The Photo-Drama, Another Tool

Equipment for showing the Photo-Drama of Creation​—a slide and moving picture production with synchronized sound, lasting several hours—​also reached Sweden as World War I flared up. A Swedish-American couple, William and Bella Undén, arrived from the United States to demonstrate the use of the equipment. That the brothers showed zeal and enthusiasm for the Photo-Drama is reflected in the Swedish edition of The Watch Tower, October 15, 1914:

“We must now as quickly as possible reach all the larger cities and communities in our country, . . . as we now see the skies of wrath over our heads and mankind trembling for fear because of the storm that is already shaking the present order of things.”

The first showing was held in Örebro Theatre on September 25, 1914. The hall was filled to overflowing, and the street outside thronged with people who were not able to get in. The show continued on the following nights. The Watch Tower reports: “The influx of people increased more and more, so that each time, several uniformed police constables were fully engaged in assisting us in our efforts to keep the masses back.”

A newspaper reported from Sundsvall in 1915: “Thanks to excellent guards, no unruliness occurred, but scenes of silent desperation were always observed when the doors were relentlessly closed. The thousands who could not get in dispersed reluctantly, and the most faithful remained as long as the presentation was in progress to be at least in the vicinity of the wonder, the miracle.”

Over the next three years, the Photo-Drama was shown in hundreds of places. In 1915 alone, it was shown 1,256 times. It did a great work in acquainting people with Jehovah’s purposes and making the Bible come alive. The newspaper that was quoted above added that Russell and his fellow believers “work, as is well-known, to popularize the Holy Scriptures and, by means of explanations of various Bible texts, to provide an intelligent idea about God.”

As a young woman, Elin Andersson took part in showing the Photo-Drama. Tears come to her eyes as she recalls, at the age of 90: “I belonged to the crew of 12 brothers and sisters who traveled around the country with one set of the Drama. My job was to assign seats and attend to the audience. It was wonderful to see all those people coming and to note how impressed they were. Many came to see it over and over again, queuing up for hours to get a seat. A most memorable and happy time!”

Another young woman, Maja Lundquist, volunteered as a Photo-Drama attendant for three years. She enjoyed this privilege so much that it spurred her to continue zealously in the full-time ministry for 53 years, until her death.