Aloha,

The recent book suggesting the identity of the Zodiac killer--
The Most Dangerous Animal of All, Gary L. Stewart with Susan
Mustapha, Haper Collins, 2014--includes some mentions of
the suggested Zodiac with Anton LaVey during just before
and during the early days of The Church of Satan in San Francisco.

The chief basis of this association, however, is not so much
occultism as music. The alleged Zodiac met LaVey in the SF
bar scene, where LaVey, an accomplished (jazzish, I suppose)
organist, had a following. The book suggest that out of this
following came some of the early members of the CoS. The
alleged Zodiac was not, however, a CoS member.

The alleged Zodiac, also an organist, sometimes subbed for or
shared a night's playing with LaVey. The book tells us that the two
did meet and converse from time to time over a period of years.

List members with an interest in LaVey and the CoS might find
the little descriptions of the 50s-60s SF bar scene interesting.
LaVey's already established status as a local celebrity certainly
helps account, at least for me, for lots of sympathetic media attention
to the unveiling of the CoS--maybe taken as a sort of creative
fan club for a local SF celebrity more than a threat to religious
order. (As I recall, famous SF columnist Herb Caen was one of the
first to note, with humorous acceptance, LaVey's new CoS and
black-painted Victorian HQ and naked girl altars. Topless bars...
Topless churches...<wink! wink!>)

Let me add that, as I read these parts of the book, I did not find
the LaVey/alleged Zodiac association all that persuasive, vis a vis
the Zodiac murders. I don't think that there was much occult
motivation to the murders, despite the cyphers, maps, letters,
and name. I don't think that Satanism or the CoS played any part
in the murders (and, when the authors get down to it, do they.)

But our pop culture wants to link up Satanism with notorious crime
and criminality.

The book is an interesting read, with lots of photos. The alleged
Zodiac was an obsessed criminal, intelligent, talented, alcoholic.
He does resemble the police sketches of Zodiac. But I don't think
that the book conclusively reveals the identity of the Zodiac killer.

Musing I Grew Up in Vallejo & Could Have Crossed Paths With The Zodiac!  
Rose,

Pitch



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