History UsefulNotes / CharlesManson

Unrelated to Shirley Manson of Music/{{Garbage}} fame, but Music/MarilynManson's {{Stage Name|s}} is based on him.

The commune turned into a doomsday cult as Manson developed his theory of an imminent race war, in which Black people would annihilate all White people except for the Manson Family, who would rule over them. Manson, a white supremacist and neo-Nazi, believed that Black people were too stupid to govern themselves and was confident that he and the Family would easily become their masters. He started calling this "Helter Skelter" after listening to Music/TheBeatles' ''Music/TheWhiteAlbum'' -- he was convinced that the album had [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory apocalyptic hidden messages]] about the war hidden in its tracks, especially "Helter Skelter."

The commune turned into a doomsday cult as Manson developed his theory of an imminent race war, in which Black people would annihilate all White people except for the Manson Family, who would rule over them. Manson, a white supremacist, believed that Black people were too stupid to govern themselves and was confident that he and the Family would easily become their masters. He started calling this "Helter Skelter" after listening to Music/TheBeatles' ''Music/TheWhiteAlbum'' -- he was convinced that the album had [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory apocalyptic hidden messages]] about the war hidden in its tracks, especially "Helter Skelter."

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': Daniel Molloy doesn't have much sympathy for Claudia because she's a murderer: "Look, Charles Manson wrote a couple of beautiful songs. Still, he was Charlie Manson." Manson's song "Home Is Where You're Happy" plays over the fifth episode's end credits.

* In ''Sandbox/TheArtOfArrowCutting'' by Creator/StephenDedman, one of the supporting characters is the son of a former Family member who claimed that Manson himself was his father.

-->-- '''Charles Manson''', speaking [[CloudCuckooLander Cloudcuckooland-ish]] ''maybe'' non-intentionally.

* ''Helter Skelter'' (2004), remake of the 1976 movie, with a greater focus on Manson's backstory and motives.

* Charles Manson looms large in ''Series/{{Mindhunter}}:

** In another Creator/RyanMurphy production, ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryHotel'', Richard Ramirez says he was hoping to see Manson at the Devil's Night dinner party. He's surprised to learn Manson is still alive.

* In a five-minute {{Claymation}} segment on MTV's 1997 ''Cartoon Shushi'' which would eventually become the pilot for ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'', he fought Music/MarilynManson, ultimately losing when the musician ripped his skeleton out through his mouth.

* At the end of the TV movie ''[[Series/KnightRider KnightRider2000]]'' (which was made in 1991 and at the time represented TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture), we are shown a cryogenic prison where the bad guys will be [[HumanPopsicle enjoying their stay]]. One of the guards mentions that a cryo-berth is becoming available as they are releasing "this Manson guy". With the passing of the real year 2000 and up till his death in 2017, Manson remained permanently incarcerated and very much in the public consciousness. The passing of "Manson Family" member Susan Atkins in 2009 and her failure to get compassionate release due to her terminal condition also cemented that fact[[note]]To date, no surviving Manson family members involved in the Tate / [=LaBianca=] murders have been paroled or expect to be.[[/note]]. So the idea that Manson would be long forgotten by 2000 and released that year seems either HilariousInHindsight or HarsherInHindsight, depending on your point of view.

Charles Milles Manson (né Maddox, November 12, 1934 - November 19, 2017) was an American criminal and cult leader. Manson was troubled from a young age -- he set his school on fire at age 9 -- and spent most of his adolescence and adult life in prison for various petty crimes. During an evaluation case with a case worker, Manson's IQ was determined to be around 109, but his aggressive nature and lack of remorse over his actions were also stated as being [[TheSociopath anti-social]]. After leaving prison in 1967, he managed to attract the attention of a group of nearly 20 young women in the Bay Area; with them, he developed a hippie commune: the [[HorrorHippies Manson Family]].

The commune turned into a doomsday cult as Manson developed his theory of an imminent race war, in which Blacks would annihilate all Whites except for the Manson Family, who would become their benevolent rulers. He started calling this "Helter Skelter" after listening to Music/TheBeatles' ''Music/TheWhiteAlbum'' -- he was convinced that the album had [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory apocalyptic hidden messages]] about the war hidden in its tracks, especially "Helter Skelter."

He soon decided that it was the Manson Family's mission to provoke the coming race war. First, they would create an album that would herald the coming war; this they attempted by co-opting Music/DennisWilson's resources for six months while he introduced them to some colleagues in the music industry. The next phase, unfortunately, was deadlier: the Family believed that terrible murders of White people by Black people would be the spark to start the race war; they decided that [[FalseFlagOperation they should manufacture said murders and blame them on Black people to provoke said war]].

* ''Helter Skelter'' (1976), a [[MadeForTVMovie TV adaptation]] of the Bugliosi-Gentry non-fiction book, starring Creator/SteveRailsback as Manson.
* Manson was mentioned in the first episode of ''Series/{{Gangland}}'', which covered the Aryan Brotherhood. The episode described Manson's brief alliance with the AB.
* ''Series/{{Aquarius}}'' is a fictionalized version of the Manson Family's activities and police efforts to stop them.
* Chanel #3 of ''Series/ScreamQueens2015'' is supposedly Charles Manson's daughter. And there's a serial killer on the loose...

* In ''Series/Numb3rs''[='=] fifth season finale, the cult leader was partially based on Manson, as he was leading a group of women. He [[spoiler:kidnaps Amita for her computer skills to wreck havoc on the economy]]. It turns out [[spoiler:he was planning on spreading his influence, as he was doing it for the fame]].
* In ''Series/DarkSkies'', it's revealed that he was an alien-possessed imposter who casually killed the original Manson and assumed his identity, although the show was cancelled immediately after this is depicted.

* At the end of the TV movie ''[[Series/KnightRider KnightRider2000]]'' (which was made in 1991 and at the time represented TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture), we are shown a cryogenic prison where the bad guys will be [[HumanPopsicle enjoying their stay]]. One of the guards mentions that a cryo-berth is becoming available as they are releasing "this Manson guy". With the passing of the real year 2000 and up till his death in 2017, Manson remained permanently incarcerated and very much in the public consciousness. The passing of "Manson Family" member Susan Atkins in 2009 and her failure to get compassionate release due to her terminal condition also cemented that fact[[note]]To date, no surviving Manson family members involved in the Tate/[=LaBianca]=] murders have been paroled or expect to be.[[/note]]. So the idea that Manson would be long forgotten by 2000 and released that year seems either HilariousInHindsight or HarsherInHindsight, depending on your point of view.

Charles Milles Manson (né Maddox, November 12, 1934 - November 19, 2017) was an American criminal and cult leader. Manson was troubled from a young age -- he set his school on fire at age 9 -- and spent most of his adolescence and adult life in prison for various petty crimes. After leaving prison in 1967, he managed to attract the attention of a group of nearly 20 young women in the Bay Area; with them, he developed a hippie commune: the [[HorrorHippies Manson Family]].

* In Creator/KimNewman's Literature/DiogenesClub story "Another Fish Story", Manson's attempt to summon the apocalypse is foiled by the VillainProtagonist Derek Leech (who is also planning to bring about an apocalypse and doesn't want anybody else getting in first). As a concession, Leech promises Manson that he will be famous.

* At the end of the TV movie ''[[Series/KnightRider KnightRider2000]]'' (which was made in 1991 and at the time represented TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture), we are shown a cryogenic prison where the bad guys will be [[HumanPopsicle enjoying their stay]]. One of the guards mentions that a cryo-berth is becoming available as they are releasing "this Manson guy". With the passing of the real year 2000 and up till his death in 2017, Manson remained permanently incarcerated and very much in the public consciousness. The passing of "Manson Family" member Susan Atkins in 2009 and her failure to get compassionate release due to her terminal condition also cemented that fact[[note]]To date, no surviving Manson family members have been paroled or expect to be.[[/note]]. So the idea that Manson would be long forgotten by 2000 and released that year seems either HilariousInHindsight or HarsherInHindsight, depending on your point of view.

The commune turned into a doomsday cult as Manson developed his theory of an imminent race war, in which Blacks would annihilate all Whites except for the Manson Family, who would become their benevolent rulers. He started calling this "Helter Skelter" after listening to Music/TheBeatles' ''Music/TheWhiteAlbum'' - he was convinced that the album had [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory apocalyptic hidden messages]] about the war hidden in its tracks, especially "Helter Skelter."

The Manson Family committed several brutal murders, including that of Creator/RomanPolanski's pregnant wife, Creator/SharonTate - the one that catapulted them into national attention. At each, they left message "Helter Skelter" [[CouldntFindAPen written in blood]] on the walls. Manson himself never participated in any of the known murders, but he was arrested for orchestrating them in December 1969, convicted, and sentenced to death. Three years later, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_v._Anderson after California ruled the death penalty unconstitutional]], his sentence was commuted to life in prison. In September of 1975, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a follower of Manson's who had been spared prison, became the first of two attempted assassins of then-President UsefulNotes/GeraldFord that month, apparently attempting to get a new trial for Manson.

He soon decided that it was the Manson Family's mission to provoke the coming race war. First, they would create an album that would herald the coming war; this they attempted by co-opting Music/DennisWilson's resources for six months while he introduced them to some colleagues in the music industry. The next phase, unfortunately, was deadlier: the Family [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain believed that terrible murders of White people by Black people would be the spark to start the race war]]; they decided that [[FalseFlagOperation they should manufacture said murders and blame them on Black people to provoke said war]].