1944 - Religion

Religion

Massachusetts-born NBC radio executive Milton E. Krents, 33, launches a weekly religious drama and discussion series entitled The Eternal Light. Produced for the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, it will have 4 million listeners by 1963 as 100 stations carry it nationwide, and it will continue for decades on television.

Arabs riot at Damascus May 26 as Syrian authorities permit women to remove their veils in public.

Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson dies of a sleeping-powder overdose at Oakland September 27 at age 54 (see 1926). Despite accusations of adultery, alcoholism, fraud, hypocrisy, perjury, grand theft, and physical assault, she has never been convicted, and an estimated 45,000 weeping mourners file past her coffin between October 6 and 8. She is buried with great ceremony October 9.