Old Tucson

When I was but a wee lad my grandmother (We called her Ma, she thought she was too young to be a granny.) would take me to the movies at the Carolina Theater while my uncle, who had the car, played pool and drank beer in the pool hall next door. There we'd sit in darkness of the theater and watch the guys in white hats bring law and order to the old west.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the place where much of that movie magic was created, Old Tucson Studios, Arizona. It was built as a movie set but with the demise of the western film it is now a popular tourist attraction. Tourists can ride the train, visit the saloon, see a gunfight and enjoy the old west the way it was in the movies.

And now, about our visit.  We arrived a little before one o'clock in the afternoon on a beautiful day after navigating a crooked mountain road to reach the attraction and were at first taken aback by the seemingly dozens of those big yellow buses.  Yep, the kind that haul school children. Upon entering the gift shop where you buy your ticket we found out more bad news.  Not only would the place be covered with screaming kids but it would close at two o'clock.  I complained that that wasn't mentioned in any of the promotional literature, but that didn't change closing time.  After a meeting of the minds we decided to check it out anyway.  Our discussion with the lady selling tickets did result in a half-price ticket.

As you walk into the town it's just like in the old western movies.  But then it should feel that way.  It is a movie set.  We wandered around checking out the various buildings.  Many have signs telling what movies they appeared in. Many were John Wayne movies.  But my favorite was the sets used in the television western, The High Chaparral.  I did have visions of Linda Cristal while snooping around the ranch house as seen above photo an the lower left. This was one of my favorite westerns. It was different somehow.  Maybe... it was the music.

As you see the intro to The High Chaparral is quite different from the intro to most TV westerns. On the right is a video of the gunfight entertainment at Old Tucson.  This was a skit based on the TV series The Wild, Wild, West. It was professionally done with great sound including that old movie music.  The stunts were impressive also.

Were it not for all the tourists, it would be easy to imagine yourself walking out in that wide main street with a six-gun at your side.  And beside you would be The Duke, or Coop, or Matt, or Wyatt.  But screaming kids and fiberglass buildings would bring you back to reality.

There was one thing that really spoiled the illusion...NO HORSES!

I am happy that we were able to spend and hour or so in Old Tucson.  Sure made me think of Ma...and Linda Cristal.

• Our Picasa album has more pictures.
• Old Tucson Studios is unbelievably near the city of Tucson, Arizona.
• For a look at another version of the Old Tucson Video click on it.