Slater, Missouri birthday bash for late Steve McQueen

By Stone Martindale Feb 27, 2007, 3:47 GMT

The Slater Chamber of Commerce and the City of Slater, Missouri is throwing a special birthday party celebration for one its very own, Steve McQueen, on March 24th and 25th with a slew of events honoring the late, legendary actor.

McQueen, once king of the box office and known for his cool style will be honored by civic and business officials from his early years hometown with a special weekend festival to celebrate his life and commemorate what would have been his 77th birthday. 

McQueen was born on March 24, 1930 in Beech Grove, Indiana but moved to Slater when he was an infant and remained there for most of the next decade. His father was a stunt pilot for an aerial circus and abandoned Steve and his mother shortly after McQueen was born.

McQueen's mother left him at an early age to be raised in Slater, Missouri by his uncle. At the age of 12, he was reunited with his mother and went to live in Los Angeles, California.

By the time he reached age 14, she sent him to the Boys Republic home for wayward boys in Chino Hills, California.

After McQueen left Chino, he joined the Marine Corps in 1947 and served until 1950. In 1952, with financial assistance provided by the G.I. Bill, McQueen began studying acting and auditioned to study at Lee Strasberg's Actors' Studio in New York.

Of the 2000 people who tried out that year, only McQueen and Martin Landau were accepted. McQueen made his Broadway debut in 1955 in "A Hatful of Rain."

"The city of Slater decided it was time to recognize the amazing accomplishments of a man who spent his early years in our community and had a lasting impact on the history of film and popular culture," said Mayor Stephen Allegri.

The festival will feature a film retrospective, a motorcycle ride, an antique car show, a panel discussion and a visit of McQueen's old haunts, including his boyhood home and the one-room schoolhouse where he was educated. 

Barbara McQueen, the actor's widow, will also take part in a special sign unveiling and as well as sign copies of her new book, Steve McQueen: The Last Mile. 

Pat Johnson, McQueen's karate instructor and close friend; Loren Janes, the actor's stunt double and biographer Marshall Terrill will also be on hand for the festivities.

McQueen, who was a worldwide box-office champion in the '60s and '70s, starred in blockbuster films such as The Great Escape, Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair, Papillon and The Sand Pebbles, which garnered him an Academy Award nomination for best actor. 

McQueen was the highest paid actor in the world at the time of his death in November 1980.

Even posthumously, McQueen remains one of the highest paid iconic stars.

His image and likeness has been used by more than 30 companies to sell various products such as cars, motorcycles, vodka, blue jeans, watches, jackets, T-shirts, sunglasses and video games.

Founded in 1878, Slater is located in central Missouri in Saline County and has approximately 2,100 residents.

For more information about the 2007 Steve McQueen Days, call Dan Viets at (573) 819-2669 or go to www.cityofslater.com