), On Gow (Manslaughter), and Dennis Crowley (Murder in ...
04.26.2022 EP 65 - Dr. Heather Branstetter In this episode, Anthony and Skye interview Dr. Heather Branstetter, author of Selling Sex in the Silver Valley: A Business Doing Pleasure. Heather shares the history and role of sex work that flourished around Idaho mining and timber towns as ...
04.19.2022 EP 64 - Nez Perce County - William Scott In this episode, Skye and Anthony discuss the first man to serve time in the Territorial Prison from Nez Perce County - William Scott(Grand Larceny), and dig into the county's rich mining and union history. Clips: Senator Robert Wagner speech ...
04.12.2022 EP 63 - Owyhee County - John Thomas - Ah Shock In this episode, Skye and Anthony discuss the first men to serve time in the Territorial Prison from Owyhee County - John Thomas (Grand Larceny) and Ah Shock (Manslaughter), and dig into the county's rich mining history.
04.06.2022 EP 62 - Mining in the Idaho Territory In this episode, Skye and Anthony dig deep into Idaho's early mining history, and cover a brutal murder and the first executions in the territory.
03.29.2022 EP 61 - Terry Maley On The 1872 General Mining Law In this episode, Anthony sits down with geologist and author Terry Maley to discuss the impact the General Mining Act of 1872 had on the west, and his career and insights into mining in Idaho.
03.21.2022 EP 60 - The Territorial Prison In this season premiere, released on the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Territorial Prison, Skye and Anthony discuss the discovery of gold that brought miners into the Idaho Territory, and the establishment of law and order that developed ...
03.09.2022 Season 7 Trailer We're working hard to bring you a brand new season! March 21st (6-8pm) - Old Idaho Penitentiary 150th Anniversary Commemoration Tickets: https://history.idaho.gov/event/op150/ March 19th-26th - Cemetery Tour Tickets: https://history.idaho.gov/event/cemetery/ March 24th (6pm) - Treefort Live Performance: https://www.treefortmusicfest.com/schedule/
12.07.2021 EP 59 - Phelan And Lowe In the finale of this extended season, Anthony and Skye profile a couple of people with money problems—first, a man whose crimes send him to the very place he had worked #5693 Tony Phelan (Embezzlement); second, a young woman whose ...
11.30.2021 EP 58 - Mildred And Frank Wilcox In this season’s couple’s episode, Skye and Anthony piece together the complicated stories of the Wheelers/Wilcoxes who were allegedly running a “Certified Check Racket,” and whose post-ISP exploits are far more interesting than their time inside #3234 Mildred Wilcox (Forgery) ...
11.23.2021 EP 57 - Ainesworth And Surratt In this episode, Skye and Anthony are back from their break and discuss a woman whose AWOL husband causes quite a few problems #9008 Doris Mae Ainesworth (Forgery) and a man whose fall from a building in the middle of ...
11.20.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - Samuel Anderson On Boxing In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony and Skye sit down with Old Pen staff member and resident boxer Samuel Anderson, who shares the history of boxing at the Old Idaho State Penitentiary and opens up about his own boxing career.
10.30.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - Suzanne Squires On Samuel Hatton In this Halloween Special Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony brings back Old Pen Education Specialist Suzanne Squires to discuss the brutal life and death of #128 Samuel Hatton (Grand Larceny).
10.26.2021 EP 56 - Capps And Keller In this episode, to help us all get in the Halloween spirit, Anthony and Skye recount the spooky story of a man whose victim’s head ended up in court #487 Henry H. Capps (Manslaughter) and a young woman whose nickname ...
10.12.2021 EP 55 - Underwood And Kidd In today’s episode, Skye and Anthony detail the lives and (many) crimes of a woman whose previous experience with guns made her a little bit “gun-shy” #2326 Dollie Underwood (Robbery) and a four-timer who may have been innocent of his ...
10.09.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - Warden Jay Christensen In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony interviews recently retired Warden Jay Christensen who reflects on his career and discusses the transformations he has witnessed over the last three decades within the Idaho Department of Corrections.
10.02.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - Ian Pickens On Frank Lobear In this episode, Old Pen technical records specialist Ian Pickens shares the story of Frank Lobear #5319 (Manslaughter) who attempted to defend his own honor and after his incarceration became a local legend of the Frank Church Wilderness.
09.28.2021 EP 54 - LIVE! Ensley And Reynolds And Hopper In this LIVE! episode from the Storyfort Stage at the Treefort 2021 music festival, Anthony and Skye regale the audience (both live and digital) with the stories of two musical men who shared their skills while incarcerated at the prison, ...
09.21.2021 EP 53 - Hazeltine And Feely And Moore In this episode, Skye and Anthony tell the stories of a woman whose feminine wiles got her in trouble more than once #5952 Alta Hazeltine (Attempted Robbery) and the devastatingly dastardly duo who embark on committing life insurance fraud #9931 ...
09.14.2021 EP 52 - LIVE Swatsenbarg And Deaton In our first LIVE! episode Skye was able to participate in, Anthony and Skye regale the audience (both live and digital) with the stories of a man whose life and crime has everything—including divorce and donuts #7241/#7690/#8376 Delmar Theodore Swatsenbarg ...
09.07.2021 EP 51 - Lopez And St. Cyr In this episode, Skye and Anthony chat about a woman who was one of three Native American women who entered the Idaho State Penitentiary for Forgery on the same day #11235 Claire Johnson Lopez and a nineteenth-century Forrest Gump (allegedly!) ...
08.31.2021 EP 50 - Clark And Ross In the first episode of the sixth season, Anthony and Skye discuss a man whose experience in Siberia with a spoon is only scratching the surface of his troubled life, #11226/#12337 Dennis Guy Clark (First Degree Burglary/Second Degree Kidnapping) and ...
07.02.2021 Season 6 Teaser We're working hard to bring you a brand new season! Check out our new logo and pick up some merch at the Old Pen! We have t-shirts and stickers available! We recorded a live episode at the Old Pen on ...
05.15.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - The Warden's Son With Bette Joe And Roch Clapp In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony sits down with Bette Joe and Roch, the wife and son of the late Jerry Clapp. Jerry was a boy when his father, Lou Clapp, became Warden of the Idaho State Penitentiary in 1945, ...
05.08.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - John Dinger In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Skye and Anthony discuss the eventful 1887 term of court in territorial Idaho with returning guest John Dinger, Ada County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. The term included everything from citizenship and guardianship to murder.
05.04.2021 EP 49 - Seward And Shreve In the last episode of the season, things get a little dark as Anthony and Skye review the stories of a young man whose desperate attempts for love led to multiple deaths #1511 Fred Seward (Murder in the 1st Degree) ...
05.01.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - Steven Branting On Margaret Hardy In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Skye and Anthony interview acclaimed historian Steven Branting, who shares his research on Margaret Hardy and his process uncovering stories following the many threads that make up our history. Pick up a copy of Wicked ...
04.27.2021 EP 48 - Anna And Richard Woodfine In this season’s couple’s episode, Skye and Anthony discuss a pair of immigrants (one Swedish, one Canadian) who may have set fire to their house in a town only recently traumatized by one of the worst fires in the nation’s ...
04.20.2021 EP 47 - Eliason And Gillespie In this episode, Skye and Anthony have some conversations about a woman who gets a bit caught up with a husband (and maybe a wife) #6483 Leora Eliason (Adultery) and a man whose sexuality landed him in jail #2911 E.E. ...
04.17.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - Don Mummert In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Skye and Anthony celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Month and sit down with the longest serving volunteer at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, Don Mummert. Don has spent over 20 years giving tours and working as a ...
04.13.2021 EP 46 - Maxwell And Brezicky In this episode, Anthony takes a bit of a divergence from normal, covering Mark Maxwell and his prolific administrative career at the Idaho State Penitentiary and Skye sticks to the script, profiling a woman who didn’t quite know how to ...
04.10.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - Randy Martinez In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony talks to retired Deputy United States Marshal and Investigator Randy Martinez who shares stories about his career and compares it to the subject of this week's episode, Charles Phelps.
04.06.2021 EP 45 - Hall And Phelps On this episode, Skye and Anthony examine national alcohol bans with Prohibition violator #4693 Helen Hall (Giving Intoxicating Liquor to a Minor) and a Deputy U.S. Marshall who defied laws he was supposed to enforce not once, but two times ...
03.23.2021 EP 44 - Golden And Hester On this episode, Anthony and Skye dish the details of a police officer gone rogue whose crime is a real-life murder mystery #7070 Ralph Golden (Murder in the First Degree) and a woman who was charged with assault with nearly ...
03.20.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - Hayley Noble on Henry Wasielewski In this week's Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony and Skye sit down with Hayley Noble to discuss #6153 Henry Wasielewski (Robbery) who enlisted in the Polish forces in Canada during WWII after a brief incarceration in Idaho.
03.16.2021 EP 43 - Webb And McBride Skye and Anthony have an interesting conversation about a woman who may have had an unfortunate sip of Coca-Cola #7769 Frances Webb (Forgery), and a serial offender who decided to take his fate into his own hands in a tragic ...
03.13.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - HannaLore Hein on the 1918 Influenza Pandemic In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony and Skye interview Idaho State Historian HannaLore Hein who discusses Idaho's Response to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic and shares a message of hope and the importance of having historians at the table during trying ...
03.09.2021 EP 42 - Barnes And Brooks Anthony and Skye discuss a man who had title of “Whip Maker to Her Majesty” (Queen Victoria of England), but who was lucky to get away from his crime with his life #6 Frank Barnes (Murder in the Second Degree) ...
03.02.2021 EP 41 - LIVE Christopher And Carringer In this first LIVE episode in collaboration with Storyfort, Anthony teams up with Historic Sites Administrator Amber Beierle to chat about a woman with skills writing bad checks and heartfelt lines #10595 Nancy Frances Christopher (Forgery and Escape) and master ...
02.23.2021 EP 40 - Andrews And Mahaffey In this episode, Skye and Anthony chat about a young woman with an unfortunate man and health problem #5788 Helen Grace Andrews (Forgery) and a man who led an uprising that we didn’t get to talk about in the last ...
02.20.2021 Stool Pigeon Saturday - Judy Buck On Hattie McCormick On this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Skye and Anthony interview Judy Louise Buck, the granddaughter of #1537 Hattie McCormick, who sheds some light on Hattie's life outside of prison.
02.16.2021 EP 39 - Martin And McCormick On the first episode of Season 5, Anthony and Skye are sure glad to be back, and talk about a man whose escape nearly resulted in someone else’s death #11628 Peter Martin (Robbery and Escape), and a woman whose desire ...
12.22.2020 Season 5 Teaser We're working hard to bring a brand new season of prisoner stories to you in 2021! If you have a story, share it with us at [email protected] Looking for a great holiday gift? Come visit the Old Pen Gift Shop ...
11.14.2020 Stool Pigeon Saturday - 1980 Riot Calvin May In this episode of Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony sits down with retired Correctional Officer Calvin May who started working for the Idaho Department of Corrections months before he was held hostage during a riot at the new prison in July ...
11.10.2020 EP 38 - 1973 Riot "Down In Flames" In this episode of Disturbing Justice, Anthony and Skye discuss the chaotic 1970s and the final uprising at the Idaho State Penitentiary that resulted in damage still seen at the site to this day. Oral histories from Guards Charlie Griggs, ...
10.31.2020 Stool Pigeon Saturday - Curt Williams In this episode of Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony sits down with retired Correctional Officer and Idaho State Patrolman Curt Williams who worked at the Idaho State Penitentiary during the 1971 riot. Curt talks about being in the yard at the ...
10.27.2020 EP 37 - 1971 Riot "Boiling Point" In this episode of Disturbing Justice, things heat up as Anthony and Skye discuss how the weather helped spark one of the most violent prison riots at the Old Pen. Hear oral histories from prisoner Ron Macik who served a ...
10.13.2020 EP 36 - 1966 Riot "Sixty-Six Sit-In" In this episode of Disturbing Justice, Anthony and Skye discuss the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and the attempts made by Idaho prisoners to invoke change through a week-long strike after losing commissary privileges.
09.29.2020 EP 35 - 1958 Riot "Bull Pen" In this episode of Disturbing Justice, Anthony and Skye launch into a discussion about the Space Race, and break down a hostage situation led by a prisoner with the unfortunate nickname of "Legal Cutie."

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