A sharp new copy of a Scientology video from 2007 has been dropped on the Internet, and wow, is it making us feel nostalgic.
Video of the “OT Summit 2007” — when Scientology leader David Miscavige formally unveiled a new set of L. Ron Hubbard books and lectures called “The Basics” — has been online before, but never so complete or in such clarity. We’ve grabbed a segment that we knew you’d want to see.
It’s a crowd shot at the beginning when Scientology leader David Miscavige comes out on stage, and in the front row the celebrities applaud him, including a beaming Tom Cruise with his then-wife Katie Holmes at his side.
Of all the celebrities, Tom is grinning the most, so excited to see his pal. Katie, on the other hand, looks not as thrilled to be there.
Next to Katie is Jessica Feshbach, who was her handler and who was so constantly at her side it became a running joke with the press. And next to Jessica is Dan Sherman, official L. Ron Hubbard biographer.
There’s another look at the front row later in the segment, and we can see a string of old regulars: Kirstie Alley, John Travolta, and his wife the late Kelly Preston, and then Anne Archer and Priscilla Presley.
This event was a couple of years after the grand experiment of sending Tom out as an ambassador for the church in 2005, which had gone so disastrously. It included, for example, Tom’s embarrassing combative interview with Matt Lauer on the Today show.
You may have seen some misguided conservative pundits bizarrely trying to rehabilitate that debacle in recent days as a “win” for Cruise. But it’s important to remember that Cruise, that day on Today, was acting as David Miscavige’s proxy, trying to grow interest in founder L. Ron Hubbard’s contention that evil psychiatrists have been planting booby traps in our minds for trillions of years across the galaxy, a key concept in Scientology.
So please keep that in mind when you see the likes of Tucker Carlson today saying that “Tom was right.”
Anyway, it’s really something to see Tom Cruise so excited to see his best man, Dave, come out to drone on for the next couple of hours about some new editions of Hubbard’s books and lectures, now with fewer semicolons. (If you’re a real masochist, you can watch the entire thing here.) The full “Basics” package ran about $3,000 each, and every Scientologist was expected to pay for one or more sets, even though they probably had all of the original set of materials at home already.
It was a shameless money grab, but look at Tom’s face. He’s so proud that Dave is about to come out and knock it out of the park.
No wonder Katie made a run for it five years later.
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Today’s Scientology happy news. Yes, an excerpt from an actual press release put out by the church this week.
In honor of the anniversary of the opening of the Church of Scientology and Community Center of Harlem, go behind the scenes with ‘Destination: Scientology’ an original series on the Scientology Network. Harlem has always marched to its own beat — in music, art and fashion — a beat that has reverberated around the world.
“There is nowhere else like Harlem,” said Mr. David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, when he dedicated the new Church and community center on July 31, 2016. “Your renaissance poets, your playwrights, your painters, your authors and musicians—even a mere recitation of the names is humbling: Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, Claude McKay and Louis Armstrong. What else need one say except ‘excise Harlem from American history and everything turns lukewarm.’”
The staff and parishioners of the Church are equally passionate about Harlem and work each day to strengthen the vibrant community.
“Harlem is the capital of Black America,” says Phil, a staff member at the Church. “We are brothers and sisters in Harlem. It’s a very, very proud community. We have this vibe, this kind of swagger.” Phil loves that “families can come, artists can come, they can get together and create a better community.”
But Harlem also moves to a Latin beat says Sashianna, who describes how “growing up in Harlem is one of the best experiences you can have because you see what a real community is like. We have so much culture, we have so much art. I like to call it ‘we have our own sazón’…our own type of flavor and our own seasoning to whatever we do.”
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Now available: Bonus for our supporters
Episode 5 of the Underground Bunker podcast has been sent out to paid subscribers, and it’s a conversation with Sunny Pereira dishing secrets of Scientology’s Hollywood Celebrity Centre. Meanwhile, we’ve made episodes 1 through 4 available to everyone, with Bruce Hines on the crazy life in the Sea Org, Jeffrey Augustine on recent Scientology court cases, Claire Headley exposing Tom Cruise, and Marc Headley on what it must be like for David Miscavige living in Clearwater, Florida. Go here to get the episodes!
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“I know it’s fashionable for the newspapers to say I never went to college and there are several colleges at this particular time that are wishing that I hadn’t gone there. But I can also assure you that you give them another decade or so, those colleges I haven’t even done more than go to a prom at will have some plates on ’em. You know? Man is silly, you see?” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 28, 1966
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“SAILING: We sail at 1600 today regardless of barometer (which is falling) waves (which are rising) and restraint of Rulers and Princes (there are no restraints) Perils of the Sea (which are only too real) and Acts of God (means things you can’t figure out how you goofed). Standby to take on Dramamine (called so because it keeps one from ‘drama’-tizing). Secure everything and tie down everything except the watch. In short let’s get the blue blazes out of here!” — The Commodore, July 28, 1971
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“At one point, about 2 weeks into the Rundown, I found that as I ran around that tree, there were literally blue sparks and loud crackings of electrical energy, between myself and that anchor point. I felt like I was recharging, as a being, and as I ran, like a turbine, my energy levels increased and I spotted the cause of this energy – me. I could swing my body around that tree with next to no effort – and while running more than a marathon daily, I was full of energy, life force and zest. The rundown has nothing to do with the physical body — and is all about you, as a spiritual being. So simple, but so powerful.”
1997: News this week from L. Ron Hubbard’s birthplace, Tilden, Nebraska, where local organizers have decided against creating a park in his honor. Donald Harvill posted a report. “Tilden has decided to not construct the L. Ron Hubbard Memorial Park, the money has returned from whence it came, and the local foundation that was going to oversee the project has disbanded. There was just too large of an uproar from too many of the citizens that were opposed to associating their town with the CoS.”
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“Someone please find the e-mail they sent out telling the clams how to go to the dentist and get their gold fillings extracted for cash to donate. That is the ultimate example of what Scientology really is for me.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11, pretrial conference August 17.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filing amended complaint on August 2.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place, next status hearing October 25. Scientology petitioning US Supreme Court over appellate ruling.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] More Scientology euphoria: What it looks like to finish Grade 3!
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini: In Scientology, all sickness comes from enemies of the church
[THREE years ago] Scientology uses actor Jason Dohring as bait in what ends up as a false imprisonment case
[FOUR years ago] Scientology in Europe: ‘A scapegoat always had to be found when something went wrong’
[FIVE years ago] Bryan Seymour takes a Scientology field trip, and we’re the better for it
[SIX years ago] As Stacy Murphy lawsuit heads to crucial hearing, two Scientology entities settle
[SEVEN years ago] From Cradle to Slave: Nora Crest starts her video series with frank talk about Scientology and sex
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s fight with Ryan Hamilton delivers dox: The Eric Tenorio affidavit and more
[NINE years ago] With Leah Remini Under Attack on Twitter, TV Actor Christian Stolte Was a First Responder
[TEN years ago] ‘Tom Cruise Worships David Miscavige Like a God’: A Scientology Insider Gives First Full-Length Interview to the Voice
[ELEVEN years ago] VIDEO: Scientology Spy Comes Clean to Riverside County Board of Supes
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,739 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,244 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,794 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,784 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,675 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,980 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,850 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,624 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,955 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,428 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,744 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,310 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,229 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,397 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,977 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,239 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,275 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,990 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,515 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 870 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,045 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,596 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,745 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,065 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,920 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,039 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,395 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,698 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,804 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,202 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,078 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,661 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,156 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,410 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,519 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 28, 2022 at 07:00
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Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | 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 | Shelly Miscavige, 15 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
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
