New Set Construction Leads to New Summer Hours

Old Tucson Company is in the final planning stages of building out the center of its world-famous Old Western Town.  The goal of the approximately 5,000 square foot Heritage Square project is to create three new streets and twelve new building sets. The scope of the project will require Old Tucson to temporarily revise its operating hours.

To accommodate the construction (pending Pima County approval), Old Tucson is open to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm with new shows and “Living History” vignettes performed throughout the town. 

New Arizona Resident Summer Discount

During the summer construction period, Old Tucson welcomes guests to visit on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays to see the progress being made on the new additions.  During this period, Old Tucson is offering Arizona residents one free admission with purchase of a regular priced adult admisson.  This buy-one, get-one-free offer will require a valid Arizona ID and may not be combined with any other discount.  Some special events may be excluded from this offer.

Freewill Films has wrapped of the period western To Kill a Memory at Old Tucson and its sister location Mescal. The project is directed by Dustin Rikert who will co-produce with William Shockley.  Additional Arizona locations used in the film include Yuma, Arizona.  

The storyline for the film is set in the 1920′s, when young newspaper journalist Jesse Helms (Andrew Walker – The Gundown, Steel Toes), sets out to learn the truth behind one of the most notorious bank heists in western history, “The Mid-Day Massacre,” and its infamous ring leader Duke Donovan (Kix Brooks – Brooks & Dunn, Thrift Store Cowboy), a legendary lawman gone bad. Visiting the estate of a reclusive millionaire named Seymour Redfield (James Karen – The Pursuit of Happiness, Mulholland Dr.), Helms soon learns that things may not have been what they appeared, as Redfield recounts the events that conspired to bring Donovan to justice in the 1890′s. A sweeping, action-packed saga of the old west in the vein of Unforgiven and The Shawshank Redemption, To Kill A Memory also stars Ernie Hudson, Sydney Penny, Timothy Murphy, Abraham Benrubi, William Shockley, Brent Briscoe, Ronnie Blevens, and Paul McCarthy Boyington.

Here are a few behind the scenes images from Saturday’s film session in Mescal.

Ernie Hudson &  Friends

William Shockley (Co-Producer) and Dustin Rickert (Director & Co-Producer)

Kix Brooks & Ernie Hudson on Horseback

Dustin, Kix & Ernie

Kix



Sunday, July 10, 2011
Start: 5:00 a.m. – at first sign of light.

Everyone Runs, Everyone Walks and Old Tucson invite you to “Run With the Roosters,” a 5 mile run & walk, starting & finishing at Old Tucson at 5:00 a.m on Sunday, July 10, 2011.

This beautiful closed to traffic course runs south on Kinney Rd., along Tucson Mountain Park, into the Ironwood Picnic Grounds, back south on Kinney Rd and then making a turnaround back to Old Tucson. As always, Everyone Runs brings you the most value for your money with customized finisher tech shirts, free Mexican breakfast and overall and 5-year age group awards.

Join us!

Details available at www.everyoneruns.net/

(Tucson, AZ) Old Tucson Company is in the final planning stages of building out the center of its world-famous Old Western Town.  The goal of the approximately 5,000 square foot Heritage Square project is to create three new streets and twelve new building sets. The scope of the project will require Old Tucson to temporarily revise its operating hours.

“After the rebuild of Old Tucson following the 1995 fire, the town just didn’t have the same look and feel,” says Old Tucson CEO and General Manager Pete Mangelsdorf.  “We started discussions with Bob Shelton several years ago to develop a plan to fill the empty space in town square with movie quality sets that bring the magic back.” 

The design and construction of the new building sets will be led by Production Designer  Gene Rudolf, credited with creating sets for many movies including Young Guns II, The Great Gatsby, The Right Stuff, Raging Bull, Marathon Man, Three Days of the Condor and many more.

To accommodate the construction scheduled to begin in early June (pending Pima County approval), Old Tucson will be open to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm with new shows and “Living History” vignettes performed throughout the town. 

The “Living History” program is an entertaining and educational experience that will provide guests a glimpse into what life was like on the western frontier.  “Our goal is to create the atmosphere of a western town circa 1865 – 1900 and let our guests take a step back in time,” stated Terry Verhage, Operations Director.  “The Heritage Square project along with the recently completed Native American Village will provide us the additional backdrops we need to complete this experience.” 

During the summer construction period, Old Tucson welcomes guests to come out on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to see the progress being made on the new additions. Old Tucson is expressing its appreciation to Arizona residents with a discount offer:  AZ residents who buy one regular admission will receive a second admission of equal or lesser value for free!  This buy-one, get-one-free offer requires a valid Arizona ID, may not be combined with any other discount, and is available beginning June 3.  Some special events may be excluded from this offer.

The construction is scheduled to be completed in late October at which time Old Tucson’s daily operating schedule will resume.  More information will be available at OldTucson.com in the upcoming months.

Old Tucson has been immortalized in over 300 feature films and TV Westerns and is Hollywood’s most famous western movie location. For information about Old Tucson including current operating hours, please visit our website at www.OldTucson.com or call us at 520-883-0100.  Old Tucson is located at 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona  85735

Old Tucson – Preserving and Promoting the
Spirit and Traditions of the Old West!

A casting call for Volunteer Background Extras for Freewill Films production, “To Kill A Memory” will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2011 from 4pm to 5pm

WHO:  Men, Women, Children (all ages) - Must be in 1890’s period clothing – no dressing area.. 

WHEN:  Thursday, May 12, 2011  -  4 – 5 PM     (Gates close at 5 PM)

 WHERE:  Old Tucson Visitor Entrance.  Park in main parking lot and enter through Main Gate  

 WHAT:  Volunteer background extras only – no speaking parts.

• People not in period clothing will not be admitted for the casting call.
• Absolutely No firearms allowed 
• Children only admitted if part of casting and must be accompanied by parent or guardian 
• No experience necessary 
• No payment given to be an extra. Chosen extras will be given a meal on film days 
• Up to 50 people are needed

Old Tucson will be open to the general public from 10 am to 6 pm on Fri May 20^th, Saturday, May 21^st and Tuesday, May 31^st.   Regular show schedules may be modified due to the filming.

Old Tucson and Freewill Films are pleased to announce filming of the period western To Kill a Memory at Old Tucson and its sister location Mescal later this month. The project is being directed by Dustin Rikert who will co-produce with William Shockley.  Additional Arizona locations include Yuma, Arizona.  

The storyline for the film is set in the 1920′s, when young newspaper journalist Jesse Helms (Andrew Walker – The Gundown, Steel Toes), sets out to learn the truth behind one of the most notorious bank heists in western history, “The Mid-Day Massacre,” and its infamous ring leader Duke Donovan (Kix Brooks – Brooks & Dunn, Thrift Store Cowboy), a legendary lawman gone bad. Visiting the estate of a reclusive millionaire named Seymour Redfield (James Karen – The Pursuit of Happiness, Mulholland Dr.), Helms soon learns that things may not have been what they appeared, as Redfield recounts the events that conspired to bring Donovan to justice in the 1890′s. A sweeping, action-packed saga of the old west in the vein of Unforgiven and The Shawshank Redemption, To Kill A Memory also stars Ernie Hudson, Sydney Penny, Timothy Murphy, Abraham Benrubi, William Shockley, Brent Briscoe, Ronnie Blevens, and Paul McCarthy Boyington.

 Old Tucson will be open to the general public on the scheduled filming days of Friday, May 20, Saturday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 31 although regular show performance times may be adjusted to accommodate the production. The Mescal set is closed to the general public.

Freewill Films is looking for approximately 50 period dressed background extra volunteers for filming on select days at Old Tucson and/or Mescal.  Food will be provided for the background extras during filming.  To be considered for a volunteer extra role, interested parties must come to the Old Tucson front gate dressed in period costume (circa 1890) between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Thursday May 12th.  Men, women and children of all ages are encouraged to attend the casting call.

Join Old Tucson and the Arizona Chapter of the Western Music Association (WMA) this Memorial Day weekend for a celebration of western cowboy music!  All day and all night on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29, we’ll feature Western Music Association artists – a who’s who in western music.  The festival will pay homage to the musical heritage of the American West from traditional trail songs, through the era of the movie cowboy, to contemporary western songwriting.

The festival also will feature a tribute to Bob Nolan who called Tucson his home and wrote “Cool Water” and “Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds” – as well as hundreds of other Western music standards. A member of the Sons of the Pioneers, Bob is one of the greatest songwriters and poets of our time whose lyrics and melodies shine as brilliantly today as when he penned them over 80 years ago.

Throughout each day, in addition to Old Tucson’s signature shows and attractions, Western Music Association luminaries will perform on multiple stages.  Scheduled artists include:  The Bill Ganz Western Band, Syd Masters & The Swing Riders, Johnny Western, Tom Hiatt & The Sundown Riders, Tom Hiatt, Miss Devon and the Outlaw, Jon Messenger, Belinda Gail, Bill Barwick, Gail Starr, Desert Sons, Patty Clayton, Patty Clayton, Keeter Stuart, Liz Masterson, Mountain Saddle Band,  and David Rychener.  

Details available here.

Sponsored by Country Inn & Suites Tucson City Center and Ramada Limited.

TICKETS & PRICES

All daytime performances are included in Old Tucson’s regular admission of $16.95 for adults (ages 12 and over) and $10.95 for children (ages 4-11).  Children 3 and under are admitted free of charge.

Come out on Saturday and Sunday night for encore performances in the Grand Palace Saloon featuring the Bill Ganz Band (Saturday) and Syd Masters & The Swing Riders (Sunday) with guest appearances by many of the artists who will be performing during the day. Evening performance admission is $20.00 each evening.

Don’t miss a minute!  Save money and enjoy two full days and nights of genuine cowboy music with a two-day Sundowner Pass for just $50.00!

Tickets are available here or at the main gate leading up to and the days of the event.

Come watch the toughest athletes in the Southwest compete in Jr. Bull Riding action!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Click the link below for details!

SJBRA Old Tucson April flyer 2011 public

Join Old Tucson on Tuesday, February 22^nd when the Drachman Montessori Magnet School Fiddle Club will perform for guests.  The performance is scheduled for 10:45 am.

Every Drachman student in grades K – 3 learns to play the violin with violin instruction conducted weekly for all students throughout their stay at the school.  Second through sixth graders have the opportunity to participate in Drachman’s Fiddle Club during the Extended Day program.  Here students study “Old Time Fiddling” which strengthens their violin skills by playing traditional American fiddle tunes.  The Fiddle Club performs for the school as well as at community events.

Old Tucson is proud and pleased to welcome the The Fiddle Club on February 22^nd.

The 20th Ted Walker Youth Day at Old Tucson Studios will be held on Thursday, January 27, 2011.  Some 3,000 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from Tucson and Pima County School districts will receive free park admission and  a free lunch donated by the Dan Felix Memorial Foundation and Pima County Parklands Foundation.

 The event, which features Wild West entertainment and educational exhibits, is designed to provide a fun-filled day of activity to local school children who might not otherwise have this opportunity.

The first Youth Day organized by Ted Walker, former Pima County Parks & Recreation Commissioner, was held in May of 1988.  Since the program’s inception, Pima County Parks & Recreation, Old Tucson Studios and the Pima County Parklands Association have worked together to make this a highly successful and much anticipated annual school event. Following his death in 1993, the event was renamed in honor of Mr. Walker.

If you are interested in taking part in this event, please contact Kelly Cheeseman, Recreation Program Manager, Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, 3500 W. River Road, Tucson, AZ 85741, tel. 877-6615.  Reservations must be made no later than January 10, 2010.  Reservations are taken on a first come, first served basis. 

Park hours on Thursday, Jan. 27 will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Visitors may purchase an admission ticket good for both Thursday, Jan. 22 and Friday, Jan.23 at our front gate ticket office on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.