Old Tucson Studios, Tucson, AZ April 27,2010

A superstar in its own right, Old Tucson Studios has hosted over 300 film and television productions since 1939.

You might recognize this freight depot from some of the John Wayne movies filmed here.

I got "volunteered" to help out with Sir William Wiley's Miracle Elixir Show. He asked me to spell "silk", louder and faster, louder and faster, then asked what cows drink. I of course said "milk". He decided I needed some of his elixir (which turned out to be a bottle of sarsaparilla). After thinking about it later, I decided I was partially right-baby cows drink milk!

This is the hotel used in the film "McClintock" where Maureen O'Hara jumped from the second floor porch into a wagon of hay. Remember??

I found a new profession!!

Bill was tending bar....

This is the "RENO", built in 1872 for the Virginia and Truckee Railroad to work the legendary Comstock Lode and later to become a movie star.
Famous passengers include Presidents U.S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt, John Wayne, James Steward, Katherine Hepburn, Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, and Elizabeth Taylor. It has appeared in nearly 100 movies and televisions programs including Rawhide, Twilight Zone, Wild Wild West, and Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean. The Reno is known as the most photographed locomotive in American history.

Here is the entrance to the "High Chaparral" set. The mountain in the background is Golden Gate Mountain and is seen in many westerns.

Bill is standing in front of the main house from the High Chaparral set, again with Golden Gate mountain in the background.

Here comes the stage. Bill and I took a ride in it and I can't imagine riding for several days in it. From Tucson to Tombstone took several days. If you didn't have a bad back when you started, you would when you arrived at your destination!

Bill in front on the "town set" from High Chaparral. Looks pretty authentic, doesn't it??

This is what it looks like from the side!

View of the courthouse. Notice the "gallows" in the center. Other John Wayne films made here include "Rio Bravo" and "Rio Lobo". The next time you watch one of the old westerns, see if you can spot the famous mountain in the background. If you can, the film was made at Tucson Studios.

Railroad station with the ever present Saguaro cacti.

Another railroad station on the set. Looks familiar, doesn't it?

Other westerns filmed here include "The Outlaw Josey Wales" and "Tombstone".

It's a very interesting place to visit if you ever get to Tucson, AZ.