Aage Samuelsen

[3] In 1931 a revival swept through the town, started by Thor Sørlie, who had worked closely with Norwegian Pentecostal founder Thomas Ball Barratt.

He also took part in humorous features, including the radio program Har du lyst, har du lov, where he sang a self-deprecating song with Leif Juster to the tune of Vi var arbeidskamerater, frøken Johansen og jeg.

After this, he founded his own charismatic movement called Maran Ata, which soon became well-known due to Samuelsen's popularity and style and the congregation's frequent use of speaking in tongues.

Samuelsen believed that he was the inspiration for the main character in the 1966 feature film Broder Gabrielsen, and took great offense at this.

He was invited to perform at the Momarkedet [no] festival and similar events, but it was primarily the artist and entertainer Aage Samuelsen people wanted to hear, not the preacher.

[1] In Samuelsen's autobiography Herrens glade trubadur ('The Lord's merry troubadour') he wrote of his life as an artist, preacher and also about his long-term alcohol abuse.

Towards the end of his life he bought the Dalen Hotel in Telemark,[8] and had great plans to turn it into a center for Christian activities.

Inexperienced as he was in business, he fell victim to several dubious "investors", and the whole project ended in financial chaos.