San Ysidro

In desperation, Harry and his wife “Mike” got in their car in the summer of 1938 and drove to Hollywood. On the backseat was a binder of 8-by-10 photographs of Monument Valley taken by their friend, professional photographer Josef Muench.

Harry schemed to find the office of noted director John Ford, show him the pictures, and talk him into filming his next Western in Monument Valley.

As the story goes, Harry walked into the United Artists studios with the photos and his bedroll. When the receptionist, appropriately appalled, told him he certainly could not see Mr. Ford without an appointment, Harry said, fine, he’d wait and rolled out the bedroll.

Security was summoned, but before they arrived, the location manager for Ford’s new movie “Stagecoach” happened to walk through the office.

“Where exactly is this?” he asked, noticing the photos Harry had propped up on the couch, and the next thing Harry Goulding knew, he was making his pitch to Mr. Ford.

Within weeks, the entire cast and crew of “Stagecoach,” more than 100 people, found themselves living in a tent city outside the Gouldings’ front door. Ford stayed in the Gouldings’ spare room. John Wayne, the film’s star, slept in a tent.

Hundreds of Navajos were recruited as extras, getting $5 a day (and $8 on horseback). In addition, the resident medicine man, who proved uncanny at forecasting the weather, was hired as the weatherman.

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