We know that many people are drawn to Scientology watching because of its celebrities, and we also have a certain fascination with them. And certainly, there’s a lot of press about them. Seems like just about every week you’ll see a breathless piece somewhere counting down Scientology’s celebrities, or listing the big names who have left.
Six years ago, we put together our own list, hoping it was a bit more informed. If you remember, we named Scientology’s top 20 celebrities, but with a twist: We listed them in order of those most likely to defect.
We thought we’d revisit that list and see how good our predictions were, and for help we reached out to Geoff Levin. A musician long associated with the Hollywood Celebrity Centre, Geoff is a walking encyclopedia about Scientology’s luminaries. And he’s been working on a documentary about his experience getting out of the church, called “Brothers Broken,” and we wanted to see how that’s going.
Today, we’re releasing the seventh episode of our podcast to our paid subscribers at Substack. You should receive it presently at your email inbox if you’re on the list.
We hope you enjoy the hour we spent with Geoff, whose knowledge about Scientology celebrities is really fun to probe.
Not a paid subscriber? Well, we have something for you, too. Last week’s episode was with Pete Griffiths and his wild tale of running a Scientology mission while he was a declared SP. In the weeks before, we talked with Sunny Pereira about the Scientology Hollywood Celebrity Centre, Bruce Hines on Sea Org insanity, Jeffrey Augustine on Scientology litigation, Claire Headley on Tom Cruise, and Claire’s husband Marc told us some great stories about Scientology leader David Miscavige that we had never heard before.
Those first six episodes are now free to all of our subscribers, paid and unpaid. All of our podcast episodes can be found here.
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“This planet is part of an earlier federation and passed out of its control due to losses in war and other such things. Now, this larger confederacy, this isn’t its right name, but we have often called it and referred to it in the past as the Marcab Confederacy. And it has been wrongly or rightly pointed to as one of the tail stars of the Big Dipper, which is the capital planet of which this planet is. Now, all this sounds very Space Opera-ish and that sort of thing, and I’m sorry for it, but I am not one to quibble about the truth. This gets in people’s hair every now and then, and I don’t see any point in lying in order to be acceptable. It just doesn’t seem to be a right way to go about things, particularly in the realm of science.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 6, 1963
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“LIONS: The local Lions Club was entertained aboard with great success. Candlelit dining room, guitar music. Caviar, lobster, salad and cigars and cognac after. 25 came. They cancelled their own first dinner of the season and came to ours. High commendables to Peter Warren, John Bragin and our two magnificent girls Mrs. Jone van Hoecke and Mme Francoise Cugnot, Sven as Chef and Kenilee Moore as Maitre de Hotel, and the waiters Rick, Jesse, Charles, Bob and several others. It was very commendable team work. Very well done! Our PRO Area Control has been greatly advanced with local influential business men.” — The Commodore, August 6, 1971
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“As I continued getting auditing — most recently N.E.D. — and studying, I became increasingly more certain that I was Clear. I began having rapid-fire cognitions that not only was I Clear, but a past life Clear, at that. THAT made a LOT of sense. I hadn’t ‘recreated’ Scientology on my own, I had ‘remembered’ it. The funny thing to me is that many times when I heard other past-lifers talk about their feelings of not quite ‘fitting in’ and some of their cognitions, I’d thought, ‘yeah, right. I have that too.’ It never occurred to me that I had that too because I was that too.”
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1999: Scientology poured the foundation for the new Super Power building in downtown Clearwater this week. “The Church of Scientology and its contractor, Beers Construction Co. of Tampa, have coordinated an 18-hour task that will involve more than 500 construction workers, 130 mixing trucks, 1,200 truckloads of high-strength concrete from six area plants, and 24 off-duty police officers to handle the traffic. Although the church staged a glitzy groundbreaking in November and workers have been excavating the site since, the foundation is the largest and most tangible evidence that the long-planned building is under way. The project has gone through several design changes over the years, and brochures mailed recently to Scientology members indicate the church is still raising money to pay for the $45-million structure.”
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“What kinda nut would think you could listen to Martians on an E-meter? Any sane person knows the only way you could listen to Martians is when you’re at the implant station on Mars, sheesh.”
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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.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Readiness hearing scheduled for August 22 in Los Angeles
— 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] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 15: Always finding the best parking spot
[TWO years ago] Nazanin Boniadi chides Karen Bass for ‘insufficient’ statement on Scientology speech
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s secret weapon to get its clutches on your children
[FOUR years ago] If it’s wrong to love Scientology hip-hop, we don’t want to be right
[FIVE years ago] Scientology subjects young children to quack therapies — now, someone is taking a stand
[SIX years ago] So much for all that: Attempt by Garcias to revive Scientology lawsuit shot down by judge
[SEVEN years ago] Um, about that story claiming Will Smith got a ‘refund’ from his broke-ass shuttered school…
[EIGHT years ago] Maybe the saddest Scientology promo video ever, and a history lesson from Mark Bunker!
[NINE years ago] Mary Sue Hubbard’s Last Will Fulfilled: Her Dog Bereft of Life, It’s Time to Sell Her House!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Delirium: Commenters of the Week!
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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 2,748 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,253 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,803 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,793 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,684 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,989 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,859 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,633 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,964 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,437 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,753 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,319 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,238 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,406 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,986 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,248 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,284 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,999 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,524 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 879 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,054 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,605 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,754 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,074 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,929 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,048 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,404 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,707 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,813 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,211 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,087 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,670 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,165 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,419 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,528 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 6, 2022 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
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
