Each summer the Empire Ranch Foundation celebrates classic Western movies with outdoor showings at the Historic Empire Ranch on Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. The Empire Ranch Foundation greatly appreciates the support of The Loft Cinema’s sponsorship of these events which help support the preservation of the Empire Ranch buildings and landscape.
Admission to the outdoor showings is free. Bring your own seating, food & flashlights. Snacks and water will be available for purchase.
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Starring Burt Lancaster, Bruce Davison, Jorge Luke, and Joaquín Martínez Ulzana’s Raid was filmed in Empire Ranch country in 1972. Apache leader Ulzana (Martínez) and his followers leave their reservation to terrorize the countryside. The U.S. Army assigns the task of capturing them to young and inexperienced Lieutenant DeBuin (Davison), who is accompanied by experienced scout McIntosh (Lancaster) and Apache guide Ke-Ni-Tay (Luke).
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Plan to attend the Saturday, September 21, 2024 showing of A Star Is Born (1976) featuring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. Troubled rock star John Norman Howard (Kristofferson) meets and mentors talented singer Esther Hoffman (Streisand) and puts her on the path to stardom. This tragic love story features Esther and John’s honeymoon house which was built on Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (LCNCA) near the LCNCA south entrance off Highway 82. Click here to read an ERF News article (p. 3) about the house.
Loft Solar Cinema
The Loft Solar Cinema is a program that allows Southern Arizona communities to enjoy a free screening of a film of their choosing. The Empire Ranch Foundation has partnered with the Loft Cinema to host showings of:
- A Star is Born (2024)
- Ulzana’s Raid (2024)
- Gunman’s Walk (2023)
- Night of the Lepus (2023)
- Last Train from Gun Hill (2022)
- Red River (2019)
- 3:10 to Yuma (2018)
The showings take place outdoors at Empire Ranch Headquarters. A cargo van outfitted with solar panels powers a 12 or 20-foot inflatable screen and state-of-the-art mobile projection system.
Western Movies at the Loft Cinema
From 2011 to 2022 the Empire Ranch Foundation partnered with the Loft Cinema to show classic Western films on the big screen. Prior to the movie a panel of film experts provided interesting background information about the film, with audience participation invited.
Past movie showings at The Loft included:
- Gunfight at the OK Corral (2022)
- Oklahoma (2019)
- The Outlaw Josey Wales (2018)
- Ride the High Country (2017)
- Westward the Women (2016)
- The Shootist (2015)
- El Dorado (2014)
- 3:10 to Yuma (2013)
- Monte Walsh (2012)
- Red River (2011)
