Redeeming Popular Culture through Radio and Religion

Tona Hangen blends cultural, religious, and media history to provide a detailed exploration of the world of religious radio. Through recordings, sermons, fan mail, and other sources, she tells the stories of the broadcasters and listeners who played vital roles in the evolution of American radio evangelism from a novelty in the 1920s to a thriving industry by the 1950s.

Hangen focuses on three influential Protestant radio evangelists—Paul Rader, Aimee Semple McPherson, and Charles Fuller—and analyzes the strategies they employed to reach audiences nationwide. Initially excluded from network radio and free airtime, which were reserved for mainstream Protestant and Catholic organizations, evangelical broadcasters found success through paid-time programming. By the mid-twentieth century, millions of Americans regularly tuned in to evangelical shows, establishing it as a prominent and enduring genre in radio.

The financial support of dedicated listeners was crucial to the expansion of religious radio, and Hangen highlights how their voluntary contributions fueled the industry's remarkable growth. By exploring the intertwined development of evangelical religion and mass media, she underscores the interconnected nature of both, asserting that a comprehensive understanding of American culture in the twentieth century necessitates examining the histories of both entities.

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