The Source Family & Father Yod

Many know that the Cabo Cantina on Sunset Boulevard is a favorite spot for locals to pass-over and for tourists to grab a Corona or crappy Margarita. But not everybody knows it was once home to The Source Restaurant, started by one of LA's many (arguably insane) cult leaders.

Jim Baker, a highly-decorated WWII Marine veteran and martial arts expert, moved to Los Angeles in hopes of being a Hollywood stuntman. He was a vegetarian and devout follower of Eastern spiritual leader Yogi Bhajan (no relation to Yogi the Bear). In 1969 he opened up his restaurant serving organic vegetarian food on Sunset. It quickly became popular, frequented by celebrities like John Lennon and Marlon Brando. Jim eventually parted ways with Yogi Bhajan, creating his own teachings and philosophies, eventually creating "The Source Family" and renaming himself "Father Yod".

The Source Family was a collection of over 100 long-haired and robed men & women (mostly wayward youths of that era). They lived together & slept in cubby-holes in a mansion off of Nichols Canyon. The organization was supported by the restaurant which was reported to make over $10,000 a day during the height of it's popularity. Father Yod preached the 10 Commandments for The Age of Aquarius (which had to do with a lot of vibrations). Father Yod enjoyed lots of sex with the female members and even took 13 wives.

They even had their own psychedelic rock band! Ya Ho Wa 13, which curiously never entered the charts despite such albums as Penetration: An Aquarian Symphony. Yes, life was good for these Aquarians... until a newborn in the cult developed a staph infection in 1974 & was taken to UCLA Medical Center which resulted in an investigation into child endangerment. Father Yod then had a revelation that the Source Family should relocate to Kauai, Hawaii.

About a year later Father Yod decided to give hang-gliding a try with disastrous results - a broken back. He was taken back to the Source HQ and devoutly prayed over. Sadly, the prayers were unable to repair his spine & Yod took his final nod.