Blind, broke, 79-years old and sleeping with the Manson Girls

The story of rancher George Spahn

In the 2019 Quentin Tarantino film “Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood” stuntman Cliff Booth (played by Brad Pitt) drives a runaway girl to Spahn Ranch, a derelict 500-acre ranch in Simi Valley, California. Booth recognizes the place because he had stuntwork at Spahn Ranch during its heyday, shooting Western films and television programs. Now, it’s looking seedy at best, a group of filthy hippies are moping around the place and the owner, George Spahn is nowhere to be seen.

A film still from “Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood” featuring Brad Pitt’s Frank Booth talking to Bruce Dern’s George Spahn. Image rights: Sony Pictures

So Booth knocks on the door of Spahn’s shabby house and is greeted by a slit-eyed ginger-headed waif of a girl, distrustful, almost a barracuda in her watchfulness over George’s domain. That girl, portrayed by actress Dakota Fanning, is none other than Lynette Alice Fromme — aka Squeaky Fromme, one of the young people so devoted to dangerous cult leader Charles Manson that she later attempts the assassination of U.S. President Gerald R. Ford.

Booth manages to get inside the house to chat with old George, who is blind and napping in his bedroom. The old codger is clearly not well cared for, and seems to know little about what is happening at his property. He and Cliff reminisce about the Golden Era of Westerns, and Booth departs (after beating the beejezus out of Manson Family member Steve…