Great Escape facts for kids
Great Escape or The Great Escape is a phrase that can mean many different things! It often refers to a daring escape from a difficult situation, like a prison or a tricky problem.
Famous Escapes in History
Sometimes, "The Great Escape" refers to real-life events where people managed to break free from captivity.
The Great Carson City Prison Escape
On September 17, 1871, there was a big prison break from the Nevada State Prison in Carson City. This event is sometimes called "The Great Carson City prison escape."
The Stalag Luft III Escape
One of the most famous "Great Escapes" happened in 1944 during World War II. Many Allied soldiers, who were prisoners of war, planned and carried out a mass escape from a German camp called Stalag Luft III. This incredible story inspired books and movies.
The Alcatraz Escape
In June 1962, three prisoners managed to escape from Alcatraz, a super-secure prison on an island in San Francisco Bay. This daring escape is also sometimes called "The Great Escape."
The Maze Prison Escape
In 1983, there was a large prison break from the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland. People in Ireland sometimes refer to this event as the "Great Escape."
Arts, Entertainment, and Media
The exciting idea of a "Great Escape" has inspired many movies, TV shows, books, and songs!
Movies and TV Shows
- The Great Escape (film): This is a very famous 1963 movie. It tells the story of the 1944 Stalag Luft III escape. It was based on a book by Paul Brickhill.
- The Great Escape (American TV series): This was a reality TV show from 2012 where teams had to solve puzzles to "escape" from different locations.
- The Great Escape (Irish TV series): This was a documentary series from Ireland that aired between 2006 and 2009.
- Great Escape (South Korean TV series): This is a popular South Korean reality show that ran from 2018 to 2021.
Books
- The Great Escape (book): Written by Paul Brickhill in 1950, this book shares the true story of the 1944 Stalag Luft III escape.
- The Great Escape: Or, The Sewer Story: This is a children's story from 1973 by Peter Lippman. It's about sewer alligators!
Music
Many musicians have used "Great Escape" as a title for their albums or songs. Here are a few examples:
Albums
- The Great Escape (Blur album): A popular album by the band Blur, released in 1995.
- The Great Escape (Ilse DeLange album): An album by Ilse DeLange.
Songs
- "The Great Escape" (Boys Like Girls song): A well-known song from 2007.
- "The Great Escape": A song by the artist P!nk from her 2012 album The Truth About Love.
Music Festivals
- The Great Escape (festival): A music festival held in Australia.
- The Great Escape Festival: A music festival that takes place in Brighton, England.
Video Games
The idea of escaping is perfect for video games!
- The Great Escape (1986 video game): This game had a similar story to the famous movie.
- The Great Escape (2003 video game): Another game based on the movie.
- Rayman 2: The Great Escape: A popular platforming video game from 1999, where the hero Rayman has to escape from pirates.
In Sports
Sometimes, "The Great Escape" is used in sports when a team manages to avoid a bad situation, like being moved down to a lower league.
- "The Great Escape" for West Bromwich Albion: This happened during the 2004–2005 football season when the team managed to stay in the top league against all odds.
- "The Great Escape" for Salford City: This refers to their success in avoiding relegation during the 2008–2009 Northern Premier League season.
Other Uses
- Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor: This is a fun amusement park and outdoor water park located in Queensbury, New York, U.S.
- Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark: A resort with an indoor water park, also in Queensbury, New York, U.S.
- Great Escape Theatres: This is a chain of movie theaters, mostly found in the Midwestern U.S.
See also
In Spanish: The Great Escape (desambiguación) para niños
- The Grape Escape: A board game that was first released in 1992.
