EL Ron, The Leader
Until just past the first half of the ‘70s El Ron, Mary Sue, Scn’s Princess Di, Q (Quinton), Suzette and Arch (Arthur Ronald Coleman Hubbard) berthed and worked—along with LRH Personal Office Staff and Commodores Staff Aides (CS-1, CS-2, etc.)—in a relatively tiny amount of square footage occupying the 3 Midships Upper Decks on the Apollo. The Engineers were mostly quartered on the Bridge Decks, Forward section of those 3 Decks.
Well over half of that space was taken up by El Ron, the Family and Hisself’s and Mary Sue’s Personal Staff and, of that space, well over half of it was taken up by El Ron and his Personal Office Staff. From these modest quarters (which were elegant and spacious compared to what the rest of the Crew endured) all of the Empire was “operated” under the guiding hand and watchful eye of El Ron, “The Leader”. The linear proximity to El Ron, Hisself’s Family, Personal Office Staff and Senior Management Staff was never before, or after, so close. “Walls have ears” and on a ship with berthing and private office space as compacted as was those 3 decks, those ears were very large. El Ron had a “loud mouth” and was an accomplished “Drama Queen”.
You could “live a lifetime in a day” on those 3 decks. You lived and worked in a world that was, in essence, not only a world apart from the World but a world apart from the rest of your Shipmates. Although Spartan and cramped, your berthing, working quarters, and all-around living conditions (they had portholes and windows!) were much better than all the folks “down below”. No one from the Crew ever showed their face on the upper two Midships Decks unless they had a good reason to be there. The 3rd Deck Aft (B Deck) also had the Officers and Execs Dining Room.
Most of the folks on the 3 Midships Upper Decks (MUD’s) were on the “Commodore’s Schedule”. You rose before or when El Ron rose and you secured when or after Hisself secured. However, you didn’t get to take a nap or stroll whenever you wanted like El Ron…unless you were stealthy. From the moment El Ron woke to the moment he slept every person on the MUD’s was on their own personal “alert”.
Every moment that El Ron was awake was a vortex of randomness from whatever Hisself needed, felt or “had to have” NOW! El Ron’s “mood/valence de jour” Hisself’s transiently oscillated with whatever was currently “on Hisself’s plate”. The closer proximity you were to El Ron the more palpable was the psychological and emotional “ebb and flow” of the day. Regardless of your proximity the “atmosphere” on the MUD’s was tangible and every breath taken could see a Messenger at your door.
Vet’s of the MUD’s could often devine by the walk and demeanor of a passing Messenger the timbre what that particular moments mood and message was. Thus went the day as even when dining a Messenger could appear and, as happened once to your's truly, head straight over to you. Sometimes you could hear the bellows—angry, jovial, gleeful, in pain, etc.—as El Ron, The Leader, navigated Hisself’s way through the “insane” universe that was El Ron’s lot to try and “salvage” us from—or at least so Hisself told of in the “Scriptures”.
Every thing had to happen NOW! If you were promoted to a MUD’s level position you reported ready for duty post haste. If you were busted from a MUD’s level position within a blink of your bloodshot, throbbing eyes the Berthing I/C was at the door, or inside, your treasured “room with a view” which, like your ass, was gone within a heartbeat. The only respite, save for Hisself's slumber, was when El Ron was off the Ship convalescing, hiding or riding one of his Hobby Horses
I read with fascination the “image” of El Ron, The Leader, that Marty and his fellow Int “Insiders” portray of Hisself. After the old days aboard the Apollo El Ron interacted “buffered” and in “takes” with all but a few. Marty and posse never lived and worked on the MUD’s. The Hana’s, Laurel’s, Tonya’s, et al know and told the real score.
An insight, in part, into the Model for El Ron, The Leader can be gleaned from watching the flick, “A Face in the Crowd”, Directed by Elia Kazan and Written by Bud Schulberg, with stunning portrayals by Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal (and yes, that’s partly why Ole Face here took the moniker, afaceinthecrowd).
“Lonesome” Rhodes mind melds with Elmer Gantry...that, in part, was El Ron, The Leader. I’ll explore that that in a day or so.
Face
