One of our regular contributors snapped a couple of interesting photos this week.
He had spotted a Scientologist wearing his yellow “Volunteer Minister” shirt on Sunset Boulevard by the Big Blue compound, right out in front of the Los Angeles Ideal Org.
“I pulled down my window at the stop light, and the VM said ‘Come in to the parking lot – free food!’,” our tipster tells us.
Really, Scientology? Having some superannuated volunteer hand out snacks on Sunset to lure people in for a Dianetics seminar? Has it really come to this?
Meanwhile, down the street at the L. Ron Hubbard Theatre, Ron’s short story “Tough Old Man” was read as a birthday celebration for the tough old Commodore.
“Tough Old Man” appeared in a 1950 issue of Startling Stories magazine, and here’s a description of it from Galaxy Press, Hubbard’s vanity publisher:
A Frontier Patrol trainee, sent for grueling testing on planet Ooglach, is about to fail when he finds the willpower to go on and discovers a secret that secures his future.
Scientology has still never said a word about the vaccines that have been available for Covid since early 2021, but everyone is still required to be masked and gloved, as the Insider told us.
But we have to say, we dig the space cadet outfits, and Scientology really ought to think about using them more than for atmosphere at Ron’s fiction recitations.
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“I said, ‘Go ahead and fly through the air,’ to a preclear once in a very careless moment. Preclear had said something about flying all to pieces, or going up in the air, and I said, ‘Well, go ahead and fly through the air.’ It was a bad thing for me to do, because I was disgusted. I was disgusted with the preclear, and I actually mirrored it. And the preclear took it as an auditing command and looked at me blankly and said, ‘How am I supposed to do that?’ Well, I could have said at that moment, ‘It’s a mis-command. I didn’t mean it.’ But I didn’t. I picked the preclear up and made him fly through the air. And I said, ‘See, you can do it.’” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 15, 1957
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“SLIDE-TAPE SHOW: Geoff Barnes and Al Bornstein are highly commended for their excellent slide-tape show about Flag. As you read this it has already been exported to the various continents, having left the ship at 0600.” — The Commodore, March 15, 1971
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“If people have thought that a few thousand hours was a long time to spend on NOTs then they are in for a shock when they start OT 9. I am guessing 20,000 hours for people in good shape.”
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1996: Tilman Hausherr posted new prices from January 1996 issue of The Auditor. “Student Hat $680; Method 1 co-audit course $680; Hubbard Key To Life course $5,200; Hubbard Life Orientation course $2,100; Hubbard New Professional TRs course $600; Hubbard Professional Upper Indoc TRs course $1,800; Solo Auditor Course Part One $2,400; PTS/SP course $800; OEC, per volume (there are seven) $3,120; Hubbard Elementary Data Series Evaluator’s course $2,560; Saint Hill Special Briefing course SHSBC, individual level (there are 16) $1,200; SHSBC (all level paid for at one time) $14,400; Case Cracking, 12.5-hour intensive $3,760; New Era Dianetics 12.5-hour intensive $3,760; Expanded Dianetics 12.5-hour intensive $5,600; Clear Certainty Rundown 5-hour intensive $1,880; Sunshine Rundown, free with CCRD; Power (Grade 5) & Power Plus (Grade VA) 25-hour intensive $10,000; OT preparations 12.5-hour intensive $3,760; OT Eligibility 12.5-hour intensive $3,760; The Expansion of Havingness Lectures $240”
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“I (and my parents) got my high school teacher fired for trying to use EST to teach us algebra. This was after he threw me out of the class for pointing out to him that EST was a cult and what he was doing was illegal and against school policy. This was like ’73 or ’74.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next pretrial conference May 31. Trial scheduled for August 29.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference March 25 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for April 8.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Hearing held on February 15, awaiting ruling.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Valerie asks for March 15 hearing on motion for reconsideration.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Scientology has said it will file an anti-SLAPP motion.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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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, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
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] Scientology whistleblower Steve Fishman: Out of prison and getting younger every day
[TWO years ago] Report: Scientology cancels LRH Birthday, but still spreads quackery about coronavirus
[THREE years ago] Tom Cruise, John Travolta and some other rare celebs made Scientology event in Florida
[FOUR years ago] What do you want to see in Leah Remini’s third season of ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’?
[FIVE years ago] Sheriff’s deputy on what Scientology does behind its gates: “That’s not my business”
[SIX years ago] Scientology disconnection rips apart another family, this time affecting a familiar face
[SEVEN years ago] ‘Going Clear’ subject Tom DeVocht gets a lesson in Scientology’s social media surveillance
[EIGHT years ago] Ryan Hamilton files two new suits against Scientology’s drug rehab network — in California
[NINE years ago] VIDEO: What Did You Lose in Scientology?
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s Future History! A Vision from 1969, and our Stats Roundup
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,604 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,109 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,629 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,649 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,540 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,847 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,715 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,489 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,820 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,293 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,609 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,175 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,094 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,262 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,843 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,104 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,140 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,855 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,380 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 735 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,910 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,461 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,610 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,930 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,785 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,904 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,260 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,563 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,669 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,067 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,943 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,526 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,021 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,275 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,384 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 15, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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
