Modern geologists like to say this vast land of dramatic salmon-hued sandstone spires was once buried 3,000 feet beneath ancient seas. Over millions of years, layer after layer of sediments were deposited then hardened, followed by an uplifting of the land. It’s difficult to imagine, but the tops of these mountains and spires were at one time even with ground level. As the land continued to rise and the sea abated, the forces of nature created, etched and sculpted the spectacular sandstone monoliths located in the magnificent expanse of Arizona real estate that we call Monument Valley.  

However, Navajo legends tell the story a little differently. According to a condensed version of these legends, First Man and First Woman were created in the mythological First World. Unfortunately, the Beings began quarreling and began casting evil spells upon one another, so First Man and First Woman left and moved up into the Second World.   Here they found other people and warring animals including badgers, wolves and cougars. To add to the chaos, Evil Beings from First World had also emerged into Second World. The cunning coyote persuaded the people to leave and move to Third World. First Woman was not happy with Third World and wanted the people to move on to Fourth World so she encouraged Coyote to steal Water Monster’s baby knowing it would anger Water Monster. Water Monster, as expected, caused a great flood. All the people and animals then descended into Fourth World.  

In Fourth World, deities taught the people how to live peacefully. One day, First Man and First Woman found a baby girl who grew into the beautiful Changing Woman representing nature and the seasons. Changing Woman mated with the Sun and gave birth to The Twins. Because Fourth World was infested with terrible monsters, Changing Woman feared The Twins would be harmed, so she hid them deep underground; it was here that The Twins found Spider Woman.  

Spider Woman protected The Twins from the Monsters by teaching them special prayers and chants, and the Twins returned to Changing Woman and told her of the great powers given them by Spider Woman. Having no reason now to fear the monsters, Changing Woman and The Twins cast a spell on the huge beasts, turning them to stone.   And that is how, according to Navajo legends, these massive monsters were frozen in time creating what we now know as Monument Valley.  rl0z1

Source: www.ArizonaOddities.com;  used with permission

Most folks living in Arizona prefer to watch a movie nestled in a plush reclining chair inside an air-conditioned theater, so thankfully, just about every city or town with Arizona homes for sale has a movie theater either within the city limits or a short distance away. In fact, in Arizona, movie theaters are actually quite plentiful, with a current total of nearly 100 theaters showing films on over 900 screens. Small-town Kayenta, near Monument Valley, has the Black Mesa Twin Cinema, and Page in northern Arizona has Westates Theatres Page Mesa Theatre. Even tiny Saint Johns is host to the single-screen Town Square Theatre.  

Some towns in Arizona still offer drive-in movies. Scottsdale has a six-screen drive-in called West Wind Scottsdale 6 and Tucson has one as well – the four-screen DeAnza Drive-In Theatre. If you are in Globe, about 80 miles east of Phoenix, take in a movie at the Apache Drive-In. Seeing a movie from the comfort of your car may make you feel as if you’ve stepped back, or technically, parked back in time to warm summer evenings spent watching movies with friends.  

As you might have guessed, as you get into larger metropolitan areas throughout Arizona you will find more theaters from which to choose, most of them with numerous amenities. Phoenix alone has a plethora of theater screens, including AMC Ahwatukee 24 with 24 screens showing popular first-run movies. Harkins Metrocenter 12 has a dozen screens and AMC Deer Valley boasts an impressive 30. Meanwhile, the Glendale/Peoria area is home to both a multi-screen Harkins theater and a multi-screen AMC theater. Discount movie theaters are sprinkled across Arizona as well; one such theater is Tempe Cinemas where six screens show a wide variety of movies at much less than ‘normal’ admission.   Finding a movie theater and a listing of what’s playing is easy; either just look in the local newspaper for showings and locations or visit www.boxofficemojo.com or www.moviefone.com and click on the theater you wish to visit.