If you were with us in Chicago for HowdyCon this weekend, you know that a real highlight was Chicago Fire star Christian Stolte’s appearance during our Saturday night event.

We’ve known Christian for several years, but he rarely speaks in public about his Scientology experience. For our attendees, he told a fascinating story about his work [...]]]>

 
If you were with us in Chicago for HowdyCon this weekend, you know that a real highlight was Chicago Fire star Christian Stolte’s appearance during our Saturday night event.

We’ve known Christian for several years, but he rarely speaks in public about his Scientology experience. For our attendees, he told a fascinating story about his work at Scientology’s Houston mission, and about how he eventually began to question his involvement.

As for so many people who get into Scientology, however, getting out came with a price — Christian eventually had a daughter with a woman who was heavily involved in the church, and after they broke up Christian despaired about keeping his daughter out of it.

All turned out well — not only did Christian’s daughter turn away from Scientology, but she eventually worked with former Scientology celeb Jason Beghe on the show Chicago PD.

So things are going well for Christian, and he had a special treat for us — a song he’d written about Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, making sure to take some inspiration from Hubbard’s infamous “Affirmations” writings.

The song was so good we asked him to sing it twice. Here’s his second performance of it from The Annoyance Theater on Saturday night (and thank you to Eivol Ekdal for the video)…

In 1911 in Tilden, Nebraska this son-of-a-bitch was born
Biggest goddamned liar in the world, it was amazing
Turns out he was adopted by the Blackfoot Indians
It was a blood ceremony
He was four

What did they see in this child?
What did they do that for?
He said, you don’t get rich writing science fiction
If you want to get rich, start a religion
And that’s just what he did
That’s just what that chee-chalking carnie barker did

You know I’m drinking lots of rum and popping pinks and greys
Oh I’m drinking lots of rum and popping pinks and greys
Pinks and greys

All men shall be my slaves
All women shall succumb to my charms
All mankind shall grovel at my feet
And not know why
Let’s sell these people a piece of blue sky
Let’s sell these people a piece of blue sky

Make money! Make more money!
Make others produce so as to make money!
However you get them in or why,
Just do it, just fucking do it
Because the only way you can control anybody is to lie to them
You can write that in your book in great big letters
The only way is to lie, you gotta lie

And that’s just what he did
That’s just what that chain-smoking charlatan did

Now I’m drinking lots of rum and popping pinks and greys
Oh I’m drinking lots of rum and popping pinks and greys
Pinks and greys

When will I get you ever?
There are no snakes at the bottom of your bed
Men’s chains they fall from you, your head is high

Let’s sell these people a piece of blue sky
Let’s sell these people a piece of blue sky
Let’s sell these people a piece of blue sky

 
Shorpy has collected photos from HowdyCon Chicago at a Google Photos site.

 
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Erika Christensen makes the scene at Scientology front in NYC

We’ve been telling you for a long time about Queens dentist Bernard Fialkoff and his daughter Meghan, Scientology Freedom Award winners who have spent years infiltrating New York City’s schools to get L. Ron Hubbard’s quackery about drugs into the hands of children, and with the help of local politicians and the NYPD.

They landed a celeb at their recent annual gala — a very pregnant Erika Christensen, who has been pretty visible and active among church celebrities lately. But hey, when you’re talking about roping in kids for Scientology, every effort counts!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 26, 2018 at 06:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes 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 book, 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, 1995-2017 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

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

 During the main event at HowdyCon in Chicago, we revealed there’s a new book coming soon which we’re pretty excited about.

The last time we were in Chicago, in 2015, we were there to promote our 2015 book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, our history of Paulette Cooper and how the Church of Scientology, which called her [...]]]>

 
During the main event at HowdyCon in Chicago, we revealed there’s a new book coming soon which we’re pretty excited about.

The last time we were in Chicago, in 2015, we were there to promote our 2015 book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, our history of Paulette Cooper and how the Church of Scientology, which called her “Miss Lovely” in spy documents, tried to destroy her.

A few months ago, Paulette approached us with an idea — shouldn’t there be a book of the best of the Underground Bunker? And could she edit and publish such a thing?

We loved the idea, and so we went to work. We told her we had an idea for a title which we’d heard from Kay Rowe, who graciously gave us her blessing to use it — “Battlefield Scientology.”

Paulette has worked hard to gather a large number of pieces, we’ve edited them to update them where possible, and she’s written introductions for several thematic groupings of the stories. The result is a large collection of material that documents Scientology, past and present, and in one handy volume.

Here’s what Paulette says about it:

This book was written for people who think they know just about everything there is to know about Scientology, and to those who know nothing. The stories range from the early days of L. Ron Hubbard’s life to what is happening in his movement today. The chapters were chosen to appeal not only to former Scientologists, but also never-Scientologists, as well as to people who are just beginning to dip their toes in this subject. The 300 pages and 30 photos reflect not only what’s interesting, but also what’s important in understanding what has happened in this organization right down to what’s happening today. The paperback and e-book are scheduled for release in September.

 
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HOWDYCON CHICAGO IS IN THE BOOKS

And thanks to Observer for these shots…

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 24, 2018 at 00:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes 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 book, 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, 1995-2017 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

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

It’s awfully cold here in New York for the new year, but we want you to start thinking about the summer solstice and consider joining us for our annual meet-up!

In 2016, we held our first “HowdyCon” meeting, and this June we’ll be going for convention number three in one of our favorite cities on the [...]]]>

It’s awfully cold here in New York for the new year, but we want you to start thinking about the summer solstice and consider joining us for our annual meet-up!

In 2016, we held our first “HowdyCon” meeting, and this June we’ll be going for convention number three in one of our favorite cities on the planet — Chicago!

But let’s back up, for those not sure what we’re talking about. At some point during our book tour for The Unbreakable Miss Lovely in the summer of 2015, one of our readers said she was surprised how many cities we were visiting. We joked that it was the only way we’d figure out where to have our first convention. Readers then ran with the idea, and decided to hold a vote about where such an the event should be held. Cleveland won out, and that was the last time we let readers make that decision. Ha!

In the meantime, the question of naming the thing came up, and we then suggested that it might honor Captain Howdy, a/k/a Steven L. Cox, a singular commenter who used the cover of L. Ron Hubbard’s book The Creation of Human Ability as his avatar, and whose passing we noted in 2015. We suggested that the meeting be called HowdyCon, and now it had a name. (We also dedicated our meet-up to another beloved commenter we lost in 2016, Sugarplumfairy, a/k/a Mary Marinelli.)

Our expert illustrator, Observer, came up with a fun poster for the first HowdyCon as well as last year’s HowdyCon 2017 in Denver. And now we’re starting out 2018 with Observer’s new poster for this year’s gathering in Chicago.

We’re especially happy that it features Chicago Fire star and Underground Bunker loyalist Christian Stolte, who has agreed to emcee our main event on Saturday night, June 23.

“Chicago – Always rewarding to visit in June, never more so than this year,” Christian says. “I’ll be taking a break from fighting fake fires and performing acts of fake heroism, just in time for HowdyCon 2018! Let’s swap some stories, take some pictures, toss back some cocktails, and celebrate the Golden Age of Scientology Criticism! I look forward to meeting you! If I don’t see you at HowdyCon 2018, I will regard your absence as a Suppressive Act!”

 
We couldn’t put on HowdyCon without a lot of help — TexasBroad leaped into the breach for our first convention, and last year Kim O’Brien did an amazing job for us in Denver. This year, the Bunker’s Chee Chalker is our helper in Chicago, and you’ll be hearing a lot more from her in coming weeks.

What we can tell you at this point is that we have a hotel lined up and a great venue for the main event, and we’ll tell you more about that when we can. To get some idea of what a great time we had this past year in Colorado, please check out some of our dispatches from 2017’s party.

Please start thinking about coming to Chicago in June. By then, the Church of Scientology is going to be in all kinds of trouble, and we want to talk about it with you over drinks!

 
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Scientology’s claim about recognition in Mexico now on the record

We had a correspondent at the taping of Scientology’s New Year event, which actually took place on December 16 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Last night, video of that lengthy address by church leader David Miscavige was shown at Scientology facilities around the world and became an official event.

And so now Scientology’s own website is proclaiming what our correspondent leaked a couple of weeks ago, that Miscavige is claiming the nation of Mexico has recognized Scientology as a religion.

Says the church’s official press page this morning…

“This unrelenting wave of expansion generated continuing recognition of the religion in nations around the globe. Indeed, crowning a 2017 of immense achievement, Mr. Miscavige announced to the roaring crowd, an epic accomplishment and one coming in the wake of religious recognitions in the Republics of Macedonia and Colombia. Because, on October 30, 2017, the nation of Mexico awarded the Church of Scientology full religious recognition—a landmark triumph for Scientology and religious freedom.”

And Scientology’s social media accounts are posting this image from the show…

 
We still have no confirmation from the Mexican government on this. Perhaps one of our ink-stained counterparts in Mexico City could make an inquiry.

A few New Year’s shots from the church website…

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 1, 2018 at 00:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes 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 book, 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, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), 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 | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield