( Dederich tapes on Synanon history; Tony Lang, Synanon, Guy Endore, Synanon, Gerstel Paradise, Inc). Synanon is mentioned in Joan Didion's 1979 essay The White Album. (People vs. Dederich; Arrest report on Charles Dederich; IRS vs. Synanon). In 1959, Synanon moved from their small storefront to an abandoned armory on the beach. Synanon is a US-founded social organization created by Charles E. "Chuck" Dederich Sr. in 1958 in Santa Monica, California, United States. Synanon mobs attacked teenagers and youngsters who got too close to the property. Its ultimate doom came when Dederich and members tried to kill by means of a de-rattled rattlesnake in the mailbox, Pacific Palisades lawyer Paul Morantz who was battling Synanon in the court and trying to expose the Foundation for criminal conspiracies. The new drug rehabs that came afterwards followed the advice of Dr. Dan Casriel who wrote the first book on Synanon. The 1965 Columbia Pictures movie Synanon, directed by Richard Quine, was set at (and filmed in) Synanon; it starred Edmond O'Brien as Chuck Dederich, as well as Chuck Connors, Stella Stevens, Richard Conte, and Eartha Kitt. Dederich was familiar with Waldens Pond and the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson and B. F. Skinner. 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. It was known for communal living, practices such as group "truth-telling" sessions they called "The Game," requiring married couples to split and take new partners and female members to shave their heads. Hollywood Park: A Memoir, by Mikel Jollett (founder of The Airborne Toxic Event) was published in May 2020 and describes Jollett's life in, and escape from Synanon. (Deposition of Charles Dederich, Morantz vs. Dederich; Morantz vs. Synanon, IRS vs. 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. 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. During the first stage, members did community and housekeeping labor. Dederich and his wife sat on thrones and often wore robs. It was first offered to the selected few as an honor, but the entire population was eventually targeted. (Tony Lang, Synanon, Morantz archives on Synanon). Aids, who did their homework, provided ammunition to the Conductors on each Tripper. The Grand Jury report also rebuked the governmental authorities involved for their lack of oversight, although it stopped short of directly interceding in the Synanon situation. 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. Synanon A Los Angeles lawyer is attacked by a poisonous rattlesnake leading police to a bizarre cult veiled as a drug and alcohol rehab facility. Before the snake in the mailbox, Dederich, to escape a warrant for his arrest in Washington, D.C. fled to Europe where he returned to alcohol drinking. Morantz did and the bill was defeated by one vote. 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Dederich concluded in l967 that the program was not a success, and ended the concept of graduation. Without continued peer pressure, most ex-addicts reverted on leaving, as did the Korean prisoners of War (giving up Communism) in 90-days. Bombs, he would say in l978 to news reporter Connie Chung (CBS NEWS l978), could go off in homes of critics (Deposition of Dederich, Synanon vs. Time, Inc.; Synanon vs. ABC). Teachers, lawyers, doctors, police, politicians, all got hooked, many forming an allegiance previously not matched in their lives to the group and trainers that trained them. Synanons purchase of over $200,000 dollars of weapons from a single gun store also brought media attention. A big shot would advise the Trippers they were not really chosen as an honor, but each was really selected because each was a resister, thinking he or she knew better the direction Synanon should go, part of the dummies that hold Synanon back. Maybe, Dederich said, one day we will just put dingbats like you against the wall and wash them off and bring them back into the human race. (Tony Lang, Synanon, Morantz archives on Synanon). Many young teenagers who got too close to Synanon property were beaten brutally by Synanon mobs. By BRANDON MESSICK Bmessick@havasunews.com Dec 9, 2018 Updated Aug 21, 2022 2 Stay Informed.. After the rattlesnake incident, Mary Robson, wife of Imperial Marine leader Dr. Douglas Robson, went to a neighbor of Paul Morantzs mother and left her card so Morantz would know Synanon knew where his mother was. They played the game in which anyone was allowed to say anything, true or not, to someone to cause an effect. According to court records, the cult formed a militant branch, known as the "Imperial Marines," to inflict violence against opponents of the organization. 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. California donated a block long building in San Francisco. Dederich preached Act as If which meant do not try to reason as to what Synanon asks they do; as thinking got them there, just trust what they were told and act as if it is right. CEDU's schools used the confrontation model of Synanon. Originally a nonviolent group, Diedrich created the "Imperial Marines" to maintain orderwithin and outside of the community. Remarkably, the authorities refused to intercede. All Rights Reserved. It would grow to become a well-funded utopian society throughout the late '60s and early '70s, before declaring itself a religion in 1974. . [43], Straight Life: The Story of Art Pepper includes several chapters (21 - 23) about living at Synanon from 1969 - 1971.[44]. The main character discusses a drug rehabilitation cult "The Church of Niebor," which is based on Synanon.[46]. On remote properties in California such as Tomales Bay in Marin County and Badger, Tulare County, the organization had built un-permitted buildings, a trash dump, and an airstrip. [12] (Tony Lang, Synanon, Morantz archives on Synanon). In the 1970s, two men were run off the road near one of their properties. While he was in a rush one day, he arrived home, "put my Synanon evidence books on the kitchen counter", when he noticed "something dark and elongated through the grill of my mail chute". 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. "He was beaten, he was hit in the head and then socked in the stomach.". And there was no way that its leader was going to share any of that with the taxman. (Tony Lang, Synanon, Morantz archives on Synanon). IMPERIAL MARINES, AND DOPE FIENDS by George Pendle, Cabinet Magazine, Winter 2012-2013 . [7], Dederich eventually changed his way of thinking about Synanon and transformed it into something resembling a human progressive group. (Dave Mitchell, The Light on Synanon). After complaints about child abuse attracted attention in the press and visits from the police, Dederich ordered followers in 1976 to stop having kids, saying: I think children are a very bad investment.". Eventually, on September 21, 2008 the Marines tried to murder ex-member Phil Ritter, who was trying to get his child out and had gone to the authorities complaining of forced vasectomies in Synanon, by clubbing him over the head (Berkely Gazette September 1978; Mitchell, the Light on Synanon). Sternberg, David. The Imperial Marines had caught and caged rattlesnakes in training (Wendall Stamps, Imperial Marine diary) and the snake was from Visalia (expert testimony, People vs. Dederich). Synanon sought religious status in 1974, with Diedrich as its leader. It went from the first ever no doctor involved self help drug rehab (Synanon I), to a building of a new society in Synanon cities to lead the world into the 21st Century (Synanon II), to becoming a self-claimed religion (Synanon III). Yes, it saved my life and I do not regret being there. Later the flies (Dederich trained youngsters) took over the attack. But there was a catch: new members had to transfer their assets to the organization. "They are draining life's blood from us, and expecting us to play by their silly rules. [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. (Tony Lang, Synanon, Morantz archives on Synanon). [40] The CEDU model was widely influential on the development of parent-choice, private-pay residential programs. In l977 when Dederichs wife Betty died he married a volunteer to be his wife and decided to save others from pain of death or divorce by ordering all married couples to break up every 3 years and take new partners selected by Synanon (love matches). And Synanon, which is to say Dederich, was not happy about being made to look foolish. View our online Press Pack. Following this broadcast, several executives of the NBC network and its corporate chairman allegedly received hundreds of threats from Synanon members and supporters. For other inquiries, Contact Us. (Synanon board minutesJady Dederich, Wendall Stamps Imperial Marine diary, People vs. Dederich, IRS vs, Synanon). The concept was based on law that even charities are taxed if they commit acts against public policy. Two members of a Synanon security force known as the "Imperial Marines," Lance Kenton and. It can also make dangerous criminals out of good people, also subject to it. The cops uncover a group of blind followers willing to do anything at their leader's urging, even murder. Much of the violence by Synanon had been carried out by a group within Synanon called the "Imperial Marines". Skip to content It's Time for Morning Meeting Sharing our Synanon Stories Menu About Stories Contact Kids Places Faces Philosophy The End Early Days Work Play 'imperial marines 1978' Leave a Reply Cancel reply In 1974 Synanon declared itself a religion and centered on middle-class searching for utopia rather than addict curing. Morantz was bitten and hospitalized for 11 days. He married, but drinking ended it. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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). The founder, Charles Dederich, a recovering alcoholic. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Several of the famous jazz musicians credited with cure returned to drugs. Following its broadcast, executives of the network and its corporate chairman received hundreds of threats from Synanon members and supporters, including letters that said, Your actions place you in legal and physical peril and We are going to teach you a lesson you will never forget.. [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]. Dederich became an AA favorite speaker and went to an AA meeting every day. The Guides, all experienced game players, turned each group from enthusiasm to a depression and defeat, wallowing in its collective shame. 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. They are draining lifes blood from us and expecting us to play by their silly rules. that the Synanon group was running an unauthorized medical clinic. (IRS v. Synanon; Morantz vs. Synanon; Winn vs. Synanon; Renfroe vs. Golden State). A third defendant, Synanon founder Charles Dederich, earlier was put on . [36], Synanon struggled to survive without its leader, and also with a severely tarnished reputation. (Robson) suggested blowing me away with a shotgun, Morantz said. 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). Neighbors complained fearing Synanon would unleash non-recovered addicts into Santa Monica who came from other areas. He got a job at Hughes Tools. Disoriented by lack of sleep, each was moved to the point of intense disillusionment. 'I want you to take these two, I want that one's legs broken, I want this one's legs broken, and I want you to shove him into the back of his car, and run it off the pier'. Dederich appeared at a press conference and declared the city had fallen into the hands of Mad Dogs and Synanon would sue them all. [22] During this practice, members were encouraged to be critical of everything, using harsh and profane language. AN ULTRA-violent cult brainwashed addicts into shaving their heads, and enforced mass sterilizations in "Gestapo-like" demands. Synanon began as an addiction support group that gathered in a grimy Californian flat in the late 1950s. The Galactic Empire trained these stormtroopers to board rebel warships. After several inquiries into their practices and financial holdings, Board of Directors passed declaration which made Synanon . We will make the rules. Deborah Swisher, a former Synanon member, recounts her experiences growing up in several Synanon communes in her one-woman show Hundreds of Sisters and One Big Brother.[45]. (Dederich, The Graduate Question). synanon imperial marines. Synanon enterprises would run gas stations, pottery making, apartment buildings and other income businesses without having to pay workers or taxes. 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. Synanon became a Third sector within United States borders, seeking to have its Embassy in Washington, D.C. [citation needed]. In the 1970s, two men were run off the road near one of their properties. At age 12 his mother remarried and Dederich went on a jealous rage turning to drinking and rebel rousing. After litigation over the tax assessment, which in the end it could not pay, Synanon doors finally closed for good in 1991. 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. "[7][8], Charles Dederich, a member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), was known to speak for hours uninterrupted at AA meetings. The police told Synanon the kids were coming with them; the only question was how? Learn: American Rehab resources (Time Magazine, Dec, 1977). [7] It has been called one of the "most dangerous and violent cults America had ever seen. (Freidenber, Nation 1965). [16] Imperial Marines carried an E-11 blaster rifle, a MiniMag shoulder-launched proton torpedo launcher, and multiple thermal . Morantz had prepared for that. [14] That is the end of that lawyer. [26] Over 80 violent acts were committed, including mass beatings that hospitalized teenagers and ranchers who were beaten in front of their families. He recalled: "Chuck Dederich walked in, and he said 'I'm tired of these guys coming in this place. Children were often recruited from the Synaon schools and trained in military techniques with the growing stockpile of munitions Dederich had purchased. Women removed all makeup and jewelry, a symbolic stripping of past selves. Brainwashing is powerful enough to cure drug addiction while members remain subject to it. The Point Reyes Light, a small-circulation weekly newspaper in Marin County, would later receive the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for their covering Synanon at a time when other news agencies avoided reporting.

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