The Legacy of “Junior Bonner”

WORLD’S OLDEST RODEO® The Legacy of ‘JUNIOR BONNER’

The World’s Oldest Rodeo® honors the classic Western on its 50th anniversary.

BY STUART ROSEBROOK

Over Labor Day weekend in September 1970 screenwriter Jeb Rosebrook received a call from his agent Mike Wise. “Robert Redford wants a rodeo story. Do you have one?” Wise asked.

Little did the agent know that Rosebrook had just written a first draft of “Bonner,” a short story about an aging rodeo star whose career, family, and hometown are all on the line. Wise also didn’t know that “Bonner” was a highly personal tale about my father’s adopted hometown. Rosebrook had found his inspiration for “Bonner” after a short visit back to Prescott on the 4th of July for the 1970 World’s Oldest Rodeo. Little did anyone know that the short story would change the fate of so many, so quickly — especially our family.

My father, who first came to Prescott as a 9-yearold boarding student to attend the Orme School in 1945, had not been to Prescott since 1955, and the changes he witnessed while driving into the historic Yavapai County seat from Cordes Junction through Mayer, Humboldt, Dewey, and Prescott Valley made a strong impression on him, especially the early development of the wide-open spaces of the Fain Ranch.

When presented with the script in late 1970 and early 1971, both Steve McQueen and Sam Peckinpah signed on quickly to star and direct the film for Joe Wizan. The reasons were many and personal on why they wanted to leave the confining nature of film production in Hollywood in the summer of 1971, but most important, they wanted to make the film on location in Arizona in the real-time of Prescott’s Frontier Days® Parade and the World’s Oldest Rodeo.

Jeanne McLain of Prescott sits on the steps of the wardrobe truck with Steve McQueen during a break in the filing of the movie “Junior Bonner.”

Chase McQueen, Grand Marshal

In honor of “Junior Bonner’s” leading man Steve McQueen, who was a major reason the film was produced in Prescott, his grandson Chase McQueen is the Grand Marshal of the 135th annual World’s Oldest Rodeo and Prescott’s Frontier Days Parade. The 27-year old Los Angeles native and son of Chad McQueen and Jeanie Galbraith is a former professional soccer player. Like his grandfather and father, Chase loves fast cars and racing when he is not working in social media management.

Bill Pierce, Honorary Grand Marshal

“Junior Bonner” is a deeply personal homage to family, historic Prescott, and the small towns and ranchlands of Yavapai County. One reason the film was successful — and remains such a snapshot in time and history — was its location manager William Pierce, the local Arizona Film Commission representative, president of the Fair Association, and the Prescott Jaycees rodeo chairman.

The local businessman was well connected, friend to all, and was not intimidated by Peckinpah or overly in awe of McQueen. Pierce actually drove the leading man around on his motorcycle to get to locations during the parade sequence. Pierce’s local connections also helped secure a local track for McQueen and his son to race their dirt bikes.

Pierce was successful in landing the production of “Junior Bonner” for Prescott and Yavapai County because he recognized the locales my dad wrote about in the script, and he was able to open the doors to secure all the film’s locations. Pierce’s contribution to the making of the film a reality was so appreciated by the production company that the film ends with a heartfelt message of special thanks to the people of Prescott and Pierce.

After a long career in insurance, Pierce continues to be very active in the Prescott community, working part time at Mortimer Farms and as board member of Prescott’s Western Heritage Center. He makes his home in Dewey with his wife Marcy.

This heartfelt thanks we should continue to express, for without Bill Pierce and the generosity of spirit of the people of Prescott and Yavapai County, we would not be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1971 production and its release in 1972.

Stuart Rosebrook is the editor of True West magazine. A resident of Prescott, he assisted his late father in publishing his memoir “Junior Bonner: The Making of a Classic with Steve McQueen and Sam Peckinpah in the Summer of 1971.”

These cowboys were all contestants and the Prescott rodeo - rode the rough stock, saddle broncs, barebacks and bulls.

Steve McQueen and Robert Preston ride the parade route as the ABC Film crew record the action for the movie “Junior Bonner” being filmed here.