By BRETT JOHNSON, Scripps Howard News Service

VENTURA, Calif. -- As of Monday, the International House of Pancakes officially will have 50 years on the nation's menu, growing from humble Southern California origins and steeped in the buttermilk pancake.

From the looks of things in Ventura earlier this week, it has a good start on another 50.

Over at one table, Mary Allen was almost beside herself.

SANTA PAULA, Calif. -- For the last 18 months of his life, acting giant Steve McQueen lived a quiet existence in Santa Paula, starting with a move into an airport hangar in spring 1979.