Editing Carefree, Arizona (section)

==Sites of interest==
[[File: Carefree-Carefree Sundial-1959.JPG|thumb|The Carefree Sundial]]
The [[Carefree sundial]], designed by [[architect]] Joe Wong and solar engineer [[John I. Yellott]],<ref>[http://www.bigwaste.com/photos/az/sundial/ bigwatse.com] see ''Solar Today, Jan./Feb. 1987 p. 4'', for Yellott's biography.</ref> was erected in the Sundial Circle plaza in 1959 and claims to be the "third largest [[sundial]] in the [[Western Hemisphere]]". The sundial, which points to the [[North Star]], is made from a steel frame and covered in anodized copper. It measures {{convert|90|ft|m}} in diameter. The metal [[gnomon]], the shadow-casting portion of the dial, stands {{convert|35|ft|m}} above the plaza and extends {{convert|72|ft|m}}.<ref>[http://sundials.org/registry/dials_al_la.htm#ARIZONA N. America Sundials Society] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218054250/http://sundials.org/registry/dials_al_la.htm#ARIZONA |date=December 18, 2007 }}</ref>

Carefree was the long-time home of Southwestern Studios, originally built in 1968 as Fred Graham Studios by actor, stunt man, and Arizona Film Commissioner [[Fred Graham (actor)|Fred Graham]]. The sprawling {{convert|160|acre|km2|adj=on}} desert property adjacent to North Scottsdale featured three state-of-the-art soundstages, edit bays, 35mm screening room, make-up, production facilities, western street and [[backlot]]. In the early 1970s, Stage 1 of the studio was used for ''[[The New Dick Van Dyke Show]]'' starring [[Dick Van Dyke]], [[Hope Lange]], [[Fannie Flagg]], and [[Marty Brill (comedian)|Marty Brill]]. Stage 1 also was used for the filming of one of [[Orson Welles]]' last films, ''[[The Other Side of the Wind]]'', with [[John Huston]], [[Oja Kodar]], [[Susan Strasberg]], [[Bob Random]] and [[Peter Bogdanovich]].<ref>Brechner, K.C. (1986) Welles' Farewell, ''[[The Other Side of the Wind]]'', American Cinematographer, 67 (7), 34–38.</ref>

The studio was used for the filming of [[Bob Hope]]'s last feature film, ''[[Cancel My Reservation]]'',<ref>[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/70164/cancel-my-reservation#notes ''Cancel My Reservation'' (1972) Notes], [[Turner Classic Movies|TCM]] website</ref> with [[Eva Marie Saint]], [[Ralph Bellamy]], and [[Forrest Tucker]].  Scenes were also shot in Carefree and at the studio for [[Michaelangelo Antonioni]]'s ''[[Zabriskie Point (film)|Zabriskie Point]]'', on the back lot, where a mock-up of the Carefree mansion was built and then exploded. The studio was also used for [[Paul Newman]]'s scenes in ''[[Pocket Money]]'', for [[Bill Cosby]]'s feature debut, ''[[Man and Boy (1971 film)|Man and Boy]]'', for which the western street was built, and for ''[[Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure]]'', again the western street. The [[Short film|short]], [[Silent film|silent]] feature ''Time River''<ref>[https://vimeo.com/114515884 ''Time River'', [[Vimeo]] website</ref> was shot on Stages 2 and 3 and extensively on the back lot and western street sets.

Southwestern Studios was also used in television productions. In 1973–74, local resident [[Hugh Downs]] produced and hosted two pilot episodes for a unique show, ''Foursome'', that was both a game show and talk show, where four celebrities came together to play various games and interact with each other. In one episode, actors [[Janet Leigh]] and [[Robert Culp]] and comedians [[Jo Anne Worley]] and [[Alan Sues]] played a game of tennis. In the other episode, shot on Stage 3, dancer-singer-actor [[Ann Miller]], Robert Culp, Jo Anne Worley, and Alan Sues played a popular board game. In 1974, Southwestern Studios was the location on Stage 2 and the back lot for the filming of the TV movie, ''McMasters of Sweetwater'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2, 1974 |title=McMasters of Sweetwater |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2498578/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_14 |website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> starring [[Jack Cassidy]] and Loretta Ball and directed by [[Robert Butler (director)|Robert Butler]].

Later renamed Carefree Studios, the studio was razed in 1999. The studio, western street, and pristine desert back lot property was developed into retail space and [[residential development]].

[[Gordon Lightfoot]] wrote and sang a song named "[[Carefree Highway (song)|Carefree Highway]]". He took the name from a section of [[Arizona State Route 74]] in north Phoenix, to explain his mood at that time. The highway runs from the foot of (North) Tom Darlington Drive at the South-West corner of Carefree about 30 miles westward to Lake Pleasant Parkway in Peoria, AZ.