Hal Collins Metadata

Metadata describes a digital item, providing (if known) such information as creator, publisher, contents, size, relationship to other resources, and more. Metadata may also contain "preservation" components that help us to maintain the integrity of digital files over time.

Available Formats

Dublin Core: XML Dublin Core: JSON Dublin Core: Text Dublin Core: RDF/XML UNTL: XML Access METS: XML

Title

  • Main Title Hal Collins

Date

  • Digitized: 2007-11-19

Language

  • English

Description

  • Content Description: The name "Hal Collins", manager of the Crazy Hotel in the early 1930's, is printed on the back of this photograph, as well as his autograph on the face. He and his brother Carr bought the burned-out shell of the original Crazy Hotel; and built another, much more elaborate, in its place. He became convinced (by a salesman, according to one story; by his vice-president by another) that by advertising on the new medium, radio, that he could sell a boxcar-load of Crazy Water Crystals (evaporated from the now-famous water) each week. As a result, the "Crazy Gang" began broadcasting from the lobby of the Crazy Hotel over the Texas Quality Network. Hal Collins himself went on the radio air with his spot called "One Mans' Opinion." The noon broadcast became so popular that the sponsor was shipping, not one but several, carloads of Crazy Water Crystals per week to a nationwide audience of devoted listeners. More than one well was required to fill the orders that came in. He was one of 22 alternates in 1941 for the position of United States Senator on the death of Morris Shepard. He moved to Reynoso, Mexico to look after his brother's radio station. Weatherford's Mary Martin got her start in show business on the program that Collins had originated, where she became known as "Crazy Mary."

Subject

  • University of North Texas Libraries Browse Structure: Arts and Crafts - Music
  • University of North Texas Libraries Browse Structure: Business, Economics and Finance - Advertising
  • University of North Texas Libraries Browse Structure: People - Individuals

Primary Source

  • Item is a Primary Source

Coverage

  • Place Name: United States - Texas - Palo Pinto County - Mineral Wells
  • Time Period: mod-tim

Collection

  • Name: A. F. Weaver Collection
    Code: AFWC

Institution

  • Name: Boyce Ditto Public Library
    Code: BDPL

Rights

  • Rights Access: public

Resource Type

  • Photograph

Format

  • Image

Identifier

  • Accession or Local Control No: AWO_1238P
  • Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metapth29974
Back to Top of Screen