According to Smithsonian Magazine, the Manson Family settled at Spahn Ranch near Los Angeles, a spacious acreage where many iconic Hollywood Westerns were filmed. In addition to those film appearances, Spahn Ranch was also an area for recreation, and it was for this reason Bryan Cranston was in the area on the day he and Charles Manson crossed paths. Cranston was 12 years old at the time, and as the actor explained to the Hudson Union Society — and later on "The Dan Patrick Show" — he and his cousin were there to horseback ride when they spotted the future cult leader.
In the Hudson Union interview, Cranston said while he and his cousin were renting their horses, "This young guy came and said, 'Charlie's on the hill, Charlie's on the hill!'" referring to Manson. Around that same time, about a dozen other people all jumped on horses and galloped away, Cranston said. After getting their horses, Cranston and his cousin followed the group. "[W]e go in the one direction everyone goes, and about half an hour later, we see this trail of horses coming back, and in the middle of the pack was a guy holding the reins of the horse behind," the actor said. This person was Manson, Cranston later realized.
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