LA Event, Dec 28 1999
A little delayed, but these things take time. What follows is a
report from the inside. BTW, I lost a bet with this event. I had bet
this person 25 cents that there would be 6 thousand at the most at
this event. S/he said there would be a minimum of 14k. My goodness
did we ever argue this. S/he was right though.
(and if you are reading, the bet *was* .25, that is all I ever bet on
stuff like this. It was not 50 cents like you say :-)
And for the record, official attendance predictions internally were
for 20k showing up for this Event. What follows is not verbatim, to
shield the author, who is on-lines at this very moment, I have made
changes to grammer and writing style.
I'll be webbing scans of some interesting literature from this event.
--------
2000 NEW YEAR'S EVENT
Personal Experience
I took a cab to the event, not realizing there were free
shuttle buses. Someone at the Hotel said it started at 7:30 so I took
my time and arrived at the Figueora side of the Sports Arena's parking
lot around 6:45 to find a huge crowd and a long entrance line.
People around me were talking about the Pickets and mocking them. As
much as I wanted to find them to see for myself, I made a choice to
try crashing the gate... Luckily a man in line was in the same boat,
without a ticket, and a lady next to him had several, giving one to
him and to me.
I passed through a number of security people, wearing earphones,
mimicking the Secret Service and through a metal detector. People were
rushing for the seats and ushers were urging everyone to find a seat;
it was open seating.
Inside, television screens filled the room. I was becoming aware of
the magnitude of the production which was about to begin. In the
center on the main floor an area was cordoned off
for what appeared to be the control area where I imagined the Director
and his staff controlled the show.
Fixed cameras were aimed at the stage--podium, LRH's photo, two
rear-projection screens. A 30-foot boom carried another camera that
appeared to turn in all directions. Directly in front of the stage was
a camera on a 20-foot, or so, track that continually moved from side
to side, shooting the speaker and the stage behind him. At precisely
the right time, this camera and others would turn toward the audience.
David Miscavidge was the speaker and it was obvious
he'd spent the entire week rehearsing with the production staff When
he reached a sensitive, high point in his presentation, the house
lights came on and the cameras would record the
audience's standing ovations.
The entire production was video taped.
The live orchestra opened the show with a brass ensemble that put
the productions of Quovadis, Cleopatra and Ben-Hur to shame. Suddenly,
30 or 40 trumpeters filled the stage and
triumphantly heralded in a group of flag wavers from every country
imaginable, followed by people in their native costumes as they
marched down the aisles. The audience stood and cheered
as the processional continued. Finally, somehow the music quelled and
Miscavidge came to the podium as the audience continued their
uproarious ovation. His delighted smile appeared on every screen.
He spoke to the audience's needs, reliving how LRH began the whole
process in 1950, reading quotes from newspapers, politicians and any
other "famous" person on record praising
LRH. The audience loved it and wanted more. The multi-media show
continued as he spoke about the past and how LRH was right in his
predictions and how he'd brought salvation to so many, quoting from
the Bible and other resources how, over the centuries, man got away
from the
belief of reincarnation and he, himself, brought it back. More slides
of appropriate back up material and the audience wanted still more.
After about an hour of a two hour presentation, I'd had enough and
left the auditorium.
In the outer ring of the Arena, several displays had been set up, each
with pamphlets, video tapes and other promotional materials all
designed to enhance the attendees to continue their flight up the
bridge to wherever it lead them, all for a few thousand bucks a piece.
Without being too obvious, I grabbed a number of various pamphlets.
Every so often I peeked in to see what Miscavige was saying and it
seemed like the same old story about how great was LRH, I resigned to
staying out of the auditorium and headed downstairs to fight my
boredom. Tables were filled with thousands of cookies, cheese, rolls
and other goodies, along with all the soft drinks, water and coffee
you could drink. I hung around there for a while then went back
upstairs to check in with Miscavidge. Same old thing.
In terms of the people themselves, every walk of life was represented.
Pre-teens, teens, young marrieds, singles, married couples of every
age all dressed to the hilt. Everyone hugging everyone, old home week,
lots of laughing, lots of happiness. And scurrying aimlessly through
the crowd of happy people were the self important ones dressed in
ill-fitting black tuxedos with little black wires running from their
single earpieces to a two-way radio tucked beneath a red cummerbund.
The next morning, Wednesday, I went to L Ron Hubbard way, which is a
short street between Fountain and Sunset, a block or so west of
Vermont. Their actual address is listed as
4810 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027. The street was blocked off on
both north and south
ends. I met... and she took me on a tour of the "compound" starting
with the area she called the AOLA.... It's on the East side of LRH Way
and where OT training is presented. I stashed my luggage behind the
counter. I was shown LRH's office and told that every location had an
office for LRH and they look at them now not so much as a shrine but
more as a remembrance. I noticed a wooden framework holding about a
hundred folders which I was told were files of those currently
enrolled in this training program.
Next we crossed the street to the ASHO (American Saint Hill Org) where
their "briefing courses" take place. I noticed about a hundred folders
which I was told represented active enrollees in that particular
course...
Just next to the ASHO was a huge white tent set up, I understand, for
the New Year's event and for a Sunday church service. Across the
street on the east side was another tent set up for breakfast and
lunch. ...the cost was $10 for staffers and $15 for outsiders, ...She
said their security people were extremely concerned that one of the
"outsiders" had gotten inside. That would explain the scurrying
tuxedos. Additionally, they had a dozen or more staff security people
posted at the entrance as well as guards at exits located elsewhere at
both upper and lower levels.
Quite a few who passed through the metal detectors were caught and
admitted only after they removed their keys and other metal objects.
It was every bit efficient as those at the airport.
Return to The Skeptic Tank's main Index page.
Ted Mayett
26 Jan 2000
SCIENTOLOGY MILLENNIUM CONVENTION
LOS ANGELES
DECEMBER 28Th - 31ST
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