I started watching "Making Manson" on Peacock…

It’s about his beginnings, in his own words from recorded phone calls in prison. Some former cellmates, former cult members recounted experiences with him. It was mind-blowing how old they all were.

Most of them finally understood that he had not been a positive influence in their lives. But some of them, almost 60 years later, are still making excuses for him (reminds me of another situation). It’s funny, but I was a kid living in SF during the Summer of Love and remember when all of that was going on.

Manson and his cult were ultimately pretty sick. But a lot of people found him as kids who were vulnerable and just looking to be a part of something profound back then. 🥺

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JaggedLittlePill · 46-50, F

Angela Lansbury moved her family across the pond after her daughter started talking about Manson and hanging out with that cult.

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/angela-lansbury-saved-daughter-charles-manson-1235400889/

“It started with cannabis but moved on to heroin. There were factions up in the hills above Malibu that were dedicated to deadly pursuits,” Lansbury said. “It pains me to say it but, at one stage, Deidre was in with a crowd led by Charles Manson. She was one of many youngsters who knew him – and they were fascinated. He was an extraordinary character, charismatic in many ways, no question about it.”

Lansbury, after discovering her daughter had fallen into Manson’s circle, told her husband that they had to leave the Los Angeles area for good. Staying was not an option.

“We upped sticks and moved the family to a house I found in County Cork,” Lansbury said. “I was drawn to Ireland because it was the birthplace of my mother, and it was also somewhere my children wouldn’t be exposed to any more bad influences. I still have a house there which I try and visit at least once a year. So I refused all work for a year and simply kept house.”

Lansbury said “it took Deidre a little longer” to break her bad habits, “but she finally got married and she and her husband now live in Los Angeles, where they run their own Italian restaurant.”

bijouxbroussard · F

@JaggedLittlePill Wow, I didn’t know about that. I never understood how people got caught up in that mess.
The people interviewed in this documentary are in their 70s now, they look like someone’s "respectable" grandparents, and were discussing how they had avidly followed Manson, who once said, "I didn’t steal your children—you’d already thrown them away."
One woman described how she had joined at age 14, after her parents had kicked her out. 😞

dubkebab · 56-60, M

@bijouxbroussard Grandma and I have been ploughing through old episodes of 'Murder She Wrote' lately-great casting,for one thing.I mentioned that Diedre used to swipe Angela's designer coats and bring them to Spahn's where the girls would cut them up to make quilts and vests and pillows. They were a creative bunch,in betwixt insane kill sprees...

bijouxbroussard · F

@dubkebab Oh, wow…No wonder Angela was so worried.

dubkebab · 56-60, M

@bijouxbroussard Although at first she gave her underage daughter a permission slip,of sorts, stating that Mr.Manson was her spiritual advisor and that she had parental permission to accompany him on road trips.
Plenty of Hollywood and LA music luminaries were tight with ol'crazy Charlie. Those were different times.