Sharon Tate and the Manson Murders

by Greg King

  3. Undated letter from Lynette Fromme, in author’s collection.

  4. Nelson, Behind, 7.

  5. “Manson’s Supporters and the Media,” on Access Manson website, www.atwa.com.

  6. Sandra Good, on Charles Manson: The Man Who Killed the 60’s, a Box Production for Channel Four, UK, produced by Peter Bate, 1994.

  7. Immunity Agreement for Larry Melton, dated 24 July, 1998, issued by Inyo County District Attorney Phil McDowell, in the possession of Bill Nelson.

  8. State of Washington, Pierce County, Pre-Trial Services Information and Indigency Report, Case No. 97-1-00475-8.

  9. Declaration for Determination of Probable Cause, State of Washington, County of Pierce, Case No. 97-1-00475-8, Office of Prosecuting Attorney, dated 5 February, 1997, signed by Douglas J Hill.

  10. Doris Tate to author.

  11. Alice LaBianca to author.

  12. Alice LaBianca, on Leeza, hosted by Leeza Gibbons, produced by Jason Walker, 1994.

  13. Letter of Alice LaBianca. Subsequent Parole Consideration Hearing, State of California Board of Prison Terms, in the Matter of the Life Term Parole Consideration Hearing of Leslie Van Houten, CDC Inmate No. W-13378, 28 May, 1998.

  14. Janet Parent to Bill Nelson.

  15. Ibid.

  16. Stephen Kay, on Court TV, 7 July, 1999.

  17. Leslie Van Houten. Subsequent Parole Consideration Hearing, State of California Board of Prison Terms, in the Matter of the Life Term Parole Consideration Hearing of Leslie Van Houten, CDC Inmate No. W-13378, 7 July, 1999.

  18. Ibid.

  19. Bill Nelson to author.

  20. KNBC News, 7 July, 1999.

  21. Stephen Kay on Court TV, 7 July, 1999.

  22. Statement of Angela Smaldino, read by Clara Tuma, on Court TV, 7 July, 1999.

  23. Statement of Angela Smaldino, read by Clara Tuma, on Court TV, 7 July, 1999.

  24. Didion, 47.

  25. Gerald Malanga, “The Permanence of Sharon Tate,” in Interview, Issue #1.

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  Periodicals

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  “A Beginner’s Guide to Mao Tse-tung.” Esquire, December, 1967.

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  Du Bois, Larry. “Roman Polanski.” Interview in Playboy Magazine, December, 1971.

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  Evans, Gerard. “Sharon Tate’s Sister Patti: Talking to Us About the Vicious Murders and How She Has Taken Over Her Mother’s Campaign to Prevent the Manson Family from Ever Leaving Jail.” Hello!, No. 245, 20 March, 1993.

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  _____ “The Manson Jury: End of a Long Ordeal.” Life Magazine, April 12, 1971.

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  James, Judi. “Did Sharon Tate Die Because of Doris Day’s Son?” Movie Stars, March, 1970.

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  Melton, Larry. “White Rabbit: Tales of a Cosmic Hippie, From the Haight to Manson to Austin.” Mimeographed.

  Montgomery, John. “When Satan Told the Cult to Kill! Kill! Kill!” Inside Detective, March, 1970.

  Musel, Robert. “Baby, I’m Going to Make You a Star.” Weekend Magazine, The Toronto Telegram, February 26, 1966.

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  O’Neil, Tom. “The Wreck of a Monstrous ‘Family.’” Life Magazine, December 19, 1969.

  Paul, Jennifer. “Why the Police Hide the Truth About Sharon Tate’s Murder.” TV and Movie Screen, March, 1970.

  Reed, Rochelle, Editor. “Roman Polanski.” The American Film Institute’s Dialogue on Film, Vol. 3, No. 8, August, 1974.

  Rollin, Betty. “The Dames in the Valley of the Dolls.” Look, September 5, 1967.

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  Rubin, Mike. “Summer of ’69.” Spin, September, 1994.

  Shaw, Jim. “How Mia Farrow Escaped Being Murdered With Sharon Tate.” TV Radio Mirror, November, 1969.

  Shelley, Liz. “How Barbara Parkins was Hurt by Her Co-Stars.” Modern Screen, September, 1967.

  Steele, Leslie. “Sharon Tate’s Strange Ideas about Married Love.” Modern Screen, May, 1968.

  Talese, Gay. “Charlie Manson’s Home on the Range.” Esquire, March, 1970.

  Teague, Mary Ellen. “Was Sharon Tate Forced to Marry Her Lover?” Confidential, June, 1968.

  Thompson, Thomas. “A Tragic Trip to the House on the Hill.” Life Magazine, August 29, 1969.

  Valley of the Dolls [pressbook]. Twentieth Century Fox Pictures, 1967.

  Waterbury, Ruth. “Sharon Tate’s Horrible Death: What Went on at the ‘Swing’ Party that led to Mass Murder!” Modern Screen, November, 1969.

  “The Wedding Barbara Parkins Can’t Forget.” Movieland and TV Time. May, 1968.

  Weinraub, Bernard. “Roman Polanski.” The New York Times Sunday Magazine, December 12, 1971.

  Young, Josa and Arbuthnott, Georgina. “300 Great Days.” The Tatler. July/August, 1991.

  Other Media

  All Eyes on Sharon Tate, MGM-Filmways promotional featurette, 1967.

  “Charles Manson: Journey into Evil.” Biography, A & E Television Network, produced by Alan Goldberg, 1995.

  Charles Manson: The Man Who Killed the 60’s, a Box Production for Channel Four, UK, produced by Peter Bate, 1994.

  “The Last Days of Sharon Tate.” True Hollywood Stories, E! Entertainment Channel, produced by Brent Zacky, 1999.

  Manson, A Robert Hendrickson/Lawrence Merrick Film, 1972.

  Sharon Tate the Victim, Charles Manson the Killer, videotape produced by
Bill Nelson, California Breeze Productions, Costa Mesa, California, 1990.

  Turning Point, “The Manson Women: Inside the Murders.” ABC-TV, produced by Denise Schreiner, 1994.

  Author’s Note

  I have elected to use several crime scene photographs in this book. While these photographs are graphic and disturbing, they are not used for sensationalism. Rather, no matter how many words might be spilled in describing the brutality of the murder which took Sharon’s life, it seems to me that there is no better, mute testimony as to why none of the Manson Family members still incarcerated should ever be released than the vivid depiction of their own acts.

  Acknowledgments

  A great number of colleagues, friends and researchers have helped craft this book, fill in gaps in information, share resources and help complete the picture of Sharon’s life and death. I am especially grateful to those friends of Sharon who submitted to interviews, answered my queries, provided me with valuable information and assisted with this book. While some of those interviewed requested anonymity, and others—while allowing me to mention their contributions wished that specific information not be attributed—all deserve my sincere thanks.

  I would like to particularly express my gratitude to Joyce Behncke, Pat Boone, Herb Browar, Vincent Bugliosi, Leslie Caron, Robert Dishaw, John Dobie, Ross Duden, Patty Faulkner, Philippe Forquet, William Garretson, Hal Gefsky, Kathryn Glennie, Natalie Grumbles, Barbara Hoyt, David Ingersoll, Stephen Kay, Aaron Kincaid, Jeff Kinoz, Alice LaBianca, Cheryl Lockerbie of the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau, Allison Lowe, Mike McGann, Will Melendez, Cynthia Melin, Mike Mindlin, Howard Miller, Bill Nelson, Janet Parent, Alan Patierno, Michelle Phillips, Sheila Boyle Plank, Art Schultz, Kay Smithson, Joe Spitz, Elizabeth Gedwed Stroup, Tracy Tait, Corey Urbach, Skip Ward, Brodie Williamson, Jim Wilson, Mick Woelk, Ib and Paula Zacko, and Brent Zachy for the support and contributions. I went straight from one book deadline to the next, and my friends have proved, as ever, understanding and patient. Sharlene Aadland, Daniel Briere, Liz and Andy Eaton, Marlene Eilers, Laura Enstone, Jake Gariepy, Nils Hanson, Barbara and Paul Harper, Gretchen Haskin, Kathy Hoefler, DeeAnn Hoff, Dianne Holme, Jeff Hooks, Angela Manning, Cecelia Manning, Mark Manning, Grant Michael Menzies, Denis Meslans, Russ Minugh, Steve O’Donnell, and Anne Shawyer have never let me down, even in the face of peculiarities imposed by my chosen career. And my parents, Roger and Helena King,gave their invaluable support—emotional, practical and financial.