Remember When Steve Martin Was Faith Healing In The TX Panhandle?

While scouring the Internet for info on the movie that's being worked on in the panhandle, I came across a little bit of trivia that I was unfamiliar with. Apparently, at one point Steve Martin was "faith healing" in the Texas panhandle.

Get our free mobile app

Claude TX Has Its Fair Share of Film Credits

What got me started on my trip down the rabbit hole was the number of times I saw Claude, TX pop up as a filming location for different movies. 1963's Hud was filmed there, which starred Paul Newman. There have been documentaries and made-for-TV movies filmed there too.

Steve Martin, A Massive Tent, And Faith Healing

The one I found most interesting was a film that stars native Texan, Steve Martin. I was blown away when I found out that 1992's Leap of Faith was filmed in the panhandle; in towns that I frequently pass through.

The film follows a faith healing evangelist as he rolls into a small town on his bus, where things go a lot differently for him than he expects them to.

Faith Healing in Claude, Groom, Happy

Even more interesting is the fact that filming took place in several more panhandle towns than just Claude. Happy, Groom, Tulia, and Plainview all get a credit when you check filming locations.

Now I have to go back and pay really close attention to where all of the shots are taken, seeing as how the film may be set in Kansas but was filmed right here in our neck of the woods.

If You Haven't Seen It, Or It It's Been A While, Watch This One

For a kid who grew up southern Pentecostal, it struck close to home. I've been to many and even preached at a few tent revivals. I've saw my fair share of evangelists just like the main character of this movie roll through town.

This is why I've always had a soft spot for Steve Martin's time spent on screen dancing and healing. Especially as I've grown older.