Scientology’s secret vaults get their star turn on the new TV network, and it’s nutty!

Last night, the show about Scientology’s “Archival Project” aired, giving outsiders a pretty amazing look at some of the inner workings making sure Scientology’s wisdom can survive natural disasters and a nuclear holocaust.

We had noticed this look at Scientology archives being promoted on its Scientology TV network earlier (and which Marc Headley noticed). And we’ve had a pretty good look at this stuff before, through Scientology’s own publications. But it was still pretty stunning to see on television.

The hour-long program gave some intimate looks at the kind of work that archivists are doing at a small mountain compound above Los Angeles, the headquarters of the Church of Spiritual Technology (CST).

However, CST itself was never mentioned, and neither was the location, and the vaults where the archived material is stored were also not located.

As former CST employee Dylan Gill explained to us last time, the archival project of storing L. Ron Hubbard’s words is well known among Scientologists, but CST itself is one of Scientology’s most closely-held secrets.

But we’re expecting that non-Scientologist viewers probably had two reactions…

1. The expense for storing Hubbard’s books, lectures, and films on nickel-plated grooved records and stainless steel plates in titanium time capsules has to be monstrously expensive.

2. Why in the hell is this much effort being put into storing, of all things, the words of L. Ron Hubbard?

And third, for those in the know, were they really showing us the archiving work being done at a small compound where we believe that Scientology leader David Miscavige has been keeping his wife, Shelly Miscavige, out of sight since the summer of 2005?

“There’s no archiving being done anywhere else. It’s all up at that main base,” Gill tells us.

We couldn’t help wondering if one of the workers wearing protective clothing might have been Shelly herself. Here are some of the images from the show…

 
Dylan Gill: “That’s Alex Tom Wheeler. He was in HCO. I worked with that guy every day.”

 
We got a glimpse of this training film being preserved that references the TRs and “Alice in Wonderland.” Does this bring back some memories from our oldtimers?

 
The program boasted about baking ink samples in a radiation oven. Hang on, isn’t special permitting needed before you can zap things with gamma rays? Does anyone know?

 
This person was apparently an outside vendor who helped with the work? We believe his name is Brian Wald. Hey, thanks for the help storing the Commodore’s magic technology!

 
Funny how they don’t name anybody in the program. It’s almost like they have something to hide…

 
…but this academic is plainly Patrick Mason, who is not only a religious historian but is also Dean of the School of Arts & Humanities at Claremont Graduate University in Southern California. Woo-hoo! He’s helping to make sure somebody 10,000 years from now can get bullbaited.

Well, we have to say this program was just about the only one we’ve seen so far on Scientology TV that was actually fun to watch. The money being spent is truly prodigious, but, you know, when you want to defeat time itself, you have to go big.

 
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Police report released in Arnie Lerma attempted murder, suicide

We expect to get more details from the Sylvania Police Department in the coming days, but for now we did obtain a copy of the initial incident report from the awful event on March 16, when noted Scientology critic Arnie Lerma shot his wife Ginger Sugerman in the face and then turned the gun on himself.

Ginger told us that she ran to a neighbor, who then called for emergency services. (We’ve redacted that person’s name until we can contact them.) Sylvania PD officer Michael Dickerson responded at 11:33 pm, according to the report. This is the narrative he later filed…

On the date and time stated I responded to a 911 dispatch to 308 Holly Rd. in reference to a white female with a gunshot to the head. Upon arrival I made contact with the home owner, [redacted] who was walking with the victim, Ginger Sugerman down his driveway toward me and my partner, Ofc. Bennett. Mrs. Sugerman had a gunshot wound to her mouth and was in shock, but was able to state that she had been shot by her husband, Arnaldo Lerma at 314 Holly Rd. EMS was standing by down the street and at this time I notified 911 to have them move to my location. I sent Ofc. Bennett with EMS to the Hospital to get any additional information he could and try to take pictures of the injuries. I relocated to the driveway of the apartments where 314 Holly Rd. and the shooter, Lerma was stated to be. I had 911 make contact with GSP [Georgia State Police] and the Screven County Sheriffs Office for any assistance they could give. I made contact with Lt. Taylor who stated he was on the way and attempted to make contact with Chief Burke, Deputy Gordon, Lt. Taylor and Chief Weaver arrive and discuss our options. Ofc. Bennett and GSP954 arrive on scene and are sent to cover the rear exit of the apartment. After repeated attempts to make contact with Lerma at the front door to 314 and finding the door not secured we made entry and found Lerma in the first floor bathroom deceased from a self inflicted gunshot wound to his head. Sylvania Fire and Animal Control were dispatched to remove a dog and the bathroom door.

 
We expect to get more information from the police department about the scene itself. Based on what we’ve gathered so far, there were actually two bullet holes in the wall of the apartment near where Ginger had been watching television. She had told us that she had run and fallen before she was shot, but the evidence at the scene suggests she was shot and then ran. Also, that Lerma shot twice, hitting her once. After that initial volley, and after Ginger had run away, a neighbor then heard an additional shot several minutes later, which was apparently the sound of Lerma ending his life. As the report notes, he was found in the bathroom slumped against the door, which had to be removed by its hinges to get to him, another indication that he’d been by himself when he died.

It’s just a very sad end for a man who had once taken on Scientology in epic battles over the early Internet, and who had amassed a major online repository of critical information of the church. Ginger, meanwhile, continues to heal. We’ll continue to check in on her.

 
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Enturbulation in Florida!

You may remember our story with Neil Sarfati, who talked to us about his days aboard the Apollo and in the band the Apollo All-Stars. Today he posted this anecdote and we thought you’d want to see it…

 
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SMERSH Madness 2018

Today we’re continuing the third round of our big dance featuring the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?

Today’s match features our #2 seed, actor Tom Cruise, who defeated Tommy Davis in the second round. Easily the most recognized Scientologist in the world, he’s been a feather in David Miscavige’s cap since he started in the church back in the year 1986. And today, Cruise and Miscavige really do consider themselves the two most important human beings on Earth, and those of us not following their example are deluded, degraded beings living on a prison planet. Even after the revelations that his best pal is spying on him, manipulating his relationships, and even laughs at his sexual problems behind his back, Cruise seems utterly dedicated to the cause — despite what you might have heard.

Cruise is taking on our #10 seed Nancy Cartwright, the voice actor famous for her work as Bart Simpson. (Nancy defeated Nation of Islam’s Minister Louis Farrakhan in the first round and Joy Villa in the second.) In Scientology, she’s also known as “Her Royal Governness of the Vast Valley Territory,” because she took the lead on fundraising for so many years in order to complete the “Ideal Org” in the San Fernando Valley. But she’s also known inside Scientology celebrity circles as being a real hard-ass, riding other celebrities about staying on lines and making donations. An OT 8, Nancy is a bitter-ender who will stay with Scientology believing that someday, it will make her a god.

Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
Yesterday’s winner: Marty Rathbun stomped John Travolta!

 
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Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 27, 2018 at 07:00

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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
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

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten 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

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