DOCUMENTARY Charles Manson: The Man Who Killed the 60s

Of course, the very first interview had to be with The Bug, all decked out in a fancy suit and tie sitting poolside in a very strange juxtaposition of formal and casual. "The murders were bizarre," he says, blah blah blah, "guru" blah blah "Christ and Satan" blah blah blah. Patty is worried this is going to be just another fluff piece.

However, here we have what turned out to be a very balanced documentary on the Tate La Bianca Murders and their context within the times. Many, many more insightful interviews followed the Bug including Steven Kay, Bruce Davis, Sandra Good, Paul Krassner, Todd Gitlin, Dr. David Smith, Phil Kaufman, Kim Fowley, Wavy Gravy, and Jim Pursell among others. And, save a few small inaccuracies like Sharon Tate having been hung from the rafters and the Family being arrested near Independence, there were no real cringe inducing moments to speak of.

Some highlights:

Charlie pronounces his middle name. This is the first time Patty has ever heard him do so. She always assumed that "Milles" was one syllable, like "Mills." It's not: it's two like "Mill-is." He also reiterates what George Stimson wrote in his book about his generation being more Bing Crosby than Beatles.

Paul Krassner says he is the first one to draw parallels between the Manson Murders and Lt. Calley and the massacre at My Lai during his bay area radio show.

Dr. David Smith says that his medical administrator, Al Rose, went and lived with the Family for a while, and this is how they got enough access to write their scholarly paper on the family's group marriage dynamics.

Wavy Gravy tells the story of how Charlie broke up their Om Circle at the Hog Farm. He says that Charlie was making choking noises out of the window of the black bus, then came out and "delivered a scathing put down of our whole scene." That's when Wavy asked him to leave. "I'm so glad he didn't take offense," Wavy says.

Anita Hoffman says that she and husband Abbie actually visited Spahn Ranch and were "spooked the whole time."

At the end, Charlie is asked if he is sorry for what happened. He sits pensively for a moment, then says "I don't really know what sorry means. I've been sorry all my life." He says that his mother always said that she was sorry he was born. "I understand rules and regulations. I don't understand sorry."

Book Report "Prime Green: Remembering the Sixties" by Robert Stone

Patty stumbled across this title that was published in 2007 by novelist Robert Stone, a Pulitzer nominee for a collection of short stories called "Bear and His Daughter." In 1966, Stone stayed in Mexico where Ken Kesey was living. Kesey later moved to his family's farm near Eugene Oregon, but had introduced Stone to Tim Leary and Ram Dass. Stone acknowledges that these two had known connections to the BEL "who were considered heavies."

In the summer of 69, Stone and his wife stayed in Palo Alto rather than stay in sweltering hot Los Angeles. Of Hollywood at the time, Stone reminisces that

"the lure of sex (was) surely the biggest illusion of all, since it had long ago been rationed, arbitraged and factored in LA, as everything else would one day be."

This quote reminded Patty of blogger Leary who likes to remind us that sex was a big factor in the allure of the Manson Family. Patty would always counter that since it was the 60's sex was everywhere so what was so special about Charlie's girls? Some people say that Charlie killed the sixties, others say that it was Altamont. Stone is positing here that it was the almighty dollar that brought down free love and it did not happen over night. Cheers, Leary. Where the heck are you, anyway?

Stone remembers that early theories as to motive mostly involved people suspecting each other of
having had a hand in it, which is telling to Patty. What was all the paranoia about if there was nothing shady going on? He also remembers regarding Wavy Gravy and the Hog Farmers that  
"it was bruited about that they spent some time out at the Spahn Movie Ranch with the Mansonites."

Patty had never heard that. Do you think that could be true?  But wait, there's more! Carol and Katie, please avert your eyes because Patty does not mean to offend:

"I went back to the Chateau to do a joint with Janice. "Where did you get the dope?" She asked. "Did you buy some?" It was Jay Sebring's dope, and he had given it to me at a party."

Say what?

read something

http://stevenhager420.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/charlie-mansons-om-war-with-wavy-gravy/

Good article about Wavy Gravy t/n Hugh Romney

founder of The Hog Farm commune. 

It tells of Charlie showing up in the black bus at the commune looking for Shirley Lake, Dianne's mother. 

Charlie as usual came with a pack of girls and

some bad vibes. The Hog Farmers managed to run

Charlie & Co. off by performing some kind of an 

"OM Circle".  On the way out they scooped up 
Dianne Lake.

I am glad to see he invested in a whole set of teeth,
even if they are rainbow