99% Invisible and the Megachurch (featuring Gillian Jacobs)
Summary
This 99% Invisible episode explores the history of Los Angeles’ Angelus Temple, the first American megachurch, founded by Sister Aimee Semple McPherson. Host Roman Mars and contributor Gillian Jacobs detail how McPherson blended Pentecostal faith with Hollywood-style spectacle and radio broadcasting to pioneer modern evangelical media. The story covers her rise to fame, a controversial 1926 kidnapping hoax that likely concealed an affair, and her enduring legacy in shaping contemporary Christian entertainment.
Topics discussed
Introduction to the Angelus Temple in Echo Park
Amy Semple McPherson's early life and conversion
The rise of Pentecostalism and the Sawdust Trail
McPherson's unique preaching style and media savvy
Building the Angelus Temple and the megachurch blueprint
Hollywood-style services and the birth of radio evangelism
The pressure of fame and the need for constant growth
The mysterious kidnapping and escape from Mexico
The scandal, investigation, and dubious defense
Legacy, decline, and McPherson's tragic death
The temple's modern state and episode credits
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