This is Photojournalist Fred G. Haseney with his eye on scientology. Today, I’ve set aside a report from the Pacific Area Command Base (“PAC Base” or “Big Blue”), the so-called “church” of scientology’s West Coast headquarters. Instead, I have an update of the work that’s being done for the grand opening of scientology Media Productions (“SMP”), located at 4401 W. Sunset Blvd., about ten blocks east of PAC Base.

Photo Caption: SMP is bordered to the north by Sunset Dr., to the west by Sunset Blvd., and to the east by Hoover St. The red lines as drawn on this map (courtesy Google Maps) point out where signs have been posted that read: “Tow-Away; Temporary; No Stopping, 8 AM to Midnight, Saturday Only; To Recover Impounded Vehicles Call 311.” The arrows I’ve drawn are as follows:

  • (1) A small pedestrian gate on Sunset Dr. that I overlooked yesterday.
  • (2) A “Red Zone,” No Parking.
  • (3) A “Red Zone,” No Parking.
  • (4) A “safe” place outside Rudy’s Barbershop for protesters in case all else fails.
  • (5) A delivery entrance on Hoover St. that I forgot to take a picture of yesterday.

Photo Caption: “Blanket Tech” over one of the gated walkways into SMP from Sunset Blvd. The sign is backward, and reads: “Historic Cultural Monument.” A plaque on the premises reads: “KCET Studios; Historic Site of Early Hollywood Motion Pictures; Continuously used since 1912 [until scientology came along, that is]. Declared Historic Cultural Monument No. 198 by the Cultural Heritage Board, Municipal Arts Department, City of Los Angeles.”

Photo Caption: “Yellow Cone Tech” has been implemented as the stage area is extended to cover the “entrance” lane into SMP from Sunset Blvd.

Photo Caption: This is a close-up of the activity in the “entrance” to SMP.

Photo Caption: “U-Haul Tech” is alive and well along the west, or scientology’s side of Hoover St. Parking on this side of the street, from Fountain Ave. to Sunset Dr. will be forbidden this Saturday, from 8 AM to midnight. I wonder what the residents have to say about this? The right side of Hoover St., not pictured here, is a picturesque row of homes.

Photo Caption: As I prepared to take a picture of the gate to the parking structure (on the left), a scientology van drove up and thoroughly intended on driving into the parking structure. A few moments later, however, it drove away. As they left, I waved, and a girl in the passenger seat smiled and waved back. Moments later, I noticed a parked car on the other side of the gate, facing the street, so the gate may be purposely blocked.

Photo Caption: “Shrub Tech” has arrived! I shot this on Hoover St.

Photo Caption: “Super Power Generator Tech” set up on Hoover St.

Photo Caption: More “Shrub Tech” has arrived! I shot this on Hoover St.

Photo Caption: This is item (5) on the map, a delivery gate into SMP on Hoover St. that I forgot to get a picture of yesterday.

Photo Caption: I overlooked this small, pedestrian-sized gate yesterday. It’s accessible on Sunset Dr., between Hoover St. and Commonwealth Ave.

Photo Caption: Even more “Shrub Tech” has arrived! I shot this on Sunset Dr., where Commonwealth Ave., seques into this entrance to SMP.

Photo Caption: “Sheet Tech” is applied to “Truss Tech” near the gate to SMP, where Commonwealth Ave. meets Sunset Dr.

Photo Caption: If all else fails, David, the manager of Rudy’s Barbershop, told me that protesters can congregate here outside his shop. There are three areas available for the use of protesters on Sunset Dr. (Rudy’s is on the right). Those areas are indicated by the red arrows: one area is the gravel-filled section in the foreground; another is the area just east of that (the one with the picnic tables in it); the third area is the section to the east of that one (the one that has a couple of dumpsters in it).

Photo Caption: I gave a girl behind the counter at Caffee Vita the “head’s up” of what her establishment will probably be facing this coming Saturday from 8 AM to Midnight. She’s already discussed the matter with the owner and is about to again. Where will their clientele park? Will the sidewalks be closed to everyone except residents, much like the north side of Fountain Avenue was, between Catalina St. and New Hampshire Ave., at the 66th Anniversary of Dianetics a couple weeks ago?

Caffee Vita
4459 Sunset Blvd.
Described by Google as a “Pacific Northwest chain serving house-roasted coffee in hip, relaxed surroundings.”

Photo Caption: Across the street from Caffee Vita is this landmark movie house. Where will their customers park? What will traffic be like this coming Saturday? Will sidewalk traffic on the other side of the street be limited to “Residents Only”?

Vista Theatre
4473 Sunset Dr.
Described by Google as a “historic, single-screen movie theater.”

Photo Caption: Opened from 9 AM to 9 PM, how will clientele get to Rudy’s Barbershop? This picture is of an entrance to Rudy’s from Sunset Blvd. He also has an entrance from Sunset Dr. As far as I can tell, scientology has, effectively, shut him down, what with SMP’s grand opening. When I left his shop, he had left a message for the City Inspector in charge of the permit that’s been issued for scientology’s event.

Rudy’s Barbershop
4451 Sunset Blvd.

Photo Caption: What is this cute, clean neighborhood watering spot going to do? The poor guys at Tiki-ti sit flush with SMP to the south and faces Sunset Blvd.

Tiki-Ti
4427 Sunset Blvd.
Described by Google: “This local landmark whips up tropical drinks in a tiny room covered in tikis & Hawaiian decor.”

Photo Caption: Suddenly, “Drone Tech” arrives over SMP! The red arrow on the right indicates SMP’s parking garage. The other arrow points out the staging area for this Saturday’s grand opening.

Photo Caption: This composite shows five images of the drone in consecutive order. Who is spying on whom?

Photo Caption: It’s Thursday before 2:00 PM! On just two corners at the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and Vermont Ave., we have, not one, not two, not three, not four, but five Body Routers! They’re doing it for Davey!

Photo Caption: I shot this from Sunset Blvd., looking south at LA Org and ASHO. Notice the tent, most likely erected for signing in and security of event attendees. As an event flier described: “Everyone will need to sign in at the LA Org parking lot on the day of the grand opening. Leave yourself at least 2-3 hours for this process. Bring a photo ID on the day of the event for verification. At sign-in, present your Security Pass with your name on it. After sign-in, present your Security Pass and a photo ID to the shuttle drivers and you will be shuttled to the Studio campus.” The “Studio campus” is, I’m assuming, SMP.

Photo Caption: Here’s a close-up of what I believe to be the “Sign-In” area.

Photo Caption: Here’s another shot of that area, taken from Catalina St.

Photo Caption: Traffic may enter the parking lot behind LA Org and ASHO from either LRH Way or Catalina St. I took this photo from Catalina St.

Photo Caption: This is a close-up of what might be the “Sign-In” area. Notice the blue barrels in place so that the shuttles will stay in the lot and not accidentally enter the “Sign-In” area (it’s all normally a parking lot).

Photo Caption: Along Catalina St. and in an office just east of Lebanon Hall, a Sea Org member left an office door open. Look, it’s L. Ron Hubbard! Hip Hip Hoorary Not!

Photo Caption: This “Grand Opening” table and tent is being set up on LRH Way. In the background is the ramp that connects ASHO to the Main Bldg.

Photo Caption: Like a bullet, Sea Org Security Guard Otto “Odo” Huber makes a mad dash, bicycling from Sunset Blvd. and LRH Way, eastward, toward SMP. I’ve never seen Otto make a mad dash anywhere.

All images (unless noted otherwise) © 2015—2016 Fred G. Haseney. All rights reserved.

Sources:

Loonapix Photo Editor (“Reflected in the attractive eye”).

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