From 21922SM@msu.edu Mon Sep 13 12:02:36 1993 Received: from ibm.cl.msu.edu by klinzhai.rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.5/3.08) id AA26817; Mon, 13 Sep 93 12:02:32 EDT Message-Id: <9309131602.AA26817@klinzhai.rutgers.edu> Received: from MSU.BITNET by msu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 3969; Mon, 13 Sep 93 12:03:44 EDT Received: by MSU (Mailer R2.08 PTF008) id 4405; Mon, 13 Sep 93 12:03:43 EDT Date: Mon, 13 Sep 93 12:02 EDT To: hedrick@geneva.rutgers.edu From: "Scott.Mikusko" <21922SM@msu.edu> Subject: HBO special / Bob Larson Status: R Hello, I didn't get to see the HBO show, but I heard about it on Bob Larson's Talk-Back. Bob Larson appeared in the special supposedly as some expert on satanism, but the only thing he's really an expert at are lies and deception. I am sending you an article written by a friend of mine that appeared in the Christian Press Report, and is being distributed throughout the net in order to call attention to Bob Larson and the controversy surrounding him. Note that the article is copyrighted, but you may post copies to any interested parties. I intend on posting _The Two Faces of Bob_, along with other letters, to the newsgroups very soon ( I can't post out to the net yet, I keep having to have people post for me, what a pain ) By the way, this aricle is rather long ... -Scott Mikusko 21922sm@msu.edu ----------( Forwarded letter 1 follows )---------------------------------------- Received: by TAOMLR2@MSU; Fri, 10 Sep 93 21:18:05 Received: from MSU by MSU.BITNET (Mailer R2.08 PTF008) with BSMTP id 2599; Fri, 10 Sep 93 21:18:00 EDT Received: from MSU.BITNET by msu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 6350; Fri, 10 Sep 93 21:17:59 EDT Received: by MSU (Mailer R2.08 PTF008) id 2595; Fri, 10 Sep 93 21:17:58 EDT Date: Fri, 10 Sep 93 21:17 EDT To: 21922sm@msu.edu From: "Scott.Mikusko" <21922SM@msu.edu> Subject: Bob Larson > > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Two Faces of Bob <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< > In an interview with the Evangelical Press, Bob Larson > boasted that "Nobody is accusing me of doing any thing > illegal, immoral, or unethical."[1] So, just call me > nobody. Larson is a pathological liar -- or at the very > least, is in the habit of taking indecent liberties with > the truth. This common thread seems to run through every > aspect of Bob's life. His fetish for falsehoods even is > evi denced by exaggerations of his childhood achievements: > for instance, he asserted in his 1974 book, Hell on Earth, > that he was a child star: > > "Bob Larson achieved fame at the age of thirteen when > his first hit song was published. He had his own rock > and roll band at fifteen, and performed on radio and > television over the next years until his career took him > to Convention Hall in Atlantic City."[2] > > As often is the case with Bob Larson, reality never > quite matches up with his press releases. Sharla Turman > Logan, the keyboard player for "The Rebels" (Bob's former > band) stated that she knew Bob at thirteen, but "never > heard of any hit song."[3] And although they did in fact > play to a capacity audience at Convention Hall in Atlantic > City, there was a little more to the story than meets the > eye. It seems that they played one song -- at a Lions' > Club convention.[4] The drummer's father was an officer in > the organization; HE booked the gig. > > The song: A parody of "Charlie Brown."[5] > > Larson's penchant for prevarication can also be seen in > his aborted medical career. On January 5, 1993, Bob > publicly claimed that when he entered the ministry, he was > "only a few credits away" from receiving a degree in > chemistry, and then, going on to medical school.[6] Yet, > Bob graduated from high school in 1962, attended McCook > Junior College for one year, transferred to the University > of Nebraska, and left there in September of 1964.[7] > > Unless he truly was a phenomenal student (and there is no > evidence of that), he would not even have been close to > graduating after two years. Maybe not a "lie," but > certainly a gross exaggeration. > > Bob Larson would have you believe that he was > independently wealthy before he entered his ministry, and > that he was really doing it for his love of the kids. In > a 1992 interview with Michael Roberts of Westword > magazine, he explained his wealth this way: > "A caller came on the air the other day,' he says, and made the comment, Is it true that you were a > self-made millionaire before you began the ministry?' I > said no, but I was very close to it, and I had traveled > lecturing professionally for a number of years, before I > ever got involved in the ministry, and was making very, > very large sums of money at the time'."[8] > > And on a Denver radio broadcast, he attributed some of > his wealth to his 'success' in the music world:" I have > been involved in gainful employment for 30 years; I was > making a pile of money as a teenager, playing in rock and > roll."[9] But once again, Larson's proud words shatter on > those unforgiving rocks of reality. During his 1991 > divorce, he and his ex-wife gave the following testimony: > > "Q: [by Mr. Plaut, Bob Larson's attorney] Mr. Larson, > would you tell us as far as lifestyle goes how you and > Mrs. Larson have lived, starting again at the beginning > of the marriage and bringing us up to date. > > A: Well, the lifestyle was pretty austere in the > beginning. We had no possessions at the time of the > marriage. I had a car that I was making payments on and > a few hundred dollars in the bank. And it was pretty > much that way for quite a while, until I got involved in > selling books and speaking. And then, as Mr. Guthery > pointed out earlier, there was really no serious > escalation in our lifestyle until the last few years, > when the cumulative success of building the organization > allowed the organization to compensate me much better > than they had."[10] > > _________________________ > > "Q: ([To Mrs. Larson] By Mr. Frazin [her attorney] What > exactly did you do -- what were your duties when you > first got started with the ministry? > > A: [Kathy Larson] As Bob described, when we first got > the min istry, we had a car with payments and a little > trailer we pulled behind the car. And eventually then > we bought a trailer house we pulled behind the car ... > It was a very humble beginning...."[11] > > First, even if Bob made a pile of money playing rock and > roll, it was all gone when he married Kathy during 1968. > Second, if he was nearly a millionaire when he opened the > ministry, and barely a millionaire now, he cannot possibly > account for his statement that "there was really no > serious escalation in [their] lifestyle until the last few > years." Therefore, either he lied in court ... or on the > air. When the dust settles, this much is obvious: Bob did > not make his fortune in real estate, rock and roll, or > anywhere else. He made it from the ministry -- he has not > held a real job since he dropped out of college.[12] What > a tangled web we weave ... when we practise to deceive! > > > In the Evangelical Press interview, Larson claimed: "World didn't talk to radio station owners' ... We have > not had a single radio station cancel us or be less than > 100 percent supportive'."[13] But in a fundraising letter > dated January 27, 1992, he told his contributors that > "Satan did everything possible to destroy me last year ... > four of our top ten stations forced me off the air."[14] > > Another station, KSLR in San Antonio, reportedly was sued > by the Ministry after it pulled Talk-Back[15], even though > Larson claimed in a news conference that he "would never > sue a brother."[16] If World's people had talked to > Larson's former affiliates, they would have caught him in > yet another lie. On his March 17, 1993 broadcast, Bob > Larson publicly charged that the Mormon church had spawned > a sinister scheme to destroy his ministry, and that he was > forced from the air in Calgary as a result of their > effort.[17] However, when I spoke with that station's > operations manager, and played her a taped excerpt of > Bob's on-air claims, her response was one of astonishment. > "It wasn't like that at all,"[18] she said adamantly. > > It wasn't like that at all. That theme reverberates > throughout any discussion concerning the antics of Bob > Larson ... but nowhere is it more pronounced as in his > financial information. For years, Bob has been claim > ing that he is fighting to stay on your station, clev > erly painting the misleading impression that the Min > istry is on the knife-edge of financial disaster. But > if its' audited financial statement is any indication, > the Ministry is in the very flower of fiscal health: > > > BOB LARSON MINISTRIES > CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET[19] > DECEMBER 31, 1991 > > ASSETS > > Current Assets: > Cash and marketable securities $ 1,767,708 > Other current assets 332,580 > --------- > Total current assets 2,100,288 > Fixed assets (net of depreciation) 937,351 > --------- > Total assets $ 3,037,639 > ========= > > LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE > > Current liabilities $ 396,022 > Long-term debt 498,117 > --------- > Total liabilities 894,139 > Fund balance 2,143,500 > --------- > Total liabilities and fund balance $ 3,037,639 > ========= > > During 1991, Bob Larson Ministries had a surplus of > more than $246,000[20] ... and in 1990, that surplus was > over $500,000![21] We should all be in such desperate > financial straits. > > Larson's difficulties with the truth spill over into his > personal financial situation as well. On the air, Bob has > stated that he draws a $69,000 [22] yearly salary from the > Ministry ... which not only seems reasonable, but > downright modest. But as might be expected, documents > filed with the Jefferson County (Colo.) District Court in > connection with his divorce [23] -- signed under penalty > of perjury -- tell a different tale. The following is an > estimate of Larson's compensation package for 1990, based > upon that information, documents filed with the Internal > Revenue service, and interviews with former BLM employees: > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Bobby E. ("Bob") Larson > Estimated(A) Personal Income from Ministry Activities > Year ended December 31, 1990 > > Direct compensation - Bob Larson Ministries (BLM): > Salary $ 81,500 > BLM - Prorated bonus 25,000 > BLM - Expense allowance 33,000 > BLM - Retirement allowance 50,500 > BLM - Housing allowance: > Mortgage payments 22,512 > Utilities, etc. 4,980 > ------- > Compensation - Bob Larson Ministries 217,492(B) > > Direct compensation - BLM subsidiaries: > BLM Canada - Consulting fees 51,084 > Salary - Int'l Broadcasting Ntwk. (IBN) 40,000(C) > IBN - Auto allowance 4,344 > ------- > Total direct compensation from Ministry activities 312,920 > > Compensation - book sales: > BLM - Secular advertising for books 72,833(D) > BLM - Ghost-writers' compensation 20,000(E) > BLM - Imputed profits on book sales 80,000(F) > Honoraria 12,000 > ------- > Total compensation from Ministry activities $ 497,753G > ======= > > A) The 1990 income figures are derived from the statement > of monthly income provided by Bob Larson to the Jefferson > County (Colorado) District Court in an affidavit signed > under penalty of perjury. All other notes will be > explained in the endnote section. > > ______________________________________________________ > > From this information, it appears self-evident that the > _real_ mission of Bob Larson Ministries is to minister to > the extravagant financial needs of Bob Larson! The kids > are just an alibi. > > But the uncontested crown jewel in the labyrinth of Bob > Larson's lies is the claim that HE wrote his best-selling > novel, Dead Air. On his Jan. 29, 1993 broadcast -- which > he called "the most candid, direct program I've ever > done"[24] -- he said that: > > "Lori did help me some with the writing of this book, > primarily in just adding a little color ... and contrary > to what the article states, the book was nearly completed > -- she had nothing to do with the plot, the characters > ... anything in the book whatsoever."[25] > > If Bob was telling the truth, then Lori Boespflug's role > in the writing of Dead Air was minuscule at best. Thus, > it seems strange that Bob's attorney, William T. Abbott, > would offer him this advice: > > "With the passing of each day, I become more and more > concerned about your potential liability to Lori in > connection with Dead Air and its sequels. The time > table is immediate. You will soon know if Dead Air is > to be a publishing success and, quite possibly, if > theatrical rights are to be optioned. Assuming success, > and knowing the role Lori has played, it would amaze me > if she is not sufficiently astute to use the opportunity > to both secure her financial future and to launch her > own literary career."[26] > > The logic here is inescapable: If as Bob insists, he > wrote Dead Air, then there wasn't any need for advice. As > such, that letter never should have been written in the > first place -- and it couldn't possibly be stolen, as he > has asserted. On the other hand, if he did not write the > best-selling novel that bears his name, then he has > knowingly and deliberately deceived his nationwide > audience. Either way, I submit to you that Bob's > credibility is absolutely shot. > > For even when Bob 'bares his soul', he lies through his teeth. > _____________________________________________________ > > ENDNOTES > > 1 "Bob Larson Talks Back' About World Magazine > Investigation," Twin Cities Christian [Mpls/St. Paul, > MN], 18 Mar. 1993, p. 5A, col. 5. > > 2 Bob Larson, Hell on Earth (Carol Stream, IL: Creation > House, 1974), author biography on dual jacket. > > 3 Jon Trott, "Bob Larson's Ministry Comes Under > Scrutiny," Cornerstone, Vol. 21, Issue 100, Feb., 1993, > p. 18, advance copy, courtesy Jon Trott (hereinafter, > "Cornerstone"). > > 4 Jay Grelen and Doug LeBlanc, "This is Me, This is > Real," World, Vol. 7, No. 32, 23 Jan. 1993, p. 11 > (hereinafter, "World"). > > 5 Cornerstone, p. 18. > > 6 Bob Larson, "Talk-Back With Bob Larson," Radio > broadcast, Jan. 5, 1993. > > 7 World, p. 11. > > 8 Michael Roberts, "The Evil That Men Do," Westword, May > 27-Jun 2, 1992, p. 12. > > 9 Bob Larson, "Prepare For War," Radio broadcast, Jan. > 29, 1993. > > 10 Larson v. Larson, No. 91 DR 226 (Jefferson County > (Colo.) Dist. Ct., Filed Jan. 28, 1991), Record, p. > 111-112 [emphasis mine]. > > 11 Ibid., p. 146 [emphasis mine]. > > 12 Based upon discussions with BLM insiders, I consider > his publishing efforts to be an integral part of his > ministry work. BLM staffers do the lion's share of the > underlying research, editing, and possibly writing for > many of "Bob's" best-selling books. > > 13 "Bob Larson Talks Back'," p. 5A, col. 4. 3 > > 14 Bob Larson, Letter, Jan. 27, 1992 (ghost-written by > Lori Boespflug; the stations were owned by Salem > Communications, Camarillo, CA) [emphasis mine]. Copy > on file. > > 15 Arthur Matthews (Senior Editor, World magazine), > Telephone interview, March, 1993; my call to KSLR has > not been returned. > > 16 Ibid., ibid. > > 17 Bob Larson, "Talk-Back with Bob Larson," Radio > broadcast, Mar. 17, 1993. > > 18 Name withheld by request, Telephone interview, Mar. 18, > 1993. Copy of letter on file. > > 19 Bob Larson Ministries, 1991 Consolidated Balance Sheet, > p. 2 (Obtained from Bob Larson Ministries, Aug. 12, > 1992, copy on file). > > 20 Ibid., p. 3. > > 21 Bob Larson Ministries, 1990 federal Form 990, p. 1 > (copy on file). > > 22 Alan Dumas, "Air Raid!", Rocky Mountain News Sunday > Magazine, 22 Sept. 1991, p. 14-M; see also Bob Larson, > "Prepare For War," Radio broadcast, Jan. 29, 1993. > > 23 "Affidavit with Respect to Financial Affairs of Bobby > E. Larson," Larson v. Larson, ibid., signed July 12, > 1993. > > 24 Bob Larson, "Talk-Back With Bob Larson," Radio > broadcast, Jan. 29, 1993. > > 25 Ibid., ibid. > > 26 William T. Abbott, Letter, July 8, 1991 [emphasis > mine]. Copy on file; see Corner stone, supra note 3, > p. 41, for a complete text of the letter. > > NOTES TO THE ESTIMATE OF LARSON'S 1990 MINISTRY INCOME: > > B Documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service show > Larson's total compensation from Bob Larson Ministries > to be $222,237 -- almost $5,000 HIGHER than the figure > reported in the affidavit. Note also that a $175,000 > bonus, ostensibly paid as compensation for the > forbearance of salary by Larson in previous years, has > not been included in this calcu lation; according to > courtroom testimony, it was paid in 1989. > > C According to sources within BLM -- corroborated in part > by courtroom testimony -- IBN's primary function is to > distribute Larson's "Talk-Back" radio broadcasts; any > business it conducts with other ministries is, for the > most part, purely incidental. > > D According to BLM sources, Larson does not reimburse BLM > or IBN for air time spent promoting his books. The > "retail" value of this 'incidental' benefit is a > staggering ($10 per 1/2-minute spot x 2 spots/day on > each station x 170 stations = $3,400/day -- or over > $800,000/year! Still, there IS something to be said for > volume discounts. The figure used is a quick > approximation, based on a rough estimate that 1/60th of > the "Talk-Back" air time is dedicated to "book > promotion," and his program is substantially subsidized > (55-60% of the total cost of air time, based on > estimates from radio station managers) by locally-based > commercial advertising. > > E This figure was based primarily upon the testimony of > Lori Boespflug, who claimed to have spent over 1,000 > hours during 1990 on the writing of Dead Air, and has > time sheets to prove it. Larson has since publicly > admitted that his research staffers produce so- called > "briefing books," which he uses as the research for his > many books. He has not, however, confirmed staffers' > allegations that they do most of the writing and > editing. The $20,000 figure is therefore conservative, > but not unreasonably so. Incidentally, Boespflug told > me that she was "about 90% finished" with Abaddon when > she was fired by Bob Larson; it will be interesting to > compare her draft copy with the final published product. > > F This figure was based upon testimony from several > sources -- including an agreement between Larson and > Dead Air publisher Thomas Nelson. Evidently, at the > close of 1990, Larson and his lawyers drew up an > agreement which enabled the Ministry to benefit from the > sale of books as "premiums," but prior to that, it is > believed that Larson garnered most of the benefit from > book sales. > > G According to courtroom testimony, the total income > reported on the Larson's 1990 fed eral income tax return > was $403,310, of which $39,300 was directly attributable > to tax able dividends and interest. If Larson's pre-tax > income from Ministry activity in this estimate was > reported as expected, he should have received roughly > $70,000 in bona fide royalties, after expenses -- which > is in line with reasonable expectations. > __________________________________________________________ > Copyright 1993 Kenneth L. Smith. Please direct your > questions to the author at P.O. Box 280305, Lakewood, CO > 80228. Published by permission. > > Ken Smith, a CPA, is a second-year law student at the > University of Denver. He also has a Masters Degree in > Taxation at the University of Denver. >