Posted on 06/07/2005 7:52:47 PM PDT by doug from upland
Pasadena Star-News - News First the good doctor Hunter S. Thompson and now the crazed out whacked in the head enigmatic mega broadcaster doctor Gene Scott is gone.
For those of you who were never bored enough to actually sit through any of Dr. Scott's television, and that is probably most of you, he was a sight to see. Dr. Scott was a megalomaniac who would smoke cigars, talk about UFOs and the Lost Tribe, berate his audience for not sending enough money in, and come up with complex graphical biblical teaching on a big white dry erase board. When he got tired of talking he'd run video loops of his horses running around or other similar nonesense.
Dr. Scott was the pastor of the Los Angeles University Cathedral but he was so much more than this. In the past few decades most televangelists have been easily identifiable as cheap hucksters and hypocrites with very simple business models that prey on the weak -- folks like Jim Bakker, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Swaggart. Dr. Scott preyed on the weak as well but he was never as easy to figure out and remained a constant enigma to those who might run across him while channel surfing UHF back before cable or satellite tv. He was a Stanford educated preacher who definitely had more than a few screws loose.
Dr. Scott was very direct in his request for money. He oftentimes would punish his viewers by refusing to talk until a certain amount of money was sent in. It was comedic. He would say the most outrageous things in his bully like demands for people to give up their money. You were definitely going to hell if you didn't give and your place in heaven was largely a determination of how much you gave.
Rotten.com has a pretty good bio on the doctor that includes some classic quotes:
"A skinflint may get to Heaven, but what awaits him are a rusty old halo, a skinny old cloud, and a robe so worn it scratches. First-class salvation costs money."
"I want 300 people to give $1,000 by June 30 to humiliate Satan's efforts to destroy us," Dr. Scott commanded in a Web site missive. "I also want 700 to commit to $10,000 by Christmas. I've been trying to lighten the staff load for five years! I won't take responsibility for things I have no assurance I'll ever see!"
Dr. Scott railed against the FCC, told jokes, played the saxophone and showed off video footage of him sitting poolside with bikini clad women along with his horses. His program was broadcast in eight languages and in 180 countries. He broadcast 24 hours a day throughout the world and more recently had set up a live internet stream. I'm not quite sure why he was never able to crack cable or satellite tv more significantly but he was the master of the crazy obscure OTA programming.
Dr. Scott was a character. Though the world may indeed be a better place without him one can't help but chuckle at his antics and weird behavior that was the sideshow along the way as he ripped off his flock.
Gene's been dead for several months. Didn't you get the funeral notice?
Article dated 2-23-05 in case some think this is recent. Thought I heard about this awhile back.
In case you haven't heard.
I thought this site was for breaking news? Gene Scott died many months ago and yes, it did make the LA Times.
Where have you been?
I am very saddened. He was a great teacher. He was as politically incorrect as one could get. The world and the media would have us believe that Christians should be submissive people pleasing doormats. Dr. Scott was anything but that.
He was hilarious. I remember seeing him when I first moved to LA and being amazed by his nerve and insanity.
He would ramble on forever. He would play (or noodle) on the saxaphone forever sorta drifting aimlessly and endlessly with no particular melody or rhythm.
His graphic charts would start with a few circles and lines and eventually cover the whole board until it looked like an abstract painting of endless scribbles.
Who were the people who worked or "voluntered" for him?
I did hear him say once upon a time that it was a sin for some women not to wear make-up. I think he was correct.
I always wondered how he found that department store that looked like a Cathedral at the top. Dont worry he made enough tapes to last a l;ifetime. He did like good looking women.
He was spending his weekends at Bernies riding his horses.
Sorry. Please don't be too tough on me. I'm new here and just learning this stuff. If I find something interesting from WW II, am I not allowed to post it here? How about a parody song?
I saw it before but came across this site accidentally and thought the story and some of the responses on the site were interesting.
I didn't know he married a woman from the porn industry.
Mayube you should lurk for awhile before posting, newbie.
(c;
Anonymous said...
Gene Scott was an evil bastard who took advantage of the weak and stupid in this world....may he rot for eternity in hell
1:22 PM
<grin>
Some of these "post police" need to be a little more understanding of people who are new to this forum. Don't worry about them - - most people around here are helpful and nice.
Welcome aboard!
As I recall they said that about Jesus Christ, too.
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