Synanon - INSIDE The Most Dangerous CULT in America 4K
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- Опубликовано: 27 май 2022
- Join us as we visit the Santa Monica, CA locations of the most dangerous CULT in America...SYNANON.
#Synanon #Cults #LosAngeles
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I was born in Synanon in 1963, and was there through age 7-8 years old, in 1971. Both my parents were jazz musicians who met there in the early 60s (they were beatnik junkies), married and had two kids, myself and my sister. My mother had a child from a previous marriage that she brought with her, who was 5 years older than me. My older half brother was one of the first boys put into the Imperial Marines, and he never really recovered from the trauma. I think my sister and I were young enough that we were able to get the benefit of normal family life into adulthood. My parents left when it was getting really crazy and scary. They had a plan an elaborate escape, where they came and scooped us away in the middle of the night. Anyway, you have done an excellent job in covering the weird progression through the years. Thanks for doing this episode. I am now 60 y.o. and have a beautiful life. In spite of the horrific experiences as a young boy, I have now come to realize how the entire experience was an important part of what I was to become in later life, but it was a rough road in between. Once a therapist said to me when I asked if he wanted me to talk about my experiences as a child in Synanon (he was very familiar with the cult because of its influence on rehab industry), he said, no just forget about it, it will be too horrific to recount, He then said, just go out and live a great and happy life. It was the permission I needed in my 40s to move on and be happy.
AA was, at one time, very connected. Scary scheißt
I ❤ Love you 🥰🥰🥰
I had a good friend who went to Synanon in the early 70's and was never the same again and not in a good way!
When I was 16 in 1970, I was introduced to a group in Phoenix A called Creative Living Foundation. I was a kid at risk. Then it was run by former Dr. Kenneth Olson, my former child Psychologist, and they practiced synanon gaming. Phil Buchanon, a former Synanon alumnus took over, and unknown to myself, it made a turn toward a cult. My family life was abusive, and I was a chronic runaway. I faced either juvy, or voluntary (against my mother’s advice) live in residency at CLF, where I had already made friends. The first friends I had ever made in Phoenix. I was sunk into the cult, but kept fighting, and was punished. I witnessed some of the worst abuses there. We were controlled in classic cult ways, down to our diets being restricted or food being held from us for some presumed misbehavior, to restricted if not absolute prevented contact with outside persons, including family members. Women were often targeted. It had taken decades to recover from this constant abuse. I had from age 16 to age 19 to finally get out. I was literally thrown out. Was probably the best thing. But I was a mess. I think I still am recovering, at age 67
Dr. Kenneth Olson, a licensed psychologist, performed an exorcism on a child believed to have been the victim of Satanic ritual abuse, they are still verry active in az, and other states
Everyone should know what a badass Paul Morantz is! The guy is a literal hero! He was seriously outnumbered and his life was constantly in danger, but he continued his fight against SYNANON by shining the light on their dangerous and harmful activities. His health suffered after that vicious attack, but he kept going. That guy deserves alot of credit for exposing this dangerous cult! Paul Morantz, you are a badass and a hero!
This was really interesting, it's strange how the group evolved from a small support group to something so big and violent. Cults are fascinating to me and I'd not heard of synanon before. Thank you for sharing, love this channel.
Ooh.you men like all religions?
Cults are for the weak minded
The most dangerous cult today are the far-left, overly woke people. They want to destroy everything that has given them their luxurious lifestyle that they take for granted. They are narcissistic and easy to spot.
Funny I feel the same..Fascinated by Cults as blown away how people fall for these different ways of life & being brain washed in the process... I also have never heard of Synanon.
Have a great day. Kim from Oz
Led by demons
As someone who was sent away at 15 years old at 230am, woken up and kidnapped with my parents approval by two ex LA (80s/90s version) Raiders players calling themselves professional "escorts", then spent the next nearly 3 years in programs based off of and evolved from synanon, I can tell you now in my late 30s the trauma is real. The daily nightmares I still experience are very, very real.
..sorry that happened☹️ . Our American CULTure mainstream heads this up, approved, important people doing bad things deserving of arresting but who are the judges as well
@Doug Devine signed over custody. You see, I had hated school so much. I tried to drop out many times but I was not legally of age to be allowed to so it was essentially truancy. I had no idea about truancy laws. I'm from NYC.. back then it was called the Board of Education... they were threatening my parents and I didn't know anything about it. Well one time I dropped out and they arranged home schooling through the board of Ed. A public school teacher would come to our apartment but eventually I was just leaving the house before the teacher showed up. Anyway wound up in high school in Manhattan but I ended up dropping out again after an argument with the headmaster and this time for good. I was only 14 at the time. I forget what the legal dropout age was... 17 maybe... I'm not sure.
I mean I had some fears and suspicions about stuff going on behind my back but I had no idea of what was really possible. My then best friend had alot more severe issues than I did and he had been sent away by his parents almost two years prior to, incidentally, CEDU. His name was Daniel Flinn if anyone from CEDU 2000s reads this. He is not my friend anymore but that's a different story but I could put anyone in touch with him if they wanted. Anyway... it was the late 90s early 2000s so we had one of those old school phone missed call answering machines and one day in the afternoon, I was home seeing as I had dropped out a few months before. The board of Ed called and left a message on the answering machine looking for my parents. That tipped me off someone but still I just had no idea. I tried to get my parents to tell me what was going on but they wouldn't and in fact lied about it all and said nothing was going on.
One thing I want to say is, one group of people that deserve attention as one of the biggest villains involved in all of this are those evil Ed consultants who often are the conduit facilitating all this. I know it my case a so called Ed consultant name Anita Targum (not sure how to spell the last name) was massively responsible. She absolutely ruined my life and countless other children. Given the insane rates of self termination with these places she may even have blood on her hands.
@@timebot000 hey thank you. Are you a survivor of one of these places too? If not, what brought you to this video, or was it something random?
@@RemmySkye ...hi...well, my histories are in videos on my channel but basically I was 8-12 yrs when my mother was in Camarillo (mkultra+)2 yrs, then Sin-Anon (get it?) For a year n a half. That was in the 60s..I was groomed in Hollywood to enter the music industry, but ran away at 16 n vanished for 5 years...returning only when entering intense therapy but never lived in LA again..
...my mom died in 2013,...these videos explain aLot that she couldn't tell me, or even was aware of herself.
People start out as loving human beings and then these ghouls take over and ruin lives and we spend all our time recovering n trying to ....uh....make the world a better place ...🤨.
I appreciate meeting people in comments who know what's up...all the Best to your Future!!!💎
Where did u go?
Synanon used to actually have television ads to join them, for those of us old enough to remember.
Do you remember the movie Synanon with Chuck Conners and Stella Stevens, 1965? I would watch this as a boy and at the time I had an odd feeling of familiarity and I Inexplicably understood their plights. I would go on to embark on a life of heroin use and thanks to Charles Dederich Sr I had residential detox facilities available to me and Narcotics Anonymous that would not shun me for my vices. The recovery business is rotten to the core and I only know this by 50 years of experience. The movie that left me with me with such a strange feeling of knowing...would remain a mystery until one evening at the age of 57 I happened to stumble upon it late one night while watching TV....
That ending with the various clips and the sitar playing over them was perfect. Simplicity is sometimes best.
Having grown up in the Venice Santa Monica Beach area. When I was a kid in the 60s. I could walk from my house near the Marina Del Rey entrance on Washington all the way to Venice pier then down Ocean Front Walk to SM pier. And we were told to totally avoid these people. There were considered like boogeyman. Heard stories that maybe were meant to scare kids. And as described in the video you could tell who there people were. I remember more than once one of "them" would just say hello and we'd run like hell
Idk what ‘4’ means, but good luck and god bless!!! 🤩
Hello
I met Chuck back in the late 70's while working for a recording facility in Burbank, we also did tape duplication usually cassettes for the major labels, he came in with 3 of his shaved head followers with a large order. It was all very weird. we completed the order but he stiffed us on payment it was around the time of the rattle snake incident.
When I was a young man, I worked for an environmental youth organization that did the cleanup of the Synanon property at Walker Creek Ranch in Marin. We spent 6 months cleaning and tearing things down. One of the more memorable projects was demolitioning and burning the 3 Birthing Buildings with incubators and other medical equipment.
Wow, I had no idea that the Casa Del Mar Hotel where I used to play gigs was the old Synanon building. The great jazz musicians Art Pepper and Joe Pass were Synanon residents for stretches as they tried to overcome addictions. Read Art Pepper’s autobiography “Straight Life” for his gripping first-hand accounts of life inside Synanon.
There was also a movie made starting Chuck Connors that revolves around the southern California life for recovering addicts.
The Synanon Foundation Records are at UCLA and I got a chance to work on them when I was an intern in graduate school. They have all kinds of video and audio materials which include recordings of the foundation events and recruitment material.
My father is detoxing in one of those videos. He also was in the Synanon movie
My mother lived w them a year n a half. Not till utube have I learned so much about it!
My parents met and married in the early days of the program. I was a toddler in their daycare.
My mother might be in those films! She went from Camarillo, to Sin-Anon, to a bookkeeping job at Cinema Associates in Hollywood.
As I started high school, she got me ' jobs' there too, but it was headed to a bad place...
@@timebot000 They have some oral histories online, but I’m not sure if they’ve digitized any of the video material.
I WAS THEIR DIRECT neighbor for many years at the huge compound up in Badger California in the 80's & 90's. My kids attended school with some of their kids in Woodlake and I spent many months over a long period of time on their compound painting the trailers they lived in as well as the big buildings... They had their own air strip as well as hospital, fire department, etc. I knew the place well. I'm not taking sides at all, but they were always pretty kind and respectful to all of us in the community but some of us were not, to them. I DO know that a lot of shady stuff happened on their side of the fence tho.
They were a weird group!
@@tamaragalli9749 Yeah... to say the least. The kids didn't live in the homes with the parents because they were considered a community responsibility, so they had their own quarters all together separate from any parents. EVERYONE had to shave their heads, even the kids. They had (and still have according to google maps) a very large airstrip there and would fly planes in and out all of the time. That's how they "Got Away" from some of the stuff they were doing so fast... like snakes in mailboxes. The news and law men always said the compound was outside of San Francisco but it wasn't, it was in Badger outside of the Sierra's. Google Maps still shows the whole place and pretty much nothing has changed... the airstrip is still there... the big buildings... Dining Halls... Conference Center... and all of the little roads thru the compound as well. all of the trailers have been removed and I think someone turned it into a big resort or campground. They should go up and do a video on this place as well.. there is A LOT of spooky history there and you DO have access to the place now.
My sister was there for trouble teens when my mother found out how bad it was she went there to get my sister out and my sister had been brain washed by that time. They threatened to put snakes in my parents mailbox all kinds of threats. Charles was wicked af
Love how you added Hotel California instrumental at the beginning, perfect song for this subject
I went to a boarding school called CEDU (The one Paris Hilton went to) That was based off of this. It was terrible. There was a serial killer tied to the school that a psychiatrist there was helping deliver students to. One went missing right before I got there and I was also seeing this doctor. A lot of friends and students over the years have committed suicide after leaving there. There are many people still in therapy because of it. Like any place some didn't think it was that bad, to each thier own, I still have friends from there on both sides.
So happy someone else wrote this first. I graduated CEDU in 96. I knew Paris from there and had one session with the psychiatrist you mentioned. I was there with my friend Adam Eget who did a Joe Rogan experience and talked about CEDU in it.
The craziest thing about CEDU is all the troubled teen industry all pretty much started with CEDU
My father was president of cedu... Bill Lane! I remember when all these things started tohappen! My father left before alot of this stuff happened! He also came from Synanon where I was born
Are you Mormon?
Could you please elaborate on the serial killer comment?
Are you saying the doctor was giving students to the serial killer?
Graduated CEDU '93 I remember Eget, I was his dorm head for a bit. The Doctor came on staff when they started the middle school my last six months there, he was creepy! I remember Bill Lane, he and Tim Brace left rather quickly after some shit went down with a dorm full of drinking. Ron Cook came in to run things with Bill Valentine after that.
@@cigartexan6368 what was the Dr name?
So many cults were operating in California in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Scientology, The People's Temple, The Source family, the Manson family, Synanon, and more. It's fascinating to ponder the causes and atmosphere that breathed life into these cults. Synanon was the first to use the controversial attack therapy, which they called "the Game" to treat addiction. Later this therapy was applied to the troubled teen industry and chaos ensued. We have Synanon to thank for countless cases of mental and physical abuse against children and teens at various alternative schools such as the Elan school, Straight Inc., Odyssey house and many more. I've always been surprised that Synanon doesn't get as much attention as other cults considering the size and influence of the cult.
The added music to the video clips wins once again. It adds just a great element to the videos. You and Jessica should go surfing. It's an amazing feeling when you take your first wave and stick with it all the way. Otherworldly. Great video again. Always look forward to them. 🖤❤🌹🥂
Synanon? You know, this is the first time I've seen Scientology spelled like that. 😆
Omg. I was thinking that the rehab to lifetime member was very similar to the Scientology rehab program. Spot on! 👍
I was just fixing to put that exact reply myself and then I happen to see yours that is so funny it sounds just like Scientology 😆🤣. Better call Tom Cruise
First time I ever seen a clickable “How’d you rate this” on a comment wtf?
(insert affirmation chirrup here)
It has the exact forced participation, military style hitlist, and financial setup as Scientology. The Xenu crowd has created a large number of false fronts using the -anon suffix, most known being Narcanon. There had to be a tie in, it's two close to be coincidence, unless this guy studied Hubbard's cult methods.
I am old enough to remember Synanon, although I hadn't thought about it in ages. Great video!
Dude ive been watching your channel for a few years now and i must admit , whilst your videos have always been great.. these days there seems to be more thought, effort and heart going into them. Just want to say thanks for all your efforts.. your channel is excellent
Thank you for the kind words and watching. The videos might not be everyday but I try to make them the best they can be.
@@grimmlifecollective you bring out plenty of brilliant content each and every week.. the standard is top notch! Dont worry about how often you release a new video, thats non issue. Just keep doing what your doing.. 100% one of my favourite channels. Much love all the way from bonnie Scotland 😎💚
@@grimmlifecollective the cult more dangerous of the world is THE WATCHTOWER JEHOVAHS WITNESSES… look for the suicide statistics inside of this religious organization.. I was inside it for 47 years .. I awake 6 years ago.. there is Ex JW in RUclips , the largest ever known…
@@ballztodawallz8713 isn't just what you do but what you don't do. Not just what you did but how you did it. Not just what you said but how you said it. Love is so simple yet the simple make it so hard. Love Is full of knowledge yet even the smart don't get it. Love doesn't cost a fortune yet fortunes are spent trying to gain it. Love does demand of you yet you are not willing to sacrifice for it. Those who only seek what love can give and do for them, do nothing for love and others and in such selfish pursuit, in turn rob themselves of love's best gift. Make this year the year you seek to sow love and not just reap it. Be love and not just think it. Do love and not just say it. Talk love and just don't fake it. Seek love and just don't chase it. Embrace it but don't enslave it, share it but don't dare boast in it. Enjoy it but don't abuse it. Free it and watch it come back. Invest in it and watch it pay back. Wash your life in it, light your darkness with it, eat your food with it conduct your business with it and above all else Serve God in it. For whatever love is and is not, it's all of, for and From Him. He is LOVE! "
By Steven Gooden
Cults often prey on the disenfranchised. Offering them acceptance, a sense of belonging, that something extra that their victims are missing. This was an amazing look into that world and how Cults grow. In my opinion AA is a cult as well. Even had its own version of the Bible. They control your life and your sponsor keeps tabs on you. The more you contribute the more they hold on to you.
I’m in AA, we don’t have our own version the bible. 🤣 A good sponsor is there to take you through the 12 steps and offer suggestions on what worked for them, but not to control. Trying to control an alcoholics life is insanely counterproductive. If I’ve got a sponsee who isn’t taking on board anything that works, but is expecting recovery. I’ll tell them. But from a place of love… sometimes tough love. Not control. It’s life or death we deal with.. i know I needed people to call me out on my bs. It costs £1 or 2 a meeting, nothing if you haven’t got it. People are free to leave, come back, leave. come back.. as many times as they like. It’s not a cult, mate.
@@tammy_vip perhaps it depends which ones you attend. I wasn’t the only one who felt the way I did. We all left
I've just never understood why people believe such BS from a single person
I have never heard of Synanon. Such a gorgeous oasis containing so much trouble and evil. This was such a well done, informing story
Look at Scientology's L.A. properties, and then read about what goes on inside. Leave it to humans to make a hell out of any heaven.
gorgeous oasis? have you seen LA now?! Lol Santa Monica and Venice are skid row by the sea
@@Uncle_Ruckus_ Honestly, never been there, but not surprised to hear this. We (mankind) have a way of turning beauty into shit
@@paulthompson4332 I live in Los Angeles all the bad things you hearing about now like the homeless problem the fentanyl epidemic the crime rising are all true
My mom lived there a year n a half, after 2 years in Camarillo state hospital, which was waaaaay worse a place btw, so for my mom to be 'rescued' from that place by Dr. Jack Cowan...
Really saved her life.
Synanon was a step out of
Camarillo state hospital, which had torture and SRA events underground , and my mother was terribly harmed there.
isn't just what you do but what you don't do. Not just what you did but how you did it. Not just what you said but how you said it. Love is so simple yet the simple make it so hard. Love Is full of knowledge yet even the smart don't get it. Love doesn't cost a fortune yet fortunes are spent trying to gain it. Love does demand of you yet you are not willing to sacrifice for it. Those who only seek what love can give and do for them, do nothing for love and others and in such selfish pursuit, in turn rob themselves of love's best gift. Make this year the year you seek to sow love and not just reap it. Be love and not just think it. Do love and not just say it. Talk love and just don't fake it. Seek love and just don't chase it. Embrace it but don't enslave it, share it but don't dare boast in it. Enjoy it but don't abuse it. Free it and watch it come back. Invest in it and watch it pay back. Wash your life in it, light your darkness with it, eat your food with it conduct your business with it and above all else Serve God in it. For whatever love is and is not, it's all of, for and From Him. He is LOVE! "
By Steven Gooden
@@InHisService333 ..
Such 💎s! Thank You
Wow!! My girlfriend surprised me with a little getaway for my birthday last year and little did we know that the place we stayed at was a former cult establishment but yeah Casa Del Mar is a beautiful place and it was really good 2 day experience staying there .. great video thanks!
I went through some rehab with people who had been with Synanon. It was called confrontational group. It's very helpful for people just beginning to try to stay clean to cut through the BS that addicts build up as a defense. Like with everything that people get involved with that give them power over others, some use that power (addictive in itself) negatively. You see the same thing with the other cults, Scientology has similarities. Take care now. It can get pretty sporty out there.
Yeah I can see how “the game” is effective at breaking down that defensive front. But that’s not going to heal you. Now you’re laid bare, and it’s time to build back up, not just keep repeating.
@@louhortonsculpture It's certainly not a science. And now with the flood of drugs+illicit and legal, there's going to be more and more people needing help. Stay strong.
Hey Grimlife since you love creepy scary stuff you all should check out lanterns lane in Central Illinois near watseka on an old backroad. It's an urban legend that has paid of for a lot of visitors to the road. Myself included. Legend says that one winter many years ok a farmer went out to check on his cows and after a few hours he didn't return so his wife went and looked for him she too didn't return from the snow storm. After the snow melted the mutilated remains of the husband wife and cattle were found not far from the house. Going down this road at night just before the remains of the house only now known by a long driveway with a long stretch of trees along it. If you park before the house just a little away from the house you will start to see a light sometimes coming down the driveway or being seen in the middle of the road getting close. There is even a movie about this place. Just a suggestion for a future video maybe. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions if you ever decide to try this. Keep up the amazing job. Stay safe on your travels.
Another great video...I watched THE MASTER last evening. It seemed like a Synanon and Scientology documentary. THANKS.
I was actually in Synanon for three weeks whenI was 14 yrs old ,When they denied my mother access she pulled me out. i still have nightmares and I am 67 now.
I'm sorry ❤
I'm a little surprised you didn't note that famous bandleader Stan Kenton's son Lance was one of the Imperial Marines arrested for the rattlesnake attack. It's pretty crazy how cult groups grow. Love the videos.
I know your comment was two weeks ago but, I was a young kid when that snake story hit, I never forgot it. Freaked me out !
Yep, it certainly was Stan Kenton’s kid who was in on the rattlesnake caper.
They also had a jazz ensemble led by legendary guitarist Joe Pass. They produced an album called Sounds of Synanon. A "video" from early 60s TV can be found on RUclips.
Scary
Cults are all so similar to one another. Synanon is like a synonym for so many others. Never heard of them before this. Santa Monica pier is a fun place to be, been there a few times.
Really interesting vlog.The last two years shows how easy it is to frighten people into believing anything and turning on each other so this cult does not surprise me
a lot of cult culture sprung from late 50s 60s 70s; this one in particular lasted for few decades amazes me how much it grew; pride cometh before a fall - they started off on the right foot as a support group then falls from grace, great narrative Michael. Santa Monica Pier so beautiful, nice to see Casa del Mar is preserved and open after its historic past; luv the sitar instrument - not an easy instrument to learn - beautiful sounds
Good choice of "Hotel California" for the opening.
I was a teen in Marin County in the 60’s and 70’s. Synanon was a well thought of rehab type organization. Haven’t thought or heard anything about them since then.
This is interesting! I love your channel btw! I've been watching your channel for years now and me too love graveyards/cemeteries and weird + horror stuff so I appreciate you making all these cool videos! Keep it up! ❤️❤️❤️
I forsure never heard of this cult prior to today. Great video as always.
I live in central California and up here in the hills near Woodlake they had a real nice compound, looked like a small Junior college. It was very well known that they had hidden gun bunkers surrounding their property. Also known was that they grew weed up there. They would always come down from the hills into Visalia in their vans and you knew who they were because they were all bald and all in a group. People didn’t mess with them. Maybe because of their reputation.
Then all of a sudden they were gone! They up and left. I drive by there every once in a while and the people on the property look real shady so I don’t know who’s there now.
One of the two Synanon properties known as the Strip (airstrip) is currently a small resort with a few original houses from the 80’s, the heyday of this group when the community moved to Badger.
Thank you for this video which shows us another superb place in America. I didn't know this story. I am French and with your videos I discover all the incredible mysterious beauty of your country
Your country is absolutely awesome!
@@moe4meswtdg Thank you very much 😃
good one - It's amazing how people can allow themselves to be drawn into a cult a little at a time - step by step
I liked the way you were professional and respectful with the musician and the hotel staff. Be fair, kind and professional and we gonna do amazing works.
Grimm on a beach, what!!✌
Boy what a good vigil. Hope you and lady had a great Holiday.
Saw this on my feed but had to wait for Sunday morning peace and quiet to watch the absolute best channel on RUclips...
Thank you again for your compelling storytelling and beautiful filming.... ❤️
I like that a video with such troubling content ultimately ended on a really nice and positive note.
I really enjoyed this one!! Love the adventure aspect where you explore around and we can see that you’re also having a fun time getting out and about. Especially since many of us can’t travel right now, it’s great to be able to watch these adventure videos you make and really experience the location and history for ourselves, so Thankyou so much! We love watching your videos! :)
I love how you tell a story! I'd go so far as to call you a Master Storyteller. I know how difficult it can be. I haven't looked at all your videos yet but I'm hooked & I'm subbed! Great job!
I remember my uncle talking about that place because he went there in the day. Crazy how Santa Monica and Venice didn’t want addicts but now they love them especially in Venice
This was really a cool video to see. I remember hearing about this group years ago when I was a kid but I never knew anything about them turning into a cult. I hope you and Ms. Jessica had a beautiful fun day out exploring like this and as always thanks for sharing such awesome content. Take care 👋🏻
I never knew about this cult. This is a really interesting video. Thanks for doing this and sharing it with us. The beach and the pier look absolutely breathtaking. I haven't been there in years but I would really love to go back
And congratulations on hitting 300 thousand subs, massive, and well deserved to you both
This is one of the best docs I've seen on the group. Well done!
We had close friends of the family get involved with Synanon when I was a kid in the early 70’s, and we went and visited and had lunch with them there. My sister and I even stayed a weekend with one of those friends at that building with all the skin-heads. They had a pretty strict regiment for the kids it seemed. I recall my folks later noting how those in charge sat at a nicer table eating fancier food while the ordinary ‘members’ ate more modest meals, which is how all these collectivist commune cults seem to work. Even though I thought them strange at the time, I didn’t realize how cultic it was until much later in life. It’s surreal looking at that fancy hotel now and thinking that’s the same place I stayed with friends back in the 70’s.
I am new to what you all put out into the world. I enjoy your alls adventures . I also love the fact that you guys keep it simple, yet fun. You guys are awesome and i appreciate what you share ! Thanks.
Guy at 17:06 coming down the steps has a shaved head 🤔
Very interesting. Have never heard of this cult before. The history of the building back then to what it is now, is certainly intriguing to say the least. Thanks for sharing. Well done! 👍
I'm so shocked that followers couldn't just leave the Synanon cult, but they were bound to this cult until death or hunted down. Important to learn about cults and their various differences and similarities.
I remember when I was a kid, every time you saw somebody with a bald head around town, yep.... SYNANON. I used to go to Club Del Mar with my mom and dad.
Thank you for this! I love this beach so much! I've passed by this hotel hundreds of times and never knew about synanon.
I have never heard of this cult. I knew there were cults around. I am most familiar with Jim Jones' cult. So sad, and frightening that evil lurks in the world...
You are both absolutely awesome. Very interesting subjects so your videos are avid viewing. Millions times better than most TV programmes.
Thank you for the kind words
The guy playing music at the end of the video… Absolutely gorgeous
That sitar ending is a mood!
That music that gentleman was playing at the end was so beautiful.
Excellent video. There is a much bigger story with the CEDU school out in Running Springs that was connected with this cult. I know a bit because I graduated from their off shoot school that was called "The Cascade School" outside Whitmore, Ca. Again great video, gonna have to check out your other ones.
I went to CEDU with a girl who got “kicked out” of Cascade and was sent to CEDU.
My father was president of Cedu when I was growing up! That place went nuts!
@@CybermanBill Oh wow. I bet you have some interesting stories.
First time coming across your channel and I just have to say fantastic job dude!!!! I loved this. The whole thing was super interesting and it's super cool to look at it now. Keep up the good work man. I love it
Never thought I'd hear Calamity Man without playing it myself! Cheers on the great deep dive.
I never heard of synanon, seems like absolute power always corrupts despite good intentions! Creepy for sure, but always love the history and the architecture!! 🙏🏽🎃❤️🔥😎
wow. I knew about this growing up in California. crazy how someone wanting to help others can be so cruel to manipulate folks. the hotel now is beautiful and going to have to stay there on our next stay in California. thank you for the video and the sitar music he's great! and yes.... the photo of the navy men was a classic touch for me as my father also was navy. and as always Happy Holloween till next time🎃❤️
Thanks for the video, it was great! Oh my the music at the end was wonderful too.
This channel is among my favourites now. Interesting location choices ,excellent quality video tours also with informative crystal clear history lessons too on the subject documented.
Would love to see Columbine walk through/ school tour if that’s even possible.
Or the crash site and bar visited leading to the tragic death of Ryan Dunn.
I support you bro love your presentation on your features
Really enjoyed the sitar and the pier and ocean. Never heard of that cult but glad it bit the dust.
I’m surprised you didn’t include their move to Lake Havasu City, Arizona in the 70’s! I lived there and they had a solid presence in town! Had their own doctors, lawyers, offices, hotels and restaurant. The town was interested and afraid, all at once. The kids from the group I attended high school with were easy to spot. Shaved heads and all wearing similar garments were common targets. They eventually left
I love flashsitar so peaceful every time he’s playing on the pier
This video was excellent, as was the presenter. The comments section was what I found riveting. Some of these people could write mind boggling books about their horrific experiences. As a teen my usual spot at Santa Monica Beach was by the Hot Dog on a Stick stand & right next to the Synanon building. There were often creepy looking people milling about and the vibe was very sinister. A few years later I heard on the news about the rattle snake in the mailbox attack. That sparked my interest in studying cults of all kinds.
I'm PTS'ing-out here. In 2011, lost my fiance, Jessica, to cults in Hellywood. We used to go to Santa Monica often. I understand wanting to spend all day there. We did. No worries. I thank you for sharing. I study these things, occult Hollywood if you will, and this was hellpful information. Happy Halloween.
Another great video!! My name is Steve. I moved to Santa Monica in 2016. Always cool to learn more about the history of this city and area. Looking forward to more great content!!
MY family was at Synanonin the early 70's, I was born in 73 and they left shortly after that.
I loved that you took us to the beach. I gave flashSitar a follow. Awesome chill vibe. Thank you!!! 🥰🥰🥰
I've was in offshoot of synonon, called the Phoenix House in late 90s...and we played the game and to be honest it was completely awesome. It wasnt simply attack therapy there were different ways to deal with each person depending on what was needed. The game was just a small part of therapeutic community and not even the strongest. By the way it seems to have worked some 25 years later.
I love that Santa Monica boardwalk so much. The wood is so warm and inviting.
Excellent video. Great narration on an interesting historical subject. I personally enjoyed the locations, the environment, and the live musician. This is the 'California Experience'.
When I was a kid, Synanon used to turn up on random television shows as a way for junkies and other troubled people to get clean and sober. I mean, fictional doctor and detective shows basically did PSAs for Synanon. Then the cult seemed to disappear. Thanks for the insight.
You say cult.... I say CLICK..... Cults absolutely fascinate me, lol!
Thanks for these awesome vids, you've been, ya know, killing it lately 😁
Well, family unit is the biggest cult ever, yet nobody talks about it 😂
It seems like every cult either begins its life, or eventually arrives at, Los Angeles.
I lived and worked in Santa Monica back in the 90s. Thanks for the upload. Greetings from Cambodia.
I was in the blue oyster cult at one time
Well done.....i've always been curious about what drives people to join a cult. During the last years we've seen more and more of this in Germany...maybe because of the pandemic and all that sh#! . Greetings to all members of the collective 😉 !
P.S. The music fits the scenes like a glove!
I am the same way when it comes to wanting to understand how the human mind works... Tribalism is a natural part to humans and survival. From what i have learned so far from others putting information out as well as my own observations, it's something that exists because it creates a balance in the world. Right and wrong or morals doesn't seem to be the focus of tribalism existing...Morals and values are up to us to figure out what is healthy,positive and productive for us all to coexist and move forward. Not every human wants to be in a group and many of us are reclusive... But whether we know it or not we are still part of some group of like minded people. There are minds with dominant/negative/counterproductive intentions and minds with submissive/peaceful/productive/positive intentions... Its about knowing what you are apart of in the world from what i have gathered personally and scanning yourself to see where you fit on that spectrum.
@@chas92 As the saying goes, external threats lead to internal group cohesion. In times of stability and prosperity, it's easy to evince those cosmopolitan virtues of tolerance and inclusion. In times of scarcity and upheaval, a person is primarily looking out for- in descending order of importance- themselves, their family, and their community. Their family and their community can be those by birth, or those by adoption.
they had a cult in germany it caused ww2
Just look into the democrat party. Nobody tells the truth. They don't do anything they say. Nobody accepts responsibility they blame everyone for the stuff they do. They are so bad they need to lie about their history.
Now what blows my mind is the followers. They won't listen to anything but what proven liars say.
Look at how fast democrats destroyed everything good. Yet they still believe it's Republicans fault. The same republican that always side with these criminals.
Democrat are a mental disorder. Only cult members don't see their racist insane ideology. Guns are bad killing babies is ok. Criminals are victims victims are racist. Women are a unknown species. But men in women's clothing are women because they feel they are. If you say something they don't agree with you are racist Or fascist. Feelings are more important then facts.
"We Are Stronger"
A Poem by Steven F Gooden
We're never as strong, as we are until we have to be. Never Do as much, unless the need we see. Only give our best, when we fail at mediocrity. We Love rather than hate when we admit we're one humanity. We always give more, when compassion moves our heart with unbridled generosity. We Become more of our potential when we are made to see, that clearly our minds can believe in unfathomable possibilities, while seizing every opportunity, here in lies one's destiny. More than our scars, higher than our stars, for in our flaws are what defines our features, they're uniquely ours, as human creatures.
We can run faster than on our slowest day. Reason better, and thinking it through all the way, regardless which direction our emotions may sway. We can find our voice when speechless, our strong words with meekness and our Courage in weakness. Always patience not quickness. Silence for peace than loudness, quietness of fear, not hopeless, for time and effort are equally unbiased. We are more than the stories we're told, we're the one's we write, each page unfold. We are the sum of our Lies and truth, fantasy, fiction, faith, and myths, no matter how uncouth. These are what shape us, our lives lived is the proof. We can be more right than wrong. More just than judge. More godlike than unlike. Reflecting Sunlight in our darkest night.
Providing refuge. Never more alive until we die within and begin again. A Human Ark Divine in our human spark.
by
Steven Gooden
Very interesting episode there Michael, really enjoyed that, thanks for the journey
..I live in Oakland Ca. in the mid 60's Synanon had a building in downtown Oakland.. it was there for a few years but faded away in time..
Fantastic. The transformations these locations make is fascinating. I live in Orange County not too far. Was in the area a few months ago and will check it out next time I’m there. Love the channel. Can you do a video on bands you like?
Stay safe Brotha love your videos keep it up
Stumbled up ur story, I'm from Santa Monica, raised my kids there, n had a business on pier- ud never know how many incidents happen here n they clean up very fast becuz they thrive on the tourism!!!!
It was great for you to be showing a friend of mine that I used to work amongst when I had my business on the pier, Flash, the Indian man, his wife comes out and plays along with him she's an amazing singer
Love your videos, mate. Always really interesting and well done.
If you haven’t already covered them, have you looked into the Cult known as the Process Church?
Miss you being in Vegas, but, born and raised in So Cal,...thanks for taking me home, in the vid! AND...wow, I did not know.....about the cult! NA and AA did a lot for me. NONE of that weird freaky shi- was part of recovery, however. GLAD to know things changed! Whew!
Ah, SM Pier! Are you going to Redondo Pier for anything? Venice Beach? Can't wait to see what you do!
Redondo beach is beautiful. My first time to cali was in King harbor.
Thanks that was great! I had forgotten about that.
Just found this channel. Great stuff! Love Socal lore. Keep up the good work!
hotel of california " you can check out any time you like but you can never leave' like the cult, once you're in you're in hmm. new here great video :)