Zzyzx: The Snake Oil That Fueled a Community | Lost LA | KCET
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.ย. 2024
- The kind of dreams that Curtis Howe Springer peddled were tied to health and prosperity, but it didn't take long before "the last of the old medicine men" brought Zzyzx to ruins. CSU Desert Studies Center's Jason Wallace outlines the ploy Springer used, a radio ministry, and how his bogus claims eventually caught up with him in the 1970s.
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In 1966, when I was 12 years old my parents stopped at Zzyzx Mineral Springs on our trip through the Mojave to points east. My mother often listened to the "Brother Springer" program on the radio up in Vancouver, BC, and I still can recall Curtis Springer's rather gravelly voice saying, "and thank God for the privilege." We ate a meal at Zzyzx, went for a swim in the pool, got free glasses of "healthy" carrot juice, and went on our way. I actually was reminded of the name all these years later when reading Michael Connelly's "Harry Bosch" novel, "The Narrows", and when I looked it up, all the memories of our day at Zzyzx came flooding back. We actually met the man, Curtis Springer, and his wife that day, but, sadly, I don't recall much about them, other than that we all enjoyed the visit. Funny to hear the real story the real story of Zzyzx and Curtis Howe Springer now, after all these years.
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I only know about Zzyzx because that's how you know you're getting close to Vegas
I listened to Brother Springer in Sacramento in 1968 on XEMO Tijuana. He came across like a "countrified" version of Garner Ted Armstrong, and he played the corniest religious songs that I or anybody else ever heard. Those audio clips brought back some memories.
I was in USAF Navigator school at that time, and by coincidence one of our training routes went almost directly over Zzyzx. Thirty-plus-years later, I drove past that I-15 exit many times, but never actually went there.
Visited Zzyzx with my cattle dog circa Jan. 2012. Very serene. Took some fun photos. Would not have much enjoyed the experience in the summer.
Across that dry salt expanse is Kelso., CA. Went on the sand dunes there. It's a longer climb up the dune than appears from the parking lot.
Kelso has a train depot and museum.
Great sky watching at night (if you are interested).
It's good to know that Zzyzx has a protective presence via the CA State University. ❤️
Enjoyed the video, its information, and comments from previous visitors.
Where can I get that Zzyzx hat? I would love one! I listened to him growing up on local radio in Los Angeles. He preached natural eating, healthful ways of living & the Lord! An evil man? I don’t think so. He did an awful lot of good and allowed people to stay out there for free, so much for health & to help others grow in a Christian walk.
Yeah, thought it was very suspicious how they didnt play us an example of his "snakes oil" selling.. KCET are in the pockets of big Pharma
"That's none of your business!' LOL
Health and happiness. Everything “they” are against.
Casting for the lead in a biographical film: Anthony Hopkins ✅
Excellent
They should build a Indian casino there. That mineral spring could be a attraction
LA has less than nothing to with ZZyzx, no where near it either, thank goodness.
Yeah, because imagine how this place would ruin the atmosphere of LA…. 😂…
Boron is a healing mineral out in the California desert.
Nothing special about boron/borax. It is an essential nutrient, but on the scale of micrograms needed.
me rn seeing zzyzx and thinking oh fablehaven
Cool info thanks 🙏🏻
I don't understand. Did he get in trouble for building the place as a resort and claiming it was a mining facility?
The federal government allows you to occupy certain federal land if you’re going to mine there. He used that law to build his resort when he had no right to the land and did not pay for it.
@@jasminespencer3992 No one pays for a mining claim.
@@frequentlycynical642 I’m just repeating the correct history of the ownership my friend.
So, A bigger con artist ran off a smaller con artist .
Same as it ever was...
It is used now as one of a few Cal State University desert research station.
Where did electricity come from?
When Springer was there, they had big diesel generators.. The Desert Studies Center get power from a huge solar panel array..
Do y'all think a bottle of a this "snake oil" stuff would be worth anything? It's filled to the brim with a bright red liquid and has the old conman's face plastered on it. it says it's given away "as a symbol of love and appreciation" and not sold... It was used as leverage to Make you think a conman was generous, but hey, it wasn't sold, so that's good, right? It was given to me by this lovely older lady running a antique store out of her late sister's former home, selling the items that used to belong to her sister, my understanding is that her sister moved out to California at some point, i think she said 1980, and sold her the house in 1985, her sister passed in '09, i believe she said...... Wonder what happened to her sister, i hope she didn't give too much to that man....
Eh, in today’s society most of these type of people are labeled entrepreneurs. Funny how one can give something a fancy name and it changes the whole situation… 😂
carrot juice.
@@maryjones5710 definitely not carrot juice
The mineral springs were heated by propane.....He was that good...
They should change their name back to Soda Springs
I just drove by there.......just saying
The guy on Close Up talks like a parody of new show hosts, like the ones they made fun of on SNL.
Never knew how it was pronounced
This place is no where near LA
Are you sure Springer's last name wasn't tRump?
I like you already, I just made that joke 30 seconds ago to my dad 😂
I mean he is an entrepreneur too so there are lots of them …. In today’s world we call most of these type of entrepreneurs…. …. Crazy how a fancy name can change the whole perception of an idea… 😂
I once took a huge dump off that exit in the 1980's. I can draw a map in case if you want to see that pile of 💩that is probably still there somewhere along that stretch of the highway 15 freeway. 😉
Just an excuse to steal native tribal land.
48515 Hodkiewicz Circle
41596 Keeling Key