RETURN TO THE PALACE!

A Nice Annual Visit!

A Great Movie!

Steve with Barbara Leigh in Junior Bonner

Steve on The Prescott Rodeo Grounds
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Last Sunday, I felt the need to take a road trip out of Phoenix to Prescott, Arizona to catch some dinner at The Palace Bar. I do this about twice a year.

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Prescott, Arizona is well known to Steve McQueen fans throughout the world as the filming location of Junior Bonner. This movie was shot throughout July and August, 1972 with a stellar cast including Ben Johnson, Ida Lupino, and Robert Preston. It was Steve's favorite among the 30 movies he appeared in. I first saw this film in a very small movie theatre in first run as a kid in Cincinnati, Ohio with my best buddy who grew up next door to me. As I recounted to Steve's co-star in the film, the lovely Barbara Leigh, my Special Guest on "The Interview", we had just discovered girls when this film was released. As the camera lens zoomed in on Barbara eyeing Steve on the grounds during Prescott's famous Frontier Days Rodeo, we both exclaimed "Oh my God!" We were two young boys who had never seen a more beautiful woman. I still laugh when I recall what we must have sounded like in that tiny theatre! And by the way, Barbara is just as beautiful today.

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On Sunday's outing, quite unexpectedly I met one of the owners of The Palace and we had the most enjoyable conversation about the filming of Junior Bonner. I learned so much from her about the bar and its history and she was quite surprised to learn details from me about Steve's generous philanthropy-- from his life-long support of The Boys Republic, to helping underprivileged children living on the South Side of Chicago during the shooting of his final film, The Hunter. It was a wonderful conversation.

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The film failed to find an audience at the time of its release. However, in recent years, Junior Bonner has experienced a resurgence. As I've previously stated here, there is something alluring about this pleasant motion picture anyone will enjoy. It captures McQueen as a hold-out, the last of a breed "going down his own road" pulling a horse trailer with an old Cadillac rag top across the country to rodeo events (and putting off the inevitable end of his character's career).

Last year: It was cold enough for my leather Harley Davidson jacket. I'm sitting roughly in the precise spot at the bar where co-star Joe Don Baker (who plays Steve's brother) decks him. You have to see the DVD to fully appreciate this factoid.

The Palace opened in September, 1877. Men came in to check for notices of work available; it served as an election central for several area political races and cattle spreads; and mineral claims were bought and sold over the bar. The Palace is still the oldest frontier saloon in Arizona and the most well-known and historic restaurant and saloon in the state. In the late 1870's, Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp and Doc Holiday were patrons of The Palace.

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On July 14th, 1900, The Palace was destroyed by the Whiskey Row fire. The ornately carved 1880's Brunswick Bar, which is still in use, was carried to safety across the street to the plaza by patrons (a devoted following). The bar reopened in 1901 with a barber shop.

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The DVD, Junior Bonner is a gem! I highly recommend it. The Screenplay was written by another Special Guest of mine on "The Interview": Jeb Rosebrook. Go back and have a look through The Archives, conveniently located in the right column of this Blog Page!

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Thanksgiving: For all of the opportunities of a lifetime I have experienced, and many more that await me! For each of these, I am truly humbled.