Attractions at Old Tucson Studios Tucson, AZ: Old Tucson Studios got its humble start in 1939 as the site for the Columbia Pictures movie "Arizona." At that time the site was nothing more than a plot of dirt. Local carpenters and handymen were brought in to build the town and movie sets for the film starring William Holden and Jean Arthur. The studio went on to be the site for more than 300 movies and television series.