Blonde Episodes

Love, Life, and Blessings

Hollywood Forever Cemetery


Hollywood Forever Cemetery


Cecil B. DeMille


Marion Davies


Bugsy Siegel


Tyrone Power

Where do the stars go for their final rest? They are spread out all over Los Angeles, but many have plots at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Morbid subject? Not really. Many people, including me, are fascinated with both the lives and deaths of Hollywood royalty. The cemetery is actually located on part of the Paramount Studios land, which is fitting, since it is still right in the middle of the “action.”

There are many interesting personalities who are buried here. Some of them include: –Rudolph Valentino(1895-1926), Hollywood’s original hunk, who was often visited by a mysterious “lady in black” after his death for many years
— Elmer Berger (1891-1952), who was the inventor of the rear view mirror
–Lana Clarkson (1962-2003), who was allegedly murdered by Phil Spector
–Douglas Glenn Colvin, aka Dee Dee Ramone (1951-2002), bassist for The Ramones
–Marion Davies (1897-1961), famous actress who had a long term relationship with William Randolph Hearst
–Estelle Getty (1923-2008), of Golden Girls fame
–Tyrone Power (1914-1958), actor from one of my favorite movies, “The Witness for the Prosecution”
–Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel (1906-1947), gangster
–Mel Blanc (1908-1989), voice over actor, most famous for the line, “That’s all folks!”
–Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959), famous Hollywood director/producer
–Griffith J. Griffith (1850-1919), park and observatory donor
–Charles Chaplin, Jr. (1925-1968), son to Charlie Chaplin

There are many others, some stars were cremated there, then ashes spread somewhere else, such as George Harrison of the Beatles. Others were given a memorial there, but are not buried there, such as Jayne Mansfield, and Hattie McDaniel.

The cemetery has old movie showings in the summer, where you can bring your lawn chairs and alcohol of choice to spend a “night with the stars.”

If you are interested in visiting the cemetery, the address is 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood. It is definitely a historical piece of Old Hollywood that you won’t want to miss. Here are some pics of the cemetery and those who are laid to rest there. Enjoy!

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Comments

  2. Tom says

    Yeah, that is a fun place to watch movies in the summer – when I was in LA to visit last summer, my friend and I wen to see “Jaws”. It was awesome! You gotta get there early if you want to find parking close to the screen.

    Reply

  5. Jessica Cangiano says

    I am very interested in visiting this iconic cemetery, but alas live way over in Ontario! If I ever have the great pleasure of being in LA, I will strive to visit this site and pay my respects to some of the silver screen’s greatest legends.

    Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your incredibly sweet words about my Halloween outfit snapshots, they mean to world to me, honey!

    Tons of hugs,
    ♥ Jessica

    Reply

  7. I Wonder Wye says

    yah, it’s a great place to visit. I have an affinity for the stars from the ‘golden age of Hollywood,’ and have seen most of the pictures made between the 30s through the 50s and have read up on most of them…I see you are also a lover of the ’40s — my favorite style of dressing — tailored and classic and timeless. Think ‘Bacall’ and ‘Hepburn.’

    Reply

    • Bob Marlowe says

      The cemetery land does not belong to Paramount. Rather, the cemetery, founded in 1899 was originally 100 acres, plus or minus. By 1920, about 40 acres were sold and were used first by the Peralta Film Company as a location lot. Over the years, it had many owners, including Joseph Kennedy, Howard Hughes and Desilu (Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz). In 1967, it all merged and became Paramount Studios, which it is today – the only movie studio still actually in Hollywood.

      Reply

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