As far as cults go, this one seems pretty chill.
James Edward Baker was a Navy man who got into jiu jitsu, then mysticism, and eventually started his own religious movement that he funded with a vegetarian restaurant called "The Source" on the Sunset Strip. From 1969 to 1974, Father Yod and the Source Family lived in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, served Los Angeles a menu of healthy food, and even released albums from their own band, Ya Ho Wa 13.
Check out Father Yod and his family cooking up some grub, jamming out, and exemplifying the Flower Power dream of the sixties and seventies.
2
Exterior of The Source restaurant
Los Angeles, 1970s
3
The menu of the Source restaurant
1969
4
Father Yod and his wife, Isis
Los Angeles 1974
5
Ya Ho Wa 13 jamming out
Hollywood Hills, 1970s
6
Interior of The Source restaurant
Los Angeles, 1970s
7
Father Yod meditating with a follower
Hollywood Hills, 1970s
8
Servers at The Source
Los Angeles, 1970s
9
The Source restaurant sign being modified
Los Angeles, 1970s
10
Father Yod, his wife, child and followers feeling the breeze
Los Angeles, 1970s
11
The Source employees cooking
Los Angeles 1970s
12
Outside The Source Mansion
Los Angeles, 1970s
13
Father Yod proselytizing
Los Angeles, 1970s
14
Newpaper ad of Father Yod
For promoting the Source
15
Father Yod
Promotional headshot
16
Father Yod posing with Ya Ho Wa 13
Los Angeles, 1970s
17
Savage Sons of Ya Ho Wa 13 Album cover
1973
18
Father Yod with his wife, Isis
Los Angeles, 1974
19
Father Yod in a star pose
Los Angeles, 1972
20
Father Yod embracing his wife, Isis
Los Angeles, 1974
21
Father Yod with his "wives"
Apparently only legally married to one
22
Source Family women pose for a promotional photo for the Ya Ho Wa 13record release
Los Angeles, 1973
23
Father Yod shredding on a double-necked guitar
Los Angeles, 1970s
24
Ya Ho Wa 13 promotional photo
Hollywood Hills, 1970s
25
Father Yod as the lead singer of Ya Ho Wa 13
Los Angeles, 1970s
