Synanon lawyer Howard Garfield ordered Marine head Dr. Douglas Robson to collect all Synanon memos describing their violence and transfer them to legal department so attorney client privilege would attach. But Synanon still remains the Granddaddy of all drug rehabs, the failure that launched an industry, its failure teaching us more than whatever its success had (Richard Ofshe, The Failure that spurned an Industry). Yes, it is all true. Synanon Holy War file memos on beating). Through dissipation, or long hours of activity without very much sleep, we hope to bring about in you a conscious state of inebriation we want to get you loaded without acid. A reference point for the rest of your life. [23] Morantz had successfully brought suit on behalf of people who were being held against their will by Synanon. Two members of a Synanon security force known as the "Imperial Marines," Lance Kenton and. When the first Tripper, physically and emotionally exhausted, broke and wept it caromed to the others. Six weeks later the Los Angeles Police Department performed a search of the ranch in Badger that turned up a recorded speech by Dederich in which he said, Were not going to mess with the old-time, turn-the-other-cheek religious postures our religious posture is: Dont mess with us. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. September 21, 1978 ex-member Phil Ritter, was severely beaten by two members, causing him to fall into a coma for a week. CEDU's schools used the confrontation model of Synanon. visited in 1962, lived there in 1963 and wrote a book about his experiences. [27] People who left the organization were at risk of physical violence for being a "splittee"; one ex-member, Phil Ritter, was beaten so severely that his skull was fractured and he subsequently fell into a coma with a near-fatal case of bacterial meningitis.[28][29][30]. Legal problems continued, despite this change. Because there was no hierarchy in The Game, members could freely criticize Synanon's highest leadership, who would then take member concerns into consideration when deciding policy. Neighbors complained fearing Synanon would unleash non-recovered addicts into Santa Monica who came from other areas. Dederich refused all suggestions. As full recovery for graduates was not happening sufficiently, Dederich proclaimed no one should ever graduate. But it was something much deadlier - the rattlesnake lashed out too quickly for Morantz to react, and its fangs sank into his wrist. "The Social Development of the Synanon Cult". It was alleged[by whom?] Dederich declared they were better than the world and through his experimentation Synanon would lead the human race into the 21st Century. Now in a ballroom the Trippers were surrounded by hundreds of cheering, clapping Synanites. ), On March 20, 1978, a former member of Synanon, Tom Cardineau was severely beaten (for being an alleged spy) while tied to a post during his honeymoon when he took his bride to show her where he had once lived on the Walker Creek Ranch. Robert Graeme told reporters that upon arriving, the cult's leader threatened him. Synanon was a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center and movement-turned-cult in California that existed from 1958 to 1991. LOS ANGELES -- Thirteen past and present members of Synanon, the controversial drug and alcohol rehabilitation organization, surrendered in court Tuesday on two secret indictments charging them. As the alcoholics had not wanted change, neither did they. The Department of Justice in the 80s, hiring Morantz and sociologist Richard Offshe as consultants, sued Synanon to remove its tax-free status retroactively for committing a reign of terrorism. Men were given forced vasectomies, and a few pregnant women were forced to have abortions. Mr. Dederich even kept an elite squad of enforcers that he called the Imperial Marines. "[28] During the investigations researchers also came across multiple lawsuits and arrests against Synanon members. Synanon members bought stock in ABC and attended a stock holders meeting, and naming their names, the members, identifying themselves as former members of Murder Incorporated, asked if the board had protection for their wives (Synanon vs. ABC, AP Western Union Telegram; Pat Lynch, NBC segment 3). Synanon claimed it had cured thousands but by 1967 Dederich turned the organization into a "lifestyle" by recruiting non-addicts ("Squares") and building cities in Marin County, then Tulare County and eventually Lake Havasu. Read More. [19] Robert Altman hired members of Synanon to be extras for the gambling scenes in his movie California Split. Dederich officially declared it a Holy War. (Dederich letter to Mike Garrett, Synanon Holy War file, 1978 Board minutes of SynanonJady Dederich, Morantz vs Synanon, IRS vs. Synanon. This became a successful enterprise that for a time generated roughly $10 million per year.[13]. While in The Game, members criticized each other, but left as friends and supportive community members. The New York psychiatrist Daniel Casriel M.D. Some believe Bettys Death unleashed Dederichs fury. Morantz had prepared for that. Deadly Cults is back for a chilling second season, starting Sunday, April 26 at 7pm ET/PT on Oxygen. In lessons, children were taught how to fight the Holy War" to defend their leader. Synanons goal, Dederich said, was to lead the world into the 21st Century and anything less than changing the world is Mickey Mouse. (Morantz archives on Synanon, Gerstel, Paradise Inc.). Synanon instituted containment which was disallowing contact with outsiders. They also beat a neighboring rancher, Gamboninni, who was helping children run away from Synanon and return to their parents (Light on Synanon; Dave Gerstel, Paradise Inc.; Marin County crime report on Gambinini beating, Synanon memos describing incident. He and his family were represented by Paul Morantz and Ed Martin in a civil suit. AN ULTRA-violent cult brainwashed addicts into shaving their heads, and enforced mass sterilizations in "Gestapo-like" demands. The board would spell out Emerson messages on self-reliance, but self-reliance was interpreted as the ability to make choices and the best way to end loneliness and suffering was through trusting in Synanon. Joe Musico proposed to the Board that at its June 26 meeting it reconsider the idea of an additional Synanon National Guard and place him in charge of training it. (Dederich, Act as If). In 1962 Dederich moved to an empty National Guard building on the beach in Santa Monica. A drunken Dederich was arrested on December 2 in Lake Havesu. Yes! Beatings occurred in Synanon basements. (West Magazine, l967, Morantz archives on Synanon) Subsequently, Synanon acquired a large industrial building in Oakland, California, transforming it into a residential facility for its members, outsiders were permitted to attend the Game there as well. The game took on each unbrokens dirty rotten story with great brutality. Synanon.) Members were brainwashed, tortured mentally and barred from leaving the communityescaped members were subject to beatings. Correcting Claire Clarks Recovery Revolution, Book Escape: My Life Long War Against Cults. Everyone was to cop-out (confess to past sins). Sitting in comfortable green armchairs, they made the dope fiends tell their tales of drugs, rape, crime and beatings. At age 8 his youngest brother died of influenza and Dederich felt guilty and responsible. During the second stage, members worked outside of the community but still resided within the community. Such acts comprised the bulk of a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation by Dave Mitchell, of the Point Reyes Light weekly newspaper. This included taking vengeance against former Synanon members. Soon, Synanon owned properties across America; at Tomales Bay, it had a fleet of ships, and at the Badger property hundreds of motorbikes and trucks, not to mention an airstrip and a private plane. It even invited professionals including non-addicts to join. ", Private Investigator Jack Harding said: "They reminded me of a young Gestapo group.". I am quite willing to break some lawyer's legs, and next break his wife's legs, and threaten to cut their child's arm off. But in fact Robson had failed and the violence memos, including the Garfield-Robson letters were scatter in the Synanon San Franciso warehouse which was opened for copying to the law firm of Lillick, Mchose and Charles (to avoid discovery sanctions) who then found them (Synanon vs. ABC; IRS vs. Synanon). While the early Synanon has been declared a success by most observers, there were also early critics who claimed the success only applied to those who remained in the environment where no drugs was pushed by peers or in cases of old timers who had reached saturation point. By the early 1960s it had become an alternative community as well, attracting people with its emphasis on living a self-examined life, as aided by group truth-telling sessions known as the "Synanon Game." It is claimed that Dederich, after taking LSD,[7] Some rolled up on the floor in fetal positions. Founder of Synanon House for drug addicts Charles Dederich, Chuck Dederich stands by his new wife, Ginny, at Synanon branch in Marshall, California, Founder of Synanon House for drug addicts Charles Dederich (centre) and staff members during rehabilitation session, Drug addicts at Synanon House for rehabilitation, Donald Trump announces enhanced counter-narcotics crackdown on drug cartels amid the coronavirus crisis, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Learn: American Rehab resources He later founded AREBA, the oldest surviving private addiction treatment centre in the United States, as well as Daytop Village, one of the world's largest therapeutic communities. Mitchell had tried to warn authorities, without success, that Synanon was going to try to kill Morantz. Dederich was arrested while drunk on December 2, 1978. Synanon, is the first ever self help-no doctors- drug rehabilitation program, founded by Charles "Chuck" Dederich Sr. (1913-1997) in 1958 in Santa Monica, California. The founder, Charles Dederich, a recovering alcoholic. [12] Synanon is mentioned in Joan Didion's 1979 essay The White Album. The "Game" was presented as a therapeutic tool, and likened to a form of group therapy; but it has been criticized as a form of a "social control", in which members humiliated one another and encouraged the exposure of one another's innermost weaknesses. [32] The snake bit him, and he was hospitalized for six days. (Deposition of Paul Morantz, Morantz vs. Synanon; People vs. Dederich; IRS vs. Synanon. The Synanon organization also developed a business that sold promotional items. He noted psychological testing revealed Synanon members (dope fiends) were still anti-social and recommended that the games fierce attack on self be lightened over a time, and that psychological counseling be given along with follow-up care to those who exit. [14] Upon their arrival, those newcomers were forced to quit using drugs cold turkey, going through withdrawal for the first few days in the program. Dederich was familiar with Waldens Pond and the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson and B. F. Skinner. Violence was then permitted upon them, breaking for first time Synanons non violent rule. Children were struck across the face, knocked down, otherwise punished and then gamed. Soon the OK on violence would spread to splitees, suspected thieves and perceived spies and enemies. Newcomers were first interviewed by Synanon leadership to gain entrance into the community. It is also referred to in the song "Opening Doors" from Stephen Sondheim's musical Merrily We Roll Along, which mentions it as a hypothetical song title in a satirical revue of the 1960s. Later on, Synanon acquired a large building that had been the home of the Athens Athletic Club, in Oakland, California, and then transformed it into a residential facility for Synanon's members. Control over members occurred through the Synanon Game. The Game could be considered a therapeutic tool, likened to group therapy; or a social control, in which members humiliated one another and encouraged the exposure of ones innermost weaknesses, or both. Dederich said freedom to think to a dope addict was like a gun to a baby, and they wash dirty brains. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Abused Children assigned to Synanon began running away, helped by an underground railroad, led by neighboring rancher Alvin Gambonini, who sought to return them to their parents. Dederich experimented with environmental manipulations so as to recreate the heightened awareness and inner discoveries he experienced while taking LSD. Eventually followers took on the paranoia of its founder, Synanon developed the Imperial Marines and commenced a Holy War against its enemies. Synanon became a Third sector within United States borders, seeking to have its Embassy in Washington, D.C. Six weeks later, the Los Angeles Police Department performed a search of the ranch in Badger that found a recorded speech by Dederich in which he said, "We're not going to mess with the old-time, turn-the-other-cheek religious postures Our religious posture is: Don't mess with us. (Mitchell, Light on Synanon. Those suffering from addictions to illegal drugs were not always welcomed into AA because it was considered that their addiction issues were significantly different from those suffered by alcoholics. Ron Eidson, after a road skirmish, and refusing Dr. Robsons demand for apology, was pistol whipped and hospitalized while shotguns were held on his watching family. (Marin Grand Jury Report on Synanon l978). (Dederich, The Graduate Question). Synanon wanted the kids to try to keep their tax free status and placed them in a militaristic Punk Squad (forerunner of Scared Straight and other failed camp programs). [20], Entrance into the Synanon community required a strong initial commitment. These lawsuits ultimately turned out to be a large part of Synanon's undoing, by giving journalists access to Synanon's own internal documents. The group attracted thousands of drug addicts and eventually accepted juvenile delinquents who were ordered by the courts to receive Synanon's services - for a fee of course. And Synanon, which is to say Dederich, was not happy about being made to look foolish. At age 4, when his father died in an auto crash, his mother, an accomplished pianist, made him the family male figure and her favorite. Before the incident, Synanon investigator Chris Reynolds wrote a memo on Morantz, giving his home address to Synanon legal department. Synanons ultimate biggest critic was Dederich himself. That is a very satisfactory, humane way of transmitting information. Eartha Kitt, right, giving dancing lessons, donated the proceeds from her classes to the Synanon House, aving an abortion is like squeezing a boil, nothing more. He had been litigating against the organization, getting children returned to their families, giving information to the media, lobbying against a Synanon bill and fighting to expose its hit squad to law enforcement. He is considered an expert on these subjects. In this chapter: After building a small fortune, Synanon's megalomaniac leader turns the revolutionary rehab into a violent cult, with mass sterilization, a paramilitary group and a rattlesnake in a mailbox. He studied on his own in a library and his AA speeches changed from typical religious overtones to a psychological/philosophy slant. The Marines were led by Dr. Douglas Robson who would eventually flee in fear of arrest and set up practice in Seattle. He existed on a $35 unemployment check and charity from others. He aimed to ensnare patients to remain in Synanon forever, and create a utopian society of his own design. On June 13, 1977 it was decided that the Imperial Marines would help teach doctors martial arts. [14], During its first decade, Synanon members entered into a 12-year program in three stages aimed at preparing members to reenter greater society. As these juveniles did not want to be there, Synanon methods failed. After his small group, called "Tender Loving Care", gained a significant following, Dederich incorporated the organization into the Synanon Foundation in 1958. The cult required mandatory abortions and vasectomies for its members, and married couples would accept new partners selected by Synanon every three years. [31] NBC continued with a series of reports on the Synanon situation on the NBC Nightly News. Ofshe, Richard. It can also make dangerous criminals out of good people, also subject to it. The name was chosen when a member slurred the words Symposium and Seminar. One of its early cardinal rules was no violence or threat of same. (Synanon Holy War file, Robson letters, IRS vs. Synanon). He feared that Marines otherwise would have to work with untrained and undisciplined . Much of the violence was carried out by the Imperial Marines. The tiny Point Reyes Light, a weekly newspaper in Marin County, received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 1979 on account of its coverage of Synanon when other news outlets avoided covering the group. In 1967, Synanon purchased the Club Casa del Mar, a large beachside hotel in Santa Monica, as its headquarters and a dormitory for those undergoing treatment for drug addiction. His successful prosecution of Synanon led to an attempt against his life, by means of a rattlesnake. At 7 p.m. on Friday the chosen Trippers, around 50 in number, of all ages, were met in the Del Mar lobby by people dressed in long white robes and yellow silk scarves. Inside, Dederich compared Synanon to the mafia (Synanon Think Table Summaries; Dederich, New Religious PostureDont Fuck with Synanon). Imperial Marines carried an E-11 blaster rifle, a MiniMag shoulder-launched proton torpedo launcher, and multiple thermal . The games turned on one than another. Yes. Did Synanon betray me an wound me? For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, In 1975-Oakland, CA- more than 500 women from Synanon communities throughout California shaved their heads, Members of Synanon have their head shaved in 1969, Synanon, poster: Richard Conte (cigarette left), Edmond O'Brien (top head), Alex Cord (arm outstretched), Stella Stevens (bare shoulder), Eartha Kitt (bottom right), 1965, Synanon founder Charles Dederich was arrested in Arizona on a California warrant charging suspicion of conspiracy and solicitation to commit murder in the rattlesnake attack of a Los Angles lawyer, The name was chosen when a member slurred the words 'Symposium' and 'Seminar', explains, Members of Synanon at the North Beach branch have a party to celebrate the 1,000 live-in member, April 4, 1968. spread throughout California, and Synanon became a counter-culture community by 1964. more than 1,300 members - resulting in a healthy bank balance, as its assets totaled about $33 million. Their armed security was known as the Imperial Marines. The two other Synanon Imperial Marines, one of whom was Lance Kenton, son of musician Stan Kenton, pleaded no contest to charges of assault and conspiracy to commit murder. Ultimately, it purchased an arsenal of high-powered weapons, developed its own security force and in an isolated concealed valley across its airfield called Depot Flats, it set up camp to train the Imperial Marines. He was saved from meningitis in the l940s by the discovery of penicillin. Cloudflare Ray ID: 78b89606dbb5b76a Your IP: Disoriented by lack of sleep, each was moved to the point of intense disillusionment. Dederich and Yablonsky acknowledged that the system was brainwashing (thought reform) as described by Dr. Robert Jay Lifton in Coercive PersuasionThe psychology of Totalism (Yablonski, The Tunnel Back). Aids, who did their homework, provided ammunition to the Conductors on each Tripper. You may change your value system, notions about life and viewpoints about people. According to court records, the group also formed a militant branch, known as the "Imperial Marines," to inflict violence against opponents of the organization - including former Synanon members. Synanon is referred to in Bob Dylan's song "Lenny Bruce", from his album Shot of Love (Bruce "never made it to Synanon"). Plus, control freak Dederich wanted even more power. imperial marines 1978 - It's Time for Morning Meeting Sharing our Synanon Stories Visit the post for more. Was it a wonderful place to be? [17][18], The film director George Lucas needed a large group of people with shaved heads for the filming of his movie THX 1138 and hired some of his extras from Synanon. Synanon pressured old club members to leave and complaints led to the city taking a wrongful action that may have changed Synanons course in history. Given its growing popularity, it began to spread throughout California, and Synanon became a counter-culture community by 1964. Yet the Imperial Marines were named officially Her Majestys Imperial Marines, and she was often at their training and spoke of a militant Synanon (Wendell Stamps Imperial Marine diary). In the summer of 1978 NBC produced a hard hitting news segment on Synanon. He is known for taking legal cases alleging brainwashing by cults, self-help groups and for sexual misconduct by psychotherapists. One, Richard Marino, said they were handcuffed and beaten, and their heads were shaved. A third defendant, Synanon founder Charles Dederich, earlier was put on . that the Synanon group was running an unauthorized medical clinic. Synanon members were instructed in writing to physically harm others, take responsibility for it and never reveal Synanons involvement. Brainwashing is powerful enough to cure drug addiction while members remain subject to it. Unsurprisingly, abused kids began running away, helped by an 'underground railroad', led by neighboring rancher Alvin Gambonini, who tried to reunite them with their parents. Was he an unreconstructed, imperial colonial racist who had the worst possible views on, not just people of color, but people who were not aristocrats? Outsiders were permitted to attend the "Synanon Game" there as well. by | May 25, 2022 | why does kelly wearstler wear a brace | diy nacho cheese dispenser | May 25, 2022 | why does kelly wearstler wear a brace | diy nacho cheese dispenser Other journalists who took on Synanon were LA Times reporter Narda Zuchinno and CBSs Connie Chung. His success in trapping so many people - at its height the cult had more than 1,300 members - resulting in a healthy bank balance, as its assets totaled about $33 million. Males were forced in games to have vasectomies performed by Synanon doctors, and a few pregnant women were even required to have an abortion. At eight a.m. Monday hand in hand the Trippers went down the corridor toward the sounds of band music. Both were members of Synanon's 'Imperial Marines,' a security group within the drug and alcohol rehabilition organization. For a shower, a hose ran through a window (Casriel, So Fair a House, Yablonski, The Tunnel Back: Guy Endore, Synanon; Charles Dederich tapes on history of Synanon). Later the flies (Dederich trained youngsters) took over the attack. They weren't welcomed. The snake bit Morantz but did not kill him. (White vs. Butler, Herb Caen column, Pat Lynch, NBC Synanon segment 3.). We will make the rules. Some Trippers began to hallucinate, Dederich having achieved his LSD replicated altered state of consciousness. (IRS v. Synanon; Morantz vs. Synanon; Winn vs. Synanon; Renfroe vs. Golden State). Finally, during the third stage, members both worked and lived outside of the community, but still attended regular meetings. ( Dederich tapes on Synanon history; Tony Lang, Synanon, Guy Endore, Synanon, Gerstel Paradise, Inc). On October 10, 1978, Morantz was bitten by a rattlesnake which had been placed in his Pacific Palisades home mailbox by two members of the Synanon Imperial Marines, Lance Kenton and Joe Musico. He volunteered for a Dr. Keith Ditman LSD experiment and felt he had a cathartic break through and now understood the world and that good and bad were the same. By BRANDON MESSICK Bmessick@havasunews.com Dec 9, 2018 Updated Aug 21, 2022 2 Stay Informed.. The concept was based on law that even charities are taxed if they commit acts against public policy. As a condition of probation, he was disallowed from taking part in managing Synanon. Despite the Trip conversion success, the old-timers, the Retired Dope Fiends, aka The Walking Dead, remained a problem. She has not been seen or heard from since. He got a job at Hughes Tools. While his associates went to jail, Dederich avoided imprisonment by pleading no contest to conspiracy to commit murder, agreeing as part of probation to formally step down as Chairman of Synanon and agreed to have nothing to do with running Synanon. The police told Synanon the kids were coming with them; the only question was how? That is the end of that lawyer. This made him a public hero and Governor Edmund Brown, Sr. signed a save Synanon bill giving Synanon an exemption from Health licensing laws. Containment was instituted, which meant no contact with the outside world. The couple claimed that the wife had been held captive by Synanon and that during her stay, leaders at Synanon had attempted to brainwash her. That is a very satisfactory, humane way of transmitting information. You can get killed dead, literally deadthese are real threats, he snarls. [43], Straight Life: The Story of Art Pepper includes several chapters (21 - 23) about living at Synanon from 1969 - 1971.[44]. He married, but drinking ended it.
White Line On Lips When I Wake Up,
Best Travel Lens For Sony A6600,
Articles S
