Couldn’t get into the Unicorns show at Knitting Factory last night. When did these guys become so popular? I don’t even like them that much.
It was raining so I was happy to stay home instead. Eliza baked magic bars for her office and we rented Wonderland starring Val Kilmer (believable as porn legend John Holmes), the girl from Blue Crush with two different color eyes, and Phoebe from Friends…
It was a thoroughly enjoyable film, though it stole a lot from Boogie Nights, perhaps my favorite movie ever.
Plot synopsis from Roger Ebert:
“John Holmes was a porn star who became addicted to cocaine, and told his dopehead friends that Eddie Nash, a nightclub owner, kept a lot of money in his house. The dopeheads broke into Nash’s house and took money and jewelry. Not long after, Holmes unwisely arrived at Nash’s house and was beaten until he told Nash about the dopeheads. Holmes then allegedly helped Nash’s bodyguards enter the house at 8763 Wonderland Ave., in the Hollywood Hills, where the dopeheads lived. Four of them were murdered, leaving the most horrifying crime scene one of the arriving cops had ever witnessed.”
The movie doesn’t definitively explain what happened. The audience is led to believe that Holmes was a key player, but his specific role in the murders remains unclear. He eventually did stand trial, but was acquitted. Holmes died of AIDS in 1988 (he had continued to work in the porn industry even after being diagnosed with HIV). After he died, his estranged wife Sharon Holmes revealed that John visited her on the morning of the murders. Sharon is working on a book The Road Through Wonderland.
There’s a lot more to the story. Here’s a good article.
And here’s an old photo of John Holmes and Ron Jeremy.
Paris Hilton was in the movie for about twenty seconds. It was very distracting. Ironically, she was cast before her porn career took off.
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Being naive and just generally too young to see RJ in his prime, it’s really a shock how much better he looks there. Jesus Christ, he looks like a bloated sex elf these days.
How much cocaine and sex is too much? However much RJ has had.
I am not sure that Wonderland stole anything from Boogie Nights. They just both used the material surronding Eddie Nash. There is a good true crime book called Scary Monsters and Super Freaks with a chapter about John Holmes. Holmes left for Florida for a while. They found him. He never gave the police any info. He pretended that he wanted to testify for years. He made gay films too. He had sex with Ciccolini after he knew he had AIDS.
thank you for this tip. i am going to rent it this weekend!
Actually, fact is Boogie Nights borrowed from the real life events that were the basis of Wonderland. In particular, the scene where [BN] they try to rip off the rich coked-out guy dressed in a robe blasting Rick Springfield’s “Jesse’s Girl.”
Interesting fact:
Christina Applegate, who I believe played the role of the one female suvivor in Wonderland, actually saw the police scene in the aftermath of the Wonderland murders as child while her family were driving/returning home. I think she mentions seeing a blood soaked matress outside. With that, she said she really wanted a role in the film when she heard it was going into production.
That is interestinmg about Christina Applegate. My friend, Andrea, was a childhood friend of Christina. I wonder if she saw anything back then. They must have been very young, around 10 years old?
Ok.. i am 16 and i love this movie.. i am a sole believer that Holmes was there but did not kill anyone… but thats just my opinion.. and for the thing that wonderland stole stuff from Boogie Nights, no i did not… Boogie Nights was revolved around Nash (partly!) And i follow up on the 4 on the floor murders also known as the wonderland murders! it is very interesting and i think this movie is to show what really happened… it is suc a great movie, and plus josh lucas (ron lainius) and val kilmer (john holmes) and dyaln dermott (david lind) are so hottt…. * does anybody else thing that Christina Applegate (susan Lainuis) doesnt look that her self… well thats just me… idk… PEACE
I really enjoyed this movie. Its great! Val Kilmer is fantastic! I’m intrested in reading Sharons book, “The road through Wonderland” I’m also shocked at his big 14 inch! lol. John Holmes, what a legend! Shocked and amazed by this true story… Moving on to research John Holmes, himself…. May he rest in peace..!!!!
wonderland was an awesome movie..better than boogie nights.. and i honestly dont think nash killed anyone, but he was definately there. but no matter what people say it was def one of the best movies ive ever seen… so see it people ( o and i cant believe thats a pic of ron jeremy on this site!!! he looks so different from when he was on the surreal life???!!”
WHOA MY BAD… currently sitting here watching movie about john nash so my last comment i wrote john nash’s name instead of homes??? haha wow but yeah i def believe john holmes did not kill anyone
:) sorry if i confused anyone peace
Does anyone know if there is anywhere that the original crime scene photos at Wonderland are posted? Just curious…
I just watched Wonderland last night. Good flick! If youre looking for crime scene phots, check out the Special Features on the DVD. They have the entire LAPD crime scene footage. Very graphic and disturbing. Its actuall footage of the victims and the crime scene.
This is probably one of the best, although difficult movies I’ve EVER seen. I believe that all of the actors gave every bit of ability they could to achieve credibility to this story as well as a certain respect to Holmes, and all of the victims, living and not. The plot is incredibly creative, draws you into the era, the drug life, the characters. The gore is beyond belief (I think because it is based on a true story). I have had to watch it more than once to catch subtle nuances that help you decide if Holmes was involved, and exactly what did happen. BTW: Did Christina Applegate honestly live up there when she was younger?
FIRST OFF . I’m in my early 30′s and I’m getting a little irrate about everyone that keeps on making comments about how “Wonderland” had copied this from “Boogie Nights”. Perhaps you little ones need to ask your parents or uncles that knew about what had happened in Hollywood in 1981. “PLEASE TAKE NOTE” ……”WONDERLAND” is based on the actual events and reality of what had happened on Wonderland Dr. Yes, we all know of “Boogie ” and what it pertained too. But , always remember , it was John Holmes, Drugs and the killings as well as the loose conduct that was first ..Thank you very much and have a nice day .
Good movie, saw it on HBO. Holmes was involved in the murders, you’re ignorant to think anything other than that. He played both sides of the fence very well. He was a dopehead, but an intelligent one.
Very good movie. Great cast, and very believeable.I was wondering, DOES ANYONE KNOW THE NAME OF THE SONG WHEN DYLAN McDERMOTT’S charactor (david lind) WALKS UP THE STAIRS AND INTO THE PARTY? IT SOMETHING LIKE “GOOD JUICE TO GET BACK HOME”?????
PLEASE HELPAND ROCK ON!
the song that is being played when “david” and “butterfly” are walking into the wonderland house is faith to arise by terry reid. great song!!
faith to arise is the name of the song by terry reid
Very good movie! I knew I’d find a board about it somewhere! Anyway, yeahhhh they have a DVD out for it? I must stop by BESTBUY!
I loved Wonderland! Not a big TV watcher but love movies and this one is awesome in the fact that it is based on actual happenings. Thought that all sides of the story were presented very well giving you the oppurtunity to judge for yourself or keep wondering forever. The TRUTH of the whole thing will never be uncovered completely? If you were in that house would you tell anyone? My belief for anyone who wants to know: Eddie Nash was not at the murders but definitely responsible; Holmes was involved in everyway from playing both sides against each other; Nash was humiliated and was pissed!!!!!, made John go with the “hit crew” to bear witness to what he created and be involved so he wouldn’t talk. I was a teen at John’s peak of his career. Whole thing is a horrible life if you were involved, but an interesting look at what can happen in that kind of lifestyle.
Decent movie. Desperately trying to find the name of the track “feels good just to get back home” from when mcdermonnt walks into the party….driving me nuts!
Boogie Nights and Wonderland are both rightious movies I own both,but I would give my right arm if people would PLEASE STOP comparing the two! The only part that even comes close to being similar is the Rahad Jackson/Eddie Nash comparison and that is even sketchy because in boogie nights TWO people are SHOT not beaten (Dirk’s friend and Rahad’s bodyguard) Second Eddie Nash was foreign and Rahad might have had some foreign blood but he was obviously very american. Also on the whole comparison John Holmes was a real person Dirk Diggler is a fictional character!! not to mention “Dirk” is Straight and does not die in the movie (I know john didn’t either but they put in the little blurb about his death at the end) also “Dirk is single and better looking.Also the movies portray the two in totally different circumstances! The only thing these two gentlemen have in common are BIG DICKS
Good movie. I have a problem with the last poster describing any of the main characters in either “Wonderland” or “Boogie Nights” as “gentlemen”. Far from it.
I meant gentlemen in the context that they were male but by the end of Boogie Nights Dirk was starting somewhat to get off his power trip,but yeah John was just a burned out prick.
I have seen Wonderland and Boogie Nights both many many times. It’s true that the two films are totally sperate from one another. One focuses (Boogie Nights) on fictional life in the adult film industry with vague references to Holmes and the actual Wonderland murders, and the other is based on pure fact. The movie does an awesome job of recreating the mood during the early 80′s, and Val Kilmer as usual, is a dead ringer for a true drug addicted, troubled star like John Holmes. The fact is John Holmes was there that morning July 1, 1981. His palm prints were on the table and the head board of the bed above Ron Launius’s head. Whether or not he was forced to participate or watch is something I don’t think anyone will ever know. It’s amazing that something like that actually happened, the crime scene is horrific. Eddie Nash wasn’t there, but I believe his bodygaurd was. He died in 1995. It’s unforunate that the book written by the two detectives from the actual case, “Four on the Floor” is no longer in print. The film was excellent with an all-star cast and I am disappointed it didn’t get better reviews. For those of you looking for the song when David Lind (McDerrmott) walks into the party at Wonderland, it is called “Faith to Arise” and is on the soundtrack to the film. There are only three songs not included on the soundtrack from the film. One is Joan Jett’s “Don’t Give a Damn ‘Bout My Reputation” and the other two I don’t know the names of. One is played after the robbery at Nash’s when the gang is counting the amount of loot they got back at the Wonderland house, and the other is when Val Kilmer is driving to Nash’s house after calling him from the pay phone after the robbery. One thing you can say is that John Holmes certainly had an intersting life and died because of it. Lastly, Boogie Nights…great movie, fictional. Later all, sorry for being long-winded. :)
I have seen Wonderland and Boogie Nights both many many times. It’s true that the two films are totally sperate from one another. One focuses (Boogie Nights) on fictional life in the adult film industry with vague references to Holmes and the actual Wonderland murders, and the other is based on pure fact. The movie does an awesome job of recreating the mood during the early 80′s, and Val Kilmer as usual, is a dead ringer for a true drug addicted, troubled star like John Holmes. The fact is John Holmes was there that morning July 1, 1981. His palm prints were on the table and the head board of the bed above Ron Launius’s head. Whether or not he was forced to participate or watch is something I don’t think anyone will ever know. It’s amazing that something like that actually happened, the crime scene is horrific. Eddie Nash wasn’t there, but I believe his bodygaurd was. He died in 1995. It’s unforunate that the book written by the two detectives from the actual case, “Four on the Floor” is no longer in print. The film was excellent with an all-star cast and I am disappointed it didn’t get better reviews. For those of you looking for the song when David Lind (McDerrmott) walks into the party at Wonderland, it is called “Faith to Arise” and is on the soundtrack to the film. There are only three songs not included on the soundtrack from the film. One is Joan Jett’s “Don’t Give a Damn ‘Bout My Reputation” and the other two I don’t know the names of. One is played after the robbery at Nash’s when the gang is counting the amount of loot they got back at the Wonderland house, and the other is when Val Kilmer is driving to Nash’s house after calling him from the pay phone after the robbery. One thing you can say is that John Holmes certainly had an intersting life and died because of it. Lastly, Boogie Nights…great movie, fictional. Later all, sorry for being long-winded. :)
just happened on this web site. read most of the posting comparing boogie nights and wonderland. one thing no one mentioned (if they did sorry) was that in boogie nights, dirk diggler refers to john holmes/johnny wadd while talking to burt reynolds as they drive in the van. that was when he and the other guy reed were trying to sell reynolds on these two new characters they developed. so i don’t think boogie nights tried to say that the diggler character was infact holmes. they just used the holmes story to build a movie and get a few extra scenes out of it for boogie nights.
Jones, while watching the movie Boogie nights the other day, I noticed the exact same thing. He says something to the effect of the Wadd character that Holmes created being all about beating up on women, and something about how that wasn’t cool. I watch too much TV…lol. :)
I have a question for anyone who reads this page…
If it wasn’t for John holmes involvement,would the wonderland murders even have got the attention and noteriety that it did or would it have just been another California mass murder? I just came to the conclusion that it was only john holmes involvement that made the case public anyone wanna comment??
I agree that this case recieved alot of attention because of Holmes involvement. It seems as though the fact that a “celebrity” was involved makes the case more enticing, especially for film deals. This is for obvious reasons. No one would care about some average joe being invloved in the murder of four people, and this is proven over and over again, because these things do happen. Holmes life was intersting because he was known, and known in a business that is questionable to alot of people. He stirred constroversy on that alone. Then you add in all the other details of his life (his failed marriage to a very straight woman, his under-age girlfriend and an outrageous problem with pathelogical lying and drugs) which without the murders could make him stand out. You are right. Although this case would still have gained media attention due to the fact that it is technically still an unsolved, open case (not to mention a heinious, gruesome murder), it would never have been given the magnitude of attention it has had Holmes not have been who he was. The public is facinated by this man’s life because it was bigger than him. And agree, or not that he was a star in his own right, you certainly can agree that he lived one hell of a life.
I have a really dumb and perhaps morbid question… in the actual LAPD crime scene footage of the Wonderland murders,they show the close up of the blood spattered Records in the Living Room where they find the first victim What album is it that they show? I have used zoom on my DVD player and still can’t make it out, In high school I had a HUGE record collection but I just cannot recall this particular cover. For some reason I tend to think it looks like REO Speedwagon but I would really like to know for sure…..PLEASE HELP!!!!
THE MOVIE WAS AWSOME, I BELIEVE THAT HOLMES WAS INVOLVED BUT FORCED TO USE HELP.
IF ANYONE KNOWS WERE I CAN VEIW PICTURES OF THE REAL WONDERLAND MIUDERS PLS E-MAIL ME THANKS
YOU ROCK HOLMES
Did you ever find out where to see real photos of the Wonderland murders? Thanks
Just for the reocrd : Wonderland did not steal anything from Boogie Nights. Wonderland is a fact based story about something that did happen. The only unclear issue is whether Holmes intentionally dropped a dime on his “friends” to Nash (and maybe even helped with the murders (print found on Ron’s headboard) or Nash beat him until he gave up the gang and was the Forced to help them get inside & watch the murders (if so also likely they made him take a few swings too-explains the print) Anyway..my point is “Boogie Nights” was loosely based on John Holmes life. This is why the movies are so similar, but it was Boogie Nights who stole from John Holmes’ story, not the other way around. By the way – Loved Wonderland and have always loved Boogie Nights too .
Notice that in the film, there are two different versions of the crime that are shown, and at the end, a third version is played out in detail. The first is from the biker’s point of veiw, the second is from Holmes’s P.O.V., and the third is the cops P.O.V. To me, the third seems the most believable.
I was just out in LA and drove by the house–gave me a very surreal and creepy feeling but definitely brought home the reality of the whole scenario. I am wondering, though, how the drugged out people made it up and down the NARROW Wonderland without getting into serious car accidents. My husband and I were completely straight and we had a hard time squeezing our compact car through the curves–it was very precarious driving.
LOVED the movie and am going to watch it again, now that I’ve seen the real deal.
I’m of the mind that the two movies are not that similar, even though about the same subject matter.
I sent in a comment about the murders before the one about the poker junk. Did you receive it?
Is anyone home?
Although the movie was very specific on what might have happened, I have yet to see the picture on the murder victims of Wonderland. I hope someone can give me a link on where I can find the photos.
P.S
The movies “Wonderland” and “Boogie Nights” where an excellent visual of what happened and how it could have gone down. (Great acting!)
I want know where is now, currently, David Lind in the real life. Please answer me. Where is today David Lind, what he do today in the real life?
David Lind was my cousin and died of a heroin overdose in 1995.
Peace.
Hello Tammy My name is Betsy I have a daughter who happens to be the granddaughter of David Lind and i am also in touch with his daughter. Can we get pictures of him we have no information none of his belonging nothing we would love to get in touch with you . where is Bernice NaNa B ? are u the daughter of Bennett or related to Danny
David Lind was my cousin and died of a heroin overdose in 1995.
Peace.
First, let me say Wonderland is an awesome movie.
Second, you cant compare Wonderland to Boogie Nights its true what another person says “The only thing those 2 movies have in common is the PENIS”…
Third, I know the Book “Four on the Floor” by the two detectives is out of print but does anybody know where I can obtain a copy? or another book that is about this topic besides Sharon’s book. I would really appreciate some feedback about this, My friend is torturing me and im doing this because she wants to be a Homicide Detective…Thanks for your help…
Here’s an interesting tidbit–I watched Wonderland again and noticed that the address on the house is “3678″, which is the real address, backwards. Guess maybe the current owners want to remain as anonymous as possible(?)
I can’t even find Sharon’s book. On one site it states that Dawn wrote it (it’s titled “The Road Through Wonderland, right?)
I’ve looked for the actual crime scene photos and haven’t had any luck.
My mother was a “client” of Eddie Nash’s and he was a “client” of her’s in her finance business. Keep looking for the truth. My mother recently died suddenly and as I go through her effects I find diturbing info regarding the involvment between Nash and my mother. There are answers waiting to be found, I am only starting to realize the questions I should have asked long ago.
No one out there knows what record that was in the crime scene video? Still wondering endlessly everytime I watch my wonderland DVD! By the way I am no longer MikeCrockett’s Diva, Bad relationship ended back in February!
first off the songs NOT on the soundtrack are as follows (in no order):
1. “Bad Reputation” – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (played when John goes back to see dawn…after he “left” when they threw the betamax thru the sliding glass door)
2. “La Grange” – ZZ Top (played when John picks up Dawn and screws her in the bathroom of the religious fanatic)
3. “Shambala” – Three Dog Night
(during the scene where Janene Garofalo says “baby, i need a hit real bad…”)
4. “Maggot Brain” – Parliament
(the scene after ron launius is introduced and before john holmes is intro’d to david lind by ron launius)
5. “All Right Now” – Free (party scene when Josh Lucas says “daaaavey”).
6. “Dean” – Terry Reid
(the infmaous “how much loot was taken” scene)
7. “Stranger In A Strange Land” – Leon Russell & The Shelter People
(played at the end credits…after the neil diamond cover…sounds remotely like axl rose singing..heh)
8. “Spanish Moon” – Robert Palmer
(played when John calls Eddie Nash and drives to Nash’s house before he gets the crap kicked out of him…Holmes’ telling of what happened)
9. “Satellite of Love” – Lou Reed
(not sure what scene this is in…it’s listed in the credits though)
10. “I Work The Whole City” – (taken from the taxi driver score)
(played when they’re leaving eddie nash’s house…david lind’s telling of it…)
(yes, i actually scoured thru the credits to get this info…heh)
secondly…
Boogie Nights and Wonderland are two COMPLETELY different movies. in fact, boogie nights is only LOOSELY based on the life of John Holmes or basically how he came into the porn industry. Wonderland is a three-sided depiction of the extrememly horrific events that transpired on the morning of July 1. 1981. the first side is David Lind’s side…2nd is John Holmes’ side…3rd is actually NOT of the LAPD…but more a combination of Dawn & Sharon’s story as well as Eddie Nash’s. Those of you who own the DVD…they actually tell about this on the director’s commentary…along with the story of Christina Applegate growing up right up the street from the house (a question of her age came up…according to the director’s commentary she was 6 or 7…this is not true. she would’ve been 9 going on 10 when this took place).
ok, now my thoughts of the movie…
it’s a brilliant movie that basically lets the viewer decide who really did what…
as for that…what i believe happened (according to the movie…and doing some of my own research) is john holmes set up the heist against nash….he ratted the “wonderland gang” to nash to save his own butt. as far as lind’s account of what happened….i personally think 98% of what he said was pure (pardon the expression) horseshit, john’s story had a bit more truth to it…as far as what happened during the robbery…and it actually coincides with nash’s account of the robbery as well as sharon & dawn’s version (from what john had told them of course). as far as the murders…
i think john DID make some blows to ron launius…but was coerced by nash’s goons. Nash may not have actually done anything…but i think he was present.
if you want crime photos…well…you could buy the dvd, freeze frame during the last scene where the murders are taking place….the first scene you see ted levine…you see a bulletin board with a number of pictures. there’s a combination of pictures with the actors who played the victims as well as actual autopsy photos and crimes scene photos. there’s also the crime scene video in all it’s disturbing “glory” (note the bad/shaky video quality…this was 1981…video technology was still relatively new here).
also, i found a site that has a FEW crime scene photos…
click here to see them
the victims you’ll see are Barbara Richardson & Billy Deverell (sp?).
other odd facts i noticed…
the bonaparte hotel…is actually The Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles.
the opening title sequence..if you look closely…it’s a crime scene photo of ron launius
(this has been pointed out already) the address of 8763 Wonderland was reversed to 3678 partially for slightly legal reasons. basically the current residents who live at the house now (which has to be just…creepy. i’ve got the heeby jeebies just DRIVING by the house) don’t really want people curious about what the house looks like driving by incessantly.
the boat scene..shot in Long Beach.
Exactly where do you find the crime scene photos of barbara Richardson and Billy Deverell? I tried clicking but it didn’t work I really want to see these please post a response ASAP
I was just looking at some interesting Wonderland info at crimelibrary.com and One thing they stated is that back in the day the wonderland house was patrolled by two snarling pit bulls now if that were true how come the murderers didn’t get attacked or at least bit? Secondly the crime scene video on the DVD makes no mention whatsoever about the dogs, nor has anything else I have ever read about wonderland has mentioned these two dogs.
Does anyone know if David Lind is still alive? How about pictures of the real Eddie Nash?
Where is susan lianus, david lind, eddie nash, and sharon holmes now? Are they all living, and where, and what do they do?
Thanks
Where can I get pictures of eddie nash et al.
Same with the crime scene
There is a brief photo of Eddie Nash on the Bonus DVD of the wonderland set when Sharon Holmes is talking about the murders. If you don’t want to sit through the whole bonus disc select the section titled July 1 1981 and Sharon narrates the first part of it and you will see the real Eddie Nash you will also see brief photos of the murder victims. The strange thing is the real Eddie Nash looks oriental and the real life victims look nothing like the actors who played them.
eddie nash is alive yet frail living in los los angeles. Sharon holmes has cancer but is also still alive and apparently in remission. David lind is apparently dead of a heroin overdose 1995 although due to several social security numbers he had is difficult to verify. Dawn is alive and well living in oregon.Greg diles is also dead 1995.
where on the internet can you see pictures of sharon holmes and eddie nash???
I don’t think you will find any photos of sharon holmes or eddie nash on the net your best bet is to watch the wonderland bonus dvd I’m still looking for autopsy photos and no luck whatsoever yet.
Hello all. I’ve seen “Wonderland” and wanted to clear up a few things. I and my girlfriend (now my wife) were aquainted with Ron & Susan Lanius and Billy Deverell. During late ’80 and into ’81 we became somewhat frequent visitors to Billy’s Wonderland hangout where everyone partied. Yes, we, at the time, were customers more than friends. I did meet John Holmes there on a number of occasions and he was not as portrayed in “Wonderland”. John was very funny, charming and the life of the party (at least when I visited). I can’t remember dates with any clarity, but I do remember meeting some newcomers to the scene in the Summer of ’81 – most notably some scumbag bikers and their “old ladies”. Two of whom may very well have been David Lind and his girl. I’ve never seen pictures of who McDermot is portraying in “Wonderland” so I can’t be sure.
One thing that should be made clear is that (at least from my own experience) Ron, Billy and the rest WERE complete and utter scumbags. Junkies. Total assholes. There isn’t any crime of which they were incapable. John – while I know he was also an addict and somewhat desperate, was a very non-violent person from what I can remember and I’m much more likely to believe that the robbery was hatched by Ron Lanius. That’s just my opinion.
Dave
By the way – for those of you who are interested, Susan Lanius is alive, although she is still struggling with the debilitating effects of her head injuries. She wishes to be left alone, is still traumatized from the horror of her attack and probably will be for the rest of her life. I know this because we still have several mutual aquaintences. I’m not friends with her by any means, nor was I ever very friendly with her. The residents of the Wonderland house made the choices that led to those horrific attacks. Susan is still trying to cope with the consequenses. I’m very glad I was never more friendly with them.
Thanks for the comment Dave great story. I watched wonderland it was a good movie.
hi dave!
was ron really that dangerous and unpredictable??do you have any pics together with him?
what kind of person was tracy mccourt?
regards markus
Great info, Dave. It sure is indeed a small world. You probably did see Lind and Richardson, would be my guess. For living at their ages, in such a great place and time, all the great music etc. They could have really had great lives, but they F’d it up! I was only 12 when the murders happened, and I am addicted to this story. I am a writer and would like to do something with this info I have gleaned. Maybe setup up a page on Facebook or a blog with my own longer version of events (just the facts, ma’am!). Thanks again!
Barbara Richardson. She was a beautiful girl, the apple of her family’s eye. Her family was middle class, but she got into drugs and biker types and paid the price. She started going down the rocky road by 18, and when it happened she was killed of course it devastated her family. She and Joy were even in on helping to plan the robbery. I’ve seen a picture of her and she was drop dead gorgeous.
Whatever is to be said about the subculture at Wonderland, it was like the Summer of Love but without the ideology or hope. Mix in cocaine and murder and voila! Wonderland.
Very interesting Dave! I was wondering what the “wonderland women” Joy Miller and Barbara Richardson were like, I could be totally wrong but on the bonus wonderland DVD when they show Joy’s picture she looks older and kind of shy to me and barbara looks kind of shy too I know she was David Lind’s girlfriend though. I was wondering who was more of an asshole between Ron and billy? from what I hear Ron was the biggest troublemaker of all of them and I was wondering if they really had pit bull dogs like I read on crimelibrary.com Please post a reply Dave or if you don’t want to share on this site you can e-mail me at sarahthediva@yahoo.com
From what I have seen reprinted on the web from Lind’s courtroom testimony, Billy was quite laid back. Lind even called Billy a “noble guy who just took a wrong turn, and that Billy would always lament his position in life, wanting to leave drugs behind, and start over somehow”. He didn’t and we all know what happened.
They did have pitbulls in the gate area, but they knew John Holmes. They didn’t attack, and that’s how the killers got in.
I also read that Joy Miller was a foul-mouthed beeyotch… not very nice to be around. No wonder they had Janeane Garofalo play her role.
well Holmes was a murderer if he had sex with people even after knowing he had AIDS…
If anyone is interested a excerpt of the testimony of susan launius is accessable on the net I just have to remember where I got it from I know it stemmed from google during one of my ongoing search for crime scene/autopsy pics which so far is still very ongoing and sadly unsuccessful still but a Diva does not give up…
To SarahtheDiva, if you are still looking for crime scene pics of the Wonderland murders, I have two sources for you.
1. Go to author John Gilmore’s site, where he has 2 crime scene pics – Barbara Richardson and Billy Deverell. (Caution – graphic).
link:
http://www.stereogum.com/archives/000471.html
2. The movie “Wonderland” has several of the crime scene pics, of the real Wonderland victims, mixed in with actors playing them. You can rent the DVD and, using freeze frame, see the crime scene pics. Also, the LAPD crime scene video is on the Wonderland DVD.
The song playing when Lind arrives at teh wonderland house and is walking up the stairs is:
Faith To Arise – Terry Reid
Good tune….perfect placement in the movie…
I always wondered how the director picked that song….wonder if the gand had a few Terry Ried LP’s or something. THe lyircs of the song are creepy given the context of the movie.
I was curious as to who found the victims after they were beaten?
Does anyone know of any background info on the victims?? Where are they buried??
hi lynn!
movers next door found them and called the police,there must be other persons before them in the house, but didn´t call the police.check out the side findagrave.com and you get further infos where they are buried.
regards markus
Thanks FM seen the deverell/richardson photos anything else I may find interesting? now would like to see the miller/launius photos
Found actual photos of victims and 8763 Wonderland at
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/Sunsetstripchic/The%20Real%20Wonderland/?start=0
Why “Four on The Floor” when only three were actually on the floor?
David Lind died of a heroin overdose in 1995….He was friends with my uncle…they used to ride together
Nice to see this up and running again :)
Can someone please tell me what happened to Dawn’s book? I am having no luck finding it…
There are pics of the actual crime scene (bodies included) on the web. Am I going to just give the website to you ? Nope, if I can find them with my little finger tips and Google, so can you.
David Lind, Ron Launious, John Holmes, Eddie Nash, and the others are not to be celebrated as well…..”celebrities” These people where a disicable, seedy, criminal type that none of us should or would want to even imagine being so much as an even just an equantance with. Jobless, homeless, drug dealing nerdewells with rap sheets longer than John’s notorious appendage. These we’rent your average college students or adults with a home in the suburbs and two children in private schools. They were by all accounts criminals, drug dealers, prostitutes and pond scum of the earth. These where the people your parents told you about when you where young. I wouldn’t want to meet Dawn Schiller or Sharon Holmes if they rang my doorbell with their daughters selling Girl Scout cookies. Although Dawn Schiller and Sharon Holmes (convenient to keep the Holmes name after all this time) Have written books and Dawn is now living healthy happy life with a husbund and children of her own. Sharon Holmes has kept her last name all this time for publicity reasons. If she’s really leading a new life, you’d think she’d want nothing to do with the last name of a drug and HIV infested scumbag, but I guess if your going to sell a book on Amazon.com you’d better leave it to be a recognized name huh ? Who’da thunk it?
David Lind died of a drug overdose in 1995. Geeeee, guess David never grew up and I’m surprised he lived that long. Another scum bag taking up room at some god awful cemetary.
Susan Launious is supposedly living in the northwest somewhere and is remarried. Though reportedly she has struggled with the conditions represented from her massive head injury’s during the murders.
John Holmes of course died of AIDS in 1988 in a Veterans nursing home in Florida. Funny enough, just down the street from that nursing home is a business with the name “Holmes Erections” A crane operating business. He died with less $100 to his name. His ring, and some other trinkets. But, he was able to bilk the tax payers out of the cost of his nursing home treatment(Veterans benefits). Another great scum bag.
On a personal note I lived in L.A. for six years. I met a woman who had been in the porn industry during the late 70′s and the 80′s and had in fact shot 10+ movies with John Holmes. She would later disclose to me that although he was large he often had little or no erection during sex. Kinda like trying to play pool with a rope. I recieved a blowjob from her for merely providing her and her friend with a ride home when her husbund abandoned them at a restaurant that we had all been dining at. Guess old habits never die, but I wasn’t about to start being a southern baptist when she offered it to me.
The movie is great. It’s a visceral and gutteral look at how people do in fact live. The actors where well chosen and the story is told well from two points of view. I give it a thumbs up.
By the way, the last song in the move is not Neil Diamond. It’s Gordan Lightfoot “If you could read my mind”
Hello all, I have been a fan of this movie since the first time I saw it. It just captured me for some reason. I have to say to SCOTT, who is it that you think you are? I mean here you are going on and on about these “horrible people” and how you wouldn’t even answer a doot, yet you received a blow job from a whore that did movies with Holmes? Now maybe I missed something, but isn’t that the kettle calling the pot black? I have not seen anything on here where anyone has ever mentioned that these people were “good people”. Have you??
To everyone else, I love all the questions, and often wonder why it is so difficult to get basic information on the lives of these people. It seems that with all of the movie publicity, it would be widely available.
It’s good to see that I’m not the only one still curious about the people involved in the Wonderland murders. They have been below the radar for so long. The fact that it is so difficult to get accurate information/whereabouts about these people only fuels everyone’s curiousity. Dawn-Thank you for your website. The movie sheds light on a dark series of events, but in the end-it only raises more questions. I have researched the net & even purchased 2 low budget documentaries John Holmes/Wonderland DVD’s (Man,Myth, Legend). I also have the E True Hollywood story, but my low grade copy has gaps. A few ?’s I can’t get my mind around:
1)Is there any correspondence between John Holmes & David Lind after the murders? Trial or otherwise?
2) After John & Dawn (Hi Dawn) left for Florida, did John ever correspond with Eddie Nash again? How about David Lind? Susan Lanius? Tracy McCourt? Sharon Holmes has said that she never spoke to John again, but there had to be a few meetings?
3) Did Susan Lanius ever face Eddie Nash or Greg Diles in court?
4) How much of the loot from the Nash robbery did David Lind keep?
5) How much of the stolen goods were recovered by Nash’s crew @ the time of Wonderland hit?
6) Did Nash really get busted with a bunch of coke a few days after the Wonderland Murders?
7) Is David Lind alive? Where?
8) Was Nash present at the time of the Wonderland murders?
9) On the night of the murders-Did John enter the Wonderland house with a code for the gate???, or did he have to get buzzed in??? Had he been in the house earlier and simply left the door open?
10) What happened to the tell-all book John supposedly wrote while jailed for contempt of court?
There are so many ?’s that come to mind. Can anybody associated with these events/people accurately answer any of these ?’s –Andy
John was scared to death of David Lind. Lind threatened him in court with the “throat slash” gesture, using his finger or whatever. John had already faced Nash’s wrath, he was going to run & hide from Lind for the next 7 years til he died.
In Chuck Negron’s book, Three Dog Nightmare there is a chapter about the Wonderland Murders. He said he narrowly missed being there, was supposed to go over for a night of free dope. He lived close by them when he was a junkie and spent a lot of time there. He says that his wife, Julia Densmore found them the next day but she was never mentioned so who knows but it’s a good read. Also, The Other Hollywood by Legs McNeil has crime scene photos and lots of information about John Holmes and the Wonderland Murders…it is excellent!
i know this is a totally old article, but no, david lind is no longer living. he was actually a member of my family….due to his drug use and past he was totally blocked from any communication with our family. he died in 1995 in eureka california of a heroin overdose.
thx for the info melissa, I can understand why.
Hey all, I know this site is old, but Im going around to all the sites I can to tell people that my father was in Vietnam with Ron Launis.
He told me Launis was a stone cold killer, who frequently used drugs and hated any sort of command structure.
My father once asked Ron why he even joined the marines if he hated taking orders so much…? Launis repiled ” Well, Jim, I just like to kill people so much “.
Hope this helps you all see what a nut Ron Launis truly was.
Hey all, I know this site is old, but Im going around to all the sites I can to tell people that my father was in Vietnam with Ron Launis.
He told me Launis was a stone cold killer, who frequently used drugs and hated any sort of command structure.
My father once asked Ron why he even joined the marines if he hated taking orders so much…? Launis repiled ” Well, Jim, I just like to kill people so much “.
Hope this helps you all see what a nut Ron Launis truly was.
David Lind was my cousin and died of a heroin overdose in 1995.
Peace.
This is him:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/Sunsetstripchic/The%20Real%20Wonderland/?action=view¤t=RealDavidLind.bmp
“In Chuck Negron’s book, Three Dog Nightmare there is a chapter about the Wonderland Murders. He said he narrowly missed being there, was supposed to go over for a night of free dope. He lived close by them when he was a junkie and spent a lot of time there. He says that his wife, Julia Densmore found them the next day but she was never mentioned so who knows but it’s a good read. Also, The Other Hollywood by Legs McNeil has crime scene photos and lots of information about John Holmes and the Wonderland Murders…it is excellent!”
This is true. Actually what happened was Julia Densmore sent her young son, Berry Oakley over as there was no answer on the phone and she wanted to score. She told him to just knock on the door, but he went in. They lived very nearby. Anyway, the young son came back screaming, Mommy Blood!!! So Julia went over, observed the crime scene and from what I understand tried to find something to get high on before she left. I got this from a very accurate source who also used to score at that house in the 70′s but is now clean.
to the person asking about where those murdered are burried: i dont know about barbara, but i do know that joy was taken to mt. sanai mourtuary ron was taken to rocha may mourtuary, and billy was taken to forrest lawn. i dont know if these are cemetaries or funeral homes. hope this helpes someone!!
Ron Launius was in the Air Force, was a staff sargeant in Logistics Command. If he was a stone cold killer then he did it by bludgeoning somebody with a clip board.
Ron’s career has been grossly overstated and glamorized. In reality he was but a complete junkie who got a stupid idea to rob Eddie Nash, and suffered the predictable consequences. Everybody in that house was associated with filth, drugs, and illegal activity. Some people would say that Susan was innocent but she herself freely associated with these clowns. Eventually the chickens came to roost. She ought to feel pretty damned lucky that she survived that attack.
Mothers warn your daughters: Hang around with people like Ronnie Launius and don’t be surprised if you end up like Susan did.
The only crime that happened at Wonderland is that David Lind and Tracy McCourt were not there when the goons came to get their revenge.
Before the AF stint, Ron attended Nevada Union High School, in Nevada City, CA.
A California cop remembered him as “one of the coldest people I ever met”. He was a jerk, a junkie and a killer. He is buried in Lodi Cemetary in Lodi CA.
A guy on another discussion board stated that his dad dated Barbara Richardson in high school in Rancho Cordova, CA (Sacramento area). They were 16 or 17 and his dad still has pictures of her, she was beautiful he said. The one on the internet and linked from discussion boards appears to be her DMV photo only.
But, she wouldn’t be the first pretty naive young girl to turn to the dark side. 5 year downward spiral with drugs with David Lind is all it took. Fuck that guy! Sad. Also, apparently David Lind tried to pull a gun on the kid’s dad, back in the day, in a fight over Barbara I would presume.
HarLeeRider,
Thanks for clearing up the record about Launius military record. I have seen a picture, online of his grave and the headstone is inscribed US Air Force.
Obviously the EVENTS of Wonderland were not stolen from Boogie Nights. Boogie Nights was well done and original. Wonderland holds up as a realistic account of the circumstances leading up to the wonderland murders, including all the contradictory accounts that came from David Lind and John Holmes. As a film, though, Wonderland is nothing more than a pastiche of stylistic editing, all of which has been done before, most memorably from Boogie Nights, which unlike Wonderland, stands up as a film. Wonderland has no more depth than a music video and no character development. Remember the scene where Holmes goes back and forth to Nash’s house buying coke to ultimately leave the kitchen door unlocked? (It was actually a sliding-glass door in a guest bedroom, not the kitchen). That fast stop-frame editing is STOLEN OUTRIGHT from the similar scene in Boogie Nights. Wonderland is unoriginal and derivative. Production-wise it steals from more than just Boogie Nights.
Boogie nights denies its about john holmes.
Obviously the EVENTS of Wonderland were not stolen from Boogie Nights. Boogie Nights was well done and original. Wonderland holds up as a realistic account of the circumstances leading up to the wonderland murders, including all the contradictory accounts that came from David Lind and John Holmes. As a film, though, Wonderland is nothing more than a pastiche of stylistic editing, all of which has been done before, most memorably from Boogie Nights, which unlike Wonderland, stands up as a film. Wonderland has no more depth than a music video and no character development. Remember the scene where Holmes goes back and forth to Nash’s house buying coke to ultimately leave the kitchen door unlocked? (It was actually a sliding-glass door in a guest bedroom, not the kitchen). That fast stop-frame editing is STOLEN OUTRIGHT from the similar scene in Boogie Nights. Wonderland is unoriginal and derivative. Production-wise it steals from more than just Boogie Nights.
Does anyone have info on Dawn’s book, Road to Wonderland?
I found this on the Medallion Press website.
The Road Through Wonderland
Dawn Schiller
ISBN# 1605420832
ISBN# 9781605420837
Trade Paperback
US $15.95 / CDN $17.95
Autobiography
AUGUST 2010
Thanks for the comment Dave great story. I watched wonderland it was a good movie.
i noticed in your website that you knew Ron, Billy, and maybe partied at Wonderland .if this is so. i would live to pick your brain. i have become interested in this case. thank you for your consideration Jeff
I was in court once and dropped in on eddie’ s 91 trial. Always admired how he could smke it yet never really lost control. 7 Seas was awsome club. Two make long story short I want a copy of book Four on floor. Can,t find anywhere . you can find pictures of nash on 2nd dvd of wonderland or he did do a interview on cable tv (hollywood cable provider adelphia I think) back in 2002 after getting released from fed pen.It’s an interesting interview.
I have this DVD of Wonderland & man it brings back memorys when I was a child with the music & cars. I have been looking for a actuacl photo of David Lind & can not find one to save my life.
I have watched Boogie Nights also & I dont think it holds a candle to Wonderland.
That’s him on the left:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/Sunsetstripchic/The%20Real%20Wonderland/?action=view¤t=RealDavidLind.bmp
the actor who played him is in the background. Stills from the movie DVD.
Colleen–
I haven’t checked the site in a long time and am thrilled that you found the book!!!! It’s wonderful that she finally finished it. I’m going to order it immediately. Have you read it yet?
for those, who are longing for more pics check this:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/Sunsetstripchic/The%20Real%20Wonderland/?action=view¤t=Ron-vi.jpg#!oZZ43QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fsmg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv285%2FSunsetstripchic%2FThe%2520Real%2520Wonderland%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DRealDavidLind.bmp
John Holmes Was filming at my house (In WLA) back in 1979. The director paid my friends and myself to make ourselves scarce (“Make like a tree and leave”). I remember we kept coming back to get paid more to leave again (we were Minors at the time). I made like $100 that day to stay away while they filmed (good take for a 16 year old in 1979/80 ). I did Like this film. If I ever saw “Boogie Nights” it just does not stay in my psyche like this movie ALWAYS will from this day on. I am forever “Tainted” by the sights and sounds of this movie…Wonderland is a must see! I think Scenario 3 is most likely…but without proof…enough said!!!
Me too. This movie had me researching my a$$ off, so to speak. I am especially troubled by how a 22 yr old suburban girl from Sacramento ended up with these idiots and junkies. Holy hey-zeus WTF!
Barbara Richardson was from Rancho Cordova, CA. I believe she went to Cordova High School, class of 1977. She grew up in a small ranch style subdivision… from my research, I believe this is her old house.
2619 Tormolo Way:
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?ftid=0x809add1b377900a1:0x8349d336c20f1b90&q=2619+tormolo+way,+rancho&hl=en&gl=us&ved=0CA0Q-gswAA&sa=X&ei=9r6pTvWOEJPKywSG_eDoAg
Just posting for anyone curious… little is known about her, I am the Google master, so I thought I would share. How Barbara hooked up with that guy who got her killed is beyond me. My older brother fell in with similar seedy types in 1981. He’s still a junkie.
Barbara’s DMV photo. I believe her driver’s license is all police had to identify her with at the time of the murders….
Shoot, that’s actually Susan Launius.