Sharon Tate--A rising star taken long before her time......

There comes a time in everyone’s life when a special person comes along and touches their life in a very special way. For me and many other people this person is Sharon Tate. All too often Tate’s death has overshadowed her forgotten almost famous career, and her beauty to capture the attention of millions of people through her films revealing her beautiful charm and poise. Sharon Marie Tate was born on January 24, 1943 to Doris and Paul Tate of Dallas Texas. Tate was the second of three girls, Deborah and Patti Tate. Tate was an all American girl who was forced to move across the states, and across the country because of her fathers involvement in the United States army. Tate had a long history of being in the public eye. In fact, “when she was six months old, Sharon won her first beauty contest ‘Miss Tiny Tot of Dallas.’ At sixteen ‘Miss Richland, Washington,’ then ‘Miss Autorama’”(Bugliosi, 35). When Tate was in her mid teens she moved to Verona, Italy “where she was said to have been a prized basketball player and a very quiet student”(Guarascio). Tate had a renowned love and affection for acting and singing. In fact “it was said that she was in a high school production of Romeo and Juliet”(Guarascio). “When Tate was in her late teens she snuck into an Italian film studio and begged for a part in a movie. She was cast as a part in the mob scene in the film Barabbas”(Guarascio). Another very exciting event that occurred to Tate was when she was 18. Her family moved to “San Francisco” (Guarascio). “Tate had nothing but Hollywood on her mind”(Tate:A goddess). Tate was so excited about living in San Francisco because of its short distance from Hollywood. “Tate would hitch rides to Hollywood film studios and haunt them”(Guarascio). After long days and hours of visiting and haunting the film studios of Hollywood Tate finally moved there. “Tate rented an apartment next to the studios, where she was roommates with a very aggressive lesbian. When the roommate made sexual advances at her Tate was forced to move out”(Guarascio). Tate’s beautiful honey blonde hair and almond shaped eyes with her Mona Lisa smile was beginning to catch the attention of film producers and directors in Hollywood. Tate was cast in several car commercials and she did some small odd jobs around the film studios. She finally begged her way through and gave an outstanding audition to star in the show familiar to all of us, The Beverly Hillbillies. Tate played Mr. Dreysdale’s secretary for the shows first few seasons. She was then hired for the famous television series Petticoat Junction. “She was fired when it was discovered she had posed nude and semi nude for magazines like ‘Playboy’”(Guarascio). “After Petticoat Junction Tate was being released in shows like The Man From U.N.C.L.E, and in movies like The Americanization of Emily, Wheeler Dealers, and The Sandpiper. Finally after long waiting and grueling audition time Tate’s first major film, Eye of the Devil, was released”(Tate:A goddess). Though Tate only had around 20 lines her newly revealed sexy image was being revealed to all of Hollywood. “Tate was the new craze in Hollywood and everyone wanted her”(Guarascio). In the film Eye of the Devil Tate had to learn a new talent. In the film Tate played Odine, one of the members of a cult terrorizing a local neighborhood. “In the film Tate’s voice needed to sound evil. And even the casting director of the film said that she was ‘too damn sweet’ Tate took voice lessons and was found to be very talented at what she did”(Guarascio). Tate’s next role was that of a larger one. Tate played Sarah in an ironic horror flick called The Fearless Vampire Killers.....Or Pardon Me But Your Teeth Are In My Neck. This famous film, considered today a classic, was directed by the renowned Roman Polanski. “During the introduction of this film Tate was dating internationally know hair stylist Jay Sebring. Tate and Sebring’s relationship was that of a very unstable one. Sebring was known for womanizing and selling drugs to famous film stars of the time”(Bugliosi, 24-28). “Tate was introduced to Polanski at a casting party held by Martin Ransohoff”(Tate:A goddess). “Tate had just recently broken off her engagement to Sebring, and began a relationship with Polanski. Though Sebring was hurt he remained best friends with both Polanski and Tate”(Bugliosi, 24-28). Through the new film Tate and Polanski’s relationship grew closer. Though the film wasn’t popular in the states, it still showed Sharon’s flawless beauty and grace. Tate’s next film endeavor was in the sexy film Don’t Make Waves. In this film Tate played Malibu. Just like all of Tate’s previous films her beauty and sophistication were shown even more throughout the release of this film. “It was shown so much that the very popular Barbie Doll named ‘Malibu Barbie’ was named and formed after Tate”(Guarascio). “Now her popularity wasn’t limited to the people making the movies. Tate now appealed to the public and they wanted so much more”(Guarascio). Finally the time had come for Tate to play an even larger role in a film. Her next film was is one of the centuries most famous ones entitled Valley of the Dolls. The film portrayed Tate as a girl named Jennifer North, who had no talent, but just a beautiful body. This film valued Tate’s sexy image even more than any of her previous ones. “Tate’s face was everywhere, and she was ‘it’ in the film world and there was no turning back for her”(Guarascio). During the same year of the films release Tate and Polanski were married. “They were married in the Swiss Alps. The wedding was perfect, and Tate’s matron of honor was her good friend and costar in Valley of the Dolls, Barbara Parkins”(Guarascio). “The couple was the newly hot couple of Hollywood. They hosted parties for some of the most famous stars known at the time in their newly rented home in the hills of Los Angeles”(Guarascio). “Sharon Tate called their home her ‘love home’”(Bugliosi, 349). The home sat atop on a hill overlooking the big city of Los Angeles. “The couple rented the home from recording executive Terry Melchier”(Inside the Manson Murders). In the year of 1968 the next Tate extravaganza was a film entitled The Wrecking Crew. This action packed comedy featured Tate as Dean Martin’s sidekick. “Many people noted that comedy turned out to be Tate’s greatest achievements”(Guarascio). Another very exciting event that occurred in Tate’s life around this time was her becoming pregnant. “Tate was so excited about having a baby that all she could think about at the time was having a healthy and happy family. There were some sources that said Tate and Polanski’s marriage was on the rocks, and that Tate thought that by having a baby she could bring the marriage closer together”(Bugliosi, 36-41). “During the early part of 1969 Tate and Polanski traveled to Europe; Polanski to work on plans for a film he was to direct, and Tate to film a new film entitled 13. After the slow release of the film, because of nude footage, Tate became exhausted and decided to take time off and be with Polanski in London. Tate spent a good part of her pregnancy with Polanski. When she became seven months pregnant Polanski had arranged for a ship to take her back to the United States so she could have her baby. Polanski noted that at the couples parting he felt a strange feeling as if he were never going to see Tate again. The couple parted tearfully”(Guarascio). Tate went back to her beautiful home on the hilltop to prepare for the soon to come baby. Tate spent her days lounging around the house with close friends Voytek Frykowski, Abigail Folger, and good friend Jay Sebring. “Polanski had wanted Frykowski to stay with Sharon so that she wasn’t alone”(Guarascio). Tate purchased a myriad of clothes for the new baby, and she was preparing a room for the new baby. “It was rumored that Sebring and Tate were having an affair at the time, because of Polanksi and Tate’s marriage being on the rocks”(Bugliosi, 45). “On August 8, 1969 Tate went to a film studio for a screen test on a new film. The director noted that Tate became exhausted after just being there for a short hour. When Tate went home she phoned Polanski, who was expected to return home anytime. Polanski and Tate got into a discussion about Polanski returning home in time for his birthday. Polanski told Tate that he would be in London for a little while longer. That same day Tate’s younger sister Patti called her and asked if she and some friends could come over and go swimming. Tate suggested that they postpone for another day. Tate had lunch with several friends that day, then invited Sebring to come over to the house. Sebring arrived at around 7 p.m. It was also rumored that Tate had invited some of Hollywood’s most famous for a party. Later in the evening Tate’s maid Winnie Chapman left the home declining Tate’s offer to stay the night with them because of the hot weather”(Bugliosi, 69-73). The next part of what I will be writing is a very controversial and unknown chapter in the history of crime. “Some sources say that on the evening of August 8, 1969 Charles Manson came to Tate’s home looking for the previous tenant Terry Melchier. It was said that all were involved in an argument with Manson, and that Manson left vowing vengeance on all there”(Tate:A goddess). “The actual people who committed what was one of the nations worst crimes, even stated that they checked to see if Tate was going to be at the home”(Star 69). The true motive of the crimes is still, to this day, unknown. “In the early morning hours of August 9, 1969 a hippie cult leader named Charles Milles Manson sent four of his followers to Terry Melchier’s house. Manson told the killers to kill everyone there, and take all the money that they could find. Manson also said that the killers were to do witchy things, they were to write things in blood, and raise pure ‘Helter Skelter’”(Inside the Manson Murders). The four followers were Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins, Charles Tex Watson, and Linda Kasabian. When the intruders arrived at the house they first cut the telephone wires in so that no emergency phone calls could be made. Then, fearing that the gate at 10050 Cielo Drive was electrified, the four climbed over the embankment and then jumped onto the driveway. They opened the gate, and Watson ordered Kasabian to stand outside and watch for cars, and people. As the intruders were walking down the driveway they heard the noise of a car coming. Watson yelled at the two girls to get down. He jumped out in front of the car, and noticed a very young looking man driving the car. Watson stared at the boy for a while, then shot him till he was dead. Watson then ordered the girls to check and see if any doors to the house were unlocked. Krenwinkel and Atkins came back saying that all were locked. Watson noticed a screen covering one of the windows up. The window led to the new baby’s room. Watson took a knife and ripped the screen open. He ordered the other two to go to the front door where he would let them in. After getting in and letting the other two in Watson noticed a man lying on the couch in the living room. Watson kicked the man on the head. The man was Frykowski. Frykowski awoke and said “What time is it? Who are you?” Watson replied to Frykowski by telling him that he was the devil, and that he was there to do the devils business. Watson ordered the other two to go back and look for others in the house, and for one of the girls to bring a towel back. The two came back saying that there were three others. Watson tied Frykowski’s hands with the towel. He then ordered the girls to go back and get the others. Krenwinkel came back with Folger, and Atkins arrived in the room with Sebring and Tate. All were very frightened, and hysterical. Watson tied Sebring, Tate, and Folger up with a rope. Folger got loose. Sebring became very angry and questioned everything. Watson shot Sebring. Tate became hysterical. Frykowski was chased out onto the front lawn where he was shot, beaten, and stabbed over and over again until he died. Folger got loose from the rope and she was stabbed by Krenwinkal. Krenwinkal chased her onto the lawn where she was stabbed to death. Tate was the only one left alive. All that Tate did at that time was plead for the life of her unborn eight month old child. She even suggested that the killers take her with them and let her have her baby and then kill her. The killers were unmerciful. Watson stabbed Tate over and over again until the screams of “mother...mother...mother” stopped. When the killers were ready to leave Watson told Atkins to go back and write something in blood. Atkins went back and took the towel used to bind up Frykowsi and she walked over to Tate and smeared Tate’s blood on the towel. She then walked over to the front door and scrawled the word ‘PIG’ on the door. This was a mocking salute to a rising star(Watson, 129-139). Sharon Tate lost everything, she lost a promising career, happiness, and the most important to her, a family. Tate’s body and the other three bodies were discovered by Chapman the next morning. Chapman was sent to the hospital for shock. It was thought that the perpetrator was a young gentlemen named William Garreston who was found alive at the residence in the guest cottage the next morning. “Garreston said that he went to bed with his music playing loud and that the unidentified young man found dead was Steven Parent who was selling Garreston something”(Star 69). Polanski denied rumors of being involved in his wife’s murder. And police later cleared Garreston because of his passing a lie detector test, and undergoing critical questioning. Many months later it was leaked through Atkins that she and several other members of Manson’s hippie group were the actual ones who committed the hanious crime. All, including Manson, were convicted and placed on life sentences. “In 1971 Tate’s movie 13 was to be released, but it was renamed 12+1 because of 13 being a superstitious number”(Guarascio). Through Tate’s all too famous death her movies were cause to be re released, which upgraded her to star billing. “Tate’s mother, Doris, is quoted as saying ‘She had hopes and she had dreams and she was a thoughtful member of society until a crazy little man decided for no reason that she shouldn’t be around anymore’”(Guarascio). Tate has long been forgotten, and usually most people associate her name with that of Charles Manson. Tate had a promising career, and she was about to embark on the biggest event in her life, which was having a family. All of that was taken away from her because of one man’s masterminded manipulation. Sadly many people feel that Manson and his followers should be released. Tate’s mother Doris fought for her daughters killers to stay in prison “till her death in 1992”(Extra). “Tate’s sisters Deborah and Patti have carried on their mother’s mission”(Extra). In one of Sharon Tate’s last interviews she was quoted as saying “My whole life has been decided by fate. Nothing that has happened to me has been planned. I think that something beyond us decides our fate”(Guarascio, Steven). No one in Hollywood has ever paid more dearly for their fame than Sharon Tate. Tate’s memory will forever live on through the nice string of work that she left for us to remember her by. She was truly “a rising star taken long before her time”(Extra).
NOTICE****

The above was a written term paper done by myself. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.

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