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 exploring Grand View Memorial
Park where we'll find such stars as Edna Purviance,
Harry Langdon, Clara Kimball Young, and many more. Join us, won't you? As Hollywood Graveyard enters its third
year of existence we find ourselves in one of the last cemeteries in the Los
Angeles area that we've not yet visited: Grandview Memorial Park in Glendale.
Often overshadowed by another Glendale Cemetery, Forest Lawn, Grand View was
actually the first Cemetery in the area, opening decades before Forest Lawn in
1884 as Glendale Cemetery - later renamed to Grand View. In 2005 Grand View became
the subject of a local scandal when it was discovered that the then ownership
had not only allowed the cemetery to fall into disrepair, officials also
discovered remains that had not been properly buried and other shady and
neglectful practices. The cemetery was forced to close in 2006, the city
facilitating limited visits to the cemetery to just one day a week for years.
In 2014 Grand View came under new management which worked hard to revive
the cemetery. Initially the cemetery was open only one
day a week while restoration efforts were undertaken to renovate the grounds,
restore and repair the mausoleums, and locate overgrown graves. Since that time,
under this new management, the cemetery has undergone somewhat of a renaissance
and is now fully functional and operational once again. Let's begin our tour in Section B in the
southeast corner of the cemetery. Not far in from the Eastern Road we find the
grave of actress Dorothy Coburn, often seen playing flappers or society ladies
in silent Hal Roach comedies. She's perhaps best known for appearing
alongside Laurel and Hardy in a number of their early films, like 1927's The
Second Hundred Years, and Leave 'em Laughing in 1928. Dorothy also worked as
a stunt woman and a stand-in for Ginger Rogers. She retired from show business in
1936 living to be 73. Continuing north along the outer road we reach a small
circular lawn on the left. This is the Garden of Remembrance, a community
cremation garden. Among those laid to rest here is renowned theater organist
George Wright. He's considered by many as modern theater's best organist, known for
his performances on his grand Wurlitzer organ. He performed at Fox Theater in San
Francisco and later became the house organist for the Paramount Theatre in
New York. He developed a cult following for his organ performances, playing a key
role in reviving interest in theater organ music. After returning to
California he became the studio organist and music director for the soap opera
General Hospital. He continued to play concerts and record albums until his
death at age 77 after which he was cremated his ashes interred at this site, though
his name is not listed on the markers. If we hop across the street to the north we
reach section F. Close to a large tree is the final resting place of Madge Blake.
The beloved matronly actress is known for several roles on television,
including as Larry's mother on Leave It to Beaver, Flora on The Real McCoys, and
Aunt Harriet Cooper in the 60s Batman series. On film she can be seen in movies
like Singing in the Rain, and An American in Paris. She died of a
heart attack at age 69 and rests here alongside her mother. If we follow this
circular row around to the left we find the grave of Sir Guy Standing. He was a
British actor who rose to prominence in the theatre first in England then
America on Broadway. For his service during the First World War he was
awarded a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. It wasn't until later in his career, in the
1930s when he was around 60, that he began his film career, lending his
genteel British presence to films like Death Takes a Holiday, and The Lives of a
Bengal Lancer. He died of a heart attack at the age of 63. Let's head back to the outer road and continue to the northern end of the
cemetery. Just before the north mausoleum is a small cremation lawn on the right.
About half way in is Alec Craig. Scottish-born actor was often known for
playing the archetypal miserly Scotsman, a familiar face on film in the thirties
and forties. His credits include Mutiny on the Bounty, National Velvet, and
Northern Pursuit. Craig died from tuberculosis in 1945. Just west is the
Garden of Devotion, featuring small cremation graves in front of the North
Mausoleum. Turning right in front of a half wall is the grave of Chill Wills. He
began his career forming and singing in the quartet The Avalon Boys in the 1930s.
He would then take his distinctive deep rough voice into film and television,
primarily in western roles. His role as Beekeeper in 1960's The Alamo earned him
an Oscar nomination. [music] Other films include Giant and McClintock.
He died of cancer at age 76. Following along the half wall to the right we find
the grave of Manning Sherwin. He was a songwriter and composer known for his
work in both British and American musical theater and film. His most
enduring composition is "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," with lyrics by
Eric Maschwitz. The song would become a standard recorded by many of the major
artists of the era, from Glenn Miller to Vera Lynn and Frank Sinatra. Tori Amos
would even perform a rendition of the song as the closing theme of Good Omens. Manning lived to be 76. Just to the left
is the grave of Kenne Duncan. Hyped as the meanest man in the movies Duncan was
known for playing B Western movie villains, around 120 westerns by some
estimates. He also appeared in crime drama like The Spider's Web, and in a
number of Ed Wood films like Night of the Ghouls. Ill-health later in life
drove him to suicide by barbiturate overdose. He was 69. Let's make our way
now into the North Mausoleum. Immediately to the right in the corner is the niche
of Clara Kimball Young, one of silent film's popular starlets, a favorite among
moviegoers during the World War 1 era. She made her stage debut at the age of
three with her parents' Theatre Company. At Vitagraph her star rose quickly in one
and two real short films, often as the virtuous heroine. The 1914 film My
Official Wife launched her to stardom, leading her to top the popularity poll
of stars in 1914, and by the following year her star ranked alongside the likes
of Mary Pickford, the Gish sisters, Mabel Normand and Edna Purviance. Other of her
hits include 1919's Eyes of Youth featuring a young up-and-comer named
Rudolph Valentino. Clara was involved with Lewis Selznick forming the Clara
Kimball Young Film Corporation to produce her films. Souring relationships
in her personal and business life began to take a toll in her career by the late
20s, working mainly in vaudeville. She had a brief revival in a handful of talkies
in the 30s but retired from acting in 1941. Her star was not forgotten though
as she spent her later years making personal appearances and giving
interviews for those who had rediscovered her work in silent film.
She died at the motion-picture home at the age of 70. Following the road around
to the west we reached the sprawling West Mausoleum. The mausoleum is kept
locked but you can request supervised access. Built in the 1920s this Spanish
Colonial Revival style mausoleum is essentially one really really really
long corridor, running the entire length of the cemetery. It's no Forest Lawn Great Mausoleum,
but this mausoleum has its own unique beauty and charm that
make it well worth the visit. The journey from one end of the
mausoleum to the other is long, so to pass the time
cast your eyes above you as you stroll for some thought-provoking quotes about
death along the way. Death, the lover of life frees us forever. Remember me when I
am gone into the silent land. I dread no more the wrath of heaven,
I have an angel there. Is death the door that leads to light? Death's truer name is Onward. Now then, let's see who we can find here in the
West Mausoleum. From the main entrance if we turn left
we find a wall of niches. Here lies another major silent film star, Edna Purviance. She's known for being
the leading lady in many of Charlie Chaplin's films, appearing in over 30
Chaplin films, more than any other actress. Edna was working as a secretary
when she was spotted in a cafe and invited to audition for A Night Out in
1915. This would be the beginning of a long-lasting relationship and
collaboration with Chaplin, including some of his best films like the 1921
classic, The Kid. Other films include The Immigrant, A
Woman of Paris, and her final screen role 1952's Limelight. She had left the
proverbial limelight in the late 20s, but Charlie kept her on his payroll until
her death at the age of 62 from cancer. A few spaces up and to the left is Lafe
McKee. He was a prolific actor with some 450 credits to his name. The majority of
his films were westerns supporting the likes of John Wayne, Gary Cooper, and
Tom Tyler, playing amiable father-figure types. This earned him the moniker "The
Grand Old Man of B Westerns." He retired in 1948, dying a decade later
at the age of 87. Let's turn now to the wall to the right. Along the bottom row
is the niche of Harry Langdon. The comedic actor ranked among other silent
greats of the era like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chaplin. Early
in his career he was a popular feature in circuses and on the vaudeville stage,
performing his trademark Johnny's New Car act for some 20 years. His film
career didn't start until he was 40, when he signed with Mack Sennett's studio. With
his baby face he developed a sort of innocent man-child persona who finds
himself in precarious situations, which would endear him to audiences. Among his
best-known films are The Strongman, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, and Long Pants. In those years he worked regularly
with a young Frank Capra. Harry died of a cerebral
hemorrhage in 1944 at the age of 60. Just to the right is the Room of
Remembrance. Herein, low on the left wall, is the niche of Clarence Wilson. The
actor appeared in close to 200 films, often as a miser or grouch. He can be
seen in a number of Our Gang and Laurel and Hardy comedies, as well as in notable
supporting roles in films like You Can't Take It With You, and
The Penguin Pool Murder. He continued to work right up until his
death in 1941 at the age of 64. In the same room high on the wall above the window we find Gus Meins. Born in
Frankfurt Germany Meins started his career as a cartoonist and comedy writer
for Fox. He would go on to direct comedy shorts including Universal's Buster Brown
comedies, and later as a senior director for Hal Roach's Our Gang shorts. His 16
Our Gang short films include Mama's Little Pirate, and Second Childhood. He
also directed a number of comedies featuring Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly as
well as the Laurel and Hardy film Babes in Toyland. In 1940 he faced prosecution
on morals charges, having been accused of inappropriate relationships with a
number of youths. He swore his innocence, but fearing the trial would ruin him
regardless of the outcome he took his own life by carbon monoxide poisoning at
the age of 47. The news shocked Hollywood, but without a trial we may never know
what happened. Back to the main chapel you'll notice a
stairwell, which leads down to the lower level
community crypts, where rest many who opted not to be
buried in their own grave or niche. It's closed to the public, but the cemetery
hopes that through renovations of the mausoleum, it will be reopened someday. Among those who rest down in that
quiet hall are a number of stars. Helen Ford was an actress known in the 20s for musical comedies, including
Broadway productions of Dearest Enemy, Peggy Ann, and Chee-Chee. She had a second
career in film and television beginning in the late 40s, seen in films like The
Model and the Marriage Broker, shows like Public Defender, and even an uncredited
appearance in A Clockwork Orange. She died of a stroke at the age of 87. Oscar Beregi Jr. was an actor, a regular on television in the 60s and 70s, making
appearances in shows like The Twilight Zone, Green Acres, 77 Sunset Strip,
The Untouchables, and more. And fans of Mel
Brooks films will recognize him as the sadistic jailer in Young Frankenstein. Hewas just 58 when he
died of a heart attack. His father
Oscar Beregi Sr was also an actor. Leo G Carroll was an actor perhaps best
remembered for his roles as Alexander Waverly in the Man From UNCLE, and as the
title character in Topper. He was nominated for two Emmys for his role in
the Man From UNCLE. Carroll also appeared in six Alfred
Hitchcock films, including Strangers on a Train. Rebecca, and North by Northwest. He died from cancer induced pneumonia
at the age of 85. Let's leave the mausoleum behind and
head back to the grounds. Just south of the mausoleum entrance is a section of
cremation graves, the Garden of Prayer. Along the first row to the left we find
Verna Felton. She was best known as a voice actress, and Disney fans will
recognize her in a number of memorable roles, including Flora and Sleeping
Beauty, the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Dumbo's mother in Dumbo, and the Queen of
Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. "Off with their heads!" She also voiced Wilma Flintstone's mother
in the Flintstones. She wasn't just a voice actress though. She appeared in the
1955 film Picnic, and on television she played Hilda Crocker on December Bride,
and the maid in the memorable I Love Lucy episode, "Lucy Hires a Maid." She died from a stroke at the age of 76, just one day before Walt Disney died. Let's continue south to the next garden area, the Garden of Eternity. Along the back
wall we find Steve Shaw. He was an actor who began performing as a child. He's
best remembered for his role playing Eric Fairgate in the TV drama
Knots Landing. The role earned him a nomination for the Young Artist Award in
1987. He can also be seen in shows like Little House on the Prairie, and The
Waltons. His career was cut short when he died in a car accident in 1990 at just 25. Finally we head to Section D in the
southern end of the cemetery. This is where we find the grave of Leo White.
Born in Germany and raised in England White began his acting career on stage
in England before moving to the US to appear in silent film. He would quickly
become a regular supporting player in Charlie Chaplin films, often seen as the
wax-mustachioed villain. Throughout his career and close to 500 credits he
mainly played smaller supporting roles, but many of them were in some of the
great films of early Hollywood, like Ben-Hur, Valentino's Blood and Sand,
Casablanca, and the Great Dictator. He continued to act until his death from
a heart attack in 1948. 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. When life gives you lemons,
plant them in a graveyard so you can enjoy them after you're dead. Lemonade anyone? you
