Sunday, August 1, 2021

Danny Trejo recalls Charles Manson hypnotizing him in jail

Danny Trejo had a bizarre encounter with the most infamous prisoner of all time.

In his new memoir "Trejo," the "Machete" star, 77, writes of meeting — and being hypnotized by — Charles Manson in 1961 while they were both locked up in the Los Angeles County Jail.

Trejo remembers that a "greasy, dirty, scrawny" Manson was "so poor, he didn't have a belt, and instead used a piece of string to keep his pants up."

The "Heat" star says he felt sorry at the time for Manson, who was so small, he needed protection. A couple of days after they met, the notorious criminal told Trejo and his pals that he had hypnotic powers and "could get us high."

"It was like a guided meditation," the "Spy Kids" star recalls in his book, which details his incredible life story, from being a teenage heroin addict in and out of prison to a beloved character actor who has appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows.

Manson first talked the group into thinking they were smoking weed and then heroin.

"By the time he described it hitting my bloodstream, I felt the warmth flowing through my body," Trejo remembers. "If that white boy wasn't a career criminal, he could have been a professional hypnotist."

Manson was released from jail in 1967 and began to attract a group of followers who later became known as the Manson Family. In 1969, the followers went on a "Helter Skelter" killing spree, brutally murdering seven people including pregnant actress Sharon Tate.

A subsequent trial found that Mason never expressly ordered the murders, but his encouragement was enough to warrant a conviction of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He died in prison in 2017 while serving a life sentence.

Link to Original Article



15 comments:

starviego said...

"Trejo remembers. "If that white boy wasn't a career criminal, he could have been a professional hypnotist." "

--Where did Manson learn his skills?

--Did Manson use his hypnotic power to program the Family to kill?

Dan S said...

I would say it was THE Helter Skelter killing spree.

orwhut said...

Somewhere, I got the idea jailers took people's belts away when they were locked up to prevent suicide by hanging. That policy must vary with time and place.

Matt said...

Orwhut, there was a time when they didn't give a shit if an inmate hanged themselves. The jailers weren't held accountable for that.


jempud said...

Belts, ties and shoelaces are removed on arrest and while in police custody - not sure about in prison after sentencing.

orwhut said...

Matt and Jempud,
Between the two of you, I believe you've pegged it. Matt got then, Jempud got now.
I should have figured that out for myself.

jempud said...

I wouldn't want you thinking I speak from experience, Whut.

orwhut said...

Perish the thought, jempud.

David said...

Apparently his story was a bit different before the book in 2021:

https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2011/aug/15/prison-legal-news-interviews-former-prisoner-and-famous-actor-danny-trejo/

I didn't't see a mention of Manson. I acknowledge I skimmed it so if I am wrong let loose. Also seems he was in a camp from 1959-1965.

Great success story but I think its like all those who were supposed to go to dinner that night.

brownrice said...

David said:
"Great success story but I think its like all those who were supposed to go to dinner that night."

Yep. Sometimes ya just gotta say what your publicist tells ya to say.

Guy Callaway said...

Along with "I was supposed to be there that night..", it seems every other actor of that era turned down 'A Fistful Of Dollars'. ;)

orwhut said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
orwhut said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
orwhut said...

Guy Callaway said...
Along with "I was supposed to be there that night..", it seems every other actor of that era turned down 'A Fistful Of Dollars'. ;)

The first actor I read about turning the part down was Steve Reeves "Hercules", and my childhood hero. Later, I read that spaghetti westerns killed off the sword and sandal films. Without swoard and sandal films, I didn't see much of Steve.

sam dass said...

Seems like a bunch of crap to me