TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: This August, Scientology’s Hollywood Celebrity Centre should be holding its 55th Anniversary Gala. But the last time it held one appears to be ten years ago. Geoff Levin reminds us what the annual bash was all about, and shares a rare letter from church leader David Miscavige! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“BELIEVE YOUR METER. Do not take up things that don’t read. Don’t get ‘hunches.’ Don’t let the pc run his own case by answering non-reading items and then the auditor taking them up. Also don’t let a pc ‘fiddle the cans’ to get a false read or to obscure a real one. (Very rare but these two actions have happened.)” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1971
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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 [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“These fellows do things like get your headquarters robbed of private research papers, buy them off the thief, publish them out of context and thus confuse the theory and research papers of Scientology with the actual practice of Scientology. And I point out to you that these are two entirely different things. Because I have just reserved the right all the way along the line to write down whatever I found. But I did not put it out for unlimited circulation. You see? So they’re challenging a fellow’s right to make notes of what he’s seen. But those research papers and books, today, actually do not much reflect the practice of Scientology, which if you look at it up the grades has very, very reasonable and very comprehensible goals. Do you see?” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 19, 1966
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“PARTY: I’m glad you had a good time at the Roaring 20’s party. I was going to attend but couldn’t find any gangsters or a Sub-Thompson machine gun — ‘Chicago typewriter’ or a big enough cigar. (Joke)” — The Commodore, July 19, 1970
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“Gullible people are there for the status! Not for the real thing! It’s a huge pretend! And the auditors who participate in the sham are suppressive! To say the least! Promoting satanic church members! Shame on all those who had any connection with one or another! They should do their conditions already! Low integrity, low self esteem!”
1999: U.S. Representative Mary Bono is speaking out about Scientology’s relationship with her late husband, Sonny Bono. From the Washington Post: “Since her election to the House, Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.) has gotten two visits from emissaries of the Church of Scientology, including one from well-known church adherent John Travolta. The California Republican’s late husband was a devotee of Scientology, but church officials did not find a receptive audience in Mary Bono. Bono tells George magazine that Sonny Bono ultimately became disenchanted with the church. ‘Sonny did try to break away at one point, and they made it very difficult for him,’ the congresswoman says. Bono says she told the Scientologists who visited her House office that she will deal with any ‘legitimate concern’ they have. A church official denied to the magazine that there had been any estrangement with Sonny Bono.”
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“I’m a watching a movie and I saw on IMDB that one of the actors was named ‘Mapother’ and sure enough he’s Middletooth’s cousin and he’s been in tons of stuff and he’s a better actor than Tom. Who knew?”
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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 May 31, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, on hold until appeal over new judge heard.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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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] Lawsuit seeks to make Scientology pay for years of costs after childhood sexual assault
[TWO years ago] Scientology Mission Impossible: Or, how an ‘SP’ ended up in charge
[THREE years ago] Scientology wants you to take this survey like yesterday. So pencils ready!
[FOUR years ago] Scientology donor in leaked video: ‘You’re going to pay this money fucking eventually’
[FIVE years ago] Fans feeling conflicted about Tom Cruise and Scientology after seeing Top Gun 2 trailer
[SIX years ago] Judge to Garcias: Scientology can lie and cheat and there’s nothing I can do about it
[SEVEN years ago] VIDEO: ‘Scientology Kills’ protest at Dublin concert enrages Jive Aces musician
[EIGHT years ago] ‘Call Me’ says their billboard — and their daughter in Scientology did just that
[NINE years ago] Mile High and climbing: Chris Shelton helps us tell the tale of Scientology and ‘Miss Lovely’
[TEN years ago] VIDEO: L. Ron Hubbard solves the Cold War and your bad marriage
[ELEVEN years ago] STACY DAWN MURPHY: One Year After Her Death, Still No Answers
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 2,966 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,461 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,976 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,526 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,516 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,397 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,701 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,572 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,124 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,465 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,032 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,951 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,119 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,700 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,961 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,997 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,713 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,277 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,592 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,767 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,318 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,449 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,787 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,640 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,761 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,117 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,420 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,526 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,924 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,800 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,365 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,878 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,132 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,240 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 19, 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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
