OK. Had another look.
The 1936 Informant gives the totals for the previous year of 1935. Please look right under the word "Themselves" at the top heading. You will see this: "More than 71,000 attended the Memorial, whereas 53,835 partook."
This is interesting. It went on to say, "A total of 46,209 publishers engaged in the field work. Where were the other 25,000 who attended the Memorial service?" My question is, never mind the attenders - why are there 7,600+ more partakers than publishers? Could it be that the 1932 WT articles saying "every one of the remnant must be a witness to the name and kingdom of Jehovah God" fell on some deaf ears? (See Proclaimers, p.213.)
The number 53,835 had to be a "worldwide" figure, because the 1936 Yearbook gives the number of 27 ,006 as the total of partakers. But the 27,006 figure must refer to partakers in the United States only.
No, it can't be. It says the U.S. had 26,826 partakers plus 180 from 'Other Outlying Countries' which came to a 'Grand Total' of 27,006.
This is what I've come up with:
In 1935 (this would have been the last Memorial where the 'great crowd' were considered a spirit-begotten class)
Source: Informant 1936, table comparing April 1936 and April 1935 figures - http://2mb.su/7593
Att. 66,185
Part. 55,444
BUT ...
Source: Yearbook 1937(?) - http://2mb.su/7591
Att. 32,795
Part. 27,006
In 1936
Source: Informant 1936, table comparing April 1936 and April 1935 figures - http://2mb.su/7593
Att. 71,451
Part. 53,835
BUT ...
Source: Yearbook 1937(?) - http://2mb.su/7591
Att. 35,551
Part. 25,678
In 1937
Source: Informant 1938, table comparing April 1938 (incomplete figures) and April 1937 figures - http://www.badongo.com/pic/727936
Att. 36,285
Part. 24,308
In 1938
Source: Informant 1939 (Sept.?), table comparing Spring 1939 campaign and Spring 1938 campaign results - http://www.badongo.com/pic/727941
Att. 68,133
Part. 38,798
In 1939
Source: Informant 1939 (Sept.?), table comparing Spring 1939 campaign and Spring 1938 campaign results - http://www.badongo.com/pic/727941
Att. 79,558
Part. 31,426
In 1940
Source: Informant 1940 (late summer) - http://www.badongo.com/pic/727949
Att. 97,611
Part. 27,858
The Yearbooks give lower figures than the Informants, weirdly. I can't think why if they are supposed to represent world-wide Grand Totals and they don't say they're incomplete. What seems to be clear is that there was a drop in both attendance and partakers at the 1937 Memorial.
Again, the Proclaimers book (p.717) numbers for 1935 and 1940 Memorial attendance and partakers don't match the ones above. It has:
1935 - Att. 63,146; Part. 52,465
1940 - Att. 96,980; Part. 27,711
Where did these stats come from?