Mark Bunker scores again, with a pristine 4K restoration of Scientology at sea!

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Mark Bunker has been doing startling work at his YouTube channel lately and has a real treat for us today: He’s restored a legendary 1968 Scientology documentary to glorious 4K resolution, and it has never looked and sounded better — it’s like watching it for the first time! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Recent intensive investigation into blocks on tech, dissemination and communication lines uncovered an aberration which is quite widespread and especially common in society. Simply stated I found that WHERE VITAL INFORMATION WAS NOT BEING RELAYED OR WAS HIDDEN OR FALSIFIED, THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE WERE DRAMATIZING WITHHOLDS. You can see this in newspapers, government policies, the medical profession, psychiatry, economics and especially education. I have for years tried to get to the bottom of why people will not teach people. It is the single greatest fault in existing culture in my opinion. The answer that fits all cases is a failure to relay information, brief, instruct, train or supervise stemming from a general past and current OVERT OF WITHHOLDING VITAL INFORMATION. This gives a dramatization in daily conduct of failing to relay information, brief, instruct, train or supervise. And underlying that is the intentional impulse to do so overtly or covertly in a mistaken attempt to forward their own first dynamic.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1974

 
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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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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

“In 2007 I had just turned 50 and I decided it was time to get up the Bridge. I knew the church was broken and to be of no value, so I began researching the Freezone. I found some auditors to join, paid them and had one auditor just leave the state, so I had to find another. I was Clear at the time so I got onto the Solo course, started the OT levels and the NED course. OT III sessions were pretty short so I was auditing three sessions a day. I had to fire my C/S for tech violations and putting stops on my lines. I found a new C/S and kept moving up the original grade chart. After OT VII I moved to Nevada to be near the auditor I had chosen to audit me. I did the L’s, then Solo Nots in Nevada, then moved back to California. From Clear to OT III was pretty difficult, bodies being such an impediment, but after that finding jobs was much easier, then the L’s really improved my ability to find work. Back in California I went on up the CBR Bridge and finished that a couple years later. All in all, I spent $10,000 each year for eight years or $80,000, a mere pittance compared to the abilities gained. I fired C/Ss and auditors that did not measure up or put stops on my lines. I took vacations to go to auditors as needed. Basically, I did whatever was necessary to get up the Bridge. It is not an easy path or quick but the rewards cannot be imagined.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2000: Mark Bunker, the creator of Xenu-TV, was arrested in Chicago this week for allegedly trespassing during the filming of a couple attempting to get a refund at the org. A description of the events from the couple was posted to a.r.s. “We were walking up to the door, I was behind [my husband] and Mark was behind me. And I remember two guys in black jackets coming up and they start grabbing Mark. They really roughed him up! They grabbed his arms and he started saying, ‘Who are you?’ They tried to get the camera out of his arms but he had a grip on it. They then said, ‘We’re Chicago Cops’ and we said, ‘Where’s your uniform? Where’s your ID?’ and he said, ‘Forget it lady, it doesn’t matter who I am’. I said ‘Why are you doing this to him, why are you pushing him around?’ Then they knocked his cell phone to the ground. This whole time he was holding his camera, he wouldn’t let go of his camera. He didn’t provoke anything! We were only on the sidewalk, we weren’t even on their property. They told us to come for the meeting at 7:30 so we come to the meeting and they attack this guy for nothing. We were standing away from the door, I’m behind [my husband] and Mark was behind ME so he was WAY outside! They took the camera he had a cell phone on and he was trying to call someone he said, ‘I wanna call my lawyer, I wanna call somebody.’ And they said ‘You’re going down, we’re going to lock you up and that’s it’. They wanted his camera and they were gonna lock him up. They never said ‘turn off the camera, back up’. I didn’t go inside because I said to the policeman that I knew, ‘I’m scared. What if they get me in there and never let me out? The lady (Pam?) from New York, she said they were hired to protect them. So they were hired by the org, and that’s why they jumped him. So they wanted us to come inside, they said, ‘We have a nice warm place for you inside, you know, with a dictionary and blah blah blah.’ She said, ‘I want you to sign the waiver’ I said, ‘We have a lawsuit against Marcus. You think I’m going to sign this? Do you think I’m crazy? You’d better give me all my money back.'”

 
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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, 2023. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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 February 24, 2025.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.

Civil litigation:

 
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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] Report: Elisabeth Moss’s father still trying to get back in Scientology’s graces when he died
[TWO years ago] After Cruise, Moss, and Shelly noms, Valerie Haney called ‘obstructionist’ by Scientology
[THREE years ago] And now for this word from Scientology about how great everything is!
[FOUR years ago] Scientology social media: Body thetans just don’t stand a chance as this planet is cleared!
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s 2020 Super Bowl ad is just like all the others: A mystery sandwich
[SIX years ago] Former members of the Lisa McPherson Trust reflect on Tuesday’s ‘Aftermath’ episode
[SEVEN years ago] A mini-trove of early Scientology materials has some gems for us today
[EIGHT years ago] For 30 grand or so, Scientology will let you into its shrine to L. Ron Hubbard. Here’s a peek.
[NINE years ago] Scientology attorney Bert Deixler writes a threat letter to Karen de la Carriere over TV show
[TEN years ago] Jon Atack: Scientology’s elusive ‘Clears’ and ‘Operating Thetans’ — where have they been?
[ELEVEN years ago] Leah Remini is still thumbing her nose at Scientology leader David Miscavige
[TWELVE 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, 2025 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone