Christopher Daniel Gay has broken out of jail more times than anyone else alive. He is the stuff of country songs and film rights. Reporter Ben Montgomery learned about him after Chris's most notorious getaway; he had fled prison and stolen a tractor trailer so he could visit his dying mother. (Oh and somewhere in there he also made off with Crystal Gayle's tour bus.) Running had become a way of life for Chris, and that big stunt made him into a folk hero--an underdog with seemingly good intentions, always one step ahead of the law. But the story behind the myth is more complicated. Producer Pat Walters joins Ben to unravel Chris's past. They ask him, and those closest to him, why he keeps on running, and whether he can ever stop.
- Old Time Radio Archive of Escape episodes
- Chris Gay once stole a tour bus, now wants to stop running Ben Montgomery's article on Chris Gay
Comments [34]
A compelling story, beautifully told! I heard it for the first time today (4/30/2013) and am eager to know whether Gay completed the program and was paroled in Oct. 2012 as scheduled -- I'm definitely rooting for him!
To anyone wondering, the song around the 24 minute mark is Dustin O'Halloran — We Move Lightly
I was glued to this story - for more reasons than i can include but a few are: i'm a middle TN girl, i ache for Chris and children like him who have such horrific starts in life, i know the value of writing those in prison and the gift i get in return, i cling hard to hope...for all of us. Thank you for this beautifully told story.
As I listened i saw it as a movie playing well in my mind. Somebody make it, please! There's an actress in Nashville, Emily Landham, who would nail Chris's dear wife to a tee. This is a story worth telling to the world...
Can you give me a site where I can find the ballad of Christopher Gay? I really loved his story (and all stories you guys report on).
I listened to this podcast on the 4th of October, 2012... the date Chris Gay is supposed to have completed the program and then granted parol... What a pleasent coincidence.
I hope things are going well Chris! Know that you have a massive group of listeners from all over the world rooting or you!
Good luck!
Cheers,
Lachlan
I was almost late to work because I couldn't stop listening to the Little Houdini piece. I finally tore myself away from it but picked it back up again on the podcast. Really riveting and compelling. Please update us. Would love to know if he behaves himself when he gets out.
Gay men in the 1970s and 80s did phone freaking as a method of hooking up with other gay men in Atlanta. We called them the loop lines. Two lines conferenced in together, whoever had control of these lines could talk to dozens of men in sequence calling in.
Hi guys!
Back in the 1950's an escape [from jails] artist had a TV show about his many escapes, but i don't know if there were more than 13 or not. His name was Willie Sutton.
I'd love to share my raw telco tapes (50s-60s) re your 2012/2ogreat-escape
The little finger-pickin guitar piece that plays after the halloween story is Sunflower River Blues by John Fahey.
This is such a great segment! Thanks Radiolab for hitting it out of the park, again. PLEEAASE post music credits for this segment! The piano piece at the end was really good!
The guitar song during the Little Houdini piece is "Bron-yr-aur" by Led Zeppelin
Just bought the Sage Francis album with Little Houdini. Such a great song!
Please, please, please, include or post music credits for all your shows!
This reminds me to be careful with my thoughts when I see someone, or hear about someone making wrong choices. No, it's not right to blame your past for the choices you make as an adult, but there is no denying the amazing and life altering effect of childhood. I say to myself, judge not.
Check out Little houdini by Sage Francis. Its all about Chris Gay. Awesome story.
Ben Montgomery sounded exactly like Adam Scott who plays Ben Wyatt on Parks and Rec. This was an amazing segment.
That gamelan-esque piece of music between segments was so amazing - please post the name/artist. Id love to buy it. And as usual, excellent episode. It was nice having the space record story return in a different form. Music, please!
Hey guys, invariably in EVERY episode I wonder where I can get this or that song from the ones you play in the background during stories. Yet you never list your tracks. Why?
If they are original works you could be raising money by selling them, if not then you could be raising money via affiliate links. At the very least you'd make a lot of your listeners happy.
Please list the music you use! Love the podcast, thank you.
How can I find the music you played in the background?
There's an issue with downloading this episode. The link targets a radiolab022012.mp3 file whereas I found, after snooping around, that it's actually radiolab022012b.mp3
Can't wait to listen to it now!
Another wonderful story. But may I interject a dose of reality....perhaps Little Houdini is staying in prison for the same reason others commit crimes again and again....a fear of the outside and responsibility? I hope it's not so, but this was my first impression as the story was being told.
"Escape" was intriguing and well planned might I say. Thank you radiolab.
What an amazing story! Sad, tragic, beautiful.
I loved this story. Please make sure to do a follow up later in the year to let us know how Christopher and his family is doing.
I listened to it with my kids.
My ten year old daughter was amazed at how kids her age could want to kill themselves. Made her reailise hos lucky she is.
Once again another absolutely riveting podcast, brilliantly put together.
Thank god for Radiolab.
For all of you dying to know the piano song that comes in at the end of this segment, it's Dustin O'Halloran — We Move Lightly. Enjoy!
Another wonderful podcast from Radiolab, tinged as always with tragedy, hope and excellent production. Also, another request here for the name of the piano song played at the end of the great escape artist segment.
Thanks
Luke
This reminded me of the Sage Francis song Little Houdini. I never knew the rest of the story until now. Thank you for being so awesome Radiolab!
+1 for music credits, definitely want to know the gamelan-esque piece at the end of this great story!
this story should also shine a light on the prison / poverty system, and how prison does not help those stuck in these cycle since childhood.
I love RadioLab and the great stories you provide along with the way you tell the story and the format on how you approach a story compared to other story telling venues. I was reminded of the movie the "Great Escape" and unlike the movie this story has a great ending - no spoiler alert here just need to hear it for yourself how great the great escape is.
I'd also like to know the source for that music at the end of the Little Houdini segment.
AAaah.. who plays that piano-tune at the end of this segment??
Radiolab-day, is a perfect day..
I herd your "Escape" podcast and could NOT believe my ears. One if my favorite artists, Sage Francis, has a (fairly new) song about Little Houdini... Called Little Houdini:
Sage Francis is an amazing lyricist. Hear the song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPifsXaLTYk
I LOVE your podcast,
Kialah Smith
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