The Celebrity Strategy and The Seduction of Tome Cruise Summary and Analysis

In "The Celebrity Strategy," Reitman admits that Project Celebrity, as Hubbard called it in 1955, seeks to gain celebrities as members in the hopes of shining a positive light on the church, thereby increasing membership further. In Hubbard's time, Hemingway, Picasso, Garbo, and Gleason, among others were all targeted. Celebrity centers opened with the express purpose of drawing in high class clientele. Several celebrities dabbled in Scientology, but some, like John Travolta, joined full force. But Travolta was cautious about promoting Scientology in the way Hubbard wanted him to. These same people, however, were vital in spreading the messages of the social causes of Scientology like Narconon, a program to treat drug addiction. Several celebrity members of Narconon swore by its premises, and the program was...