Hollywood Tales

In 1956, director John Ford and John Wayne went to their regular spot — the Monument Valley — to make The Searchers. Location shooting allowed the two friends to relax by camping out, playing cards, and avoiding contact with the studio executives that Ford despised. The only problem was unpredictable climate at the Arizona/Utah border could delay filming. Ford turned to a local Navajo Medicine Man. “Sir, I will pay you $100 if you can accurately predict the weather.” The Shaman shut his eyes, went into a trance, and said, “Rain!” Sure enough, it rained. The grateful director asked him to repeat his efforts the next day. “Mmm, cloudy!” Again success. But on the third day when asked, the Medicine Man shook his head sadly and said, “Can not tell weather today.” Ford’s pipe fell out of his mouth. “Why not? I’m depending on you.” The Shaman replied, “Transistor radio broke.”

For more Hollywood Tales articles, go here.