Preaching to the masses
A BIZARRE tale of a married couple who became cult leaders, dominating their followers with violence and abuse.
In 1969, Tony Alamo and his wife Susan founded the Alamo Christian Foundation in LA, beginning careers as televangelists.
They produced a television show and had Hollywood celebrities buying their jackets, with a growing number of people truly believing in them. But then there were accusations of sexual and violent abuse and of not paying employees.
This four-part series takes a deep dive into the rise and fall of the evangelical couple and cult leaders.
Through archival footage, including an exclusive video-taped deposition with Tony Alamo himself, the series unveils a strange story that spans five decades and brings to life the bone-chilling stories of ordinary people who endured extraordinary circumstances.
There are accounts of the couple’s dominance over their followers as they enforced obedience, as well as the Alamos’ double life as they pursued power and money.
Interviews from victims, as well as those who still blindly worship their late leader, cast a glaring spotlight on decades of exploitation.
The series begins as the preachers recruit vulnerable young people to join their cult, promoting personal salvation.
In the second episode, their grip on power is challenged as Susan becomes ill and law enforcement investigates allegations of labour violations and abuse.
Christhiaon Coie, Susan’s daughter, who claims she was sexually abused by her stepfather Tony, says: “My mother is the founder, Tony was just extra baggage. She started this mess.”