What was it like to be an inmate at Alcatraz?

Fairly well. They were provided all the facilities of any federal prison at that time. They were able to listen to the radio, had a musical hour were they could practice their instruments if they had one, and were entitled to a healthy diet. The guards also treated them with respect (assuming they got some in return). The only hardcore punishments were the isolation, silent rule (in the first years of the prison) and solitary confinement (for serious offenders).