Tag: Apacheland Movie Ranch

…it’s about the animals

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I knew I had a calling for the Superstition Mountain Museum right away. My first walk around the property where Apacheland Movie Ranch once stood, just minutes from my house, left me with a such a strong personal experience that I wrote about it, photographed it and then went to the Museum and Volunteered.

Believing my calling must have something to do with that certain time in movie history, I watched the Elvis movie Charro! twice every shift so I would know the details and could explain why we had the Chapel on the Museum grounds.IMG_0001.JPG

I began learning the history, ordered the tshirt (seen above in picture) listened to  the stories and even met a few actors who had filmed there. I learned about Pasty Montana, first female country artist to sell a million copies of her single “I want to be a Cowboys Sweetheart” and the men who found her lost foot prints. I tell every girl I meet about her so we don’t lose valuable female history.IMG_0168.JPG

Though extremely comfortable in this “Historic Old West” style land I was now immersing myself in, I knew in my heart I wasn’t the right puzzle piece…not yet.

Then in April and May I met my first rattlesnake, then my second…my third…my fourth. And though my enthusiasm was still in full swing for Charro! happily playing on the mini T.V. in the General Store, my tales of snake encounters were what was truly exciting my guests. Such a common question “Do you see snakes out here?” I simply would tell the truth and show pictures.IMG_0397

I offered to work on Fridays inside the main museum gift shop. I wanted to learn more and the barn wasn’t going to help teach me to become a Docent. No, my dear friend James “Jim” Swanson and a few others would teach me and had already offered.IMG_4202.JPG

When I asked my boss Jeff aka “Crispy” about becoming a Docent, he handed me a few pages stapled together with something that had been reprinted multiple times. My eye sight is so bad I strained and with my usual tact said, “What the hell is this?

( Jeff aka “Crispy” with our self appointed Union Leader Karen)IMG_4789 (1).JPG

Long story short, the manual had been a work in progress and a really good one at that, but my buddy Jim’s health issues got in the way and time had passed. Could I fix it?

What better way to learn all about something then to read and write about it? I would change no words just update, add my pictures and learn a ridiculous amount of history with the help of an amazing few Docents we have.

But once I started working inside the gift main shop, I quickly realized I hardly belong near expensive one of a kind pottery that I know nothing about. Or the amazing jewelry I don’t wear. It’s not me.IMG_1430

Instead I would hover by the animal exhibit. With my Phoenix Zoo background, being born and raised desert and now living in crazy town Gold Canyon photographing every critter possible plus my recent snake encounters with pictures, I was right at home.

Then it happened.

I hear excited shouts over by our side patio. A grandmother, mother and child have their faces pressed up to the glass “Baby Roadrunners!”

Now to be honest, and I have two resident roadrunners on my property that I see regularly, I cannot say I have ever seen a “baby” roadrunner in the wild in my life. If there are baby roadrunners on the museum patio I’m running over there with my camera (iPad).

What I see when I look out are nothing more than what, for lack of a better term and it doesn’t matter anyways, I am going to call generic desert birds. Not baby roadrunners. I attempt to use my zoo training and go to tell them these are not in fact baby roadrunners but are…

I get a mad Grandma insisting that those are indeed baby roadrunners and they have them all over their property! Hmph!!

No, you don’t have baby roadrunners all over your property you nit wit is what I wanted to say but I smiled and said, “Oh really? Nice.” and walked away.

Later, same day, I over hear someone who should know better say a Javelina was a rodent. (uh…no)

A small pop happened at the base of my skull. It’s the animals! Duh! I love animals! My favorite part of being at the zoo was helping bridge the gap between the general population and the animals. My local animals obviously need the same help!

I go to Crispy and tell him I have an idea. I made an “animal fun facts” sheet, could we post it so our guests could learn a bit more? Much to my happiness it was received so well from our Museum Queen and leader Liz that it was mounted on the exhibit!

Then I ask about the display. If you know me this is not a surprise. I’m going to want more. Can I get more snakes? A jackrabbit? Turkey Vulture? What can we do? I am told to call the taxidermist but I make Crispy do it.

Between my personality and the taxidermist…let’s just say more than a few people were excited to see us meet. Fascinated by anyone with this career I couldn’t wait. We hit it off beautifully.

My enthusiasm and respect for the animals met a talented, artistic and unique man more than generous in spirit and kindness who understood my collecting of dead animals I find. I have been told he claims to have visited other places outside of this planet. I will be grabbing my spoon for those tales. If someone is smart they would film us chatting.

Starting in August I will be doing Animal Fun Fact talks in front of the exhibit we have at the Superstition Mountain Museum! From 10-2 I will hang out on Saturdays and share as much as they will let me!

I am also still in the process of helping update the Docent Manual they currently have with more information and pictures. Jim is always my helper as my legitimate historian. A walking tour handout for the inside of the museum I am just finishing up and hope our guests will soon enjoy.IMG_4474.JPG

I contribute to the monthly newsletter “In the Loop” by creating a way to introduce the volunteers to one another called “have you met…?”. When you have over 200 volunteers it’s easy to feel like you don’t know anyone. Trust me, I’m going to include everyone! My least favorite thing on the planet are people who exclude others.

I have come a long way since becoming a volunteer a year ago. I cannot wait to see what this next year brings. It’s going to be awesome. Come see me. I’ll show you around.IMG_0701

have you seen the lady with the donkey?

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A friend of mine that usually works up in the main gift shop in the Museum came out to the barn Saturday afternoon and asks “Hey, have you seen the lady with the Donkey? Did she come through here?”  Now horses and mules are no strangers to our place, especially the barn, but this particular friend of mine has a great sense of humor and a poker face so this question came loaded. “No, no…?”

I knew it must be good when she told me “Go ahead, I will cover for you, they are in the Museum.” “IN the Museum?” I ask. “Yeah they are inside… it’s a little donkey”

There are people in this world who have such creativity that it lands on another level completely. One of those magic individuals was now alone inside our Museum with her donkey discussing the displays!

I stood there mesmerized, the imaginary spoon going into my mouth because I could not eat this up fast enough. Not one but two new characters had come to life before my eyes! I had to go meet them.IMG_4823

The attention to detail was amazing. Never breaking character I was welcomed into their world as if this was nothing new. I was introduced to Digger the donkey and Wanda. Honestly she has a “W W” something before her name( wild west wanda?) but I lost it because my mind was way too busy absorbing every nuance of the donkey’s clothing and movements. Then as my attention shifted to Wanda my brain went into overload simply giddy with childlike delight. I was sold. I could write down her name and the details later. Someone give this pair the information to come live here at the Museum permanently please! Ok give them the info to volunteer. Something. My boss already had.

A little while later they came out to the barn. It was so obvious that they would fit in as part of that energy that changes our place from ordinary to extraordinary.

With the Museum already having one of the prettiest back grounds the Superstition Mountain, the Stamp Mill and the men who run it, the amazing train and the team that takes care of it, barn dwellers like me, the Elvis chapel, all the people who maintain the grounds or help build the different structures, a blacksmith, the Superstition Mountain Museum still has plenty of room for more good natured, giving volunteers, especially one with a donkey!IMG_4810.JPG

I look forward to seeing them again. I promise next time I will write down her complete name!

Nice to have met you Wanda and Digger!

Charlie and the Guys

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Sure, it’s one thing to read about Apacheland being destroyed by a second fire on Valentines Day back in 2004 or hear a third hand story about a friend who was in some old Elvis western way back when. But it is truly something special when you get the chance to hear true stories told in the real settings they happened, especially when they are told by the folks who were there.

The museum I volunteer for, the Superstition Mountain Museum has a free lecture series now while the weather is fabulous. Being a relatively new volunteer I was not familiar with most of the featured speakers so I wanted to make sure to attend as many as I could. Free education!img_4250

The local paper and a local monthly magazine had been gracious enough to print my stories about the museums Stamp Mill and the Train. Not exactly sure of what Charlie Le Sueur’s lecture would be like, I headed over to the museum early so I could get a good spot and hopefully write about it.

As I round the corner, I see the parking lot is full and into the overflow! This is a Thursday at around 1:30. Lecture starts at 2.

Surprised by the few hundred people already there waiting with their fold out chairs, I find a spot on the ground up front.img_8527

For those of you who missed it (and there can’t be many of you, the place was packed!) Thursday January the 12th  2017 the Superstition Mountain Museum’s guest speaker Charlie Le Sueur walked us through the timeline of the movies, actors and stories from Apacheland Movie Ranch. Charlie comes with that wonderful quality that makes you feel like you’ve known him forever. His energy and humor had the crowd at “Does anyone remember Dick Powell?”IMG_8509.JPG

When the lecture turned to questions, I noticed a small group of men gathered off to the side. Men who were more than familiar with these stories. Men who have known Charlie forever. Men whose presence immediately added to the richness and authenticity of the surroundings. Men who Charlie was now generously turning his spotlight towards and including in the discussion.IMG_8542.JPG

As his lecture closed, Charlie was surrounded by fans but I knew if I hung around long enough I could say hello. You must be patient at events like this. Fans come armed with books to sign and stories to tell. So, I waited…

The line for Charlie seemed never ending, but off to my left was a man telling stories that sounded like he knew a thing or two. Only sort of half listening at this point, I hear him say “Elvis” and I leap over and jump smack into the conversation. See, the general store I volunteer in plays Elvis’ western Charro! over and over. (picture of my own t-shirt)img_0181

It was filmed in Apacheland and is the only one Elvis doesn’t sing in. I watch it 2.5 times every Saturday during my shift. Any real info on the King I can give to his army of fans I will take. So far, they have been happy to hear that our very own John the Blacksmith’s mom was an extra in the film. As a kid, he hung around the set and even tried to sit in Elvis chair!

Turns out I’m yakking it up with Hank Sheffer. I don’t know this yet.img_8536

Off to my side I see Charlie is finally free and probably exhausted but still being gracious none the less. I leave my conversation with Hank and his fans as abruptly as I entered and leap over to Charlie afraid I have lost my chance.

I hadn’t.img_8544

The blue sky, the fresh air, the stunning Superstition Mountain and hundreds of people enjoying the afternoon together listening to stories about our history. This was much more than a simple free lecture. This was another gift from our museum.img_8543

Lawrence O’Hara, Hank Sheffer, Charlie Le Sueur, Bob Carney, John Goerger and Larry Motes

For more information on the 2017 Lecture Series go to Superstitionmountainmuseum.org

…as if nothing ever happened

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There is a patch of desert not too far from my home that, I am told, was the original site of Apacheland Movie Ranch. If I am to believe, this is where from 1960-2004, some 44 years, 29 movies, 17 television series and hundreds of commercials were filmed.

But there is nothing out there. Sure, there are trails used by hikers and dirt bikes but nothing else. Nothing that would tell you the self- proclaimed “Western Movie Capital of the World” was here for 40 years.img_4456

The first time I walked down Kings Ranch towards Apacheland it was lightly raining.

August in Arizona is hot. Random showers during monsoon season bring us relief. I had no problem wandering around in the drizzle to see what I could find. I had walked over alone. I didn’t bring the dogs because I wanted to take pictures. At that time, I thought for sure if there had been a full movie studio and buildings there would be something worth taking pictures of.

There really is nothing out there except for a rock fence that looks like it could have been some sort of corral.img_4418

When I approached this area, I felt this energy then immediately tears welled in my eyes. The only way I could describe it was it felt like someone saying “Finally! What took you so long?”

My reaction surprised me. Why tears? I didn’t feel scared or that I was surrounded by ghosts. I just felt like I belonged there and was wanted.IMG_4391.JPG

It bugged me enough to head over to the museum to see what I could learn.

I learned they needed volunteers and the requirements were easy to meet. I could show up for 3 to 4 hours every Saturday, help sell things in the General Store and watch Elvis pretend he’s a cowboy in Charro! Paid with tons of free reading and education.

Besides, where else was I going to learn about this lost era…for free?img_4272

Born in Las Vegas, raised in the high desert of California and even lived as a kid for a couple of years in BAKER “the gateway to Death Valley”, I can easily say I have desert running through my veins. I had never heard of Apacheland until moving to Gold Canyon Arizona.

A few months and a few hundred viewings of Charro! later, I am meeting people who worked at Apacheland and that can tell actual stories.

The blacksmith John that volunteers at the museum has fun stories. His mom was an extra on the set of Charro! when he was a kid so he was also hanging around the set. Tells me he tried to sit in Elvis’ chair!

The local newspaper The Independent has printed two full page articles about the Stamp Mill and the Train that I have written and photographed for the museum. The monthly Superstition Living printed both articles as well. With my Blog, Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram, I can share what I continue learning about this amazing area. I truly hope to be a part of preserving this little chapter in history.img_4250

The Original Cowboy’s Sweetheart

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“I Want to be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” was one of 25 songs and other sounds chosen to be added to the US National Recording Registry in May 2012. Recordings are selected for the inclusion based on being “historically, culturally or aesthetically significant.”

Released in 1935, the song made Patsy Montana the first female country recording artist to sell more than a million copies. No big deal?

In 1935 the United States was still suffering the depression with 20% unemployment. April 14th Black Sunday, the worst dust storm in US history. War, or at the very least, “unrest” in Europe looms. A loaf of bread cost 8 cents . Parker Bros. releases Monopoly. IMG_0187.JPGMickey Mouse is seen in color for the first time. The American dream, a new home in 1935 will set you back around $4000.

Selling a million copies of a song for a female recording artist in 1935? That’s kind of a big deal.

In 1964 Patsy released an album on the Sims label in Arizona, notable for having Waylon Jennings as lead guitar player before he made his national debut…for Waylon fans, that’s a big deal.

Patsy, along with the other stars of Apacheland Movie Ranch were immortalized in concrete. Patsy, being petite, her boots sank into the concrete and needed help lifted back out of her footprints!img_0172

When Apacheland was destroyed by a fire on Valentines Day 2004, the Cowboy’s Sweetheart’s foot prints were lost along with many other treasured memories.

December 2015, Lawrence O’Hara and some friends spent about 3 hours hiking the trails back behind what once was Apacheland. Lawrence, off the trail and near a dry wash sees a concrete slab. It was face down and appeared to have been moved. It was Patsy’s.

Being far too heavy to get back to the car and the dates not being familiar with what Lawrence knew about Apacheland, he left the slab there… for a few weeks! while he asked around about what to do. Well, Lawrence asked the right guys.IMG_8535.JPG Hank Sheffer and Charlie Le Sueur.

Lawrence went back, this time with a cart to move the heavy slab.IMG_0166.JPG

Patsy’s footprints are now on display at the Superstition Mountain Museum in the Elvis Memorial Chapel.IMG_0171.JPG

First female country artist to sell a million copies. It’s kind of a big a deal.

Calling Cowboy Elvis

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33 movies to his credit, over a BILLION records sold, Elvis to this day still has fans combing the globe to see, touch or come anywhere near anything associated with The King of Rock and Roll. I see them. I have met them.I volunteer at the Superstition Mountain Museum, home to the Elvis Memorial Chapel and the Audie Murphy Barn, sole survivors of the 2004 fire that destroyed Apacheland Movie Ranch.

For some, Elvis is glittering, throwing sweaty scarves off a stage in Las Vegas.Image result for Elvis Charro! For others, Elvis wears leather or sings in jail. But out here in Gold Canyon, Arizona, Elvis was a cowboy.

Back in 1969, Elvis filmed his only non-singing role in the western Charro! at Apacheland. He plays the ruggedly handsome Jess Wade. Elvis does sing the opening song over the credits but never breaks out into song during Charro!

At a time when Elvis and those around him were making tons of money from the music in his films, Elvis’s manager wasn’t too excited about putting him in a non-singing role. The film was not a huge box office success giving Elvis’s management every reason to never do it again.

But plenty of fans disagree. Had Elvis been given the chance to grow as an actor who knows where it could have led. I’m not saying Charro! is award winning, but it is a fun western with a young Victor French as the bad guy, an eerily sexy Solomon Sturges as his crazy brother and Ina Balin as the luckiest female in the West who gets to kiss Elvis while she is still dripping wet from her bath! Elvis, bay guy trying to go good, smolders as a cowboy. Scruffy, dirty and in need of a shave, that’s MY favorite Elvis.Related image

The chapel in the movie Charro! gets blown up. The actual chapel was not destroyed for that scene, they simply built parts they could blow up. Movie magic. Elvis never sets foot in the chapel nor anyone else in the movie, it just blows up in the background, proving anything even remotely associated to Elvis still, in 2017 draws a crowd.Image result for Elvis Charro!

When Apacheland burned down on Valentine’s Day 2004, the chapel and barn survived. The Elvis Memorial Chapel and Audie Murphy Barn now live over at the Superstition Mountain Museum.img_6237

Through a very generous donation, the chapel has an Elvis statue. Thousands of people have come from around the globe to see where Elvis  played cowboy and to take a selfie with the King, but what we don’t have at the museum is a statue of a COWBOY Elvis.

Now I’m in no way saying replace what we have. Thousands of visitors have group shots, weddings, selfies with the current reigning King of our chapel. It stays. We need a Cowboy Elvis for those whose trek to Apacheland from across the world included a selfie with Jess Wade in the desert where he stayed.Related image

I am positive the simple reason we don’t have one is that all of you out there were not aware we needed one. With the amazing amount of artistic talent and generosity in the world there must be someone who can create, find, make, donate a cowboy Elvis? Free of charge. This is a museum after all.

So, I’m calling Cowboy Elvis! We need you at the Museum!

Apacheland

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Apacheland Movie Ranch was in full swing back in the 1960’s making Westerns with the fabulous backdrop of the Superstition Mountain Range. Big stars like Ronald Reagan and Elvis filmed movies there.

The ranch suffered two major fires. The last one on Valentines Day 2004 destroying nearly everything.IMG_4441

The remaining buildings, the Elvis Chapel where Charro! was filmed and the barn, were moved to the Superstition Mountain Museumimage

We were not aware of the movie ranch when we bought our little house on the hill over here in Gold Canyon but heard stories almost immediately once we arrived. Possibly because the charred remains of what was once a place creating magic and entertainment for all was right down the road. Walking distance.IMG_4383

We visited the Superstition Mountain Museum right after we moved. I loved it. The history surrounding this area is amazing. Like most states, it is painfully sad that as a state we don’t work harder at teaching the history of Arizona for more than a day or two to students in overcrowded class rooms. Most of us desert kids get very little real education about the gold rush except for California’s history.

Feeling I needed to see Apacheland’s original home I hiked over there the other morning after I thought the rain had passed.IMG_4403

Drizzling and gray it was a peaceful walk on a muddy trail. It’s always so hot that being slightly wet felt good. Completely alone I reached the section I believe I came for.IMG_4395

As I stood there a wave of energy surrounded me and my eyes filled with tears. This overwhelming feeling as if I had finally arrived, as if I had been waited for, as if it had taken me far too long to get there, took a hold of me for probably no more than a minute or so. Standing there alone with tears streaming down my cheeks I was not afraid but rather sad I had waited so long. It was clear I had been sent there by the energy that surrounds this entire valley and told to give a voice to a piece of history we could lose so easily.IMG_4391

I walked home now knowing I had been given a mission. I dried off and headed back over to the museum in hopes of better pictures or maybe find a volunteer or docent that could tell me more about the fires and the history.IMG_4434

I wandered into the barn where a few of the men were holding down the fort (sitting on benches chatting about life, there was no one around and it was about 100 degrees outside!) Always friendly and inviting they offered me a seat on the bench.

I enjoy being around men who are much older than myself. I have learned to listen. I have also learned that I have enough sass to hold my own but know to not go too far and show the respect deserved.image

The boss rolled on up and hung around to yack with us for a few. After listening to me spar with one of the men who had been prodding me into a political conversation the boss turned to me and asked if I wanted to volunteer at the Museum.

I started Saturday.

Superstition Mountain Museum

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Wanna go someplace fun? Something other than some big budget movie or a mall? You should. Do it. Take a drive over to the Superstition Mountain Museum. http://www.superstitionmountainmuseum.org

What a cool place!

Inside the Museum you get the honor of speaking with volunteers who are just amazing. Beyond the hospitality they show and the warmth, these individuals are a wealth of information.

We got the privilege to talk with Historian Jim Swanson while we were there and I hope to have many more visits with him. Though I am born and raised desert this man to me is the real deal. Riding horses into the Superstition for years now he has stories you can’t imagine. I felt like a city dweller next to him and I lived in Baker CA. so that says a lot! Think I saw a small twinkle in his eye, a moment of desert cred, when I told him that I had lived at the Gateway to Death Valley. But it PALES in comparison when you imagine him on horseback being shot at riding through the Superstition. I bow down not worthy. With really cool intense enthusiasm from a hardened desert veteran he shared routes to get some of THE best views. If you don’t go meet this man you’re truly missing out.

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Right down from our house used to be an old movie studio that made westerns. The Apacheland Movie Ranch. Elvis starred in one called Charro! That movie studio burned down but what remained they moved to the museum.imageimage

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imageimageSo not only can you get a tour inside of the museum itself but then you can wander around the old movie studio area and even head into the Elvis Memorial Chapel to get a picture with the King. imageThey show movies in there and keep the schedule in the gift shop. We met Doris volunteering in the chapel. She would be more than happy to take your photo with Elvis and hang out and talk. Her husband John volunteers in the gift shop. It is so nice to go somewhere that you are treated like you are welcome to be there and people talk to you never once looking at a phone. If that’s going back in time then yes, take me.

You need to go!