'Riding the Midnight Express' Tells the Tale of Escaping a Turkish Prison
Thursday, November 06, 2014
Billy Hayes in "Riding the Midnight Express"
(Carol Rosegg/Courtesy of the artist)
In 1970 Billy Hayes, then 23, was arrested at the Istanbul airport with two kilos of hashish taped to his body. He was charged with selling drugs and sentenced to life in prison. After five years at Imrali Island prison, Hayes escaped and fled in a rowboat. Hayes wrote about his experience in the book Midnight Express, which was made into an Academy Award-winning film in 1978. He tells us about his new one-man show about his imprisonment and escape, “Riding the Midnight Express.” It’s playing at the Barrow Street Theatre through November 30.
Guests:
Billy Hayes
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Comments [3]
Billy, how wonderful to actually hear your voice again. I am glad I only read the book and refused to go see the movie. While we had heard about this as it was happening back in our hometown, there was such a disbelief that you got life. The guys were bringing hashish home from Viet Nam and on government planes. Someday maybe we will meet in person again, but please keep up the work with those hooked on drugs, homeless, in jail. Also you met Wendy, so I believe your penance was accepted. How ironic that two of my classmates would be in Oliver Stone movies. Must have been the NB water. Till we meet again good luck, and keep up the good work.
Hear, hear legalize all drugs - not so that people will use more, but
Educate, give help for addicts, and save all the money we spend on law enforcement.
By legalizing drugs we will dis mental drug rings and remove narco-related-crimes: if there is no money in the production and smuggling of drugs.
Let pharma companies codify and produce drugs - at least we will know that the drugs are not laced with poisons (other than the drugs themselves.
Check the Dutch
Actor, Brad Davis would have been 65 today.
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