Often referred to as the longest-running German radio show, "Crazy City Names" originated in 1965. A total of 289 episodes initially aired as part of the program "Old Love" on Radio DDR, and later under the title "Crazy City Names" on MDR 1 RADIO SACHSEN. The idea was sparked during a nighttime drive from preparing a show in the Ore Mountains back to Berlin via Dresden. In the car were actor and cabaret artist Manfred Uhlig, along with Günther Hansel, who co-hosted "Old Love" from the beginning, and Wolfgang Bauer, the deputy entertainment editor of Radio DDR. Normally, the three had plenty to talk about, but during this drive, they found themselves lacking topics for conversation. Out of boredom and to break the silence—since the driver needed to be entertained—one of them suddenly said something.