The Crazy Water Crystal Program was a unique 15-minute radio show that combined advertising with entertainment, specifically promoting an elixir made from the residue of the Crazy Well in Mineral Wells, Texas. The radio show treated its listeners to diverse early country-western and bluegrass music performances, earning its place as a significant player in broadcasting within the genre. Set in the lobby of the Crazy Water Hotel, the show featured various country and hillbilly musical groups to entertain listeners while also promoting the supposed health benefits of the Crazy Water Crystal elixir.</p><p>Broadcast between 1935 and 1940, the Crazy Water Crystal Program was aired both regionally and on the NBC networks, with many episodes still available today. The show played a role in boosting the tourist industry in Mineral Wells, Texas, as the local legend claimed that a mentally ill woman was cured after drinking from the Crazy Spring. The program featured the "Crazy Gang", who would explain how to reconstitute the elixir from the Crazy Water Crystals with tap water, providing alleged health benefits. Notably, actress Mary Martin, a Weatherford, Texas native, appeared in Crazy shows before achieving Broadway and Hollywood fame. The legacy of the Crazy Water Crystal Program can still be seen today, with a large Crazy Water Crystal sign displayed during the 1992 opening of the Grand Ole Opry and a photo of Hank Snow singing on the show exhibited in a museum.
