Report: Elisabeth Moss’s father still trying to get back in Scientology’s graces when he died

In April 2022, the New Yorker magazine published a profile of actress Elisabeth Moss and interviewed former Scientology Celebrity Centre fixture Geoff Levin.

At the time, we gave the magazine credit for asking Geoff about Moss’s Scientology involvement, something Moss herself is generally not very talkative about.

But Geoff wanted us to know that he’d told the New Yorker more about Moss and Scientology, and about her father, Scientologist musician Ron Moss, that didn’t make it into the magazine.

He told us why he had been in a particularly good position to watch Elisabeth as she was becoming more important as an artist, and the reasons why she might have escaped some of the scrutiny that other Scientology celebrities go through.

But the most surprising thing he told us was that after her father Ron’s fall from grace, Elisabeth and her mother had pushed him out of their lives.

And now, Ron Moss has died at 79, and so we went back to Geoff for some more thoughts on his old friend.

“I knew Ron in the early days before he became Chick Corea’s manager. He played trombone on music tracks I composed. He was a musician first and then a very hard working, skilled music manager. We were friends,” Geoff says. “There was a small group of working successful musicians in Scientology in the 70s and 80s and Ron was in touch with all of us.”

And then, Ron managed Chick’s career during the jazz phenom’s most successful years.

“I attended many of Chick’s concerts thanks to Ron’s support in getting tickets,” Geoff remembers.

But then, something around the year 2001 happened. Exactly what, and how it related to Scientology, was explained recently by Mike Rinder, and Marc and Claire Headley in a video.

Mike explained that Chick Corea, the super-successful jazz artist and OT 8 Scientologist, was having serious financial problems and couldn’t pay his bills.

This was potentially a disaster not only for Chick, but also for Scientology if it became publicly known. And so, Mike says, Scientology leader David Miscavige came up with a solution: Buy Chick’s LA recording studio, Mad Hatter, so Chick could pay off his debts with money from the sale.

Mike said the studio became “the biggest white elephant in Scientology history” as it really wasn’t needed.

Meanwhile, Mike explained, a “who” had to be found to explain why Chick had failed so badly. And they settled on Ron Moss, his manager.

Marty Rathbun was used, Mike said, to work on Ron with Scientology sec checking until he agreed that he’d been the problem.

And Ron’s punishment?

“He was no longer allowed to be part of the Chick Corea world, and no longer allowed to be part of the Scientology celebrity gang,” Mike said.

When Chick died in 2021, in an interview on a music podcast Ron said he hadn’t seen Chick in 20 years, that they’d never had a “reconciliation.”

But really, Mike explained, it was Scientology disconnection: Ron was made the scapegoat for Chick’s financial problems, and was then made a sort of un-person. But they could never totally destroy him because of who his daughter was.

“Elisabeth Moss still to this day supports Scientology, right, like she knows that this happened to her dad,” Mike said. “She knows the whole story of what went down and how he was scapegoated and he was made the bad guy.”

We noted that news reports said that Ron Moss had died in Clearwater, and we asked Geoff Levin about that.

“Through a friend who was in touch with him recently, I found out Ron was living near the Scientology Flag Land Base in Clearwater until he died. He was still in Scientology. And he was doing a protracted ethics program to get back on his OT Levels,” Geoff says.

More than 20 years after he’d been kicked out of Chick’s circle, and demoted as a degraded being, Ron Moss was still dutifully trying to get himself back in the good graces of the church.

“The sad thing was, like many people who have gone ‘up the Bridge.’ Ron’s mental condition worsened and the pressure to give more and more money to Scientology increased. And that resulted in issues with his family. Linda, his ex-wife, disconnected from him and so did Elisabeth,” Geoff says. “I heard he was in touch with his son Derek.”

Ron Moss, dedicated to Scientology to the end, even after it took away his daughter and his friends.

“I’m sorry to see him go, still believing the lies of L. Ron Hubbard’s toxic organization,” Geoff says. “So many music artists went downhill the longer they stayed in Scientology. RIP Ron, you deserved better.”

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Scientology is the breakthrough that made the indefinite subject of Philosophy into a precision tool.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1966

 
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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 as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.

 
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH

— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see

[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf

— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond

[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman

 
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Source Code

“Our problem at this time probably doesn’t have anything to do with making anybody better. Our problem, probably from here on out, is a problem of another hue and color. It is probably ‘Now having cracked the confounded thing, how do we keep this universe here?’ That’s probably a much more interesting problem.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 31, 1957

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“It is of interest to Scientologists that the clamor raised over the years by Smersh about me and all the hard names called have not even faintly affected my membership in various and numerous high level associations and scientific societies and clubs. The list of these are quite long and all of them are a big ‘high and mighty’ in the arts, sciences and social stratas. I was just looking at my influx of magazines and notices of meetings and it struck me as rather funny that the highest of our detractors would give his back molars to be accepted into some of these groups. I also hadn’t realized the list was so long. Most of them black ball first and think about it afterwards. Yet for twenty years they have been very serene. So don’t get into the notion that the ‘power of the press’ has any real bearing on the world. According to this testimony of personal repute, the opposition might as well have spent their time yelling into a well. Thought it would be of some interest to you. US and UK press and TV have been quite favorable lately. So year by year the stats rise and reputation grows. And during all this time my own personal repute has remained very high in the places that matter. In the long view we are doing a very good job. Our only complaint is that we could do better and do it faster. But remember, it IS getting done.” — The Commodore, January 31, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The subject here is the Covert Hostility 1.1 tone level. Disregard of this data (on excuses of politics, religion or human rights) has destroyed the 2nd Dynamic in the USA and the world. Disregard of this data is causing American millenials to vote for Karl Marx’s candidate Bernie Sanders. Sanders’ agenda is for the creation of US Gulags for those stupid millenials in Alaska.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1998: Ron Newman posted portions of a curriculum submitted by Scientology school officials to the city of Sommerville, Massachusetts. “LRH TECHNOLOGY, LOWER GRADIENT TOTS, Gives self a contact assist. Mimics tones on The Tone Scale and identifies pictures of people in different tones, with easy vocabulary used. Maintains silence when someone is hurt. Gives another a locational with proper acknowledgement. Asks ‘what happened’ to another to run out minor injuries, and acknowledges what is said. Steers another gently around the room. UPPER GRADIENT TOTS – K and 1ST, Understand the word ‘means’ and defines words. Understands what a dictionary is for, tells which words he needs cleared and gets them cleared. Understands his own purposes for being a student and generally the purpose of studying.”

 
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Random Howdy

“My father didn’t even want to go to Korea. He considered himself a socialist and he had already served in WWII and he had this incredibly cush job as Chief Steward on a luxury liner The Lorlene that sailed from S.F to Hawaii, so when he got his draft notice he threw it in the trash. They came aboard the ship and arrested him, sent him to the stockade for a few months and asked him if he wanted to stay there for the next 10 years or go to Korea. He went to Korea, became a tank sergeant and won a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart…and he killed a Chinese soldier with his bayonet. That’s the thing he really brought home.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing January 29, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, motion to strike/anti-SLAPP motions by Scientology to be heard January 9, 2024.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Discovery phase.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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] After Cruise, Moss, and Shelly noms, Valerie Haney called ‘obstructionist’ by Scientology
[TWO years ago] And now for this word from Scientology about how great everything is!
[THREE years ago] Scientology social media: Body thetans just don’t stand a chance as this planet is cleared!
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s 2020 Super Bowl ad is just like all the others: A mystery sandwich
[FIVE years ago] Former members of the Lisa McPherson Trust reflect on Tuesday’s ‘Aftermath’ episode
[SIX years ago] A mini-trove of early Scientology materials has some gems for us today
[SEVEN years ago] For 30 grand or so, Scientology will let you into its shrine to L. Ron Hubbard. Here’s a peek.
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology attorney Bert Deixler writes a threat letter to Karen de la Carriere over TV show
[NINE years ago] Jon Atack: Scientology’s elusive ‘Clears’ and ‘Operating Thetans’ — where have they been?
[TEN years ago] Leah Remini is still thumbing her nose at Scientology leader David Miscavige
[ELEVEN years ago] Ursula Caberta Retiring: Her Thoughts On Fighting Scientology in Germany for 20 Years

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 31, 2024 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone