A few weeks ago, we wrote a brief piece about Geoff Levin and how he and the other members of the 60s rock band People! are getting back together, 50 years since they had a hit song and then joined Scientology’s Sea Organization.
Now, Chris Shelton has sat down with Geoff for a lengthy interview, and we’re really excited for the result. Here’s what Chris says about it…
This week I am featuring part one of my very long interview with former Scientologist and Sea Org member Geoff Levin. Geoff has seen it all, worked with Hubbard directly and was involved with a number of important music and creative projects with Scientology over the years. In this first part, we cover about the first ten years of his time in Scientology, starting with his hippie days in the 1960s and ending off with the story of how he went to Hubbard’s ship in the 1970s and worked with the old man directly. We cover a wide range of topics including some of the formative years of Celebrity Centre itself and Yvonne Gillham is there too.
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Celebrities pushing Scientology TV?
Is this a sign of things to come? Minor Scientology celebrity Jim Meskimen, son of Marion Ross and an impressionist of some note, sent out an email to friends recently which made its way to us.
“I don’t often discuss religion in my mailings,” he said. “Many of you may be aware that I’ve been a Scientologist since 1983. Over the decades I’ve kind of gotten used to being called a member of a ‘controversial religion.'”
He then suggests that it might have been difficult for his friends to compare their experience with Jim from what they read in the press. But now, there’s an opportunity to learn the truth!
“I wanted to let you know that we now have our very own TV channel, online and on Direct TV channel 320….the purpose of the channel is to simply present our religion as it actually is. (Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t look the way it does in the pages of US Magazine or The National Enquirer.) If you’ve ever read or seen something about Scientology that didn’t fit with what you know about me, have a look at the other side of the story.”
His email provides a link to the TV network.
If Meskimen can be convinced to email his non-Scientology friends a link to Scientology TV, how much of a step is it for him to appear on the network programming itself? And are other, more well known Scientology celebs also sending out similar emails?
Ooh, the possibilities give us goosebumps.
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Brendan Tighe on Today
In case you missed it yesterday, here’s Brendan Tighe’s excellent appearance on the Today Show with Megyn Kelly, talking about his experience growing up in Scientology. Brendan worked security at Flag and yes, he witnessed some things regarding celebrities like Tom Cruise and John Travolta, but what impresses us is how he is careful to explain what he saw and what he didn’t see, never trying to inflate his own importance. So when his mother, who is still in the church, accuses him in a statement of “overstating your experience,” it comes off like a typical Scientology smear — and how Brendan handles it is pure gold.
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,159 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 1,762 days
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 305 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 193 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,368 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,142 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 2,916 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,262 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 10,828 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,496 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,756 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 1,796 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,508 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,034 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,123 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,263 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,583 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,558 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 914 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,216 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,322 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,725 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,597 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,179 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,684 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,928 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,037 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 28, 2018 at 07:00
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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
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