What Now? with Trevor Noah 99% Invisible and the Megachurch (featuring Gillian Jacobs)
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Oct 21, 2025 
Gillian Jacobs, an actor and contributor to 99% Invisible, teams up with Claire Hoffman, author of Sister Sinner, to dive into the life of Sister Aimee Semple McPherson, a groundbreaking evangelist. They explore the construction of the Angelus Temple, the emergence of the megachurch concept, and McPherson’s innovative use of media in ministry. Listeners learn about her mysterious 1926 disappearance and the scandalous media frenzy that followed. Jacobs and Hoffman illuminate McPherson’s complex legacy, blending faith, fame, and controversy.
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Theatrical Church Architecture
- McPherson designed the Angelus Temple to bring tent-revival energy permanently indoors with a feminine, theatrical architecture.
- She worked incrementally with movie-palace builders to construct an opulent and functional worship arena.
Opening Of The Million Dollar Temple
- On New Year's Day 1923 McPherson opened the Angelus Temple with spaces for healings, prayer, and dramatic performance.
- The auditorium seated 5,300 and hosted choirs, orchestras, and elaborate illustrated sermons.
Entertainment As Worship
- McPherson merged vaudeville and Hollywood talent into worship, creating 'illustrated sermons' with sets and animals.
- Her softer, domestic persona differentiated her from aggressive rival revivalists and attracted broad audiences.
