Join Jeff Melnick, Graduate Program Director at UMass and author of 'Creepy Crawling', as he delves into the chilling saga of the Manson Family. Discover how Charles Manson, with his troubled past, manipulated disillusioned youth in 1960s Hollywood. Melnick explores Manson's troubling ties to musical icons and paints a vivid picture of LA's seedy underbelly. Unearth the haunting details of the infamous murders and their profound impact on pop culture, highlighting the dark legacy that continues to resonate in our society.
56:25
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Manson's Prison Childhood
Charles Manson was raised more by the prison system than a traditional family environment.
His early life of crime and incarceration shaped his manipulative and charismatic personality.
insights INSIGHT
Manson Exploiting 60s Counterculture
Manson entered the 1960s counterculture as an older outsider, exploiting vulnerable runaway youth.
His keen intuition and listening skills helped him attract followers among troubled young women.
insights INSIGHT
Manson's Link to Music Elite
The Manson family infiltrated the LA music scene, living off figures like Beach Boys' Dennis Wilson.
This exploitative relationship involved vulnerable women being used by the music elite and Manson himself.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Creepy Crawly: Charles Manson and the Many Lives of America's Most Infamous Family
Creepy Crawly: Charles Manson and the Many Lives of America's Most Infamous Family
Charles Manson and the Many Lives of America's Most Infamous Family
Jeff Melnick
Jeff Melnick's "Creepy Crawly" delves into the life of Charles Manson and the cultural impact of his crimes. The book explores Manson's upbringing, his manipulation of followers, and the events leading to the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders. Melnick analyzes Manson's charisma and ability to exploit vulnerabilities within the counterculture movement of the 1960s. The book also examines the lasting legacy of the Manson Family and its influence on popular culture. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the Manson murders and their enduring significance.
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
First published in 1936, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie is a timeless guide to improving interpersonal skills. The book is divided into four main sections: Six Ways to Make People Like You, Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking, and Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment. Carnegie's principles emphasize the importance of genuine interest in others, active listening, and avoiding criticism and argument. The book offers practical advice on how to build strong relationships, communicate effectively, and influence others by aligning their self-interest with yours. It has been a cornerstone of personal development and business success for generations[2][3][5].
The Girls
Emma Cline
The book follows Evie Boyd, a 14-year-old girl living in Northern California in the summer of 1969. Evie is struggling with her parents' divorce and feels disconnected from her family. She becomes fascinated with a group of older girls she sees in the park, particularly Suzanne, and eventually joins them at their ranch, which is led by the charismatic and manipulative Russell. The novel explores themes of teenage vulnerability, the desire for belonging, and the dangers of cult culture. The story alternates between Evie's experiences in 1969 and her life decades later, reflecting on the impact of those events on her life[1][4][5].
In the summer of 1969, Hollywood was shaken by a set of brutal murders. Their perpetrators? The infamous Charles Manson and his 'family'.
In this episode Jeff Melnick joins Don to discuss how Manson and his followers came to occupy such a strong position in our cultural imagination.
Jeff is Graduate Program Director for American Studies at the University of Massachusetts, and the author of 'Creepy Crawling: Charles Manson and the Many Lives of America's Most Infamous Family'.
Edited by Aidan Lonergan, produced by Sophie Gee, Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.
Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
American History Hit 
