Okay, so I've posted about my love of the Titanic and other morbid weirdness but now I'm going to write about my ultimate favorite bedtime nightmare story..the Manson Family murders. It's a tale of such importance because it marked the end of the 'free love' 60's era. The idea of 'hippies' was forever tarnished with the introduction of these brainwashed, murdering 'free spirits' who were lead by the ultimate crazy person Charles Manson. His "family" was a pack of young men and women living on a commune in southern California (which was an old movie set called Spahn Ranch) spreading the 'peace and love' attitude that turned deadly and psychotic.
The Manson family is back in the news lately with the release of Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who was a Manson family member and was jailed for many years after she tried to assassinate President Ford. The book Helter Skelter is one of my favorites, which I've read twice since first picking it up when I was in 7th grade. The Manson family murders took place in the summer of 1969 with the tragic deaths of actress Sharon Tate and her four friends, and the following night an LA couple was horribly killed. It's a spooky tale because as the killers were caught, they were just young kids. Young, beautiful 'hippies' being brainwashed to believe the words of Charles Manson who actually never killed anyone. He just played God with these young, dumb, drugged out brains. Doors that were open for peaceful living were soon locked shut and have remained so since that summer night of murder.
It's an extremely interesting story that is both sad and also eye opening. Sharon Tate was married to filmmaker Roman Polanski and was eight and half months pregnant with their first child. Last night I watched Rosemary's Baby for the first time (a Polanski film), and found the story so creepy mainly because this horrible tale sort of came true in Polanski's real life. The devil really did take his wife & baby.
There are so many elements to this story, from the beginnings of the deranged 'family', to the courtroom madness, all the way to where the family members are now. I used to know all about it but now that Fromme is getting released, all of the facts are being thrown around in the news again which has made me google a bunch of different things. I came across this interview with Bobby Beausoileil (the murders were allegedly performed to help release Beausoleil from prison.) by Truman Capote (a favorite of mine). Take a look if you're interested (and morbid)
I really loved Rosemary's Baby (and Mia Farrow's style, obviously.) but couldn't help but see the parallel between the movie and the reality of what came later for those who helped create the film. Yikes.
The Manson family is back in the news lately with the release of Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who was a Manson family member and was jailed for many years after she tried to assassinate President Ford. The book Helter Skelter is one of my favorites, which I've read twice since first picking it up when I was in 7th grade. The Manson family murders took place in the summer of 1969 with the tragic deaths of actress Sharon Tate and her four friends, and the following night an LA couple was horribly killed. It's a spooky tale because as the killers were caught, they were just young kids. Young, beautiful 'hippies' being brainwashed to believe the words of Charles Manson who actually never killed anyone. He just played God with these young, dumb, drugged out brains. Doors that were open for peaceful living were soon locked shut and have remained so since that summer night of murder.
It's an extremely interesting story that is both sad and also eye opening. Sharon Tate was married to filmmaker Roman Polanski and was eight and half months pregnant with their first child. Last night I watched Rosemary's Baby for the first time (a Polanski film), and found the story so creepy mainly because this horrible tale sort of came true in Polanski's real life. The devil really did take his wife & baby.
There are so many elements to this story, from the beginnings of the deranged 'family', to the courtroom madness, all the way to where the family members are now. I used to know all about it but now that Fromme is getting released, all of the facts are being thrown around in the news again which has made me google a bunch of different things. I came across this interview with Bobby Beausoileil (the murders were allegedly performed to help release Beausoleil from prison.) by Truman Capote (a favorite of mine). Take a look if you're interested (and morbid)
I really loved Rosemary's Baby (and Mia Farrow's style, obviously.) but couldn't help but see the parallel between the movie and the reality of what came later for those who helped create the film. Yikes.
photos-mix of rosemary's baby, sharon tate & manson family photos.
