Welcome to Hollywood Graveyard, where we set
out to remember and celebrate the lives of those who lived to entertain us, by visiting
their final resting places. Today we’re back at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale,
to find such stars as Errol Flynn, Sydney Greenstreet, Merle Oberon, and many more.
Join us, won’t you? Forest Lawn Glendale, the granddaddy of all
Forest Lawns, and one of the most magnificent cemeteries in all of Southern California.
We first set foot here back in 2017, and have been back several times since. But with all
there is to see here, not just famous graves, but art, architecture, a museum, and more,
we’ll never run out of new sites to see and stories to unearth.
So come hang out with me and the thousands of dead who call Forest Lawn Glendale home,
as we dig deeper into the stories of those found in these hallowed grounds and quiet
halls. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out the first 5 parts of our
Glendale series. Our first stop today is in the Whispering
Pines section, just in from the entrance on the right. Wear those hiking shoes, because
we’re at the top of the hill to find Edward Everett Horton. He was a character actor,
remembered for his supporting roles in popular films of the 30s and 40s, particularly comedies.
He played alongside Fred and Ginger in The Gay Divorcee and Top Hat, and can also be
seen in Arsenic and Old Lace, and Holiday. His career continued strong into the 6os and
70s, seen in films like It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, and narrating The Fractured Fairy
Tales on The Bullwinkle Show. He died from cancer at age 84. Back down the hill, close to the road and the Finding Moses Pool, is Jack Pierce. He
was a pioneer of Hollywood makeup, specifically, special effects and horror makeup. He began
doing makeup in the 20s. Among his notable work of this era was creating the rictus grin
of Gwynplaine in The Man Who Laughs, an inspiration to the Joker character in the Batman comics.
Today Jack Pierce is best remembered for his work at Universal, on the classic monster
movies. It was Jack who crafted Boris Karloff’s iconic Frankenstein’s monster in the 1930s
films. He’d go on to create the looks of The Mummy, the Wolf Man, and for non-Universal
films as well, like White Zombie. Jack lived to be 79.
Just across the street north, in Kindly Light section, we find Kim Shattuck. She was the
vocalist, guitar player, and songwriter for the punk band, The Muffs, which formed in
the early 90s. The band released seven albums over the years. Among their popular tracks
was a cover of the song “Kids in America,” for the soundtrack of the film Clueless. [music] Unbeknownst to fans, Kim had been diagnosed
with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease. She died in 2019 at the age of 56. Let’s hop back in the car and head east to Eventide section. Up the hill is the grave
of Leon Errol. He was an Australian-born actor and comedian, popular on vaudeville and in
film. He performed alongside Bert Williams in the Ziegfeld Follies, and began appearing
in silent films shortly thereafter, starring in two-reel comedies for Columbia. He’s
perhaps best remembered today for his appearances alongside Lupe Velez in the Mexican Spitfire
series of films in the 30s and 40s, and as Leon in Never Give a Sucker an Even Break.
Leon Errol died from a heart attack at age 70. Crossing the street northeast is the Garden of Ascension. Here we find William Castle,
a legend in the world of B-movies, low-budget horror and psychological thrillers. Among
the classics he directed and produced are Macabre, 13 Ghosts, Mr. Sardonicus, and House
on Haunted Hill. “At last you’ve got it all, everything
I have… even my life. But you’re not going to live to enjoy it. Come with me, murderess.
Come with me!” Castle was famous for using gimmicks when
promoting and showcasing his films. These included, offering audiences a certificate
for a $1000 insurance policy in case they die of fright while watching Macabre, a money
back guarantee for those too frightened to see the finale of Homicidal --
“When you go to see my picture Homicidal, you’ll get one of these certificates. Then
at the climax of Homicidal, there will be a fright break. If you are too frightened
to stay to see the rest of the picture, you can present this certificate at the coward’s
corner, and get your full admission price refunded.”
-- and having a skeleton with red eyes float off the screen over the audience at the end
of House on Haunted Hill. Among the films Castle produced but didn’t direct are the
Orson Welles film The Lady from Shanghai, and Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby.
William Castle died from a heart attack at age 63. At the top of this section, off the road, is this distinctive sarcophagus, the final
resting place of Alice Calhoun, a popular leading lady of the silent era. Among her
films of this era are The Little Minister, Pampered Youth, and The Part Time Wife. Her
career didn’t extend into the talkies, and she retired in 1934. Later she owned a chain
of successful theaters here in Los Angeles, and she and her husband dedicated themselves
to philanthropic causes. Alice died from cancer at age 65. Across the street north is the Garden of Remembrance. Here lies Terry Kath. He was a musician, best
remembered as a founding member of the rock band Chicago, originally known as Chicago
Transit Authority, which formed in 1967. Kath played guitar and shared lead vocals in the
band, his guitar playing style admired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix. Terry Kath played
on close to a dozen albums that Chicago released between 1969 and 1977. He sang on songs like
“Colour My World,” “Wishing You Were Here,” and “Memories of Love,” alluded
to right here on his marker. By the late 70s Kath had developed a keen interest in guns,
and often carried them around and showed them off. On January 23, after a party, Kath pulled
out one of his pistols and began showing it off. Friends told him to be careful. “Don’t
worry about it,” he said, assuring them the gun was not loaded, showing the empty
magazine. He put the gun to his temple. “What do you think I’m going to do, blow my brains
out?” These were his last, tragically prophetic words. He pulled the trigger. Neglecting the
bullet in the chamber, Kath died instantly from the gunshot. He was 31. Just south in this same section is the final resting place of Merle Oberon. She was an
Indian-born British actress, popular in the 30s to the 70s. She found success in British
films like The Private Life of Henry VIII and The Scarlet Pimpernel, before coming to
Hollywood to make pictures. She’s perhaps best remembered for her role as Cathy in Wuthering
Heights, alongside Laurence Olivier. “Heathcliff, make the world stop right here.
Make everything stop and stand still and never move again. Make the moors never change, and
you and I never change.” “The moors and I will never change. Don’t
you, Cathy.” And in 1936 she was nominated for an Oscar
for best actress, for her role as Kitty Vane in The Dark Angel. This would make her the
first Asian-born actress to be nominated for a best actress Oscar. Merle continued to be
active in film and television until the early 70s. She died after suffering a stroke in 1979. Let’s proceed now to the far east, and the
Court of Freedom. Just left of the Declaration of Independence mosaic are the Gardens of
Honor. Just in on the right is the Columbarium of the Evening Star, where we find the niche
of actress, model, singer, and friend, Totty Ames. Much of her early career was spent modeling
for fashion and glamour magazines. She would become a popular pin up for America’s servicemen.
This would open doors for a brief acting career in the 60s, in films like In Like Flint, and
Skullduggery, and even an appearance in The Twilight Zone. In her 60s she reinvented herself
as a songstress, singing in night clubs and cabarets around town. Totty Ames lived to
be 92. Proceeding east in the court now to the Garden
of Everlasting Peace. In our original tour we visited the legendary Errol Flynn. Our
profile of him was woefully brief for the caliber of star that he was, so let’s pay
him a revisit, and give him a little more of his due. The swashbuckling leading man
of the 30s was born in Australia, and would become the successor to Hollywood’s original
swashbuckler, Douglas Fairbanks. After making films in Australia and Britain, Flynn made
his way to Hollywood. He became a bona fide action star when he landed the role of Captain
Blood in the eponymous film. Flynn followed up with what would be his best-known role,
as that of Robin Hood, in 1938’s The Adventures of Robin Hood.
“This forest is wide. It can shelter and clothe and feed a band of good, determined
men. Good swordsmen, good archers, good fighters. Are you with me?”
Both of these films paired him with frequent on-screen co-star, Olivia de Havilland. Other
films he shined in include The Sea Hawk, and Adventures of Don Juan. His career ebbed and
flowed in the 40s and 50s, sometimes interrupted by his hedonistic lifestyle. Errol Flynn was
well known as a man of passion off-screen as well as on. By the late 50s his indulgences
had caught up with him, leaving him near broke and in poor health. While on a trip to Canada
he began complaining of back and leg pain. He was later found unresponsive. And despite
immediate medical treatment, died at the hospital from a heart attacked brought on by a coronary
thrombosis. Errol Flynn was 50. His body was brought back here to Los Angeles for burial.
He has since ranked on many lists of Hollywood’s greatest stars of all time.
Resting next to Flynn is his wife, Patrice Wymore. She was an actress who began performing
on stage in Vaudeville. She began making films in 1950, her second film, Rocky Mountain,
is where she would meet future husband, Errol Flynn. Her notable film roles include as Gloria
in I’ll See You in My Dreams, and as Adele in Ocean’s 11. After retiring from showbiz
she settled down in Jamaica where she opened a boutique, and continued to play an active
role in her husband’s legacy. She lived to be 87.
Just left of Errol Flynn we find a woman named Connie Emerald. She was a British actress,
principally known for her work on stage in the theater. She also appeared in a handful
of films in the 30s and 40s, like Yours for the Asking. She was married to entertainer
Stanley Lupino, and together they had a very famous daughter: Ida Lupino, one of the legendary
screen stars and filmmakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Ida Lupino was cremated after her death, and there are numerous anecdotes as to the fate
of her ashes. One claims her ashes were scattered here on her mother’s grave, another that
this unmarked grave between her mother and Errol Flynn contains her ashes. Others still
claim loved ones retained her ashes. As two of these anecdotes involve this location,
this site may be as close as we get to visiting the final resting place of Ida Lupino. I should
emphasize that this is not verified as Ida Lupino’s grave, but let us remember her
here alongside her mother all the same. Ida Lupino began appearing in films in the 30s,
where she was dubbed the English Jean Harlow. She’d be known for roles in dark and edgy
films like They Drive By Night, and High Sierra. But Ida wasn’t content only to be in front
of the camera, and would soon become a pioneer of female directors. In the 50s she was the
most prominent female filmmaker in Hollywood, writing and directing movies in an age when
such roles were dominated by men. These movies were often socially-conscious, with a distinct
female perspective. Among the best-known films she helmed are Not Wanted, Outrage, and The
Hitch-Hiker… the first film noir directed by a woman. Her directing career then shifted
to television. Ida was the only woman to direct an episode of The Twilight Zone, as well as
starring in one, and helmed episodes of other shows like The Untouchables, and Thriller.
In 1995 Ida was undergoing treatment for colon cancer when she died from a stroke. She was
77. Let’s head now back into the Freedom Mausoleum.
Just to the left is the Columbarium of Victory. Herein on the right we find the niche of Zara
Cully. As an actress she’s best remembered for her role as George Jefferson’s mother,
Mother Jefferson, on All in the Family, and the popular spin-off, The Jeffersons, in the
1970s. Before this career-defining role on the small screen, Zara could be seen in a
number of films, including Brother John, and Sugar Hill. She died from lung cancer at age
86. Down now to the lower level of the mausoleum,
into the Columbarium of Blessedness. Above eye level is the niche of Barbara Ruick. For
over two decades the vivacious beauty delighted audiences in musical films, like Carousel,
and The Affairs of Dobie Gillis. Later she would star as Esmerelda in the TV remake of
Cinderella. But her career was cut short when she died suddenly from a cerebral hemorrhage
at the age of 43. Barbara was married to film composer John Williams, of Star Wars and Indiana
Jones fame, and was the mother of Joseph Williams, lead singer of the band Toto. Back outside, just east of the mausoleum is this labyrinth, inspired by the one at Chartres
Cathedral in France. Heading into the Gardens of Contemplation, on the right, we find the
grave of Celeste Yarnall. She was an actress, principally known for her work in television
in the 60s and 70s. You Star Trek fans will recognize her as Yeoman Landon in the original
series. On film she was serenaded by Elvis in Live a Little, Love a Little, and in 1971
she starred as the title character in The Velvet Vampire. After acting she worked in
real estate, living to the age of 74. Let’s hop back in the car and make the journey
to the very southern end of the cemetery. Throw on your favorite podcast or something,
‘cause it’s a long way. "Columbia Broadcasting System
and its affiliated stations present Orson Welles and the
Mercury Theater on the air, in "The War of the Worlds"
by H.G. Wells." Here we are then, in section M. Not far from
the Mason’s Monument is the grave of Frank Gumm. He was a vaudeville performer who ran
a theater in Grand Rapids that featured movies and vaudeville acts. Among the acts he featured
were that of his three daughters, Mary Jane, Virginia, and Frances, known as The Gumm Sisters.
They would perform song and dance routines, accompanied by their mother, Ethel. The family
soon moved to California, where Frank and Ethel worked to get their daughters into the
movies. The youngest, “Baby,” as she was called by her parents and siblings, would
better be known to the world as Judy Garland. Frank died from spinal meningitis in 1935
at the age of 49, not living long enough to see his youngest daughter become the biggest
star in showbusiness. To find Frank’s wife, Judy’s mother, we
hop one section north to Acacia, just east of the Great Mausoleum. Near the middle of
the lawn is Ethel Gumm. Judy Garland’s real name was Frances Ethel Gumm, named for both
her father, Francis, and mother, Ethel. Ethel was the real driving force behind getting
her youngest daughter into showbusiness, a true stage mother, to a fault, leading to
a strained relationship between a mother who often demanded too much of a daughter just
barely in her teens. Ethel lived to be 56. Let’s head west, just down the hill from
the Great Mausoleum. Here lies Charley Chase. When thinking of silent comedians, the big
three come to mind: Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd… but Charley Chase
was right up there with them. He’s best remembered for his work making silent shorts
for Hal Roach. He had close to 300 acting credits to his name, from 1914 into the 30s.
His style was that of comedic embarrassment, hapless and befuddled young men. Chase not
only acted in his films, but was a driving force behind the camera, writing and directing
as well. By the mid-1920s he was the most popular star at the Hal Roach studio. He took
a little time to adapt to the talkies, but he did make the transition, continuing to
make movies into the 40s. During this era he also produced a number of Three Stooges
films. Charley struggled with alcoholism and depression much of his life. He died from
a heart attack at just 46. At the top of this hill is one of the most
magnificent houses of the dead in all the world, the Great Mausoleum…. an old-world
crown jewel in this new-world memorial park. It boasts architecture, statuary, and stained
glass that would make even the greatest cathedrals of Europe envy. Sadly though, as you know
if you’ve seen our previous videos, much of the majesty of this building is reserved
only for the dead, as large portions of it are closed to the general public. This hasn’t
stopped people finding creative ways to send their love through these concrete walls to
those who rest therein, like Michael Jackson, including scribbling messages right into the
dust on the windows. Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust. We’ll begin in the section open to the public, the Memorial Terrace. Here in the newly constructed
glass columbarium is Steve Priest. He was a musician, a member of the 70s rock band,
The Sweet. He played bass and sometimes sang vocals in the group. They had hits in the
UK with songs like “Fox on the Run,” and “The Ballroom Blitz.” But we here in the
states probably remember the band best for their hit, “Little Willy.” [music] After Brian Connelly left the band, Priest
took over as lead singer. The Sweet disbanded in 1981, but later iterations of The Sweet
were re-formed by former members, including Steve Priest’s Sweet. He continued to play
until his death in 2020 at age 72. Across the hall, at the end of the Sanctuary
of Truth, is producer Hal B. Wallis. He was one of the most influential producers of Hollywood’s
Golden Age. Several films that have become timeless classics were produced by Wallis
for Warner Bros, like Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and True Grit. Later he would
work at Paramount, producing films for Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, and Elvis Presley. His
films garnered numerous Academy Award nominations, including a win for Best Picture for Casablanca.
He died from complications of diabetes at age 87. Over now to a familiar corridor, The Columbarium of Memory. Always more to find here. Just
in on the left is Dimitri Tiomkin. If you’re a fan of classic Westerns, you’re probably
also a fan of the music of Dimitri Tiomkin, one of the giants of film music in Hollywood’s
Golden Age. He crafted the soaring musical landscape to films like The Alamo, The Guns
of Navarone, and High Noon, featuring his Oscar-winning song, “The Ballad of High
Noon.” [music] He received 22 Academy Award nominations, winning four. He also scored a number of thrillers,
like Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder. And on television, he wrote the theme for the
show Rawhide. [music] Tiomkin died from injuries suffered in a fall in London.
Dimitri was married to famed dancer and choreographer, Albertina Rasch, who performed and staged
dance numbers on Broadway, including in the Ziegfeld Follies, and specialized in choreographing
balletic spectacles for musical films of the 30s. She lived to be 76.
Crossing to the other side we find Genevieve Tobin. The actress began her young career
in silent film, but made her mark early in showbusiness on stage, like in the play Fifty
Million Frenchmen, where she introduced Cole Porter’s song, “You Do Something to Me.”
She then made her way back to film, seen in classics like The Petrified Forest, and The
Case of the Lucky Legs. Genevieve was the sister of Vivian Tobin, who we visited in
Santa Barbara. She lived to be 95. Genevieve is inurned here with her husband,
William Keighley. He was a director who helmed close to 40 films in his career, occasionally
directing Errol Flynn, in The Adventures of Robin Hood, and the Prince and the Pauper.
He’s also known for comedies, like The Man Who Came to Dinner. Keighley lived almost
as long as his wife, to the age of 94. A little further in we find another legend
of classic horror, James Whale. He may have only directed 23 films in his career, but
his impact on the genre of horror will last forever. He’s best known for his work at
Universal in the 30s, directing those timeless classics, Frankenstein, The Old Dark House,
The Invisible Man, and The Bride of Frankenstein. His style in these films was characterized
by German Expressionism, and innovative camera work. He also directed in other genres, including
what is considered the definitive film adaptation of the musical Show Boat. He continued to
work into the 50s, but after suffering a series of strokes, his heath deteriorated. James
Whale committed suicide by drowning himself in his pool. James was openly gay throughout
his Hollywood career, unheard of at that time. His partner was producer David Lewis, to whom
he left a suicide note. The note was kept private, in the absence of which his death
was originally listed as an accidental drowning. Only after the note was revealed by Lewis
was it determined that Whale had committed suicide to end his pain. The film Gods and
Monsters is a fictionalized account of James Whale’s life.
Along the opposite wall, we find the niche of Whale’s partner, film producer David
Lewis. He produced films in the 30s through the 60s, like Dark Victory, Till We Meet Again,
and Flying Devils. After his death at age 83 he was inurned here in the same corridor
as James. One level down is the Poet’s Corner, and
the Dahlia Terrace. Behind the Three Graces statue is the majestically antique Florentine
Columbarium. On the left side, under a large urn, is the niche of a costume designer who
went by the mononym, Irene. Her skills as a fashion designer caught the eyes of Hollywood,
and she was soon designing gowns and costumes for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars like
Lana Turner, Hedy Lamarr, Ginger Rogers, and Doris Day. She received two Oscar nominations
for her costume work, for Midnight Lace, and B.F.’s Daughter, and in 2005 was inducted
into the Costume Designers Guild Hall of Fame. On November 15, 1962, Irene checked into room
1129 at the Knickerbocker Hotel. She then jumped to her death from the bathroom window.
She was 60. Irene rests here alongside her husband, F.
Richard Jones. He was a filmmaker, known as one of the premier directors of the silent
era. Many of his comedic two-reelers were made for the Mack Sennet Studio in the teens
and 20s. He also made one sound film, Bulldog Drummond, in 1929, which received two Oscar
nominations. Jones died from tuberculosis at age 37. Proceeding to the eastern end of the Dahlia Terrace, to the Corridor of Vistas. Here is
the magnificent urn of a young girl named Lucille Ricksen. She was a child star of the
silent film era, called “The Youngest Leading Lady in Movies.” She got her big break in
1920, co-starring in the 12-part Edgar Pomeroy series. As her star rose into the 20s she
appeared in a number of high-profile roles, in films like Judgement of the Storm, The
Painted Lady, and Trimmed in Scarlet. While filming The Galloping Fish in 1924, Lucille
fell ill. By 1925 her condition worsened, and she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She
became bedridden for the last months of her life, her mother maintaining a constant vigil
over her. In February of that year, Lucille’s mother succumbed to a heart attack, falling
dead onto her bedridden daughter. Lucille died two weeks later, at the age of 14. Though
tuberculosis was the cause, overwork and exhaustion were contributing factors, a cautionary tale
to parents who would drive their children too hard to success at a young age. Down into the old heart of the mausoleum we go, enjoying the rare beauty of these corridors
en route. This is the Begonia Terrace. In our original
tour here we visited silent film comedy legend, Harold Lloyd, one of the big 3 with Charlie
Chaplin and Buster Keaton. At the time we ought to have mentioned his wife Mildred,
who was not only his creative sidekick and muse, but also one of the great comediennes
of the silent era. She was the object of Harold’s affections in many of his silent films, including
one of his most iconic, Safety Last. They first appeared together in 1919’s From Hand
to Mouth, and would star together in fifteen films into the 20s, until her retirement in
1927. Their love was legendary. And so adorable were they on screen that nearly a century
later, singer Drake Bell would allude to them in his song, “End it Good.” [music] Mildred lived to be 68.
Also here is their son, Harold Lloyd Jr. He acted in around a dozen films in the 50s and
60s, like The Flaming Urge, and Frankenstein’s Daughter. He also performed alongside another
silent legend Junior, in Girls Town, alongside Charlie Chaplin Jr. His career was cut short
after suffering a stroke in 1971, dying a few months later at just 40. As we proceed down in space and back in time, let’s stop on this landing between the Begonia
and the Azalea Terraces. This unassuming doorway on the right is unofficially known as the
Utility Columbarium. It is a holding area for the cremated remains of those who either
could not afford to or opted not to have their ashes placed in a public niche or crypt after
being cremated here. Among those who opted for this humble state is legendary actor,
Sydney Greenstreet. He came to the movies quite late in life, his first film role in
his early 60s. But it was a big one, in The Maltese Falcon. The role earned him an Oscar
nomination for best supporting actor. “I tell you right out, I’m a man who likes
talking to a man who likes to talk.” “Swell. Will we talk about the black bird?”
“You’re a man for me, sir, no beating about the bush. Right to the point.”
The next year he played Signior Ferrari in Casablanca. But Greenstreet was not new to
performing. Before his legendary stints on screen, he had a successful career performing
on stage for decades. Had had many film offers during that time, but refused them all, until
The Maltese Falcon. Sydney Greenstreet died in 1954 from complications of diabetes and
kidney disease, after which he was cremated, his ashes resting through this quiet, unassuming
door. We’ve now arrived again at the oldest section
of the mausoleum, the Azalea Terrace. In this family room we find Ruth Roland. She had a
prolific career as an actress that began on Vaudeville at the age of three as “Baby
Ruth,” and soon expanded to silent film. During this era she’s perhaps best remembered
for starring in multi-episode adventure serials, like The Red Circle. She would appear
in over 200 films in her career, including Haunted Valley, and one of the very early
experimental color films, Leon Douglass’s Cupid Angling. Ruth died from cancer in 1937,
at the age of 45. She was buried in her wedding dress to Ben Bard.
In one of the unmarked plots in this family room is Ben Bard, who was also an actor. His
career began on Vaudeville as part of a comedic duo with Jack Pearl. He’d then be seen in
a number of movies, like Dressed to Kill and The Ghost Ship. Later in life he opened a
successful drama school in Hollywood, Ben Bard Drama. He lived to be 81.
Our journey through the Great Mausoleum brings us now to Evergreen Terrace. Here is the niche
of Chic Sale. He was principally a stage comedian, known for his “old man” persona, a smash
hit on the vaudeville circuit, specifically his schtick as a builder of outhouses. He’d
perform on Broadway and in the Ziegfeld Follies as well, then began appearing in films in
the 1920s. While still in his 40 he effectively played octogenarians, in films like Stranger
in Town, and the Star Witness. He died from pneumonia at age 52.
Below Chic is Edmund Breese. He had a versatile Broadway career before entering films in the
silent era, and eventually into the early talkies, in some 130 productions. Among the
films he’s remembered for are Duck Soup, Platinum Blonde, and All Quiet on the Western
Front. He died from peritonitis at age 64. Just left is Marguerite Snow. She was a silent
film actress who can be seen in some 127 films in her career. Like many in that early era,
her career began on stage on Broadway before moving in to film, in the time when many films
were still being made in New York. Among her films are The Silent Voice, She, and Lavender
and Old Lace. Marguerite retired from acting in 1925, and died from complications of a
kidney operation at age 68. Also here, but unmarked, his her husband,
Neely Edwards. He too was an actor on stage and screen in the teens through the 40s. He
was half the vaudeville comedy team of The Hall Room Boys, with, Edward Flanagan. They
would take their act onto the silent screen in a series of very early Columbia Pictures
shorts. He’d go on to be a key player in Universal comedies of the 20s, particularly
the Nervy Ned one-reelers, and the musical, Show Boat. Neely Edwards lived to be 81. This is the Sanctuary of Meditation. Here we find the crypt of Louise Dresser. The actress
of stage and screen is perhaps best remembered for her several roles playing the wife of
Will Rogers, in films like State Fair, and for playing Empress Petrovna in The Scarlett
Empress. Louise was also nominated for an Oscar for her performance in A Ship Comes
In, for the very first Academy Awards in 1929. She lived to be 86. Up now to the Fuchsia Terrace, where Chief Thundercloud is laid to rest. He’s best
remembered for the role of the original Tonto, Native American companion to the Lone Ranger,
in the 1930s. He also played the title role in Geronimo in 1939. Chief Thundercloud, whose
real name was Victor Daniels, continued to perform as a character actor in Westerns into
the 50s, passing away from cancer at age 56. Down the hall on the left is the Columbarium
of Inspiration. If you saw our Wizard of Oz Special you’ll recall that this is where
Charlie Grapewin is laid to rest… fondly remembered for his role in that film as Dorothy’s
Uncle Henry. Before his film career he was a circus acrobat and stage performer. He’d
retired in the 20s, but with the 1929 crash, lost everything, prompting a second career
in film. He’s also remembered for playing Grampa in The Grapes of Wrath. Charley lived
to be 86. Also here is Charley’s wife, Anna Chance.
She had a career on stage in vaudeville, where she met and married Charlie. She also had
a minor movie career, seen alongside Charlie in one of the earliest films ever made, Chimmie
Hicks and the Rum Omelete, in 1900. Five other films would follow, including her last, Second
Choice in 1930. She lived to be 63. Just left is Vera West, another of Hollywood’s
noted costume designers. Vera is known particularly for her work at Universal. It was she who
teamed up with the likes of James Whale, Jack Pierce, and Carl Laemmle Jr to create the
Universal Monster worlds of the 20s and 30s. Her costumes and gowns can be seen in movies
like The Man Who Laughs, The Mummy, and Bride of Frankenstein. She had close to 400 film
credits to her name before her untimely death at age 47. In a tragically ironic connection
to her director on Bride of Frankenstein, James Whale, Vera West committed suicide by
drowning herself in her own pool, the notes she left claiming she had been blackmailed. Along the adjacent wall is William Collier. Being in such an old part of the mausoleum,
you’ll find most actors in these sections began their careers on stage, on vaudeville,
and Broadway. William Collier was no exception. He ran away from home at age 11 to join a
touring company, and would appear extensively on Broadway between 1894 and 1927. During
that time he’d also made a few silent films under Mack Sennett, later returning to films
in the 30s, like Cain and Mabel. He died from pneumonia at age 79. Down to the Gardenia Terrace, we reach the Sanctuary of Security. Just left of the window
is Edna May Oliver, one of the better-known character actresses of the 30s, often playing
tart-tongue spinsters. Among her best-known roles are as Miss Withers in The Penguin Pool
Murder, and Aunt Betsey in David Copperfield. She was also nominated for an Oscar for her
performance in Drums Along the Mohawk. Edna died on her 59th birthday after a brief illness.
On the opposite wall we find the niche of a close friend of Edna May Oliver, Franklin
Pangborn. He was a comedic character actor, often appearing in supporting roles alongside
greats like Harold Lloyd and W. C. Fields, in films like Never Give a Sucker an Even
Break. Among his over 200 credits are Hail the Conquering Hero, Now Voyager, and My Man
Godfrey. His final public appearance was as a supporting player in The Red Skelton Show.
He died after complications from surgery for a malignant tumor, at the age of 69. If you saw our Wizard of Oz Special, you’ll also recall that in this sanctuary rests Clara
Blandick, who has achieved cinema immortality for her role as Auntie Em in 1939’s The
Wizard of Oz. Before the movies, Clara had a successful career on stage, including the
lead in Madame Butterfly, and won rave reviews for her performance in Hell-Bent fer Heaven.
By the 30s she was in Hollywood making movies, often playing motherly figures in films like
Possessed, and of course, The Wizard of Oz. She retired from acting at age 69, and due
to worsening pain from her deteriorating health, took her own life by sleeping pills. She was
85. Up the stairs now to the Iris Terrace. Earlier
we visited Judy Garland’s parents. Here we find her sister, Suzanne, known then as
Mary Jane Gumm. She was the oldest of the three Gumm sisters, who began performing on
the vaudeville stage under their parents, Frank and Ethel, in the 1920s. All three sisters
were tremendously talented at singing and dancing. They would travel the country performing,
and even appear in a few films as a trio, but it was Baby Judy that would eventually
steal the spotlight, and Sue, as she then became known, slowly fell away from showbiz,
constantly overshadowed by young Judy. Tragically, Suzanne was found dead in her apartment after
suffering a seizure at age 48. And even in death poor Suzanne seemed to have lost her
personal identity, as headlines read, “Judy Garland’s Sister Dead.” The lower-level Jasmine Terrace is the newest section of the mausoleum. Here rests Art Tatum.
Despite being blind in one eye, he would grow to become one of the great jazz pianists of
all time, renowned for his virtuosic technique. He would tour the world and perform as a solo
artist, as well as leading a popular jazz trio. One of the tunes he’s known for, alluded
to right here on his crypt, is George Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me.” [music] Art was just 47 when he died from uremia.
He was originally interred at Angelus-Rosedale, but was moved here in 1992 so he could be
entombed alongside his wife. He was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989. We head now to the end of the Corridor of the Madonna in the Holly Terrace, to the Sanctuary
of Enduring Honor. A guitar marks the crypt of Johnny “Guitar” Watson. He was a blues,
soul, and funk guitarist and songwriter, who found popularity in the 50s through the 70s. His tracks
“Ain’t That a Bitch,” and “A Real Mother for Ya,” were both certified Gold. [music] Watson died of a heart attack while performing
on stage in Japan in 1996. He was 61. Finally, at the very end of this corridor,
in the Columbarium of the Holy Spirit, we find the Godfather of Graving, Roger Sinclair.
In the 1960s, long before I was even born, Roger Sinclair began to amass a wealth of
knowledge of celebrity graves and cemeteries here in Hollywood, finding obscure graves
of movie industry folks of decades past, right alongside the biggest legends, documenting
these sites for future enthusiasts like us. He had compiled dozens of binders of information
on gravesites and biographies over the years, these binders are now part of a special collection
at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. He died in 2014 at the age of 83,
his ashes fittingly entombed here surrounded by Hollywood greats like Hermione Gingold,
Max Steiner, and William Boyd. I, like all of us who enjoy grave hunting these days,
owe a lot to many who have gone before, seeking out famous final resting places long before
the age of the internet, through dedicated research and boots on the ground efforts.
Mr. Sinclair, I tip my hat to you sir. And that concludes our tour. What are some
of your favorite memories of the stars we visited today? Share them in the comments
below, and be sure to like, share, and subscribe for more famous grave tours.
Thanks for watching, we’ll see you on the next one! Since our last tour here we've lost a legend of Forest Lawn. We lost David, who toppled
in March 2020… not a victim of Covid, but of wear and tear. David’s toes were all
that remained, the rest of him shattered on the ground, lying under a shroud, like a victim
at a crime scene. He’s the third David to topple here, the
first from 1937 was felled by the Sylmar Earthquake in 1971. Its replacement was brought down
by the Northridge earthquake of ’94. Rest in Peace David III. Hopefully David IV
will rise in your place and stand strong for the next generation.
