TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Former Scientology film director Mitch Brisker has even more photos for us from the church’s movie sets, and this time he’s given us a great narrative about being sandwiched between L. Ron Hubbard’s scripts and David Miscavige’s mercurial directives. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“One problem which exists with children more than with adults is that sometimes one or both of the parents will be actively against Dianetics. If this has extended to the point of using dianetic terminology in a disparaging way the task may be made even more difficult. The answer to this problem is, of course, affinity and communication between the auditor and the child. It is good in a case of this kind to emphasize even more the ‘playing a game’ approach, and to avoid use of dianetic terminology until affinity is well established.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“The only death, I think, that ever occurred in the eastern area occurred on the part of a boy who came into the New York Foundation to receive some Dianetic auditing. We had a psychiatrist there who was on duty, because the publisher there in New York said that that was the legal thing to have. And anybody who came in and looked a bit desperate or something of the sort would be a mental case and therefore should be interviewed by the psychiatrist. He went in, saw the psychiatrist, the psychiatrist said there was nothing could be done. The psychiatrist told the auditor in question that he wasn’t to audit him and they sent the boy back out of the Foundation, and he went home and killed himself. That happened in New York City. It was smoothed over very quietly but there’s no particular reason to smooth it over because we didn’t kill him. That was an interesting thing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 2, 1956
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“ETHICS: The unauthorised use of a master key to enter any FINANCE Office, without the FINANCE personnel permission will be considered illegal entry. (Other than an emergency such as fire or water leakage.)” — Lt. L. Steinberg, 3rd Mate, September 2, 1970
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“I am not a fanatic of Admin. But it is a necessity so that one person can recognise and meet the counter effort of the environment. The definition of rationality. How is one person out there (OK, in some cases with 5 or 6 more people next to him) able to do that? They cannot. I refuse to have gone crazy before I kick the bucket this lifetime. This is my right. The right to my sanity. And I am gonna stay sane as long as I even whisper it to my team mates that Admin is the path. And the org board is the key. LRH didn’t spend his life over org boards for nothing. He wanted to teach us something. He said that was the best vehicle he could find. And I don’t just believe him, I have seen it work.”
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1997: Anonymous poster “Warrior” compiled a list of Sea Org members who he recalls being sent to the Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) punishment organization. “A large percentage of these people were sent to the RPF as supposed ‘List One R/Sers’, although others were sent because of other reasons like ‘out-2D’ behavior, for being ‘low OCA non-producers’, ‘repeated stat crashers’, etc. Barbara Adams – HCO Area Sec ASHO D; Bella Adams – was CO Cadet Estates Org; Chuck Adams; Steve Adams – Estates Mgr ASHO D; Paulette Ausley – she’s the one who did the false ‘L-1’ labelling; Cindy Avrin – ASHO D Div 6; Patricia ‘Patty’ Azevedo aka Patty Grant; Rick Aznaran – now of Phoenix Investigations; Vicki Aznaran – was Pres RTC; Jamie Beardsley – ASHO F Div 1; Jane Bertinot – ASHO D Div 6; Sherry Bird – ASHO D Div 2; John Bostrum – was Dir Income ASHO D; Wendy Bostrum – Letter Reg ASHO D; Sissy Brown – Recruiter ASHO D; Kevin Bryan – HCO ASHO F; Stacy Bryan – ASHO F; David Butterworth – GO/OSA/ASHO D; Maggie Butterworth – CO ASHO D/LRH Comm/Case Supervisor; Richard Byrd – Bridge Pubs; James ‘Jim’ Neil Chapman – was Treasury Sec ASHO D; Teresa Cintron – AOLA; Frank Clark – AOLA; Lori Coanda – ASHO D; Debra Convery – ASHO D/CEO; Al Crivello – was AGF AOLA; Linda Darlington – ASHO D; Shelby Davis – ASHO D; Marilyn DeWitt – ASHO F; Kathy Drayton – LRH Comm ASHO D; Cathy Dunn – CESO; Bruce Duszak – AOLA; Ben Elkington – Treas Sec Pubs – now an IAS patron; Sue Elkington – Pubs US; James X. Ellingson – ASHO D Div 2; Gary Epstein – was CO AOLA; Leslie Epstein – CO ASHO/CO AOLA/LC NW; Mitch Esterman – ASHO D Word Clearer; Sally Esterman – CCLA – was Mitch’s wife – now deceased; Richard Ferry – CESO; Doug Fiandaca – SO in PAC; Joyce Fiandaca – GO GLA; Patricia Garrett – ASHO F; Bobby Giles – Purchasing Agent for L Ron Hubbard; Claire Graef – ASHO D; Allen Grondin – Tech Sec/Chief Off ASHO D; DK Halloran – PAC SO; Elsa Hamilton – ASHO D HCO; Eddie Hansen – Cope Officer ASHO D; Jackie Harvey – SSO ASHO D; Marty Helgeson – ASHO F; Linda Hodge – ASHO D Div 2; April Huff – Bridge/GO Finance; Greg Huff – Bridge Publications; Bob Jaillet – Bridge Publications; Karen Jensen – Dir Inc ASHO F; Marty Kassowitz – PAC SO; Penny Keaton – ASHO F; Anita Klock – Bridge Publications; Paul Koval – CO ASHO D; Janet Landon – ASHO F; Alan Lazar – AOLA; Sandy Lazar – AOLA; Mickey Layne – ASHO D; Gerianne Long – Bridge Publications; Sam Loria – AOLA; David Mayo – was Snr C/S Int; Merrill Mayo – David’s wife; Sherry Miljoiner – ASHO D Word Clearer; Doug Nagy – Tours Reg ASHO D; Guy Norlen – FBO NW; Jeanie Norlen – ASHO F; Renee Norton – CO ASHO F; Ivan Obilensky – CO AOLA; Paulette Otten – SO in PAC; Richard Otten – FBO NW; David Pearson – FBO Pubs US; Nancy Phelps aka Nancy Schwartz – ASHO F/PAC SO; Alan Prager – CO ASHO D; Dawn Prager aka Dawn Granger aka Dawn Greene – Public Off/CO ASHO D; Cecilia Prefontaine – AOLA; Kari Rask – FR NW; Rosan Rich – Dir Inc Pubs US; Sue Richeson – BSO ASHO D; Barbara Rubio – was ordered but refused to report; was Snr C/S ASHO D; Mike Rubio – ASHO D HCO/Flag/FOLO WUS; Don Saito – Address Off ASHO D; Elaine Savitsky – TTC ASHO D; Vic Scelza – FOLOWUS; Bobby Schaffner – ASHO F HCO/Address Off – now dead; Ken Shapiro – Body Reg/ SHSBC Sup ASHO D; Candace ‘Candy’ Sias – Pubs US; Paul Sias – Pubs USS; Michael Silverman – AOLA Registrar; Pat Silverman – AOLA Div 6; Bill Skrifvars – HCO Area Sec ASHO D; Karen Spencer – FBO ASHO D; Larry Spencer – FBO ASHO D; Sheila Stankey – AOLA; Andre Tabayoyon – AOLA; Mary Tabayoyon – AOLA; Leslie Thompson – Dissem Sec/CO ASHO D; Ralph Toddhunter – ASHO F – wife Susan died of cancer; Bob Toftness – TTC ASHO D; Ruthie Weissberg – PES ASHO D; Carol Woodruff – AOLA; Craig Wright – ASHO D Tech Div; Suzanne Wright – Pubs US; Stacy Young – RVY’s wife; Anne Zanier – FOLO WUS; Loren Zanier – CESO. For every person I have named, there is another person whose face I can recall but whose name I cannot, who was on the RPF. Sad…Makes me angry.”
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“There’s all kinds of space opera before you get to OT III that can be found in ‘Have You Lived Before This Life?’ and ‘A History of Man’ etc. Ribisi is adhering to the code of Space Omertà.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence. Now serving time in state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for June 19.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal, which is now fully briefed. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike upheld on appeal. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return to Kalra’s court.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, 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] Body thetans hungover from space junk? Scientology can help with that
[TWO years ago] Claims about L. Ron Hubbard are ripping apart the Scientology ‘Freezone’
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Apollo crew member Sandy Holeman on serving L. Ron Hubbard and fleeing Scientology
[FOUR years ago] After more failures, Valeska Paris asks court to summons Scientology leader David Miscavige
[FIVE years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 2: Achieving godhood
[SIX years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 17: Louis Farrakhan
[SEVEN years ago] A holiday tale for families ripped apart by Scientology’s heartless ‘disconnection’ policy
[EIGHT years ago] FEDS CHARGE SCIENTOLOGISTS IN NEW YORK FOR $80 MILLION MEDICARE SCAM
[NINE years ago] Louis Theroux isn’t the first who tried to find Scientology’s positive side and failed
[TEN years ago] ‘Finally, I am myself’: Scientologists talk about Scientology in a video not made for the public
[ELEVEN years ago] Why Scientology can never submit its drug rehab quackery to scientific review
[TWELVE years ago] Jonny Jacobsen reviews the new Scientology memoir by Hungarian writer Peter Bonyai
[THIRTEEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY’S PRIVATE DANCER: A Story of Seduction, Intervention, and Betrayal
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,739 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,243 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,749 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,299 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,675 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,170 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,476 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,125 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,343 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,897 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,238 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,809 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,725 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,892 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,478 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,737 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,485 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,054 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,365 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,540 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,222 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,559 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,412 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,528 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,890 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,689 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,573 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,148 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,649 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,909 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,013 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 2, 2026 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.
Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is 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, 1995-2025 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
