Filmed at Spahn's Movie Ranch near Chatsworth, CA, in late 1968. The ranch was used for occasional filming of TV westerns like
Bonanza (1959) and
The Lone Ranger (1949), as well as for
David O. Selznick's western
Duel in the Sun (1946). However, with the decline of westerns in general, owner George Spahn decided to allow a group of misfit hippies to reside there temporarily in the spring of 1968 in exchange for minor upkeep of the ranch. This was shortly before filming of this movie took place. The group called themselves "The Family" and were led by
Charles Manson and two of their members,
Catherine Share and
Bobby Beausoleil - who was later convicted of murdering a music teacher who sold mescaline to them - appear in this film.