Old Tucson Studios - 11/25/14

This movie studio and theme park is located west of Tucson near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park (West).

The sets were originally constructed by Columbia Pictures in 1938 to replicate Tucson in the 1860s for the filming of the movie, Arizona, starring William Holden and Jean Author. A staggering 50 buildings were built in 40 days....many of them still standing today.

Other early movies filmed here include:
- The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) with Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman
- The Last Round Up (1947) with Gene Autry
- Winchester '73 (1950) with Jimmy Stewart
- The Last Outpost (1950) with Ronald Reagan

Some of the better known movies filmed in the 1950s include: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral; The Lone Ranger; Lost City of Gold; Cimarron; Rio Bravo; McClintok! Movies have been filmed here since with the last one in 2013.

There is small museum that displays some of the posters and props from various productions.

Also, numerous TV productions used the Old Tucson sets in the 1960s-1990s including: Have Gun Will Travel, Wagon Train, Death Valley Days, Gunsmoke, as well as various episodes of many others such as Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Big Valley, and Young Riders. 

Big Valley dresses - green one worn by Barbara Stanwyck

Little House on the Prairie costumes.

Bonanza - Ben Cartwright vest/pants and Hoss's hat and shirt.

Young Guns II poster

Movie filmed in 2013 (not yet distributed).

In total over 300 movies and TV series/movies have been filmed here thus far. Look for some of these backgrounds when you are watching Westerns! The Golden Gate Mountain is a famous opening and closing shot of many of them.

In 1959, an entrepreneur, Robert Shelton, leased the property from Pima County and began restoration work to make the location a theme park while retaining the buildings for movie-making. He added tours, rides, and shows for the entertainment of visitors. We saw a gunfight and stunt show while we were there.

And the fight begins...

See the guy with the "bag of flour" at the top of the stairs? Yep, he drops it on the guy with the red shirt.

In the end the "bad" guys all die, because "crime doesn't pay."

Grand Palace Hotel and Saloon.

Street scene.

Dance hall performance.

Courthouse.

Gallows.

Horse thieves!

A little too small for this guy!

El Toro was used in The Last Outpost, more recently, Three Amigos, and several others.

The Reno is the most photographed locomotive in American history. Built in 1872, it served the Comstock lode before its movie career began. It has appeared in 100 movies/TV productions. The famous people and co-stars include who have been on this include: Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt; actors John Wayne, James Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, Elizabeth Taylor and others.

Graveyard and church.

John enjoyed hanging with the horses...they really liked him, too!

Views around town.

Reproduction of first school built in Tucson (1864).

Stage coach rides around Old Tucson can be purchased for $3/per adult.

There is also a small train ride (no additional charge) that you can take to see some of the area when you get tired of walking.

Be sure to review the schedule of events for the day you visit. The stunt show by the old church was very entertaining (the set was used in Three Amigos). Those guys did some stunt falls from the top of the structure that were pretty impressive.

Three Amigos!

Carousel ... that did not seem to fit in with the rest of this place. But the kids seemed to enjoyed the ride. It is near the exit.

If you like Western movies or TV shows, you will love this place! General admission is $17.95/adults and $10.95/kids 4-11). Check website (below) for their schedule as it varies by season. We visited on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving...normally they are only open weekends this time of year. It was perfect timing for us as it was not too crowded.

Website:  www.oldtucson.com