November 2018 16 In the August issue of Arizona Real Country the Magazine, I asked, “Is the Old West leaving Arizona?” You can go online to ArizonaRealCountry.com and reread it. Frank James Outcalt, of “Guns for Hire” said, “There wasn't anything here I'd read about, I wanted to do something about it. People come here looking for the Old West. They didn't find it.” We can relate to this by just looking around today, but would you believe this quote was printed in the Arizona Republic in August 1970. That was almost 50 years ago. In my home range is the old “Rawhide" on Scottsdale Road just north of Scottsdale, Arizona. It was closed in 2005 and reopened on the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation south of Phoenix in 2008. Sadly it was closed to the public in 2017. Cudia City that was built in 1938 by Salvatore Pace Budanza Cudia. It was constructed as a western movie set, with a real restaurant on Main Street and located on the northeast corner of Camelback Road and 40th Street in Phoenix. First known as the Valley of the Sun Studio, it soon became known as Cudia City. Filming production began in 1941 but in the early 60's all the buildings were removed and an apartment complex was erected in its place. Apacheland Movie Ranch near Apache Junction about 40 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona near what is now Gold Canyon. It was built in 1959 by Nat Winecoff, who had worked for Walt Disney in designing Disneyland. Apacheland opened in 1960 as a 1,800-acre movie set. Have Gun – Will Travel and Death Valley Days were among the productions filmed there. A fire on May 25, 1969, destroyed most of the buildings but the sets were rebuilt and filming resumed. Then a fire on February By Bob Roloff, “The Arizona Duuude” You can follow Bob Roloff on Facebook. THE ARIZONA DUUUDE 14, 2004, consumed the property again and that ended its movie-set days. The only two buildings to survive the fire were the chapel and large horse barn. They were relocated to the Superstition Mountain Museum nearby. A reunion of Apacheland actors is held every January at the museum and you can join us. Come meet Michael Dante who worked with Randolph Scott and sang along with Elvis Presley in Kid Galahad and was the star of Winterhawk, Ron Nix, Arizona's own top western stuntman, who also worked with Elvis, and Spanky Spangler who worked with Tiny Wells, on the streets of Apacheland, and says he was shot off every building in town. That was early in Spanky’s career. He went on to become a world famous high fall and car crash stuntman. Hank Sheffer another regular on the streets of Apacheland has gone on to author a couple of great books on the history of Apacheland. Hank also is available to give talks about the fires and history of Apacheland. I also had my time at Apacheland Movie Ranch being cast in small character parts while I was working with “Guns for Hire” of Scottsdale. My very first time there was working with Rory Calhoun, of The Texan, TV series. I was honored in 2017 and my “bootprints” were placed on the Apacheland Wall of Fame, in the big barn. Western restaurants like Reata Pass, way north of Scottsdale, Arizona opened in 1959, with Greasewood Flats nearby, opening in 1975. Both were locations used in the Coen Brothers movie Raising Arizona. Ron Nix and Spanky Spangler were involved along with other up and coming talent. Pat Larkin supplied all the cars and a Honda motorcycle made up to look like a Harley with the dubbed in the sound of a Harley X R Racing bike. Fooled everybody. A crazy fun movie I almost had a part in. How was I to know the Coen Brothers or Nicolas Cage would become famous. Pinnacle Peak Patio, only a mile from Reata Pass closed in 2016, another sad loss. It breaks my heart to see homes and condos, where in my memory I still see the old rustic cowboy steakhouse and still hear the old western music coming from the Sweet Tooth Saloon, where I was the bar manager in 68' 69' & 70'. We all have memories of our favorite time and place. Our own memory of our “Camelot. “ Time erases everything, it is all “ Gone With the Wind.“ It is somehow sad to outlive these places in time. But after all this disappointing news, you can still find some western destinations here in Arizona. Rodeos continue to draw large crowds and these contestants are not reenactors. They are the real deal. Just like the real ranchers across the west. They live it 24-7. Their very livelihood depends on hard work every day. Like it says on the front page of this publication… God, Family, Country. This is not just Arizona, it is the entire Old West, new west, our west. Men, women, and entire families working hard to make a better life for their sons, daughters, and grandchildren. Looking For Western Destinations? Looking for western music? Start your day with Rick Kelly at Real Country Legends 96.3 direct from Wickenburg, the dude ranch & team roping capitals of the west. Then go online to chronicleoftheoldwest.com. Chronicle of the Old West newspaper has been published by Dakota & Sunny Livesay since 1999. You can go online or subscribe to have it delivered to your mailbox. A regular column can be found in “ This Week in the Old West .“ Dakota can also be heard daily on 250 radio stations nationwide telling tales of the Old West. Another real treasure located here in Arizona is the world headquarters of True West Magazine, and home of Bob Boze Bell, publisher of True West Magazine. This premier western magazine is mainly illustrated by Bob himself, a true artist along with his many other talents. Go online, or better yet subscribe to True West Magazine. I recently enjoyed a weekend at The Flying E Dude & Cattle Ranch in Wickenburg which is one of several properties available for the total western experience offered by Western Destinations Co. owned and operated by Jim & Opal Brown. The highlight of my western experience was a real cattle roundup and drive back to the corral loading pens. I hadn't been on a horse in a long time, and I think the horse knew it because he took it easy on me. Believe me, you don't need to go to the gym for a workout, just ride a horse regularly. That’s why cowboys are slim, trim, and tough. Last month I asked my friend Buck Montgomery to share his memories as manager of the Ponderosa Ranch movie set of the TV western Bonanza. Buck has produced live western shows throughout the year all around the southwest. Buck and his crew truly bring the west alive when he shows up at any event. I would like to thank Buck for helping us “ Relive the Legend of the Ponderosa Ranch.” For more information email drbuckentertainment@cox.net or visit Drbuckproductions.com. Believe me, you don't need to go to the gym for a workout, just ride a horse regularly. That’s why cowboys are slim, trim, and tough. A reunion of Apacheland actors is held every January at the museum and you can join us!