Episode 105 - Palm Springs Getaway

Long before Steve McQueen started vacationing in Palm Springs, California in 1961, celebrities were already escaping Hollywood to the desert. In this episode of Speeding Bullitt, historian Jim Cook shares his extensive research on Hollywood's ties to the Coachella Valley.

The Steve McQueen expert Marshall Terrill joins me on this episode to discuss Steve's Palm Springs era. Together, we explore his former homes and revisit some of the actor's favorite spots. Later, I chat with the current owner of McQueen's first Palm Springs home, which you can rent for your next vacation. 

Writer, actor, podcaster, and Speeding Bullitt regular Dion Baia joins me on this episode of the podcast to discuss five AI-generated Steve McQueen films created by ChatGPT. While this episode is purely speculative, Dion’s extensive knowledge of film and television makes for an engaging and enjoyable conversation.

In 2022, Hagerty.com released an article titled The 10 Most Valuable Steve McQueen Cars Sold at Auction. On this episode of Speeding Bullitt, I'm joined by automotive journalist Matt Stone, author of McQueen's Machines, to explore the history behind these iconic vehicles in greater detail.

Over four decades after his passing, Steve McQueen's sense of fashion continues to influence what men wear today, including Tom Hoy from Easy on the Ivy and Lincoln McConnell-Brown from Dressing Like McQueen. Tune in as both men join me to discuss the icon's effortlessly cool style.

During the summer of 1968, Leilani Chun found herself on the set of Bullitt alongside Steve McQueen. She joins me on this bonus episode of the show, to share her interaction with "The King of Cool."

On this episode of Speeding Bullitt: The Life and Films of Steve McQueen, I'm joined by Marshall Terrill, writer and Steve McQueen expert. Together, we explore McQueen's relationship with his third wife, Barbara Minty, his struggle with Mesothelioma, and his passing on November 7, 1980.

Dr. Jason Ney, Associate Professor of English at Colorado Christian University and film historian, joins me to discuss Steve McQueen's final film, The Hunter. We explore the cars featured in the movie, the film's cast of ridiculous characters, and the exciting stunt work performed by Steve McQueen and Loren Janes. 

Mickey Guinn, retired actor, stuntman, and driver for Hollywood Local 399 Teamsters joins me to talk about befriending Steve McQueen on the star's penultimate film, Tom Horn, and to share stories about working with many actors including William Shatner, Bette Davis, and Jim Carrey. 

Florence Esposito takes me back to The Old Place in Agoura Hills, California during the early to mid-70s, where she worked and mingled with Steve McQueen and other Hollywood stars at the beloved rustic bar.