Look Inside 1927 Folsom Prison Riot

Taking advantage of the Thanksgiving Holiday schedule, a small group of prisoners, frustrated in their attempts to break out of prison, incited a riot among the 1200 prisoners attending a motion picture being shown in the school building. The convicts took control over the interior of all but a small portion of the prison and also held five guards as hostages. Warden Court Smith telephoned Governor C. C. Young requesting aid to subdue the rioters and prevent an outbreak.
The Governor contacted Colonel Wallace A. Mason, Commanding Officer, 184th Infantry, and ordered all Sacramento units of his regiment to proceed immediately to Folsom Prison to assist the civil authorities in quelling the riot.
General R. E. Mittelstaedt, The Adjutant General, spending Thanksgiving with his family in San Francisco, was notified by the Governor of this uprising and that Colonel Mason was already at the prison with his local units. General Mittelstaedt immediately ordered units from Yuba City, Marysville, Stockton, Woodland and Lodi to assemble at their respective armories, and then proceed without delay to -Folsom. Two tanks were shipped by train from Salinas to bolster the security around the prison and for possible employment to break info the convict controlled portions of the prison.