TUCSON, AZ (October 29, 2024) -- This Saturday, November 2nd, at noon (12 p.m.), Old Tucson will host a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to mark the official naming of the Nick C. Hall Ramada.
Born in 1882, near Tarkio, Missouri, Nick C. Hall relocated to Tucson to manage the prestigious Santa Rita Hotel in 1934. Hall soon realized the potential Tucson had to offer to filmmakers of nearby Hollywood which would serve to bring much-needed work for desperate Tucsonans during the Great Depression. So began Nick’s mission to lure Hollywood to the desert.
Now considered a pivotal figure in the history of filmmaking at Old Tucson, Hall became a fierce advocate for Tucson as a production location, culminating in Columbia Picture’s construction of a reproduction of 1860’s Tucson for the filming of Arizona (1939). The set included an old adobe fort and an assortment of surrounding buildings that would later become known as Old Tucson, kicking off a bustling period of film production at the now-entertainment park that would span several decades.
During our seasonal events, the Ramada is host to multiple attractions. It is also used as an outdoor screening facility, catering space, rides and attractions site, and more. We are delighted to honor the memory of Nick C. Hall as our guests continue to enjoy this facility.
Guests are invited to join us for a brief presentation and ceremonial ribbon-cutting at noon, for light refreshments, and for the opportunity to join us on one of our ‘Hollywood in the Desert’ tours led by our Old Tucson Historians.
RSVP if you will be joining us, email: neleftheriadis@oldtucson.com.