Plumlee, 20 in 1969, was a Family associate/sometime member who first shows up at the Ranch about July of '69, when he was hired by Ruby Pearl as a ranch hand. He was AWOL (Absent Without Leave) from the Marines and someone probably told him he could hide out at the ranch. He describes his first meeting with Charlie:
Long Beach Independent, 10-28-70
"When I first met Charlie, he walked up and said 'Let me run your life down' and he did. It just kinda blew my mind. He said I had been in jail since I was 14; knew I was at McClaren (Juvenile) Hall; knew I was AWOL. I don't know how he knew."
Was Charlie just plain psychic? Or did Charlie get a peek at Vern's employment application (assuming he filled one out), perhaps via Squeaky, who was always at the side of George Spahn, the owner of the Ranch? But would Vern have told Ruby Pearl that he was a deserter from the Marines or that he had been in juvenile hall? Is this statement by Charlie in fact evidence that someone else (like maybe his handler) was briefing him about Vern's background?
Vern apparently fit right in with the Family:
http://www.mansonblog.com/search/label/Vern%20Plumlee
Ed Sanders: "Vern Plumlee is famous in Mansonian circles in that, armed with a sawed-off shotgun, he creepy crawled the homes of Jack Jones, the star, and Marvin Miller in July of 1969."
In fact he was close enough to volunteer for the night of terror:
Long Beach Independent, 10-28-70
(Plumlee) said Tuesday he watched as accused mass murderer Charles Manson and seven members of his hippie "family" set out to kill (the second night). In fact, (Plumlee) admits "I offered to go along to help, but Charlie said 'no.' "He said he'd keep it in mind, though, for the future."
Did Vern know what had happened the night before at the Tate residence? If so, then he might have been legally culpable as an accessory after the fact. At the very least it shows he was as fully under the Manson spell as anybody else in the Family.
In Sept/Oct of '69, Plumlee split "because fear enveloped the Ranch." But like so many others after the Family broke up, Plumlee soon got into serious trouble even without Charlie's help.
A year later, on September 26, 1970, Vern and a friend--Robert Eugene Russell, in his early 20s--were caught ransacking the home of some people they had just been drinking with in a bar. A fight ensued and two of the residents were stabbed, one seriously.
Long Beach Independent, 10-22-70
Roberto A. Rivarola, 19... was stabbed in the stomach, chest and left arm by Russell, said police. (Plumlee stabbed the other victim, Jeffrey Hanham, 48)... As the three (victims) were ordered into a bedroom, Plumlee reportedly said "I've killed three times before; one more doesn't matter." Rivarola told police that as he lay on the floor pleading for help, Plumlee leaned over, kissed him on the forehead and said "that's life."
It didn't take long for the law to catch up to Vern and his cohort:
Long Beach Independent, 10-12-70
Two former Manson "family" members sought on attempted murder charges in Long Beach have been arrested by FBI agents in Washington state... Meanwhile, Long Beach police disclosed they raided a motel room here last week where the pair had been staying and confiscated a number of items, including tape recordings titled, "The Manson Story," a typewritten manuscript called "Where's Charlie?" and a book on "Satanism and Witchcraft."
Vernon Ray Dean Plumlee and Robert Eugene Russell, both Marine deserters, were arrested in a hippie commune outside Spanaway(WA) and are being held in Tacoma City jail under the Dyer Act for investigation of taking a stolen car across state lines, police said...
... (Long Beach PD)Officers R.C. Watsen and M.K. Post, responding to the tip, found the books and tape recordings together with a 9mm automatic and 43 rounds of ammunition, envelopes addressed to Charles Watson, a suspect in the Tate-LaBianca murders, a leather sheath and a knife-sharpening stone, several detective books and an Afro style wig.
At this point one might ask "who the hell is Robert Eugene Russell?" The media claimed he was an associate of the Family, yet he appears on no list of Family members compiled by the police (Lt Deemer's list) or media.
Long Beach Independent, 10-12-70
.... Russell was described as "an associate member" of the family who visited the ranch periodically. He had been subpoenaed July 22 (1970) while in the Marine brig at 29 Palms to appear as a prosecution witness at the Manson trial.
Here is the only known pic of Russell, taken at the time of his trial, apparently. Russell seems to have a strong resemblance to another Family associate called "Allen Lee Delisle," 21, (especially around the eyes) taken from the collection of Family mugshots. Are they the same person?
 |
| Allen Delisle left, Robert Russell right |
Unfortunately no more is known of this "Allen Delisle" person, or how he was linked to the Family.
From the stuff found in their motel room it appears Plumlee and Russell were still very much tied in to Charlie and Family. And then the question becomes: did the crime have something to do with the Family, or was it done under the influence of the "Helter Skelter" philosophy?
Plumlee and Russell pleaded guilty; Vern was sentenced to prison and ended up doing seven years; after this he went straight and no more was heard from him.
-----------
post script - the Hidden Hills Murder
Shortly after their arrests, detectives felt the need to link Plumlee and Russell to another unsolved murder:
Long Beach Independent, 10-12-70
Officers said last week... the pair also matched the description of two men who killed one person and wounded two others July 21 in Hidden Hills near the Spahn Ranch where Manson family members lived.
This refers to the murder of Norman Weitzman, 39, at the home of his parents in the exclusive Hidden Hills subdivision in the far west part of LA County, just over the hills from Malibu, near Agoura. On July 21, 1970 their home was invaded by three men, apparently intent on robbery.
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/18/local/me-murder-party18
Norman Weitzman was shot to death July 21, 1970, at his parents' home in the wealthy, gate-guarded enclave of Hidden Hills at the west end of the San Fernando Valley. Three hooded men had broken in looking for cash collected from the company's network of gum ball and peanut dispensing (vending) machines. (The company--Oak Manufacturing Co. -- also manufactured vending machines.)... Norman Weitzman died trying to protect his family. His parents were severely injured by the intruders. His father, Sam, 60, was shot in the neck, rolled up in a carpet and left for dead. Lillian, his 59-year-old mother, was badly pistol-whipped.
But robbery might not have been the prime motive:
LA Times 7-22-70 (the day after the murder)
"Detectives were uncertain about the motive, saying Sam Weitzman's home... had been only lightly ransacked and that several expensive items were left untouched."
LA Times 7-23-70
"...the usual items such as stereos, cameras, and other valuables had not been taken by the killers."
Van Nuys News 11-30-71
"... Money and jewelry were stolen, but there was speculation the invasion was an "underworld" operation."
[Why would police think that a home invasion robbery was an 'underworld' thing? They wouldn't--unless the victims had links to the 'underworld.' It should be noted that the vending machine business has a long association with mobsters.]
15 months later, in October or November of 1971, two suspects -- Enrique B. Gil, 20s, and Edward Kessler, 35--were arrested. They did not have any known connection to Charlie or Family.
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/18/local/me-murder-party18
Two trials resulted in hung juries. A third ended with the acquittal of the first suspect to be tried. After that, charges against the second suspect were not pursued. The third suspect subsequently died while in federal prison for another crime without facing charges in Weitzman's death.
Paul J. Fitzgerald, who defended Patricia Krenwinkel in the TLB trial, was Kessler's attorney. Marvin Part, who represented Leslie Van Houten for a time after her arrest, also represented one of the suspects. (Though I don't know if these attorneys represented the defendants in all three trials.)
Marvin Part
Paul Fitzgerald
There is no hard evidence connecting the Manson Clan to the Hidden Hills murder/home invasion, and I don't know why the police initially thought they were linked. But I am reminded of what Tex wrote regarding his drug connection:
http://www.aboundinglove.org/main/images/bookPDFs/Will_You_Die_For_Mesmall.pdf
Tex Watson, Will You Die For Me?
--pg 51of 120 "I'd arranged to buy a kilo of grass from the dealer who'd been supplying the Family — he fronted the dope with a vending-machine company and people said he was with the Mafia."
I'm surprised no fans of the "drug burn" theory of TLB have ever tried to tie the Weitzman murder to the case.
Special thanks to DebS for her help compiling this thread!
40 comments:
Really great post. Lots of interesting co-inky-dinks. Posts like these are what make this blog so interesting.
Here are the problems I see with connecting this to the Family.
Jack Jones is not a country star and I don't know what he would be doing with a cowboy hat. He was a pop singer in the Sinatra mold whose career, oddly enough, was tanked by the British Invasion. I have an LP where the liner notes say "voted best male vocalist of 1963". The only remotely country songs I know of him singing is The Race is On and King Of The Road. So I don't put a lot of faith in the story that Plumlee creepy crawled his house and stole a cowboy hat.
It's not 100% clear that the family in Hidden Hills was involved in the vending machine "distribution" business. Only that they were part owners of a "manufacturing" company. The theory that the killers were looking for a safe full of vending machine receipts appears in early articles and is belied by the fact that there was no safe and no receipts. Of course it wouldn't be the first time killers came looking for a safe that didn't exist (In Cold Blood), but I think that this theory might have been speculation on the part of the reporters or the police shooting from the hip. This is an important detail. It's the difference between a mobbed-up vending machine money launderer and a respectable and well-off manufacturer.
The fact that the killers didn't make off with the expensive hi-fi systems and only took cash and jewelry is not surprising, since they reportedly hiked in from the back of the community and an expensive mid-sixties stereo weighs about 40 lbs.
The fact that Fitzgerald and Part represented the defendants is also not that surprising. It's a bit of a coincidence that the defendants chanced on one of them, but I believe that the two shared office space together (also with Kanarek and Shinn). I recall somewhere seeing a service list from one of the motions in the Manson trial where all of them have the same office address. So it wouldn't be uncommon for Fitzgerald to represent a client and then to avoid a conflict refer the second defendant to Part or one of the others. It's what lawyers do.
You know how sometimes, for no apparent reason {until you think a little more deeply about it} a character in a film, book, TV show or saga can just really irritate you ? It's irrational, there is no rhyme nor reason to it and it certainly isn't very charitable.
Well, Vern Plumlee is that for me.
I don't know why. He doesn't give me the creeps like Country Sue did. He doesn't make me want to twist an ear the way Susan could sometimes. He doesn't make me want to knock some life into him like Tex does. In the past at various times, I've found Sandy, Cathy and Mary quite annoying but they all had things about them that made them worth listening to, figuring out and they all added something to the overall story, even if it was something that I may not have liked or agreed with.
But Vern tops everyone in the irritating stakes. He's always come across to me as the emperor of 'blah'.
"Meanwhile, Long Beach police disclosed they raided a motel room here last week where the pair had been staying and confiscated a number of items, including tape recordings titled, "The Manson Story," a typewritten manuscript called "Where's Charlie?" and a book on "Satanism and Witchcraft."
Sanders, I believe, mentions a book being written by Fromme and Good (someone correct me) at one point. Is this the book and how did Prumlee, given his supposedly tangential connection to the Family get the book? Sanders also mentions at various times rumors of various tapes and how they disappeared. I believe he, humorously, uses a UFO to explain their disappearance. How did Prumlee get that?
I am intrigued.
Afro wig....hmmmm
Peter said: "The fact that Fitzgerald and Part represented the defendants is also not that surprising."
Agreed. I also believe they were on the 'court appointed' list when the PD was conflicted or lacked man power, which may also provide an explanation. I frankly don't remember if Part was in the PD's office but something in my memory says he was not. Fitzgerald, of course, quit his job there, so by 10/70 likely was on that list. It's common. In fact, many years ago, it is how I received my few criminal cases.
Thanks Star, Deb and Peter and David for comments. Interesting piece again. The photo of Robert Russell is bizarre in that it seems the top part doesn't nearly fit with the main part of the face. I agree he could be the same as the other person shown beside him.
I'm certainly no country singer...nor do I like wearing ANY sort of hat...but I did play in a "country-punk" band and, assumed the personna of "Dusty Doug" for performances and press.
Jack Jones did foray into TV and film...
Is this him?
https://www.google.ca/search?client=ms-android-rogers-ca&q=Film&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSnwEJHFJZLmx1B_1oakwELEKjU2AQaDAgXCD4IQggUCAAIAwwLELCMpwgaYgpgCAMSKLcQ3g7dDrgZtBngDqEFoAXfDrEZqC6lLsM6xS7EOqMu4zntJKIusC4aMKXQ4TbTmeBVa69hT3Cjx2hYut1tXttxvz2Ny4GJHxHzAS7QaaoDdxV3-WTBuk5CQCAEDAsQjq7-CBoKCggIARIE-YJ0Tww&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjh0LzTzZXYAhXryFQKHV5LA_QQ2A4IIigB&biw=360&bih=560#imgrc=HFJZLmx1B_ov8M:
No disrespect to you...or, your valid comments and, excellent contributions intended at all...just sayin...
Cheers
Jack Jones: singer of the "Love Boat" theme.
I don't find it unusual that he might have had a cowboy hat. Weekend horseback rider? Gift? Lots of possible scenarios.
Rockin the silliness
https://scontent.fcxh1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/10460335_10153179239625266_5273771709423389253_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=a72380aaa66ad515515bbf2c28a8c11d&oe=5ACFF694
Doug. Different Jack Jones. The singer looks like this
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2c/21/5c/2c215cc19ae775950887c2ddc3d303b8.jpg
That's why I think the story is a fabrication. The idea that all he stole was a cowboy hat only makes sense if the cowboy hat had some kind of significance. Like if he creepy crawled John Wayne's house and only took his cowboy hat the story would make sense. If someone told you that, you would go, "Oh man, that's far out, his hat, his identity. The one thing we all identify him with." But if they told you they stole his Dodgers baseball hat, you would probably just go, "Meh."
So somewhere, whoever made up that story made the same mistake you did and got their Jack Joneses mixed up.
I looked at the article from the Long Beach Independent Oct 28, 1970 and there's quite a bit other comments from Plumlee of interest, such as he knew Zero really well and he never would have commited suicide, he can't see Tex doing those terrible crimes because he was always easy going and smiling, Davis was the kind of guy who would find a way to get whatever he wanted, how much he admired Charlie, and how he wondered about Yellowstone who drove off with Bill Vance and never came back. Also he says he was staying at a foster home before Spahn and the guy who ran it said he couldn't stay there anymore but recommended Spahn to him.
Maybe the cc was at the cowboy's house and, the creepy crawlers couldn't even get the right Jack Jones...Vern comes across like he's maybe a bit "slow in the draw"
Wouldn't that be somethin
I think the significance is that Jack Jones the singer lived on Cielo Drive at the time.
According to an October 12, 1963 Billboard Magazine - which actually had a weekly column on “Bulk Vending”, Weitzman’s companies included Oak Manufacturing Co., Inc., Imperial Die Casting Corp., S-H-S Purchasing, Acorn Sales, Trade-Wins Corp., and Operators Vending Machine Supply, a division of Oak Manufacturing Co., Inc.
So it looks like the family was in the actual distribution business as well. It also looked like old Weitzman knew how to play hardball.
A July 1964 edition of Billboard reports a $3.5 million lawsuit by rival distributors, Carl W. Bruhn, Ilona Bruhn, and Roza Tyroler d/b/a Lynn Distributing Co. against Weitzman, his partner Bloom, and his companies. It alleged that Weitzman defrauded Safeway and Food Giant by inducing them to cancel vending machine contracts with Lynn and enter into contracts with the Weitzman Oak Companies.
“The suit further charges that about 10 years ago, the plaintiffs were defendants in an action in Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles, No. 620, 180. “Remarks of the presiding judge in said action were recorded by a court reporter and transcribed by said reporter in a document entitled “Reporter’s Transcript, Judge’s Remarks.” “Various remarks of the judge in said transcript depicted certain of the defendants in said action (who are plaintiffs in this action) in a very unfavorable light.” This “Reporter’s Transcript” the suit charges was displayed to Safeway, Food Giant and other customers to obtain cancellations of the service agreement with the plaintiffs."
I also found an LA Times article from Sunday June 19, 1966 "A garden party at the Encino home of Mr. and Mrs. Bruhn was the occasion to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Lyn, to Joseph Palazzola, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Palazzola of Northridge."
It seems like a long time to hold a professional grudge, but you never know.
Mr. Humphrat said...
"Also he says he was staying at a foster home before Spahn and the guy who ran it said he couldn't stay there anymore but recommended Spahn to him."
Plumlee joined the Marines and went AWOL before moving up to Spahns.
Peter said...
"According to an October 12, 1963 Billboard Magazine..."
Great info! Do you have anymore about this "Bloom" character that was a partner to the elder Weitzman?
Google:
Weitzman’s "Oak Manufacturing" Billboard
There are a number of articles, it sounds like it was a very successful company. One article has a page of pictures of him and his wife at a gala event.
Don't know any more on Bloom, but didn't look.
Valley News From Van Nuys
Thursday, December 21, 1972.
Woodland Hills Carpenter Freed of Murder Charge.
A Woodland Hills carpenter today has been acquitted on a charge that he was one of three men who invaded a Hidden Hills home two-and-a-half years ago and murdered a vending machine company executive. Edward Kessler 38 was found not guilty of the murder charge by a seven- man, five-woman jury which deliberated for almost three days following three weeks of trial before Superior Court Judge E. Talbot Callister in Los Angeles. The case has attracted considerable attention because, at a first murder trial in Van Nuys last spring, the jury had deadlocked 11 to 1 for acquittal. But a second Valley jury last summer deadlocked at 11 to 1 for guilty. Superior Court Judge D. Sterry Fagan declared a mistrial both times.
Father Wounded. Kessler was charged with the murder of Norman Weitzman 39, who was shot to death when intruders invaded the home of his parents at 5521 Paradise Valley Road on July 21, 1970. Sam Weitzman 61, the victim's father and a partner with the deceased in the Oak Manufacturing Co., producers of vending machines, was wounded by gunfire, and his mother, Mrs. Lillian Weitzman, was beaten by the intruders. Both recovered. Van Nuys Dep. Dist. Atty Robert Imerman prosecuted at all three trials. Defense attorney at all three was Paul Fitzgerald of Beverly Hills. Key prosecution witnesses were the victim's parents and Celia Clubb 30, a former friend of Kessler's.
Disputes Testimony. The elder Weitzmans identified Kessler as being one of the intruders, and Miss Clubb testified that Kessler had confessed the slaying to her during a conversation several days after the murder. Fitzgerald disputed both the identification testimony of the Weitzmans’ and Miss Clubb's testimony of purported confession. The prominent criminal defense attorney contended that stocking masks worn by the assailants made positive identification by the Weitzmans impossible. He also contended that Miss Clubb's testimony was a fabrication and that it was prompted by the breakup of her romance with Kessler, who subsequently married another woman.
Driver Arrested. Kessler, who could not account for his whereabouts on the night of the murder and who offered no alibi, was arrested 16 months later by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. homicide detectives reportedly after Miss Clubb had told her story to police and photos of Kessler had been shown to the Weitzmans. Also arrested at that time was Enrique B. Gil 20, a truck driver, of 10560 Haddon Ave., Pacoima. Gil's trial is scheduled to get under way Tuesday at 9 a.m. before Judge Cailister in Superior Court in Los Angeles Dept. 104. A felony complaint charging murder has been filed against another suspect, Francis J. Higgins 53, who currently is imprisoned in a federal penitentiary in the southeast, reportedly on a bank robbery charge.
Notes Theory. Gil has been held in County Jail without bail since his arrest. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and is being represented by Los Angeles Dep. Public Defender Edward Rucker. The prosecution's theory has been that the murder was committed during the course of robbery. Some $2200 in cash was reported taken by the bandits. Following announcement of the not guilty verdict in court Tuesday, Kessler reportedly wept. He said he was "numb … and happy" as he left the courtroom. Judge Callister told the jurors, after their verdict had been announced, that he agreed with their finding that there was "reasonable doubt" about Kessler's involvement in the murder. Kessler has been free on $25,000 bail since the first mistrial was declared.
Great info, Peter!
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/18/local/me-murder-party18
...the case is no longer being investigated since authorities feel the perpetrators were identified, said Det. Jim Gates of the sheriff's homicide bureau.
The evidence ogainst the accused seems rather slim. An ID by two seriously wounded people against perps who were wearing masks, and one dubious confession? There must be more on the accused for the police to believe they got the right ones.
And here is everything you want to know about the history of Oak Vending and then about twice as much more.
https://vendiscuss.net/topic/6795-the-history-of-oak-manufacturing/
Very interesting information here...wonder if they did business with Leno and his family at the Supermarkets?
Also, wonder who it was at the foster home that recommended that Plumlee Check out the ranch. And, where did the foster home and Marines fit in chronologically
Star on the point of Vern being AWOL I know that. When he said he came from living with a guy doing foster care I figured he went AWOL and this guy let him stay there briefly but didn't want to get in trouble having him in the house with foster kids so suggested another place for him to live/hide.
Starviego said...
Long Beach Independent, 10-28-70.....
Vern apparently fit right in with the Family
That newspaper article, despite being fairly short, is packed with some interesting segments. As well as describing the Family attire the night they went out that resulted in the LaBiancas being killed and volunteering to go, he confirmed HS and was confident it would happen, corroborated Charlie's leadership, control of and by acid, the creepy crawlies and the numbers logistics of them, the death of Shorty and cast light on Clem and Bill Vance's part in it, backed up the stories told that Shorty was in Frisco when he was actually dead, spoke of Charlie's angst towards Shorty's Black wife and spoke really highly of Charlie to the extent that he even spoke of killing as being right if it was done with love. Like Linda, he doesn't appear to have been with the Family long yet by the time he had left Spahn {and a year later gave the interview} he sounded like Susan Atkins and others.
He seemed disturbed by the disappearance of Ella Jo, not realizing she'd skipped, he couldn't see Tex hurting anybody and thought there was no way Zero killed himself. I thought it was interesting that he reiterated that they'd taken acid together which he gave as a reason for Zero's sensible outlook while at the same time saying that if a person was tense, Charlie would give them a tab of acid with instructions to "go lose yourself ~ let your mind go for a while. It'd work. Charlie's philosophy means a lot. He'd say you are God and you are the Devil ~ and I can see it. Everybody's the son of God." With that in mind, maybe Zero, thinking he was God and the Devil, did put a loaded gun to his head not thinking that the consequences would impact on him the way they ended doing.
Who knows ?
He certainly was of the mind that without Charlie, Spahn had descended into paranoia but he said it was like that when he left the year before in October '69. He actually says that's why he left, the fear and paranoia.
Given the events and subsequent consequences of Crowe and Hinman in July '69 when he arrived at Spahn, his characterization of the set up as "great" is one to behold.
Vern Plumlee loved to talk though and doesn't seem to be too discriminating about who he talked to. It was him that told Steve Zabriske about Charlie and Clem {no doubt based on him seeing them in the car on the night of August 9th} being responsible for the two nights of murder and claimed to have knowledge of Charlie's culpability for other murders.
Sorry to digress but here is a link to a video montage which has Aesop Aquarian in a 1977 Starsky and Hutch in which he plays a bad cult leader in jail and his followers kidnap Starsky to try to get the leader out. It has imagery reminiscent of Manson and friends. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4fIlhXMHDU
Still digressing (sorry Star, this is a good post): I noticed in Aesop Aquarian's IMDB site he was going by the acting name Steven Morrell in the late 70s
I have never commented here, but I do enjoy reading all the posts. I just wanted to say that I'd be willing to bet that Delisle and Russell are the same man. Someone commented that the top of his head in the photos do not match, but they actually do. Look at the point on top of his head. The photo on the right is misleading bc he is wearing a bandana that disguises his hairline. That looks like one in the same to me.
Hi Smill, yes I said it didn't look like it matched and I later realized he was wearing a headband so makes more sense. Still the hairline seems to come down lower on Russell than Delisle. But I wouldn't doubt that it's the same guy.
Mr. Humphrat said...
" ...here is a link to a video montage which has Aesop Aquarian in a 1977 Starsky and Hutch.."
That was very definitely inspired by TLB! So it is Mark Ross(Aesop)who is in this Family photo:
http://cielodrive.com/catherine-share.php
I wonder how the Family celebrated Christmas. They must have done something.
Interesting point you made. There is no record of anybody ever celebrating any holiday, or any birthdays. Maybe Charlie didn't permit it.
Yes Star I see Mark/Aesop in one of those photos second from left. His film and TV roles show he got casted as hippie a lot, as well as homeless and especially Rabbi! He also had a role in a Barnaby Jones episode from the same period as Starsky and Hutch where his character was Brother Free. I didn't find video, but it sounds like it might be in a similar vein.
Didn't Deb speculate he could have been someone named Mark Rosen? Since he played Rabbis a lot maybe he has a Jewish heritage.
Oh yes Mark James Rosen, born in Los Angeles Feb. 27, 1945 and Aesop Aquarian has the same DOB associated with him in a record.
Mr. Humphrat said...
"He also had a role in a Barnaby Jones episode from the same period as Starsky and Hutch where his character was Brother Free."
The episode in Season Five, titled "Run Away to Terror," first aired on 5-19-77.
Here is a link to the whole episode of Bloodbath with Mark Ross/Aesop Aquarian-it is very TLB inspired
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2r3u5a
Casting Director - "So, Mark...we need someone to read for Starsky & Hutch...a Mansonesque Cult Leader...are you familiar with this group of freaks?"
Mark - "Very much so. In fact, one of the actual Manson Family...we called him Zero...he killed himself in my rented home in Venice Beach playing Russian Roulette with my loaded handgun...are YOU familiar with THAT?"
Casting Agent - "Um...yeah...can you grow a beard and, hey...let's use an alias on this call-out...ah...Cupid? Nah...Tex? Maybe not...Clem...not good...how about Aesop?! Yeah...Aesop it is. Annnnnnd - how about we hold off on the Venice Beach stuff...but you can rock that forehead carving...that's good!"
Good grief
"...the whole episode of Bloodbath with Mark Ross/Aesop Aquarian-it is very TLB inspired."
For a cheesy '70s cop show this episode was very well done. Thanks for the link.
Hello from 2021. Peter sent me here.
Hello from 2022.
Here's a clipping of Allen Lee Delisle being a wanted man in April 1970. Does this mean he's not Russell, or is it part of the same confusion?
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94255768/the-los-angeles-times/
2022 here.
Here's a clipping about Delisle being wanted for a murder robbery that took place Jan 28 1970.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94255768/the-los-angeles-times/
Does this prove that he isn't Russell?
Buntline said...
Does this prove that he isn't Russell?
Yes, it more or less does. But I'm having a hard time getting over the obvious similarities in the pics of Russel and Delisle. Still out on this....
The eyes, the male pattern baldness, the facial hair... they all match.
From the article: "DeLisle has a large scar on his forehead.."
Note the pic of Russell has him wearing a headband, covering his forehead in the exact place DeLisle had his scar. I don't know, man....
10-31-70 Delisle found guilty after three week trial, sentenced to Life in Prison four days later
https://ibb.co/YfGMZjg
11-10-70 Preliminary hearing for Plumlee and Russell, Superior Court trial date set for 11-24-70
www.cielodrive.com/archive/trial-set-for-pair-in-stabbings/
This effectively rules out Russell and DeLisle being the same person. Well, it was a nice theory...
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