Monday, July 3, 2017

Minutia: Nancy Jo Davis

I'm sure we've all noticed many of the the clingers-on during the trial. You know, the kids who appear in the photos with Family members that none of us can identify (not for lack of trying). Some can be identified like "Kevin" in the Hendrickson films. Robert long speculated that he was an FBI plant. Like most of the others he vanished never to surface again.

One in particular has always intrigued me. An artist named Nancy Jo Davis. You may recognize a few of the photos. She is briefly mentioned in the Sanders book "The Family" on page 399 (chapter 81).
There was a blonde artist named Nancy Davis, who said she was from Seal Beach, south of Los Angeles, who began to frequent the court during Kasabian's testimony. She was an example of the women who were attracted to Manson himself. She had waited for hours to get a seat, whereupon she had flashed Manson a right-handed open-palm mudra and then the number seven (five fingers on one, two extended on the other.) 
Manson had eye-dinged her. "He hypnotized me," she told me. 
"Did you look at each other?" I asked. "Yes," she replied. "We are one. That man has a message that is of world importance." 
On a previous day in the courtroom, he had given her the Tut Zap. The next day she said, "I had to go to the library to read books. He took me clear back to Tutankhamen. They opened up the tomb of Tutankhamen on November 11, 1934, Manson's birthdate." One of my scholarly specialties was Egyptology and I had taken a course in Egyptian at the New School in N.Y.C., so I said, bullshit. She replied that the tomb was opened two years before M's birth. Nope. Manson was actually born November 12, 1934, according to his birth certificate, and Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon opened Tutankhamen's tomb on November 25, 1922. Even so, Tut vibes were still Tut-vibing as far as she was concerned, as she sat in the courtroom making sketches.
According to her daughter:
"she was the back up court artist for the Manson trial, She was about 34 in the photos at the time of the Manson trial. She visited him in prison at least once when he was sent north, and he corresponded with her frequently for awhile."
Seemingly she went from back up court artist to Manson groupie, "joining" the family so-to-speak, post-murders:


With Brooks Poston



Showing off her killer abs

Here is the caption turned horizontally:

She was even found in contempt of court and saw a few nights in the hoosegow!


LOS ANGELES, Jan. 1 – A freelance artist who shouted out at the Tate-LaBianca murder trial that she wanted to defend Charles Manson was found in contempt of court yesterday and sentenced to three days in jail. 
Superior Court Judge Charles H. Older, presiding at the long trial, made the ruling late yesterday afternoon following a brief contempt hearing for 34-year-old Nancy Jo Davis, whose portrait of Manson was published this week in a national news magazine. 
Before she was sentenced, the slender, attractive Miss Davis said she wanted to "be a witness" before the jury which is trying Manson and three female followers for the August, 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others. 
Judge Older told the woman that he had seen her in court many times before and observed her waving and nodding to the defendants. 
"They’re my friends and I try to communicate with them," she replied. 
The jurist asked Miss Davis why she had shouted out in the courtroom. 
"I only do what wisdom, what love tells me to do," she answered. 
Miss Davis apologized for her conduct, however, and admitted her act. 
Judge Older said her conduct was “disorderly, a breach of the peace and disruptive to the courtroom. 
"I judge you to be in direct contempt of court," the jurist added as he sentenced her to the County Jail. 
Miss Davis' outburst occurred as Manson’s attorney was giving closing arguments to the seven-man, five-woman jury. Her contempt hearing was held after the jury was dismissed from the courtroom. 
The trial will resume on Monday as closing arguments continue. 
By SANDI METTETAL







Nancy is 80 now and is a "retired" artist. I'm not sure how an artist "retires". I've always thought of it as not so much a job, but who you are. Kind of like retiring from being ugly.

Some of her work can be purchased on-line like these:

https://www.ebth.com/items/2297322-a-piano-and-bass-player-prints-by-nancy-davis

I'm guessing she's one interesting old lady.


55 comments:

Robert C said...

I never really heard of her before (or forgot). She kind of looks like someone from the 21st century pasted into the late 60's.

starviego said...

Because in mediocre art, there is no wrong.

brownrice said...

" I'm not sure how an artist "retires". I've always thought of it as not so much a job, but who you are. Kind of like retiring from being ugly."

Cracked me up but very good point.

Mr. Humphrat said...

I don't remember her in the story either. She was quite a babe and had her mind warped by the great courtroom deceiver, Charlie. I like how far off she willfully represented Tut's discovery to be in order for it to fit into her Charlie scenario.

Lynn said...

Interesting article. I think you "retire" when you can no longer do it anymore. My mother in law retired when she was in the last stages of dementia and would stand at the canvas and could no longer remember what to do with the brush.

Tim A. said...

I recognized the name Nancy, but it was Nancy Pitman that I was thinking of. I wonder what this Nancy thinks about it all today as an octogenarian?

Gloopine said...

Brilliant comment Starvagio. Only in the realm of the mediocre, the half ass approach, the unwillingness or inability to totally dedicate oneself to an artform brings in the lightweight conception that everything is good.

Gloopine said...

Sort of like manson's half baked, drug infused songwriting ideas. A little glimpse here and there of talent but not the dedication and fortitude to bring to fruition. Same with beausoleil

bucpaul2812 said...

Robert C said...

"...She kind of looks like someone from the 21st century pasted into the late 60's." Agreed. She looks like a Marc Jacobs interpretation of a hippie.

bucpaul2812 said...

I was scrolling through the archives when I happened upon this post from a few years ago:

http://www.mansonblog.com/2011/01/nancy-davis.html

David said...

Nancy Jo is one of my favorite trial moments. She seems to have truly thought Manson was 'Christ-like'.

Other comments she made:

She wanted to be known as "a whore of Babylon because degrading herself would upgrade Manson".

Her first comment that got her in trouble was 'I want to kill the law with the Bible".

She'd been married and divorced by 1962- 15 years old when she got married and those records suggest a child given up for adoption.

Surprise: another conflicted young woman seduced by Charlie's crap.

David said...

PS: this is a pretty heavy handed application of contempt in the presence of the court. One key there: she apologized.

Mr. Humphrat said...

Matt how do you know her age?
David how do you know her marriage and divorce records?
I found a couple of Nancy Jo Davises born in California, one in Salinas in 1938 and one in Los Angeles in 1940

David said...

Mr. Humphrat check James Karel Hart and Nancy jo Davis. Her b-day is 1937. And she's not cali. It is Virginia. If that doesn't help let me get off my phone and I'll send links.

beauders said...

I love these hangers-on and would like to have a cup of coffee with most, but only the non-psychotic ones. Had a psychotic stalker once, the cops told me to shoot her, I didn't have to shoot her thank goodness. After spending two weeks in jail for stalking she moved to New Mexico.

David said...

Mr. Humphrat, please excuse my error- John Robert Finch married Nancy Jo 9/3/52. Divorced 12/2/55. Divorce decree says one child. She was 15 when they married. That is Virginia.

Then in 1958 she married James Karel Hart in Savannah, Georgia. Divorced in 1962- unconfirmed date.

David said...

"Before she was sentenced, the slender, attractive Miss Davis said ...."

Ever seen a newspaper article from the time refer to 'him' as the 'hunky, tall dark and handsome Mr X"? Back in 1971 Ms. Davis was 'the slender, attractive Miss Davis.'

Anonymous said...


Her daughter posted on here a few years ago. Some of what she said is in Matt's quote "According to her daughter..."

From what I've read about her, she was a bit of a renaissance woman : a singer, songwriter, photographer, painter, poet, and she was also into Egyptology and astrology.

In other words, she would've made a really good bachelorette on "The Dating Game".

Matt said...

She's probably still a handful at 80. LOL


Mr. Humphrat said...

sweet thanks for the information David and Ziggy

Mr. Humphrat said...

Can anyone tell me what is the best way to find out if a "Family member", Manson associate, supported the defendants during the trial(s) and who headed for the hills and when?? I have Deemer's List but I looked up Stephanie Schram and it didn't mention what happened to her, so I googled her and found a police interview with her in December. Thanks

Dave1971 said...

Nice looking young lady, what was she doing following that bunch of fruitcakes for?

orwhut said...

Very nice abs.

grimtraveller said...

David said...

Surprise: another conflicted young woman seduced by Charlie's crap

While she could just have been one of those bizarre/sad/ill/lonely attention seekers, there is the other side of the mountain; namely, that it wasn't that there was crap to fall for but that at the first real stirrings of a freedom that females were discovering en masse for the first time in recent history, that she saw something in Charlie and what he had to say that most people simply didn't, couldn't or refused to get. Maybe her experience of being married so young opened her up to a willingness to explore what was in the other room as what she'd found in her current room had ceased to hit the spot......
Or perhaps we just don't want to acknowledge that for many women, life can't be lived without a bloke calling the shots.

Dave1971 said...

Nice looking young lady, what was she doing following that bunch of fruitcakes for?

Would it have been more acceptable or understandable if she hadn't been a "nice looking young lady" back in the day ?

simon davis said...

Dave1971 take it from a serial loser like myself, judging people by their appearances can be a dangerously risky way to live LOL!

Dave1971 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mr. Humphrat said...

uh...

Jenn said...

Well, alrightty then. This has taken a weird turn. One poster who only has one use for my "species" and another who wants to tell me how I think. Oy vey.

Penny lane said...

Im not even going to bite...except to say MM..1971..FUCK OFF.

grimtraveller said...

Can you be more specific Jenn ?

Matt said...

I think it's time for a refresher course on MansonBlog etiquette.

Commenters are all welcome to voice their opinions even if we disagree as long as there are no personal attacks or fortuitous profanity.

Additionally, offensive language on subjects such as race, gender or orientation are not permitted. Period.

I've deleted some comments. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THIS YOUR FINAL WARNING. We have better things to do than police the comments for adolescent behavior. Once more and just going to begin banning people.

Penny lane said...

Sorry Matt...kinda saw red...😨

Matt said...

I wasn't addressing you, Penny. I considered it "justifiable homicide".


David said...

Thank you, Matt

Matt said...

What goes on in the mind of 'trolls'


Mr. Humphrat said...

Interesting (to me) Nancy's first husband, John Robert Finch, was born Nov 16, 1934, very close to Charlie's birthdate.

David said...

Mr. Humphrat,

I found the parallels with kasabian interesting. Both married rebels at a young age. Both married a second 'nonconformist'. Then both rather quickly 'fell' for Manson. One info bit said hubby #2 was a biker.

Patty is Dead said...

Thank you!!!

Anonymous said...


David said...

"Mr. Humphrat,

I found the parallels with kasabian interesting. Both married rebels at a young age. Both married a second 'nonconformist'. Then both rather quickly 'fell' for Manson. One info bit said hubby #2 was a biker."



Interesting that you put the word "fell" in quotes.

Are you, like me, a little cynical of this "artist" woman's motivations for injecting herself into such a high profile trial for her "Look at me!" moment?

ColScott said...

Hope it is not trolling to ask if Nancy does Grave Rubbings because I think she might be down

David said...

Ziggy said: "Are you, like me, a little cynical of this "artist" woman's motivations for injecting herself into such a high profile trial for her "Look at me!" moment?"

More then a bit cynical- note she got her image of Manson published in Newsweek just prior to her little interruption. In much the same way I am cynical about Kasabian's 'conversion' back to innocent hippy chick.


grimtraveller said...

I think Linda was always a hippy chick, but innocent is not a word that can comfortably find itself on the same page as her, let alone the same sentence !

Patty is Dead said...

Bite me Don

Monica said...

Well I finally wrote a long response thanking Matt for this fascinating post and Grim for his his response that was right on about women having freedom and being attracted to CM (and now, indirectly this case). But I lost it after I pressed Publish.

Nice job on this one. From your favorite lurker who will post more soon. (Hopefully this comment will be from Wonder Woman ...if not, my true identity it known. Shhh)

ColScott said...

Patty


I apologize for touching a raw nerve. When you rub your lock of Clem's hair tonight together with your Cielo splinter I hope you will think kindly of me and sleep well.

Penny lane said...

Lol..

Patty is Dead said...

Thank you for the apology. Patty will sleep like a rock she assures you.

Jenn said...

grimtraveller said...
Can you be more specific Jenn ?

It involved some posts that have been removed.

cielodrivecom said...

Sandi talking about the trial

Zelda Formaldehyde said...

Tsk, tsk ... 12 years off on King Tut's tomb. She's fake news.

david said...

I talked to Nancy about her relationship with Manson. She was an undercover photographic stringer for Time magazine. She acted like that, flirting with Manson and the family, to get in with the family to get inside pictures. She was married to James Hart, had 7 children one of whom was one of my childhood friends. He was one of the Venice beach surfer/skateboard "dogtown boys", but not one of the "Z" boys. He did skate the "dogbowl". I would hazard that Sean Penn based his Vincent Spicolli character on him. He looked a lot like Stacy Peralta, but acted like Jay Adams, "rat face", hollering "like to get me some vintage ass" at old ladies, and all. Something of a jerk. Nancy still does art, mostly portraits, but only occasionally. Last I heard she suffers from Alzheimer.

Unknown said...

Nancy is my step-mother. She is sick, but she is not suffering from Alzheimer. It is very interesting to read all of these comments. Btw, she had 5 children total, not 7 and she was not a photographer for Time Magazine. She was just a Manson lover and a sketch artist.

Unknown said...

Nancy Davis miss you hope all is well

grimtraveller said...

It's almost always difficult to believe anyone {especially if they use the moniker, 'unknown'} when they say they knew this person or are related to that person or hung around with this Family member or that cop connected with the case or their Dad was Bugliosi's shoe shiner or Sadie's San Francisco manicurist or whatever.
Forgive such cynicism, but there have been so many frauds seeking their 15 minutes of fame, associated with the case or people who declare things that are demonstrably untrue. For example, I just finished reading the autobiography of the engineer and producer, Glyn Johns, of Rolling Stones, Beatles, the Who, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Joan Armatrading etc fame who says that in '69, he went to a party of sorts at Cielo and that Roman Polanski and his heavily pregnant wife were really pleasant to him. He then adds that six weeks later the wife, Sharon Tate, was butchered by Charles Manson.
Polanski wasn't in LA anywhere close to the murders, Sharon wasn't back 6 weeks before them......
And Johns is one of the respectable ones !

david said...

I've long suspected the reason the Manson trial got such media attention was because Nancy was hanging around the court. The other Manson girls being somewhat less attractive. Some reporters saw her, and told their colleagues about the babe hanging around there. They went to see her, and that brought so much media attention there.