When was the last 7-Day Convention held?

by VM44 34 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  VM44

  Does anyone know when The Watchtower held the last 7-Day convention?

  These conventions lasted from 9am to 9pm every day for a whole week, except perhaps for Sunday.

  They were mostly held in open-air stadiums and people had to endure the burning heat during the day, and the cold at night.

  It took endurance to sit throughout the whole thing.

  Making people attend those things really was an expression of love from The Watchtower! (NOT!)

  Did the Watchtower drop right away to the 3-day program, or were 5 day conventions held for awhile?
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  Bonnie_Clyde

  Atlanta, Georgia, in 1969 for me. A week of stifling heat and droning talks. Finally Clyde said he'd had enough and we missed the last day and drove up into the mountains of North Carolina.

  Bonnie
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  Soldier77

  I'm approaching mid-thirties and I cannot remember a 7 day Convention and I'm a born-in. I remember 4 1/2 day conventions though, Started Wednesday afternoon through Sunday. Well, I think it was 4 1/2 days... I can remember one time at least... then it dropped to 3 1/2 then 3 as it is now. I can see them dropping it to just Sat/Sun. I know attendance on Fridays has been horrible for years.
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  Think About It

  7 straight days in the hot sun listening to WTS propaganda? No wonder they thought they were hearing the Revelation trumpets at those conventions.

  Think About It
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  startingover

  I believe it was up until the late 60's, and they were 8 days, 9am-9pm. I don't remember how long the lunch break was, but I do remember the long tables where you ate full meals standing up off metal trays. Imagine them trying to pull off something like that now.
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  Mickey mouse

  I remember 4 day conventions in the UK when I was young (probably early 1980s).
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  moshe

  I know they had those 7 day assemblies in 1973, pretty sure in 1974, too. It is hard for me to believe that I can't remember much about my JW life from 30-40 years ago. Apparently my brain reformatted itself and erased all that useless JW information. It's a blessing for me.
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  blondie

  I believe it was 1969

  1973 - International Assembly = 5 days
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  cabasilas

  The last 7 day I remember was 1969 (in most cities): Sunday to Sunday. The morning sessions were usually meetings for field service with daily text. The lectures began in the early afternoon and then after dinner continued until about 9 pm. In Los Angeles where I went they were unable to obtain Dodger Stadium for the first day so that day's sessions were split to morning sessions of Monday and Tuesday (which then had lectures from 9 am to 9 pm for those two days.)

  In the 70s there were a couple of 5 day assemblies. 1973 and I think 1978 also.
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  therevealer

  Horrible, horrible, horrible. For one of them I could not get the time off without quitting my job and at the time thankfully did not have the "faith/balls" to do that. So we (me, wife and two children, one still nursing) drove 245 miles to the host city. I tried unsuccessfully to coerce the boss into giving me the week off by phoning late sunday night. His refusal meant that I drove home getting no sleep and arriving at home in the wee hours, and getting to work a few hours late. Anyway it meant that my young wife was left fending for herself for the week. Thankfully she was staying at the home of witnesses and I believe that provided the ride to the assembly site and she had a bit of help with the kids because there were some relatives there. God I realize why I shut that bullshit from my mind. It makes me feel like such an idiot when I recall some of that stuff. To many assemblies sitting in stifling heat with sweat running down your back as you sat there in suit and tie. And for what. Those conditions were simply not conducive to grasping and retaining information. Plus back then so many of the Franz inspired talks were so deep that 99% didn't know what the hell the speaker was talking about. Thanks for making me go there )not(