Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/75191
A Splendid First Act by Neal Davis, Sr. Filmmakers Attracted to the Elegance of the Land It was the beauty and vastness of this land, in part, that attracted filmmakers from Hollywood. They first came to the valley in 1925 with the filming of The Vanishing American, directed by George Seitz. Based on the Zane Grey novel, this silent drama depicts the plight of American Indians. The movie brought recognition to the natives as it was filmed against the backdrop of unparalleled scenery of sandstone buttes. At the time, Seitz had no idea that he was blazing a trail for the movie industry by being first to film in Monument Valley. In less than two short decades, his efforts produced one of the most familiar landscapes on film. It wasn't until 1938 that the real impetus and influence to draw Hollywood to the Valley happened, bringing the landscape to the public eye. Harry Goulding, owner of Goulding's Lodge and Trading Post in Monument Valley, armed himself with stunning images of Monument Valley taken Photo Courtesy Heather Timmons by German photographer Josef Muench, traveled to Hollywood and convinced John Ford that Monument Valley was the best location for the 1939 production of Stagecoach, the movie that put the Valley on the map. How Goulding managed to get in to see Ford is a story in itself. It was during the depression and the area was in economic collapse. So when Goulding and his wife, "Mike," heard about a Hollywood movie director that was getting a movie ready for production in Arizona, they engaged their entrepreneurial spirit. When Goulding arrived at the studio, he simply walked in and asked to see the producer. The secretary was taken back and told Goulding he needed to make an appointment. Goulding simply went out to the car, grabbed his sleeping bag and started to unroll the bag in front of the secretary's desk. With that, the secretary called security to remove Goulding. When one of the studio executives appeared, Goulding pulled out his pictures of Monument Valley. The movie executive was so impressed he took them to Ford's office. Three days later, the movie crew was headed for Monument Valley to start production on a film called, Stagecoach, starring a little known actor, John Wayne (aka The Duke). We all know the rest of the story. However, few people know that the director did something very unique paying the entire Navajo movie extras union wage. Unheard of at that time and even today. Stagecoach set the stage, so to speak, and movie productions that followed contributed heavily to the economic development of the area. At the time, the movie business provided the locals with a means of making a better life for themselves.