10 Fun Facts About the Manson Family

I know I'm slow. I never seem to be able to keep up on current events. Hell, I never seem to be able to keep up on past events. For once, I decided to do something about it. I took a subject that I was previously unaware of, and watched the movie. Boy, it really opened my eyes to see just how crazy that Charlie Manson was. I had no idea what the big deal was. So the guy carved a swastika in his forhead. So what? But now I know. Unfortunately, the movie The Manson Family was about as helpful as an eighth grade book report when it came to information. So, I did a little Nancy Drew-ing, and found out a little more. I'd like to share with you some fun facts I dug up about Mr. Manson and his "family".

*Charlie was born on November 12, 1934 in Cincinatti, Ohio, to Kathleen Maddox. After a life of drinking and promiscuity, she married briefly William Manson, who gave Charlie his surname.

*Charlie spent some time at Father Flanagan's Boys Town. Yes, that Boys Town. The one the movie was based on. He wasn't there long; after a few days, Charlie and another boy committed two armed robberies.

*Before meeting Charlie, Susan "Sadie" Atkins lived next to Janis Joplin In a commune in Haight-Ashbury.

*Spahn Ranch, the place where Charlie and his family hung out, was a former movie set. The 500-acre ranch, located in the Santa Susana Mountains, was used to film Duel in the Sun and episodes of Bonanza and The Lone Ranger.

*The victim who was the winner of the "Toughest Son of a Bitch to Kill" award was definately Voytek Frykowski. The thirty-two year old playboy suffered two gunshot wounds, thirteen blows to the head, and fifty-one stab woulds.

*Charles "Tex" Watson was quite the young entrepeneur. After dropping out of school, he opened a wig shop with his roommate. I kid you not. It was called Love Locs. And, a few months later, when it closed, did he give up? Hell no! This man wasn't about to give up his life long dream of running his own business. He did what any other young entrepeneur would do- start selling pot.

*Manson and his family were affiliated with the Beach Boys. Dennis Wilson was picked up while hitchhiking by Charlie, and invited him back to his mansion. The family hung out a lot with Wilson, and Charlie started to pressure Wilson tohelp him with his music career. Eventually, Wilson got creeped out, and kicked the family out.

*The LAPD has always bungled murder cases. Despite the writing on the wall, literally, the LAPD failed to connect the murders at 10050 Cielo Dr (Sharon Tate's house) with the LaBianca murders, or with that of Gary Hinman. Even when told about the Hinman murder by the LA Sherriff's Office, the LAPD refused to see the connection. When told by the Sherriff's Office about a guy named Bobby Beausoleil who was arrested for the Hinman murder, and who was living on a ranch with a bunch of hippies, the LAPD took no interest. They figured it was a dope deal gone bad.

*Lynette Fromme, AKA "Squeaky" or "Red", was friends with a young Phil Hartman, of SNL fame.

*The Order of the Rainbow was the name of the religion Charlie tried to start. He gave a few of his girls colors, with the intention of being nuns. The Order of the Rainbow is: Lynette, Red; Pat, yellow; Leslie, green; Sandy, blue; Susan, violet; and Brenda, gold. Red and Blue were the only ones to keep their colors.

So there you have it. Ten fun facts about the Manson Family. I know I can cross one more thing off my list of things to know about. Now, that just leaves the Three Little Pigs and the Iraq War. Look for information about those two thrillng subjects in the future.