From the Archives: Billy Graham’s 1949 revival in Los Angeles

Rev. Billy Graham, a young Southern Baptist preacher, drew 350,000 people over eight weeks to a huge tent at Washington Boulevard and Hill Street. Graham quoted Scripture and discussed his tours of Europe after World War II.

“All across Europe, people know that time is running out,” he said. “Now that Russia has the atomic bomb, the world is in an armament race driving us to destruction.”

The event catapulted him to religious stardom.

Bill Murphy’s photo, above, appeared in the Nov. 14, 1949, Los Angeles Times.

This post was originally published on July 16, 2010.

Oct. 30, 1949: Overflow crowd at large tent waiting to hear Dr. Billy Graham speak.

(Bill Murphy / Los Angeles Times)

Nov. 20, 1949: Part of the crowd for last night of Dr. Billy Graham six-week crusade in a large tent at Washington Blvd. and Hill St. in Los Angeles.

(Jack Carrick / Los Angeles Times)