You never know where a churchman might find inspiration. For the Rev. Norman Hammer, it was a drive-in theater.
Hammer, then the 36-year-old pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in North Hollywood, happened to pass an outdoor movie emporium one day in 1949 and was struck with the idea: Why not hold summer church services in such a setting? He figured it would be perfect for the balmy, open spaces of car-happy Southern California.
"A lot of people like to head for the beach or mountains on Sunday," he explained later. "It's hard to get them dressed up and into the church. This way, they come dressed for an outing and can leave for the out-of-doors right after the service."
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