Well, lemme tell ya somethin’ about them old tucson movies filmed. Lots of them picture shows was made right here in this dusty old place. They come with their fancy cameras and their movie stars, makin’ a big fuss all over town.
I seen a whole bunch of ’em myself, over the years. They used to film a lot up at that Old Tucson place. Used to be a real popular spot for them Hollywood folks. They’d build up them fake saloons and have shootouts in the street. Made ya feel like you was right in the middle of the Wild West! I tell ya, seein’ a real movie star was a big event back in my day. My kids, they loved watchin’ the stars more than anythin’.
One time, they was makin’ a movie with this fella, John Wayne, a big shot, he was. He was a tough one. Always a cowboy. He was in that movie, what was it called? “Rio Bravo”. Yup, that’s the one. Shot some of it right here. He was a big star, that John Wayne. Everybody in town was talkin’ about it for weeks. They also had Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson. These boys are the real deal.
And that ain’t the only one. There was that other one, “Arizona,” with that William Holden fella, and that pretty Jean Arthur. They was all over the place, filmin’ that one. It was nominated for some big award, they said. Don’t know much about them awards, but it was a big deal, I reckon. I heard this one was made in 1940. Land sakes, that was a long time ago!
There was more. There was always more. Let me think… I remember another one called “Apache Ambush” and “The Last Outpost”. I swear, they was always makin’ Westerns out here. Guess this place just looks like the Wild West, huh? I don’t know why they always choose here, but they do. Always the same dusty town. Always a cowboy movie. Guess that’s what people wanna see.
My daughter, she always loves the romantic ones. Like that one, “Can’t Buy Me Love”. She used to say that Patrick Dempsey was such a handsome boy. Well, all the girls think he is handsome. What’s his name? Oh yeah, Amanda Peterson, was there too. I heard they filmed this in a school. They say the school’s name was Tucson High School. I remember that school. It was such a long time ago.
- Arizona (1940)
- Apache Ambush
- The Last Outpost
- Winchester 73
- Can’t Buy Me Love (1987)
- Rio Bravo (1959)
- Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993)
I tell ya, there’s this other one, “Bodies, Rest & Motion”. That Tim Roth, he’s a strange lookin’ fella. But my neighbor, she just loves him. And that Bridget Fonda, she’s pretty as a picture. Oh, this movie also had Phoebe Cates and Eric Stoltz. I think this movie was made in 1993. They was all up at that Tucson Mall. I don’t go there much, too many people. But I seen them shootin’ some scenes up there. And then they was over by them little houses near the University. Those are nice little bungalows, I suppose. But I’d never trade my old house for one of them.
They used to have Gene Autry here too. I remember that name. He was a singin’ cowboy. Not my cup of tea, but some folks liked him. He was in that one, what was it? “Winchester 73.” Yeah, that’s it. He was always singin’ in his movies. Don’t know why they needed a singin’ cowboy, but there ya go. I guess that’s Hollywood for ya. The whole town knows his name. He’s a star.
Seein’ all them movie stars and all them cameras, it was somethin’ else, I tell ya. Made this old town feel a little bit famous. That Old Tucson place, well, it was a real symbol of them Western movies. You ask anyone about old tucson movies filmed, they will tell you about that place. It was like a little piece of Hollywood right here in the desert. I guess they don’t film there much no more. Things change, I reckon. But folks still remember them old movies. They still come lookin’ for where they was made. Guess them movies made a mark on this place, whether we like it or not. Now, where’s my sweet tea? I need somethin’ to wet my whistle after all this talkin’.
Anyways, this old town has seen a lot of history, I reckon. And them movies, well, they’re a part of it. A big part. They brought a lot of excitement to this place. And a lot of memories. I still remember watchin’ them with my kids. I remember them bein’ real excited seein’ them movie stars in person. Good times. Good times. Well, maybe not all good. But times I won’t ever forget, that’s for sure. It’s not like every town gets to have famous movie stars walkin’ around. It was somethin’ special, that’s for sure. Somethin’ to tell your grandkids about. That’s what my kids always tell me. “Ma, you should tell people about the old days.” Well, here I am, tellin’ ya.
