Truth or Consequences, New Mexico: The Community Named after a Game Show
An article in the New York Times talks about the efforts in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico to chart a future for itself (By RALPH BLUMENTHAL
Published: November 1, 2006).
The article speaks of the efforts (to date unsuccessful) to corner a big chunk of the early market in commercial spaceflight. Along a barren Interstate 25 slicing through the high desert, road signs read: “Future Site of the New Mexico Spaceport.”
Of more interest to me is the story the article tells of how the town got to be called what it is.
In an area long revered by Indians for its bubbling warm waters, states the Times, the place initially named Hot Springs sprang up in 1911 as a labor camp for the Elephant Butte Dam, which created a 40-mile-long lake and recreation area — and what the article describes as "a sin city of gunslingers, saloons, gambling halls and brothels, including a floating pleasure palace on the lake".
The Depression changed all that, and a new era came to the area in 1950 thanks to a promotion on the hit radio quiz show called “Truth or Consequences,” which required contestants who failed to answer trivia questions to perform zany stunts.
To celebrate the show’s 10th anniversary on radio and its debut on the new medium of television, the host, Ralph Edwards, offered to telecast from a city that would call itself Truth or Consequences for a day. (See Bob Barker retirement entry about Truth or Consequences on TV).
Hot Springs leapt at the chance, voting to change its name in time for April Fool’s Day, 1950.
Mr. Edwards, who went on to create an even more popular show, “This Is Your Life,” returned here annually for a fiesta day until 1999, six years before he died at 92.
According to the Times, the sheen from the city’s name change has since dulled, with traditionalists making four unsuccessful efforts over the years to change the name back to Hot Springs, but some now look to the spaceport to add a new cachet.
For the full article see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/us/01truth.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Published: November 1, 2006).
The article speaks of the efforts (to date unsuccessful) to corner a big chunk of the early market in commercial spaceflight. Along a barren Interstate 25 slicing through the high desert, road signs read: “Future Site of the New Mexico Spaceport.”
Of more interest to me is the story the article tells of how the town got to be called what it is.
In an area long revered by Indians for its bubbling warm waters, states the Times, the place initially named Hot Springs sprang up in 1911 as a labor camp for the Elephant Butte Dam, which created a 40-mile-long lake and recreation area — and what the article describes as "a sin city of gunslingers, saloons, gambling halls and brothels, including a floating pleasure palace on the lake".
The Depression changed all that, and a new era came to the area in 1950 thanks to a promotion on the hit radio quiz show called “Truth or Consequences,” which required contestants who failed to answer trivia questions to perform zany stunts.
To celebrate the show’s 10th anniversary on radio and its debut on the new medium of television, the host, Ralph Edwards, offered to telecast from a city that would call itself Truth or Consequences for a day. (See Bob Barker retirement entry about Truth or Consequences on TV).
Hot Springs leapt at the chance, voting to change its name in time for April Fool’s Day, 1950.
Mr. Edwards, who went on to create an even more popular show, “This Is Your Life,” returned here annually for a fiesta day until 1999, six years before he died at 92.
According to the Times, the sheen from the city’s name change has since dulled, with traditionalists making four unsuccessful efforts over the years to change the name back to Hot Springs, but some now look to the spaceport to add a new cachet.
For the full article see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/us/01truth.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
posted by eric model | 12:16 AM
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