This is Photojournalist Fred G. Haseney with his eye on scientology. Today, I’ve conducted a very special visit to the Pacific Area Command Base (“PAC Base” or “Big Blue”), the so-called “church” of scientology’s West Coast headquarters. I did so upon the invitation of former scientologist (and former Sea Org member) Cece Marie Gangle Smith. Another former scientologist, Lynn Fountain Campbell, joined us after getting an invite from Cece. Today’s blog is part of the “Reconnecting the Disconnected and Declared” series.
Photo Caption: Cece received approval from Phil and Willie Jones to create a likeness of their billboard (“To my loved one in scientology… call me.”) on a metallic sign that can be easily affixed to a car door. In this photo, Cece applies one of those signs to the passenger door of Lynn’s car as Lynn admires her handiwork. Lynn holds a sign that will be affixed to her driver’s door. On the back of Cece’s shirt is OT III material; on the front it reads: “scientology kills.”
Photo Caption: Cece ensures that any uneven or creased areas of the sign are smoothed out.
Photo Caption: Perfect!
Photo Caption: The signs have been affixed to Cece’s car; we’re ready to rock and roll!
Photo Caption: As Lynn and I followed Cece, we drove by the International Association of Scientologists (“IAS”) offices on Fountain Ave., between New Hampshire Ave., and L. Ron Hubbard Way. As our two cars waited for a light to change, three Sea Org members stood completely still, their eyes fixated on the sign. Lynn and I couldn’t believe it! The sign acts like honey and drew the Sea Org members to it like flies! Shortly after, the light changed and we proceeded to the corner of Fountain Ave. and Catalina St., where Lynn dropped me off. Lynn proceeded, following Cece. The plan involved both cars circling PAC Base three or four times, and driving as slowly as they could. In this photo, I’m on Catalina St., facing east, looking at a Sea Org Security Guard (“SG”) on his trusty bicycle calling in, most likely reporting our proximity. Behind him is L. Ron Hubbard Way (“LRH Way”); to the right is Los Angeles Organization (“LA Org”), 4810 W Sunset Blvd.
Photo Caption: This is Cece’s car, followed by Lynn’s car. They are driving very slowly south along LRH Way, between Sunset Blvd. (to the left) and Fountain Ave (to the right). They’ve just rolled by LA Org, American Saint Hill Organization (“ASHO”); I’m standing outside Pacifica Cafe. AOLA is off-camera and to my right. Cece said, “Smile, Fred, because I’m taking a picture of you!” The cute dog, incidentally, is “Simi,” named after a friend of mine, an ex-scientologist who I shared ASHO Day’s Specialist Course room with in the mid-1980’s, Simi Valley. (Hi, Simi!)
Photo Caption: Here I’ve zoomed in on the last photo; please see the numbered arrows: Item #1: Cece snaps a shot of Yours Truly. Item #2: The guy, most likely a SO member, stands staring at the sign affixed to the side of Cece’s car. Item #3: a SO member descends a set of steps. (I shot this along LRH Way; Cece is heading south toward Fountain Ave. Scientology apparently owns property on LRH Way that hasn’t yet painted blue; this location may be one of those properties.)
Photo Caption: Okay. Cece’s car has driven by, and along comes Lynn. The well-dressed Sea Org member who I captured descending a set of steps in the last photo has, by this picture, reached the sidewalk. By this time, he’s noticed the signs and is staring at the side of Lynn’s car.
Photo Caption: For this picture, I’ve zoomed in on the last photo, amazed at how Phil and Willie’s sign draws attention. This SO member sees only Phil and Willie’s command: “call me,” and maybe, just maybe, he’s suddenly reminded of the fact that he has a mom and a dad who he cut all ties with over a decade ago so he could “clear the planet.”
Photo Caption: A picture is worth a thousand words, isn’t it? For this photo, I aimed at people passing by and those enjoying a snack or a cup of coffee outside Pacifica Cafe. I’m facing south; ASHO is to my right. Just check out the attention that Phil and Willie’s signs have gotten from all of the people in this picture. As Cece and Lynn drove by to my left along LRH Way, I watched two guys, probably public scientologists, stare at the signs. Along with them are two Sea Org members: the woman in the background between the two guys, and to their right, sitting down, is another Sea Org member (the one wearing a mustache). In fact, that guy is a coach on the Survival Rundown (“SR”) and his twin, most likely a public scientologist, is sitting next to him off-camera. Behind the woman SO member, further down the street and near Fountain Ave., is a SG watching the proceedings. More SGs are about to appear on the scene, because a crack has formed in scientology’s “bubble world.”
Photo Caption: This is a close-up of that last photo. Just imagine what scientologists, public and Sea Org members alike, are thinking right about now, up and down LRH Way, PAC Base, and even “up lines.”
Photo Caption: The guy on the right smiles, understanding full well that I’ve captured them viewing Cece and Lynn as their cars drove by. It’s not lost on either one of them what I’ve been doing. Meanwhile, in the background, SGs hold an impromptu pow-wow.
Photo Caption: In this photo, we watch Cece, followed by Lynn, turn from LRH Way, west onto Fountain Ave. Simi stares at a SG calling in for what, backup?
Photo Caption: For this photo, I’ve zoomed in on the last photo. The red arrow points out the brown-haired SG; not only does he wear his outfit well, he’s gotten quite serious about today’s extracurricular activities. If looks could kill, I’d be dead now because his blond-haired buddy (standing to his right; you’ll see more of him in the next photo) gave me the evil eye, at least once, if not thrice.
Photo Caption: A few moments later, blondie (see Item #2) makes an appearance (no, this isn’t the evil eye; I didn’t catch that on camera, afraid that my lens might crack). Brown-haired (Item #1) still models the latest in SG fashion and is talking up a storm to… Otto “Odo” Huber, perhaps? (Drumroll, please, because Odo is about to make an appearance.)
Photo Caption: Brown-haired puts his radio away and stares as Lynn turns the corner onto Fountain Ave. Just between you and me, I don’t think brown-haired has ever seen anything like this. I don’t think he’s ever envisioned anything like this either. There’s no formal protest, no signs, no pickets, no masks, no shouting or intimidation from either side.
Photo Caption: Brown-haired and blondie compare notes as Lynn turns on Fountain Ave. A SG, most likely Roy Rodriquez, stands to blondie’s right, straddling a bicycle.
Photo Caption: By this time I shot this photo, I’ve lost count as to the number of times that Cece and Lynn have circled PAC Base. Life along LRH Way seems to have settled down. A SO member walks north along LRH Way. To my right are the two people on the SR I spoke about earlier. Notice the gentlemen (most likely a SO member) sitting alone on the bench, head-in-hand. For nearly the entire time we were there, this heavy-hearted soul didn’t seem to move an inch.
Photo Caption: “Flunk!” is what the SR coach should be saying to his twin, because I’ve captured the guy looking at me instead of following the coach’s commands.
Photo Caption: All isn’t well along LRH Way as brown-haired struts through Pacifica Cafe and into the Main Bldg. SG backup is about to arrive as he’s called in the cavalry.
Photo Caption: Brown-haired and blondie descend a few steps as they enter the Main Bldg. Nice haircuts!
Photo Caption: To my right is the Advanced Organization of Los Angeles (“AOLA”), 1306 LRH Way. Up ahead, Cece approaches with Lynn following her. A SG straddles a bicycle and chats with another scientologist, most likely a SO member; they both watch the cars approach.
Photo Caption: SGs hate having their photo taken and rarely look my way; in this photo, it didn’t seem to matter that I captured the other guy on film. A few moments later, I said (rather casually and in my usually quiet voice) to this guy and the SG that history is being made here, whether they know it or not.
Photo Caption: By this time, Cece and Lynn have circled PAC Base what? Three times?
Photo Caption: Cece does a Pacifica Cafe drive-by.
Photo Caption: During Lynn’s drive-by, we see brown-haired and blondie. They’ve got a game plan, and have just exited the Main Blvd. Destination: AOLA. The prison warden is about to make an appearance!
Photo Caption: Here we see Cece and Lynn applying the brakes, hoping that everyone can soak up the moment(s).
Photo Caption: Earlier, when Lynn and I drove by these brand-spankin’ new SO members in blue (they’re on the Estates Project Force, or “EPF”) as they performed hard labor along Fountain Ave., I tapped on the passenger window, hoping to get their attention. I tapped again. And again (my apologies to Lynn). None of them moved. No one budged. Later, SG Roy tried to block me from taking their pictures. He also tried to surreptitiously get the attention of an EPFer walking my way along the sidewalk. “You know, Roy,” I said, “you’re going to have to learn how to do that much more quietly.” As I approached the crew, the EPFers calmly, but with certain speed, prepared to evacuate the area (it’s got to be a drill they know by heart), I declared, “Ah, the future of scientology!” I added that I, too, had been an EPFer in 1977.
Photo Caption: Just how did Phil and Willi’s billboard sign get plastered on the Main Bldg? The EPFers in that last photo were working diligently in front of this structure. Incidentally, I added the sign, courtesy Tony Ortega’s The Underground Bunker.
Photo Caption: Odo! The cavalry has arrived outside the front door to AOLA on LRH Way. Blondie stands to his left. A SO member gazes at Odo expectantly, as if to say, “What now, brown cow?”(You would have thought that Martians had just landed on L. Ron Hubbard Way. We come in peace!)
Photo Caption: Last one in is a rotten egg! Blondie prepares to lockdown AOLA.
Photo Caption: Lock…
Photo Caption: … down. I actually watched blondie turn a SO member away, preventing that person from getting into AOLA. Odo most likely stood on the other side of the door, presumably preventing anyone from getting out.
Photo Caption: To Cece, Lynn, Simi and our support: Very Well Done!
All images (unless noted otherwise) © 2015—2016 Fred G. Haseney. All rights reserved.
Great article except for when you made fun of the Sea Org member.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ll see if I can fix that. Thanks for that, Partial Fan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Where are the OT Vlll’s when you need someone to stop time & remove those car signs?
DM really needs to work on that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure David “Let Him Die” Miscavige has got all of that figured out. It must be part of “The Golden Age of Tech, Version 2,997.”Thanks, Nana.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome people, awesome article.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great idea and well executed! How long until we see you walking around wearing the CALL ME shirt?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a good thing there’s no parking on LRH Way. It makes those cars really stand out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that last photo. Poor doggie, probably has a friend stuck in the S.O.
This really is a new activity, not a protest. More of an invitation.
It’s a spoonful of sugar really.
LikeLiked by 2 people
This new activity invites scientologists to see that they can really think for themselves. It certainly is a possibility outside of the church.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fred and Lynn and my driver and Simi – I just thank you guys so much for helping with this. I think it’s important we all don’t relinquish our rights to communicate even as those we love have. Set a good example right? Haha. I’m thinking of moving closer so I and Simi can do this every day 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Every day? Count me in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great jon Cece. I expect that David Miscavige has had a report of this, and that his scotch consumption has exploded 47x!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And Fred – excellent pictures. The one where we were strolling by Roy, I cheerily said ‘Hi Roy’. He was surprised when he all of a sudden recognized me 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always say “Hi, Roy,” too. He sometimes tries to get between my camera and its target, but he never fully succeeds, as if he’d rather not. I’m glad he recognized you. I’m glad you liked the photos. What fun. At Tony Ortega’s Underground Bunker this morning, someone stated that what we did is not a protest; it’s a new activity. May others worldwide follow suit. (Say, it might be time to get Phil and Willie’s sign translated into as many languages as possible.)
LikeLike
This is so cool – thank you Fred, Cece, Lynn, and of course Simi!
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is my first visit. I loved the lobby and the pics. The windows need different drapes, grey perhaps.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic photography and reporting as usual Fred!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for stopping by, Wayne Borean aka The Mad Hatter!
LikeLike
And so a new form of protesting Scientology abuses is born. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great way to get the word to Sea Org members! I am appalled at how frightened this organization is of an ad that says call your loved one…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Phil and Willie’s urgent plea for their scientology loved ones to call them transcends so much. Their cry is achingly sweet; it comes straight from the heart. Sea Org members can’t look because they’ve been programmed to be anything but sweet.
LikeLike
Great pics, nice to see fun being had by all the non-anonymous participants. I love the car sticker idea. Oh, and it is a protest, just a quiet on. Now, next time, just add some subtle cow bell.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s perfect advice, coming from zemooo: “… just add some subtle cow bell!” I grew up in the country; we were surrounded on three sides by zemooo, er, cow pastures. Often on Saturday mornings, we’d wake up to discover that they had jumped the fence (a wire one soon to become electric), and were grazing on our side lawn. We’d call Farmer Webster who’d arrive by tractor and haul them home. I also remember fondly licking their salt block. May Phil and Willi’s sign be scientology’s “salt block”; may they earnestly get the message to “call home.”
LikeLike
Great work guys. I wondered whether Simi was named for Simi Valley and now I know. Love your work JenntAtLAX
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Ella Raitch: Simi the Poodle’s namesake is Simi Valley, someone who I shared the Specialist Course room with at ASHO in the mid-1980’s. Thank you for stopping by; I love your compliments as always.
LikeLike
Fred, I can’t believe I missed this post! This is so great…I love the pics of the SO people just staring kinda slack jaw at the signs. I really hope the message breaks through all the programming. Great job at enturbulating PAC base…keep it up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by, frodis73. The laughs with the “church” of scientology just keep coming. Yesterday, after the event at the Center for Inquiry-Hollywood, with thoughtful Chris Shelton (“Critical Thinker at Large”) and L. Ron Hubbard’s great-grandson, the extremely entertaining Jamie DeWolf, seven us (and Simi the Poodle) did drive-bys (and “walk-bys”) at PAC Base. We had so much fun making new friends with other ex-scientologists; the Security Guards at PAC Base even called the police on me. I have it all on film, so I have a new posting to do, all courtesy scientology. Thanks, David “Let Him Die” Miscavige. Hip Hip Horray!
LikeLike