George Spahn
Encyclopedia
George Spahn was a rancher who once owned the Spahn Ranch
near Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California
, USA. Spahn (as did previous owner William S. Hart
) rented the ranch to the movie industry to film Westerns
. At the ranch, he housed Charles Manson
and his followers. The 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate
and six others by Manson and his devotees were hatched at the Spahn Ranch. Manson persuaded Spahn to permit "the Family" to live at his ranch. Spahn nicknamed all the Manson girls—Squeaky, Sadie Mae, Ouisch, etc. Spahn died September 22, 1974.
His name is associated with a grisly set of murders, due to his tolerance of the Manson group's stay on his property. According to Manson Family member Paul Watkins
, notorious Mansonite Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme got her nickname because of the sound she made when Spahn ran his hand up her thigh. Family member Charles Watson has written that his own nickname, "Tex," was given to him by Spahn, who recognized his Texas accent.
George lived five years after the murders. He was married to a woman named Martha Greenholts, and lived in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
, USA. He was eventually admitted to the Sherwood Convalescent Hospital in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
, USA, where he died on September 22, 1974, at the age of 85. He was buried in Eternal Valley Memorial Park.
The Spahn ranch burned in 1970, and is desolate today. In 2005, fires in Simi Valley tore through the ranch.
Spahn Ranch
Spahn Ranch, also known as the Spahn Movie Ranch, was a movie ranch used for filming generally Western-themed movies and television programs. With mountainous terrain, boulder-strewn scenery, and an 'old Western town' set, Spahn Ranch was a versatile filming site for many scripts...
near Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California
Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California
Chatsworth is a district of Los Angeles, California, United States; in the northwestern San Fernando Valley. The district is bordered by the Santa Susana Mountains and unincorporated Los Angeles County lands to the north, Porter Ranch to the northeast, Northridge to the east, West Hills, Canoga...
, USA. Spahn (as did previous owner William S. Hart
William S. Hart
William Surrey Hart was an American silent film actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is remembered for having "imbued all of his characters with honor and integrity."-Biography:...
) rented the ranch to the movie industry to film Westerns
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
. At the ranch, he housed Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
and his followers. The 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate
Sharon Tate
Sharon Marie Tate was an American actress. During the 1960s she played small television roles before appearing in several films. After receiving positive reviews for her comedic performances, she was hailed as one of Hollywood's promising newcomers and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for...
and six others by Manson and his devotees were hatched at the Spahn Ranch. Manson persuaded Spahn to permit "the Family" to live at his ranch. Spahn nicknamed all the Manson girls—Squeaky, Sadie Mae, Ouisch, etc. Spahn died September 22, 1974.
His name is associated with a grisly set of murders, due to his tolerance of the Manson group's stay on his property. According to Manson Family member Paul Watkins
Paul Watkins (Manson Family)
Paul Alan Watkins was a member of Charles Manson’s "Family." In the period leading up to Manson’s trial for the Tate-LaBianca murders, Watkins provided the prosecution with information that clarified the Helter Skelter motive.-Background:By his own account, Paul Watkins lived "a pretty standard...
, notorious Mansonite Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme got her nickname because of the sound she made when Spahn ran his hand up her thigh. Family member Charles Watson has written that his own nickname, "Tex," was given to him by Spahn, who recognized his Texas accent.
George lived five years after the murders. He was married to a woman named Martha Greenholts, and lived in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
North Hollywood is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California, along the Tujunga Wash. It is bounded on the south by Moorpark Street and the Ventura Freeway, on the southwest by Burbank Blvd...
, USA. He was eventually admitted to the Sherwood Convalescent Hospital in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Van Nuys is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.-History:Look at the two photos of Van Nuys' first year—and then listen to what the Los Angeles Times wrote on February 23, 1911, the day after the Van Nuys town lot auction--"Between dawn and dusk, in the...
, USA, where he died on September 22, 1974, at the age of 85. He was buried in Eternal Valley Memorial Park.
The Spahn ranch burned in 1970, and is desolate today. In 2005, fires in Simi Valley tore through the ranch.