Bonus Episode: Scott Michaels

In this bonus episode, which is really an addendum to Season 1 Episode 6, featuring Zachary Lazar’s rock novel ‘Sway’, a story that brings together the early Rolling Stones, the films of avant-garde filmmaker Kenneth Anger, and members of the Manson Family, Scott Michaels joins me to talk about Sharon Tate and the Manson Murders and what it was like working as a consultant on Quentin Tarantino’s film ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’.

Condensed Video Version

This condensed video version of my interview with Scott Michaels includes photos and videos I took during my Manson Murders tour with Scott in April 2023.

Scott Michaels

Scott Michaels is Hollywood’s original authority on celebrity deaths, including the Manson Murders, and a former tour guide for LA’s now-defunct Dearly Departed Tours. As the ‘LA Times’ said of him, “Scott Michaels knows where the bodies are buried.” Quentin Tarantino hired Scott to be a consultant on ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, which reimagines the murders of Sharon Tate, Voytek Frykowski, Jay Sebring, and Abigail Folger at the hands of the Manson Family in early August 1969.

Scott Michaels on left/Photo courtesy of Scott Michaels

About the Episode

EPISODE SUMMARY:

In this bonus episode (which is really an addendum to Season 1 Episode 6, featuring Zachary Lazar’s rock novel ‘Sway’, a story that brings together the early Rolling Stones, the films of avant-garde filmmaker Kenneth Anger, and members of the Manson Family in a fictional setting) Scott Michaels joins me to talk about Sharon Tate and the Manson Murders and what it was like working with Quentin Tarantino on his film ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’.

Scott Michaels is Hollywood’s original authority on celebrity deaths, including the Manson Murders, and a former tour guide for LA’s now-defunct Dearly Departed Tours. Quentin Tarantino hired Scott to be a consultant on ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, which reimagines the murders of Sharon Tate, Voytek Frykowski, Jay Sebring, and Abigail Folger at the hands of the Manson Family in early August 1969.

This past April, Scott gave me a once-in-a-lifetime, one-on-one, all-day tour of major Manson Family points of interest in Los Angeles and the surrounding area, which we talk about in this bonus episode. We also talk about common misconceptions about the murders, Scott’s experience working with Quentin Tarantino on ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, Scott’s favorite nonfiction books about the murders, people related to the case he’s known, and little-known tidbits about the murders, like what book Abigail Folger was reading when she was killed.

So, cue up The Beatles’ ‘White Album’, slip into your favorite retro threads, kick back and join Scott Michaels and me as we time travel back to 1969 Southern California to revisit the true crime that brought an end to the free lovin’ groovy ‘60s.

Afterward, I invite you to check out Season 1 Episode 6 to hear my conversation with Zachary Lazar about his novel ‘Sway’ and Tony Sokol’s thoughts on the Stones and the occult and Zeena Schreck’s memories of her godfather Kenneth Anger.

MEDIA AND MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

• Clip: Tate Murder CBS 1969 Newscast

• “Helter Skelter” by The Beatles

• “Cry Baby Cry” by The Beatles

• “Money (That’s What I Want)” by The Beatles

• “Blackbird” by The Beatles

• “Good Thing” by Paul Revere & The Raiders

• “Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon” by The Mamas & The Papas

• Clip: ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’—“I’m the devil and I’m here to do the devil’s business”

• “Sexy Sadie” by The Beatles

• “Revolution” by The Beatles

• “Hush” by Deep Purple

• Clip: ABC news crew finds bloody clothes 1969

• “Treat Her Right” by Roy Head & The Traits

LINKS: 

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350

Scott Michaels’ documentary on the Manson Murders, ‘The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZELGmN_4hc&t=3461s

Scott Michaels’ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DearlyDepartedTours

Scott Michaels on Facebook: @ScottMichaels 

Scott Michaels on Instagram: @iamscottmichaels 

Scott Michaels on Twitter: @ImScottMichaels 

David Oman’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@davidoman 

Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg

Season 1 Episode 6 of Rock is Lit: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/zacharylazar/tonysokol/zeenaschreck

L-R: Scott Michaels with Quentin Tarantino in front of Jay Sebring’s former home/Photo courtesy of Scott Michaels

Scott Michaels in front of Jay Sebring’s recreated salon, set of ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’/Photo courtesy of Scott Michaels

Set of ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’/Photo courtesy of Scott Michaels

Christy Alexander Hallberg at Manson Family “cave” at Spahn Ranch, on Manson Murders Tour with Scott Michaels, April 17, 2023

Christy Alexander Hallberg at the new gate in front of where Sharon Tate’s rented house on Cielo Drive used to be, on Manson Murders Tour with Scott Michaels, April 17, 2023

Trailer for Scott’s documentary, ‘The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter’

Scott Michaels at Barker Ranch

Trailer for ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’

Trailer for ‘Helter Skelter: An American Myth’