Alvin Karpis "Public Enemy No. 1"

theboydgang.ca
More info: anthonycarrpsychic.com/index.p...
Notorious 1930's bank robber Alvin Karpis ("Old Creepy") was designated the FBI's "Public Enemy No. 1" right after the death of his good friend, John Dillinger. But did you know he was also a Canadian? Which is why he wasn't executed, but spent 36 years on "The Rock" aka, dreaded Alcatraz.
Anthony Carr states: "...Karpis reminded me of someone's grandfather in his dotage. It was difficult to imagine that this gentle-looking elderly man was once America's Public Enemy No. 1, what with his suspenders over a clean white shirt, gray hair cut short on top -- crew cut style -- and sporting wire-framed granny glasses over which he would peer as he talked, he looked the picture of docility -- that is, until he began telling me stories..."

[@leedummett4412]

wow, alvin in a interview. this is awesome. he lived until 1979. the last of the 1930s public enemies.

[@tooeybrown700]

He is so relaxed and calm as he talks about his life as a kidnapper, bank robber and murderer. This is a valuable historical film interview but at the same time, you can see why they called him creepy. He shows no remorse for his crimes. I wouldn't turn my back on him.

[@christianorr1059]

Yeah, so nonchalant in his responses.

[@43jaygee]

Nobody would ever think that this man was one of the biggest criminals back in the 20's & 30's. He did all of that time and yet came out and continued his life. Intelligent, articulate and surprisingly did not sound bitter or regretful of his life of crime.

[@tomitstube]

karpis would say alcatraz was unnecessarily harsh, that it was full of mental cases, full of people other prisons couldn't handle, he also said (he knew) the odds of escaping were very low, but never stopped thinking about how to bust out, that he knew of, and about other attempts. he said the thing that kept him going was the constant talk that alcatraz would be shut down, the cost was extremely high and many thought alcatraz wasn't practical.

[@jasonwilliams1705]

Not as a interviewer..." I could give a damn less , what you thought..."😂😅😂 Alvin told him like it is.

[@tommykankare6775]

Alvin Karpis has been described as the leader or "brains" of the Barker-Karpis gang. “My profession was robbing banks, knocking off payrolls, and kidnapping rich men. I was good at it. Maybe the best in North America for five years front 1931 to 1936. In another set of circumstances, I might have turned out to be a top lawyer or maybe a big-time businessman. I might have made it to any high position that demanded brains and style and a cool, hard way of handling yourself. Certainly I could have held the highest job there was in any line of police detection work." These are the opening lines of Alvin “Old Creepy” Karpis' unique auto-biography; The Alvin Karpis Story (1972). In its nostalgic pages, one of the 1930's most notorious and colorful underworld figures - Public Enemy Number One in an era that saw such contenders for the title as John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Bonnie and Clyde, and Pretty Boy Floyd-tells all and tells it like it was. "The book," Karpis writes, "is basically the story of what went on among us better known thieves of the Depression era and also what seemed to make us tick." And tick it does, like a time bomb set against a safe. From his early days as a petty thief, his meeting with Freddie Barker and the Karpis - Ma Barker gang's personal crime wave that swept the Midwest and carried them into the headlines, to his enduring duel of nerve and wits with his nemeses, J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, Alvin Karpis recalls a remarkable life in crime. At the same time, he re-creates the full flavor of a unique chapter in American history: the desperado-ridden years of the Depression, when payroll heists and bank robberies, and gunpoint confrontations between cops and robbers filled the front pages and the daring escapades and high living of the Karpis-Barker gang provided a colorful contrast to the severity of those very hard times. Completely candid and startling in its revelations, The Alvin Karpis Story brings to dimensional life all the legendary and infamous characters who peopled that extraordinary world. 👍

[@charlylucky7508]

Damn dude! Are you a writer or something? Sounds like something you would hear on the radio back in those days. 👍

[@johnwright291]

I had no idea this much footage of karpis interview existed. He seemed to have described himself as a sociopath.

[@mackenshaw8169]

He mellowed into a softly spoken (if socio-pathic) old man. Still justice was denied when he avoided the death penalty. His Hoover story is great though. Also it's interesting to see that as a sociopath he doesn't pretend to feel remorse that he just doesn't have but also genuinely dosn't carry any grudges.

[@balerjohnson3099]

Alvin Karpis was subdued by numerous FBI agents and then Hoover and Tolsen appeared when the danger was over....Little known fact...Hoover and Tolsen were wearing matching bra and panties and they felt so special.

[@martytruelove5026]

To each other

[@rememberthealamo2003]

BULL-this is what this generation does-they make believe the old generation is degenerate like this one,makes them feel better..

[@PointyTailofSatan]

BTW: if you can find a copy of "On the Rock", the book about Karpis' time at Alcatraz, buy it! He was involved with an amazing number of famous hoods, like Al Capone, the Birdman, Machine Gun Kelly, even Charles Manson (at McNeil Island)! He was also there during the famous escape attempts.

[@MA-wq2ih]

The man who wrote Karpis' biography stated on his blog that he didn't believe Karpis killed himself...he just wasn't the sort to do that. He said that Karpis drank and had picked up a pill addiction from a girlfriend while living in Spain, and he thought Karpis' death in 1979 was more likely an accident.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

I read that he was dying from cancer.

[@chillinlikascottfreevillia8022]

M1903A1 how long did he stay in prison. I was told he died in prison.

[@ksmccaw]

So cool to see the man who lived through it all, the man who laid eyes on Dillinger!

[@truthlifefishing1730]

plus, Capone and at McNeal Island in Washington State he met and taught Charles Manson to pay the guitar.

[@martytruelove5026]

Hoover was a jealous man,wanted the limelight.Karpis was shipped back to Canada,his birth place, after he served 33 years.He had done his time, and was welcomed in Montreal with open arms.

[@wheelinthesky300]

Brighter than my college professors.

[@vestibulate]

wheelinthesky300 Where the hell did you go to school?

[@melissapenrod]

Karpis was a very smart man. He is one of the very few of that era in his line of work to live to make it to old age. Although it kind of made me laugh when I read the comment that he was such a cute old man how could he hurt somebody. He calmly recalled murdering people like other people would a trip to the supermarket. I think most people have a hard time underrstanding that some people really have no conscience.

[@JAZZHOBO]

A Fellow cut from the same cloth as my Father and William S. Burroughs, I met many old men like Alvin, not criminals, but polite and educated natty dressers, not bragger or easily baited, as the interviewer does several times.

[@foxhound9285]

Looks like we'll be entering another depression 2.0.

[@dpr1515]

I love old docs about old gangsters and the mob.... Some cold dude's.....

[@shawngilliland243]

I like the song about Alvin Karpis.

[@brokenarrow1689]

wow an interview with Akvin Karpis!

[@joshmn651]

I could watch this all day...

[@bowietip2782]

Karpis. The man who taught Charles Manson to play guitar.

[@donkeyslayer677]

Chords, at any rate. Loony Charlie could play in limited fashion before they met.

[@juanamigo]

Might he have taught Charlie more than that? Seems like Charlie was a real learner while he was inside.

[@somersfamily]

I like that band

[@gwag8410]

Hoover should have been locked up....

[@davefuller9087]

That song was 🔥

[@clockerification]

No remorse for being credited with killing people he didn't kill ? This guy isn't going to be guilty of something he did not do . I like this man , he's telling how things were .

[@JackWebb713]

He is very well spoken. I read both of his books. Fascinating.

[@GrooveDoctor77Musician]

Its not that any of the old time gangsters were really bad people ,some were , but even those guys couldn't hold a candlestick to the biggest crooks of all.... the banks and debt enslavement masters , Alvin was just like many starving people of the depression , a man of the times

[@aidenpearce2709]

Drilled it. Nicely played and these are facts.

[@rubydawn1]

the interview when he was older was from Montreal Canada. Lived there when he was walking our streets who would have thought.

[@dkupke]

Amusing to hear wealthy people talk about how hard they have it today-when in those days a gang like the Barker/Karpis bunch were able to kidnap the son of a wealthy businessman (a friend of FDR no less) without much trouble. Then again that was also in the days before prominent people worried about stalkers trying to kill them.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

Karpis did an extended interview with Elwy Yost on Ontario TV that was far better than this. He talked about Alcatraz and the various escapes, Capone, Baby Face Nalson, etc. It was AMAZING!

[@ChopperLaboratory]

This sounds so awesome, Please tell me you can get a copy of the elwy clip!

[@PointyTailofSatan]

@@ChopperLaboratory I have actually messaged TV Ontario. Fingers crossed.

[@ChopperLaboratory]

Just checking in! any word from the tv station?

[@PointyTailofSatan]

@@ChopperLaboratory THey can't search for it because of COVID. No staff.

[@goosebumps2555]

Yep.. i watch it on tv

[@zyxmyk]

this is the most interesting of the classic gangsters. he's more intelligent and he comes across as so mild-mannered. if you know his exploits you can hardly believe this is him. On top of that he had a sense of humor. he was a sociopath and when he describes his sociopathic mind from the inside it's really fascinating. it's also interesting he doesn't try to lie about it--he just has no remorse. "maybe my makeup is just different," or whatever he said. a charming sociopath for sure.

[@kentallard8852]

If you watch interviews with Chopper Read a 'standover man' from Australia he was clearly very intelligent, but a total sociopath. And had a strong sense of humour.

[@christianorr1059]

Yep, so nonchalant when describing his crimes.

[@deanarupe73]

I read that The cops called him "Creepy" Karpis because they thought he had a Creepy smile.

[@movinghome]

Died in Malaga Spain where he went to retire with the English gangsters in the 70s

[@gedasleparskas6484]

Were you tough? -: No I wasn't tough, but I held my own :)))

[@bubblegum2996]

Makes you wonder.. What grandma and grandpa were up to back when they were young

[@Provemewrongwithfacts]

Fascinating!

[@missmyriamsenglishclass6975]

what's the tittle of that song?? I can't find it anywhere!

[@angelafulton8567]

Interviewer nervous and annoying,won't let him finish a sentence.geese!

[@lakecrab]

My dad witnessed AK's arrest on Canal and Jeff Davis in New Orleans in 1936. Dad was was 19 or 20 years old. Ironically, I share AK's birthday.

[@scentlessapprentice88]

Taught Mason chord progression while in the can together. Ma Barker gang. Manson busted...barker ranch. 😂

[@milesedgeworth132]

Its so interesting. The guy looks and speaks like an old man reminiscing about the times he'd play ball as a child, when in reality he ran a large Depression-era gang, killed two men, kidnapped two millionaires for ransoms, and even robbed a train. His theft totaled 327,000 dollars which in todays economy comes up to 6.3 million dollars.

[@davidmellish3295]

He killed at least 5 men that they know of (was accused of 14 )and he made $300 000 from 2 different kidnappings alone. Him and his gang robbed over a million dollars including the kidnappings and bank bonds and jewellery

[@reddevilxmaverick5677]

It was way more than that m8.

[@aidenpearce2709]

Did Karpis himself kill 2 or 2 died during jobs he was on?

[@shawngilliland243]

No remorse or really any acceptance of the crimes he committed. No wonder they called him "Creepy". "Gold Dust Twins" - well now that is amusing!

[@kasasesu666]

Hundereds of lithuanians live abroad, it doesn't matter where you born, the blood is lithuanian. As well as surname.

[@Chrisp_az]

The intro song is hilariously awesome!! For real.

[@janetduncan87]

I've never heard of this guy. All of the others I've heard of. My parents were young in the 20s and 30s while this was going on. He said, " I've counted em up, but I'm not going to tell you." His response to how many ppl he's murdered.

[@jjnouse8812]

He's like the gangster version of Obi Wan Kenobi

[@1339LARS]

Amazing vid !!!!!!

[@darylcumming7119]

A lack of empathy?

[@dakotahart5676]

Anyone know the name of the song in this video?

[@muddbosss]

Very, Very Good !

[@stephentedesco9790]

I want to hear back from the guy who said Alvin Karpis was his bus driver when he was in grammar school on McNeil island. I read it in the back of one of the interviews, and I have not been able to find it again. If somebody can find it and re-post it here, I would appreciate that.

[@michealbanks2009]

Wow..... Interesting story

[@levisomna]

he looks a bit like Willie Tanner from ALF O_o

[@PiranhaJaw22]

nice song

[@wikitiki10]

"He wasn't Lithuanian. His parents were" -That has got to be the dumbest thing I have read in a long time.

[@onutas]

If chinese born in Jamaica he is not jamaican, he is chinese.

[@anotherpluss1adventure905]

Anyone that survived Alcatraz I don’t care who he is. Deserves respect

[@noonan40004]

Textbook sociopath. Obviously no remorse for murders and able to justify any action.

[@jsdoggg96]

tRump like.

[@orbonds3603]

Takes one to know one

[@BIGDOG3361]

Karpis !!!! Is the man !!!!!!!

[@scott1357]

A true gangster

[@rickycrenshaw7763]

AWESOME

[@ronniebishop2496]

How did he escape the chair.

[@louietrap149]

What's that song

[@lokismig]

Please, does anyone know who sings the song that sounds at the beginning?

[@dogeical3733]

Miguel Saiz no

[@ChopperLaboratory]

Miguel Saiz the karpis theme by SHOOTER

[@lokismig]

@@ChopperLaboratory Thanks a lot!

[@talentedmrdyer]

from Topeka,Kansas

[@YourTypicalHispanic]

Big fan here alvin!!!!!!! 😄😄😄😃😃😃

[@davidlamotta1994]

Leslie Aviles You should read his book THE ROCK 📚

[@robertblevins4076]

That interviewer was rude! I mean yeah the guy was a mobster! But the man decided to tell you his story! The man sometimes didnt even finish his sentence before! Hey i heard this and I heard that. When u want information sit back and listen thats all u got to do.

[@poopooman38111]

When was this filmed???

[@fw5995]

Is it just me or is the interviewer trying way too hard to sound like a prosecutor whenever he tries to corner Karpis into saying something incriminating?

[@peteratwa]

No I dont think that about him. As I see his game was fair as he put his life also in the line he could have been killed too any of these actions! If this guy would be in the army probably he would be a hero there too. Some people fear for their life while some not.

[@Hdcook123]

He's such a cute old man. How could he have been a big named gangster.

[@nowleta]

Legend

[@kentkearney6623]

LANDMARK CENTER is worth a trip. I've been in the court house. Basement display.

[@SuperStormyNormy]

Very interesting, amazing he lived a long life.

[@OscarOffTheCuff]

He's a real OG

[@Skinny_Karlos]

Struck me as a pretty decent gentleman.

[@marcnews75]

He looks like an older garth from wayne's world

[@aftercarecarez]

marcnews75 lmfaooooooo perfect

[@shawngilliland243]

@macrcnews75 - You're right. Wow.

[@benderbendingrofriguez3300]

Alvin and the Chipmunks.

[@danielvalderrama8499]

Dont seem creepy to me, almost normal

[@BIGDOG3361]

One of the most clever of the 30"s gangsters ,

[@derekkase7884]

And Canadian too

[@gediminascizauskas5517]

Derek Kase Actually his parents was Lithuanian emigrants

[@derekkase7884]

Gediminas Čižauskas yea but he was born in Canada that makes him Canadian. 1907 Montreal, Quebec, Canada

[@domochoa]

He taught Charles Manson how to play guitar 😂😂

[@bc9651]

If he was sentenced ''life'' why is he out?

[@ronniebishop2496]

You people give no information about where these interviews were conducted or when? Why?

[@ians5597]

It was a documentary for CBC in Canada from 1976. I guess for the 40th anniversary of Karpis's arrest as it was between his two books, "Public Enemy #1" and "On The Rock". He dictated the latter to Professor Robert Livesey, who sent me this entire documentary on VHS back in the day. I'm sure he still welcomes orders for it if his website is still going. It was www.littlebrickschoolhouse.com I think. Look it or the Prof up if you're interested anyway, you won't regret it!

[@melissapenrod]

It's Alvin Karpis. The why should be pretty obvious and he was only out of prison for ten years before he died so between 1969-79. Canada or Spain. He was deported immediately upon release

[@ronniebishop2496]

Melissa Penrod I guess everyone in the USA should have known this. lol since over 300 million have never heard of him.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Melissa Penrod I just looked at it again and even Karpis said nobody knew who he was or who Ma Barker was until Hoover built up the story. But we all know around Tulsa who they all were, because they lived here. But the interview had bar cells at times and then in the back of a car, so it’s not so unusual for someone to ask where the interview was held.

[@davidmellish3295]

@@ronniebishop2496 EVERYONE knew who Karpis was but nobody had heard of Ma Barker until they killed her. He was public enemy no 1,was front page headlines, if you went to the pictures they would show his pictures before the film started with large rewards being offered for his capture. They didn't say nobody knew who he was until they killed ma ,only that they hadn't heard of Ma until the FBI 'slaughtered ' (his words ) her

[@barneyporter6138]

I didn't find them creepy at all I found him interested

[@atroticious]

wrong, after Dillinger, the Public Enemy nr. 1 was Pretty Boy Floyd and then Baby Face Nelson

[@magnusmackay3363]

You are wrong, there could only be one'public enemy no 1' .. Karrpis was promoted to the position after Dillinger was captured ..

[@somersfamily]

Wrong it was Jimmy two toes then whicky white .

[@tadasblindavicius8889]

He was Lithuanian descent.

[@rocistone6570]

How can you be descended from a Faith?

[@Luca-ob7tg]

Roci Stone what do you mean by that lol

[@andrewlerdard-dickson5201]

Number One..... John Dillinger..... Charles Arthur Floyd.....Leister Gillis....Then it was Alvin Karpis

[@Studdblog]

He's been dead since 1979

[@PennyWisee14]

one of my idols

[@bandccoresohio]

Penny Wisee especially the part where he engaged in "prison romance"????

[@vincentmcconnell809]

Yeah. A Karp was the man.

[@dogeical3733]

0:42

[@user-zb5oo6so2i]

This man is so cool 😎 calm collective that's why he lasted so long

[@Ainttnoway]

was there a depression in canada?

[@adonblustar5495]

yes there was it spread over if the us castches a cold we get it eventually

[@Ainttnoway]

Adon blustar ohh i get it,.... so if US goes to war... canada does... what again?

[@adonblustar5495]

I endorse the reply above

[@Theasker123456]

Lietuva

[@mikeoneil5770]

Labas, Kaip tamistai?

[@tonydio666]

Creepy! Lol

[@hemming57]

He never mentioned he knew Charles Manson.

[@richardmiller257]

+Peter Hemming He knew Manson in McNeil Island federal penitentiary. According to Karpis he taught "little Charlie" how to play guitar. Manson tried to get Karpis into Scientology...Karpis wasn't interested.

[@hemming57]

+Richard Miller Never mentioned that in his autobiography

[@saltasledas1402]

Alvin Karpis Lithuanian hero...

[@andrejuskorolkovas2278]

His name Albinas Karpavičius, lithuania,n men

[@jimibeckert]

But he does care what others think of him. Phycopathic

[@neilgoulding7086]

Not creepy at all

[@Naturally666]

I don´t have any Lithuanian member in my family and I have same surname.

[@Dziugenonas]

You do, you just don't know about it.

[@emmachapman6979]

Richie Karpis His surname was shortened to Karpis. His real surname was Karpavičius.

[@superchitownhustler]

a crook is a crook.

[@jsdoggg96]

tRump!!!

[@michellelewis9519]

Hovor was a monster an a lier he took cradet for some one else job.

[@rememberthealamo2003]

oh if hover was a monster what was karpis?a king?

[@jntj3007]

The Interviewer is annoying.