More on The Spiral Staircase

The following is a research project done on the house known to us as The Spiral Staircase by our official Paparazzi, Ken. The first two photos are historical records, the second two are his.

There isn't a lot of info about The Spiral Staircase out there and what is, is mostly speculation. Through several years of research, there have been some discrepancies and some explanations found. On some websites, it is said that The Spiral Staircase was a two story Victorian that had slide off it's foundation. It is said that only the second story was used due to the first floor being full of sand. It being the only two story structure is also something that is also mentioned.

Well, there were no homes in the area called lower Topanga (aka The Snake Pit) built in the 1880's or 90's. This removes the possibility that The Spiral Staircase was a Victorian. After searching the Santa Monica Historical website, this image was found. It shows a two story Dutch Colonial Revival home in the exact location as where The Spiral Staircase was. Quite often, Dutch Colonial style homes are referred to as being Victorian because it best suits it if one doesn't know architecture. This image is pre 1933.

Building a house in a flood basin isn't always the best idea. This image helps to explain the house falling off it's foundation and why the first floor was full of sand. The Spiral Staircase was demolished in 1968 and this image might explain why. In 1968, due to heavy rains, there was heavy flooding that occurred in the Lower Topanga area. This probably is what brought an end to The Spiral Staircase. This image is of the same period that the family would have frequented the area and gives a good picture of what The Snake Pit looked like. The Spiral Staircase would of been behind the hill, to the left of the Palm trees in the upper left corner.

Note - The house in the lower left corner is the house that Clem, Linda and Sadie visited after leaving Saladin Nader's apartment.

Ken's recent image of where The Spiral Staircase was shows all that's left. A couple of cobble stone retaining walls and a few park benches.

Note - This is where Charles Melton's camp site was that Linda Kasabian took the $5,000. This is also where Tex says he and Charlie first listened to The White Albun.

The state started the Revegetation and Restoration Project in the Lower Topanga area and on Feb. 14, 2006, the last of the residents of what was known as The Snake Pit were evicted. The State set aside three houses declaring them Historical Landmarks. No money is being funded and no plans to restore them have been made to this date. These are the last three houses left of what was known as The Snake Pit. Each of these being a few hundred feet from where The Spiral Staircase was located.

A interesting link with some writings by the last people to live at The Snake Pit.

http://brasstackspress.esmartdesign.com/

Something that might be of interest to all of you. I've done a lot of research on the area where the snake pit was. I have found enough info that William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies owned the property where the spiral staircase was at one time. I have found enough info to almost be able to say that William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies are the ones that built the spiral staircase as a weekend get away. William Randolph Hearst was having an affair with Marion Davies and the time that the house would of been built was while they were still being discrete about it. Hearst's wife wouldn't allow him to divorce her which would explain a hide away in a discrete location.

Manson Girls Movie 2012

I plan on touching base with Susanna Lo this week.
I asked members if they had any questions they would like me to ask her.  I am no longer accepting questions.  I sent out every question you all asked to Sussana this evening.






http://www.cafepress.com/MANSONGIRLS/7809375


No movie yet but you can buy clothes and accessories.
I want the fridge magnet myself.

               picture from http://www.redrumatographs.com/                                  

In 1969 I was working in Hollywood California and taking care of my four children. That year the Tate-LaBianca murders rocked Los Angeles and the world.  I thought these crimes could set off a revolution in America. I believed nothing short of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, or a revolution (maybe both) were necessary to solve America's problems.  After visiting Charles Manson in jail, my children and I went to live with the 'Manson Family.'  - Dennis Rice

               

       

Preaching must come with a good dental plan.

Parts of a interview with Dennis "Fatherman" Rice.

October twenty eight, 2009

Speaking of prison~Over time, Rice said he began to see things differently. Some of his old “family” members had become Christians. His cellmate was a Christian and in all these people, he could see a common thread.“My Jesus was in prison,” he said. “Their Jesus was changing their lives.”

Rice said his children also came to know Christ through him. All four of his children who were with him at the Manson family ranch are now born-again Christians doing work in ministry. He said they told him they knew God was real when they saw God change their father.
“I knew if I wanted to stay free and stay saved, I knew to surround myself with people who wouldn't bring me back to prison. Is there any hope for you?” he asked offenders. “It ain't over till it's over. This isn't about fun and games. This if life and death. It's time to get out and stay out. It's time to do it his way.”

Rice asked if anyone had a parole date or knew they only had a short time left. He told them he was on his way out too, if his doctors were right.  In May Rice said he was diagnosed with liver cancer and his doctor's gave him 6-9 months to live.  At most a year. That's OK, because I know where I'm going. I'm looking forward to it,” he said. “This may be the last time I ever see you unless you make the same decisions I made on the floor of that prison cell on May 14, 1978. We may see each other again, if you make that decision."
Rice said he wants to be remembered as doing something good.  “You have a choice, you can leave behind a legacy,” he said. “It's going to be a blessing or a curse. Years from now, they'll remember you. Which way will it be? This is your opportunity. This is your day.”

                 Click here for the entire story

      http://www.taosnews.com/articles/2009/10/28/news/doc4ae1dcf78c7f5439250479.txt

The reason I chose to re-run part of this article is-
The article is dated October twenty eight 2009.  Dennis said that in May of 2009, he was diagnosed with liver cancer and the doctors gave him 6-9 months,a year at most.   He was already five months into his death sentence when this article was printed.  It is now May 2011. Over two years have gone by.  Maybe he is holding on until the bitter end like Sadie did?  I cant seem to find a thing about him past 2009.  Does anybody know if he is still alive? 

manson 2 jesus

Dennis Rice's Prison Out Reach Website, never updated.  
Soooo- I guess if I was in prison and needed some "out reach",
I would be assed out?       

  

                         http://www.manson2jesus.com/       

 If you have never been there before it is worth a look.  There is a section on Catherine Share. 
It tells some of her life story from her first memories hiding from the Nazis in France.  Gypsy says it is all Bobby's fault she met the Family.  She details the trials, her crimes and her life with Curly Como.  What she left out is the story of her poor son Paul/Phoenix who grew up without his mother or father in Christian camps, whatever those are. I think the writings are snippets from the book she has been writing for the past 25+ years.

There is also a section for Tex that takes you right to his website.

The section on Bruce Davis was not working when I was there.
I wonder, since Dennis stuck with religion after prison, would Tex and Bruce (and Sadie if alive) continued the religion thing if they were released?                                                                                                

e blogger blows

E-Blogger is having some serious issues.  It is up and running but for how long who knows?  It appears we have lost some posts during the "problem".
To everyone waiting on invites- since the blog was down I couldn't even do the invites.  I will be sending them now, as long as everything stays working.   Watch for the invite in your inbox, the subject reads  "You have been invited to contribute to Eviliz Manson Cult".  Also check your spam folder.  A few people have found it there.

Giovanni Di Stefano Asks Governor Jerry Brown to Dismiss Manson Conviction without Prejudice

By Ro Hurley, cnn.com

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – On April 24, 2011, Manson attorney Giovanni Di Stefano sent a request to California Governor Jerry Brown asking him to grant executive clemency to Charles Manson and immediately release Manson from Corcoran State Prison.

Di Stefano has requested executive clemency based on remission of sentence in lieu of a full pardon. The request cites specifically that in the original trial, Manson was denied the sixth amendment right to represent himself, highlighting a footnote in a 1970’s ruling that enforces one’s constitutional right to act as his or her own attorney. This case specifically mentions Charles Manson by stating, “The state mentions several times that one of its prisoners who may benefit from the Faretta decision is Charles Manson.” The footnote continues to state, “A federal court must make its decisions in accord with the Constitution and the laws, without regard to the notoriety of parties or nonparties."

Mentioned in the request for clemency is a possible conflict of interest when prosecuting attorney Vincent Bugliosi released his bestselling novel “Helter Skelter.” Di Stefano pointed out, “We must question why did Mr. Bugliosi engage a "ghost writer" throughout the trial and would the world have known about Mr. Bugliosi if Charles Manson had been acquitted in royalties from his book. “

Additionally, the claim points to Charles “Tex” Watson as the mastermind behind the killing spree. A retired California police officer claimed that Tex Watson was the murderer of an elderly man named Karl Stubbs long before Watson was associated with Charles Manson.

Recently, Spain’s “Vanity Fair” magazine ran a story of a phone interview from 2009 in which the magazine claimed that Manson had broken his silence after 20 years. Charles Manson’s longtime friend John Michael Jones exclaimed, “Manson’s comments were taken completely out of context by Vanity Fair. He has always been an environmentalist and has never claimed responsibility for any murder. This was a magazine’s sad attempt to re-hash an old interview to in order to get ratings.”

Q&A Tuesday

I was recently asked about the origin of this picture.  
We assumed it's Tex and was taken at one of the ranches but don't know which one.  What we find strange is it seems to be the only picture of Tex with the Family, pre-crimes.  
Any info someone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

The HeAlter Skelter yearbook is complete; those were all the photos we acquired.  I hope everyone enjoyed them.
Special thanks to one of our members Sbuch for the idea, and to Shawn for doing all the research.  If anybody has any others we didn't publish please feel free to send them to us at mansonfamily1967@gmail.com or any other good stuff you might want to share.

Stephanie

Most likely to get goin' when the gettin is good.

1969 Stephanie Schram. 
She is in the top row, second one in.
other than her mug shot, this is the only pic i have ever seen of her.







Katie

Most likely to carve you up like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Big Patty
attended University High School and
Westchester High.
not sure which one this is from.