I was on Hollywood Boulevard yesterday and snapped photos of the cult's testing center.

For a group obsessed with public image this Scientology testing center is flunking and is not "at cause" over MEST (aka looks like shit).

The sign has suddenly begun really falling apart, the awning (which still contains the painted over name of the previous tenant) has rips in it. The security fence along the front has been broken apart which means homeless people are sleeping in the doorway at night. There is graffiti on the glass and metal.

Both protester Happy Smurf and I have noticed that the testing center is often closed and barred with the broken security fence. Hollywood Boulevard is really hopping these days despite a down economy and many people walk by all day. It seems highly likely the cult is having trouble finding enough people to man the thing now.

Good eye, AGP.

What time was this photo taken?

The testing center seems to only open in the evening hours on weekdays and during the day & night on weekends. I spoke with a reporter several months ago who had interviewed an Armenian who worked there with her husband, on commission, after answering an ad on Craigslist. The woman was lured in with promises of making big money (what's new?) and she & her hubby were not only manning the desk as receptionists & passing out brochures at the door & on the street, but they had to perform janitorial duties.

They worked at the center for 3 weeks, 60 hours a week & she & her husband, combined, earned $130 for the entire time they were there. The woman complained to the California EDD (Employment Department) & was told that because she & her husband were hired as independent contractors, paid on commission-basis only, they were exempt from the minimum wage rules. Anyone that works at the Testing Center has to sign a contract attesting they are independent contractors.

Guess the ruse is not working right now. Whenever the center is open nowadays, there is an elderly man standing at the door way passing out propaganda.

Wow the place looks terrible...Its very sad that the church feels they have to take advantage of people during this economic setback. I'm very surprised that EDD did not help these people out. CA changed the laws as to what kind of "jobs" could be classified as independent contractors (it became obvious that many employers did this to avoid paying taxes and workers' compensation). Hopefully someone heard the pleas of the Armenian couple and they will help them challenge the contract that was signed.

The pic was taken at about 3:45 PM on Tuesday.

I saw the old man Smurf mentions at the center several times myself. Hey, maybe he died

AGP lets make this speculation correct and accurate, as a clam, he did not die, simply may have dropped his body....The place looks like a flop house. Fastest growing cult in the world should be able to keep up appearances.

I'm curious about whose stars are in front of that place. If anyone goes by there anytime soon and thinks of it, please take pictures of the celebrities names on the stars there or just tell us who they are. You know, 'cause I just want everything.

Dean Martin, Betty Grable, Elizabeth Montgomery. No, they weren't Scilons, but Elizabeth was a witch.

Oh, cool! And Nicole Kidman played a witch in the movie, Bewitched, so there's a slight connection there.

I looked at the testing center with Google Maps. I have to say, I had a sexier looking Hollywood Boulevard in my mind than what's actually there.

Hollywood Blvd is NOT an attractive street. It's pretty grungy, actually.

Here are some folks taking down a stress table at the testing center, way back when.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3W3uI4YWTA

That's to change real soon. City officials approved a plan to "reinvigorate" Hollywood Blvd, but turning it metropolitan with lots of skyscrapers.

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011 ... eeting.php

Cool again! Betty Grable was a (sort of) witch, too.



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...there you go, another one of those stories around Scientology there are so many of they can not even be told within reasonable time.

The "screwed subcontractors" plots around Scientology are I think one of the elements Janet Reitman did not spend too much attention on in her book.

Sometimes I'm thinking how will Mark Bunker ever even finish his film with so much "knowledge" to report.

well...I guess the Hollywood Blvd. Stress Test Center needs a stress test itself.

I look at that place and think: That would make a nice bakery.

That's what came to mind right away. I think it would make a nice coffee shop or ice cream parlor. Something like that might generate some business and prosperity in that area.