Welcome to Hollywood Graveyard. Today I turn
the camera over to you, the Hollywood Graveyard community, as we travel the world to visit
famous and historical graves in your neck of the woods. In this tour we continue through
America’s heartland, the Midwest, to find legends like Abraham Lincoln, Prince, Will
Rogers, Elaine Stritch, and many more. My friends, the time is yours.
Part 13 of our Viewers Special, also known as part 7 of round 2 of our Viewers Special,
also known as part 2 of our coverage of the Midwest in part 7 of round 2 of our Viewers
Special. Whew!... that’s some Inception-level grave-hunting right there. If you can’t
wrap your head around it, let’s just say that today we’re exploring Illinois, Minnesota,
Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Now then, let’s do what
this bench says… We begin our tour today in Illinois. This
is Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie. In the 70s, TV’s favorite blended family ruled
the airwaves, and here lies its patriarch, Robert Reed. Between 1969 and 1974 Reed played
Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch. Reed is also remembered for playing Kenneth Preston on
the legal drama, The Defenders, in the 1960s. He can also be seen in the miniseries, Roots.
Robert Reed fought both cancer and HIV, passing away at just 59.
Also here we find legendary actress and singer, Elaine Stritch. She’s considered one of
Broadway’s greatest performers, known for Tony nominated roles in plays like Bus Stop,
and musicals like Company. Her one-woman play, Elaine Stritch at Liberty, won the Tony Award
in 2002. Elaine would then move into television, winning Emmys for shows like Law & Order,
and for playing Colleen Donaghy on 30 Rock. Elaine Stritch died in her sleep at age 89.
Elaine rests here with her husband, John Bay, who was something of an actor himself, seen
in various film and TV roles in the 60s and 70s, including Doctor Who. He was just 53
when he died from brain cancer. This is the grave of actress Karyn “Cookie”
Kupcinet. She had recurring roles on shows in the 60s, like Hawaiian Eye, and The Gertrude
Berg Show, and can be seen in films like The Little Shop of Horrors. But it was her death
that would make the biggest headlines. Just days after the assassination of President
Kennedy in 1963, Karyn was murdered in her West Hollywood Home, at the age of 22. Occurring
so close to Kennedy’s assassination, and her father’s prominent place as a Chicago
newspaper columnist, led to Karyn’s name being among many wrapped up in the various
conspiracy theories surrounding it. This included the debunked claim that she was murdered by
the mafia to silence her for having known in advance that Kennedy would be killed, and
who was responsible. Karyn’s murder remains unsolved to this day.
Our next cemetery is Cedar Park Cemetery in Calumet Park. Here lies Nelsan Ellis. As an
actor he garnered critical acclaim for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO series,
True Blood. On film he played Eddie in Secretariat, and Martin Luther King Jr in The Butler. Ellis
battled drug and alcohol abuse, and was attempting to get clean, but in the process was hospitalized
with serious complications of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which lead to heart failure at just
39. Our next stop is one for you fans of gangster
lore. This is Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, and the grave of “Scarface” himself, Al
Capone. He reigned for seven years as boss of the Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition
Era, becoming the nation’s best-known bootlegger. He became something of a national celebrity,
saying he was simply “a businessman giving people what they want.” But his means grew
increasingly violent, culminating in the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre of rival gang members.
He had politicians and law enforcement in his pocket, until Eliot Ness led a group of
“Untouchables” to get Capone off the streets. He was eventually imprisoned, not for murder
or bootlegging, but for tax evasion. While in prison his health began to fail from syphilis.
He was released after eight years, and died in 1947 at age 48. As one of America’s most
notorious gangsters, Capone has served as a model for gangsters and crime bosses in
countless media productions. Speaking of gangster roles, also here at Mt.
Carmel we find actor Dennis Farina, a familiar face to film and television audiences beginning
in the 80s. He played mobsters in films like Get Shorty, and Midnight Run. Farina would
also play police officers, like in the film Manhunter, and on Law & Order. He was abundantly
qualified for such roles, as he worked 18 years for the Chicago Police Department before
breaking into acting. Farina died from a pulmonary embolism at age 69.
One of the most iconic voices in sports broadcasting rests here at All Saints Catholic Cemetery
in Des Plains. Here lies Harry Caray. As a sportscaster he covered five Major League
Baseball teams, between 1945 and 1997: the St. Louis Cardinals, the St. Louis Browns,
the Oakland Athletics, the Chicago White Sox, and of course the Chicago Cubs. He would broadcast
more than 8,000 games in his career, embodying the fun and energy of the ballpark. The inscription
“Holy Cow” here on this tombstone was his signature expression.
“Holy Cow!” Harry Caray passed away at age 83 from complications
of a heart attack and brain damage. Over his career he was inducted into multiple halls
of fame, including the American Sportsmen Hall of Fame. He was also famously caricatured
by Will Ferrell on SNL. Next up here at All Saints we find James Woolley.
He was a musician who played keyboards and synthesizers for Nine Inch Nails in the 90s.
Jim would win a Grammy for his work with Nine Inch Nails, for “Happiness in Slavery.”
Tragically, Jim died from injuries sustained in a fall from a ladder while retrieving equipment
in his studio. He was 49. This mausoleum houses Robert Ringling. He
was an opera singer, known particularly for his work in the operas of Wagner. In 1934
he quit his successful opera career to help run the family business. Given his name, I’ll
bet you can guess what that was. You got it, he helped run the Ringling Bros & Barnum and
Bailey Circus as chairman of the board. Robert died from a stroke at just 52.
We find ourselves now at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside. Here is the crypt of Mark Venturini.
As an actor he’s remembered for his roles in 80’s horror films, like Victor in Friday
the 13th: A New Beginning, and as Suicide in The Return of the Living Dead. He also
made guest appearances on TV shows like Murder, She Wrote. But Mark’s career was cut tragically
short by leukemia at just 35. If you play the drums, then you know our next
star, resting here at Holy Cross in Calumet City: Gene Krupa. He was a band leader, composer,
drummer, and consummate showman. He’s the man who helped elevate the drums from mere
rhythmic accompaniment, to a bona fide solo instrument. His innovation of the drum solo
can be heard in timeless tracks, like “Sing, Sing, Sing.” Gene played with legends like
Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey, and is considered by many as the founding father of the modern
drum set. Gene Krupa died from heart failure at age 64. A film would be made about his
life, The Gene Krupa Story, starring Sal Mineo as Gene.
We’re now at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington. Here we find the unique grave
of a folk figure connected to the wonderful land of Oz: Dorothy Gage. Little Dorothy was
born to Sophie and Thomas Gage in 1898. Five months later the family was devastated by
her death. Dorothy’s uncle was L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz. To give
small comfort to the family for the loss of Dorothy, he named the main character of his
book after her. In 2017 it was determined that this tree had to come down. An artist
named Bill Baker was tasked with carving Dorothy, Toto, and the Yellow Brick Road into the stump
of the tree, as a tribute to little Dorothy, whose final resting place is nearby. This
new stone for Dorothy’s grave was made and donated by Mickey Carroll, who played one
of the Munchkins in the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.
Another legend immortalized in carved wood here at Evergreen is Charles Radbourne, nicknamed
“Old Hoss.” He was a pitcher who played 11 years in the National League and Players
League, during which time he would win an impressive 310 games. In 1939 Old Hoss was
inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was just 42 when he died.
This is Herrin City Cemetery. Here we find a monument to a dark era in American labor
disputes, the Herrin Massacre. In June 1922 the United Mineworkers of America were on
strike. But at a mine here in Herrin, the owner, seeking revenue, brought in non-union
workers and strikebreakers to produce coal. Tensions escalated between strikers and strikebreakers,
and gunfire was exchanged, killing two and mortally wounding a third. The next day an
angry mob of union miners descended on the mine to exact revenge. The strikebreakers
in the mine agreed to stop work, in exchange for safe passage. The 50 or so workers were
marched with their hands up toward town, but upon reaching a barbed wire fence, were told
by the mob to run for their lives before opening fire on them. Several strikebreakers who survived
the firing squad were captured, and were ordered to crawl here to Herrin Cemetery, where they
were tortured and killed. In all some 23 people died in the dispute, 17 of which were buried
here at Herrin Cemetery in unmarked graves. And to add to the tragedy, sympathetic local
juries refused to convict anyone for the killings. We’re in Shiloh now, and Shiloh Valley Cemetery.
Making our way into the grounds we find the grave of Mary Wickes. As an actress she was
known for playing prim and proper ladies, nurses, and quite often being type-cast as
a nun, like in Sister Act, and The Trouble with Angels. On TV she was the first actress
to portray Mary Poppins on screen, and had regular roles in shows like Dennis the Menace,
and Father Dowling Mysteries. And in the world of Disney, Mary was the model for Cruella
de Vil, and was the voice of Laverne in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She died after complications
from surgery at age 85. Next up is Oakland Cemetery in Woodstock.
Here in the shadow of a tree we find a famous figure in Hollywood crime, Johnny Stompanato.
He served as a marine during WWII, after which he made his way to Los Angeles where he would
soon become the body guard of mobster Mickey Cohen. By 1957, Johnny was in a relationship
with actress Lana Turner. Their relationship was stormy, sometimes violent. On April 4,
1958, Stompanato was fatally stabbed by Lana’s 14-year-old daughter, Cheryl. She claimed
self-defense, that Stompanato had been violently attacking her mother. A coroner’s inquest
later determined it was justifiable homicide. Johnny Stompanato was 32.
Form Oakland, to Oakwood. In this cemetery we find a name synonymous with your neighborhood
drug store, Walgreen’s: Charles Walgreen. In 1901 Charles Walgreen started a drug store
in the southside of Chicago. By 1916 he owned nine drug stores, which he incorporated as
Walgreen Co, which began also selling low-priced lunches and ice cream. Walgreens is now the
second largest pharmacy store chain in the US.
To all you Eagle Scouts out there, did you get your grave-hunting merit badge? What’s
that? There is no grave-hunting merit badge? Well, there should be. This is William Boyce,
the founder of the Boy Scouts of America. He began his career as a newspaper and magazine
man, but also loved to travel and the outdoors. While on a trip to England he was introduced
to the Scouting movement. Upon his return to the US, he formed the Boy Scouts of America,
in 1910. The BSA is today one of the largest youth organizations in the nation. Boyce died
from pneumonia at age 70. Our next Illinois stop is Woodland Cemetery
in Quincy. Here lies Roy Brocksmith. The beloved character actor was never a leading man, but
he made his indelible mark on many productions we love. These include Total Recall, Arachnophobia,
and Kull the Conqueror. And on TV he made guest appearances on shows like Tales from
the Crypt, and had a principal role on Picket Fences. Roy died from complications of diabetes
at age 56. His grave features a quote from Jack London.
This is Springdale Cemetery in Peoria. Here lies Frank Wead. He was a US Navy aviator
turned screenwriter. As an authority on early aviation, he took his knowledge to Hollywood
to write movies, including 1938’s Test Pilot, which earned him an Oscar nomination. He received
a second nomination for The Citadel. Frank even had a movie made about him, John Wayne
portraying him in The Wings of Eagles. He died after complications from surgery at age
52. No exploration of famous graves in Illinois
would be complete without a visit to Springfield, and one of the most famous and visited gravesites
in America, that of Abraham Lincoln. The tomb of Abraham Lincoln is located at Oak Ridge
Cemetery here in Springfield. He was the 16th President of the United States, and one of
the most consequential, as he helped lead the nation through the Civil War, preserving
the union, and abolishing slavery. The self-educated lawyer from Kentucky was elected president
in 1860. Pro-slavery southern states saw his presidency as a threat to slavery, and began
to secede from the nation, beginning with South Carolina. The Civil War broke out shortly
thereafter, and Lincoln fought to suppress the rebellion and restore the Union. It seemed
a near impossible task to bring together parties that seemed to be at such odds – something
perhaps we can relate to today. His Gettysburg Address aimed to do just that, describing
our nation as one "conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men
are created equal.” Lincoln succeeded in preserving our union, when the Civil War ended
when General Lee surrendered to General Grant in 1865. On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued
the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves. Lincoln was re-elected president
in 1864, and worked to heal a war-torn nation through reconciliation. But just days after
the Civil War’s end, Lincoln was watching the play Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theater
in Washington. There he was shot in the head by a well-known stage actor named John Wilkes
Booth. Lincoln was attended to by physicians, but succumbed to his injuries the next morning,
on April 15, 1865. He was 56. The entire nation went into mourning, and Lincoln’s body travelled
the nation for three weeks on the Lincoln Funeral Train, mourners lining the tracks
to sing hymns and pay their respects. Lincoln was the first major public figure to be embalmed,
allowing for this extended viewing period. Lincoln’s body was temporarily entombed
in various nearby locations while this monument was being built, finally being permanently
laid to rest here in 1901. Here too are his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, and several of his
children. As we say goodbye to Mr. Lincoln and the state of Illinois, be sure to rub
Honest Abe’s nose for good luck. Before moving on to our next state, let’s
hop back over the border to Wisconsin real quick to visit a site we missed in our coverage
of Wisconsin in our previous video. This is Oak Hill Cemetery in Lake Geneva, and the
grave of Gary Gygax. He was a writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering
role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, first published in 1974. The popularity of the game
would lead to an animated series in 1983, which he co-produced. To this day, Dungeons
& Dragons remains the market leader in role playing games, and is frequently referenced
in other media, like Stranger Things. Gary died from an aortic aneurysm at the age of
69. The dice here on his grave are those used in Dungeons & Dragons.
Our journey takes us now to Minnesota. We’ll spend much of our time in the Twin Cities
area. One of the more notable cemeteries here is Lakewood in Minneapolis. Let’s head first
into the mausoleum. Here we find the crypt of the legendary Tiny Tim. The comedic musician
was well known to television audiences in the 60s and 70s for his long hair, ukulele
playing, and singing in a high falsetto voice with dizzying vibrato. This inimitable sound
is perhaps best showcased in his signature song, a cover of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.”
Tim was a frequent feature on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh in, and The Tonight Show with Johnny
Carson, and he loved performing for live audiences as well. In November 1996 he was playing a
gala benefit here in Minneapolis. While performing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” he suffered
a heart attack on stage. He tried to make his way back to his table, but collapsed,
and never regained consciousness. He died at age 64. At his funeral, a ukulele was placed
in his coffin. Let’s head back out to the grounds, where
we run into a species of Hollywood Graveyard animals we’ve not yet encountered, wild
turkeys. Nearby is the grave of actress Alice Frost.
She was an inaugural member of Orson Welles’ Mercury Theater, and would become one of the
stars of radio dramas, most notably in the series Mr and Mrs North. Alice became known
as the girl of a hundred voices. She would then become a regular player in early television,
in shows like Mama, The Twilight Zone, General Electric Theater, Bonanza, and more. Alice
lived to be 92. Over now to the Garden Wall section, is the
crypt of Cliff Simak. He was a science fiction writer, known for his work during the Golden
Age of sci-fi. He began publishing stories for pulp publications in the 30s. He wrote
hundreds of short stories, and more than 30 novels, one of which, Way Station, winning
the 1964 Hugo Award. He would win numerous other accolades for his writing, and in 1987
became one of three inaugural winners of the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award. Simak
lived to be 83. On to section 3, and the grave of an artist
named Les Kouba. He was one of the world’s foremost wildlife painters, his work appearing
on magazine covers, conservation stamps, and more. Other of his notable work includes a
re-design of the Coca-Cola logo, a statue of Chief Little Crow, and designing the Old
Dutch windmill logo. Les lived to be 81. Next up here at Lakewood is author and playwright
Thomas Heggen. His best-known work is his 1946 novel, Mister Roberts, based on his experiences
in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Mister Roberts would be made into a Tony Award-wining
play, as well as a film starring Henry Fonda. Tragically, Heggen drowned in his bathtub
after an overdose of sleeping pills. He was just 30.
How about a quick snack to fuel our graving strolls today? Maybe a croissant or a cookie
courtesy of the Pillsbury Family. Charles A. Pillsbury was the co-founder and namesake
of the C. A. Pillsbury Company, founded in 1869. It would grow to become one of the world’s
largest producers of grain and other foodstuffs. Charles co-founded the company with his uncle,
John Pillsbury, who also served as Minnesota’s eighth governor.
If the Pillsbury Dough Boy didn’t satiate your hunger, maybe the Mars Family can help
fill the void. Franklin Mars founded the Mars Candy Factory in 1911, and later Mars, Inc.
They focused on the manufacture and sale of candy, notably, chocolate candy bars. In 1924
they introduced a product conceived by Frank’s son, Forrest Mars, inspired by the milkshakes
so popular in the era: the Milky Way candy bar. It would become a best-selling treat
worldwide. Mars would go on to develop other favorites that ended up in your trick-or-treat
sack, like Sinkers, and M&Ms, which stands for Mars & Murrie… Bruce Murrie being the
guy who helped develop the candy coating that ensured they melted in your mouth, not in
your hand. To date, Mars is the largest candy company in the world.
With our bellies filled with sweets, let’s move back into the entertainment world, visiting
Karl Mueller. He was a musician, the bass player and founding member of the Minneapolis
rock band, Soul Asylum. They formed in the 80s, and had a Grammy-winning hit in the 1993
song, “Runaway Train.” A longtime smoker, Karl was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, passing
away a year later at just 41. Our next Minnesota stop is Roselawn Cemetery.
Here we explore Minnesota’s hockey legacy, at the grave of Herb Brooks. He was a hockey
player and coach, whose greatest legacy came in the form of what would be known as the
“Miracle on Ice.” In 1980 he was head coach of the US Olympic Hockey team. The US
was up against the heavily favored, gold-medal-defending Soviet Union team. The underdog Americans
pulled out a miraculous 4-3 victory. This victory led them to a gold two days later
against Finland. The victory became one of the most iconic moments in US sports.
And of course, inspired a movie. Brooks died in a car accident shortly after turning 66. He was posthumously inducted into the
Hockey Hall of Fame. Also here at Roselawn we find Mitch Hedberg.
He was a popular stand-up comedian, known for deadpan delivery and short, sometimes
one-line jokes. He would also make several appearances on screen, in shows like That
70s Show, and movies like Almost Famous. On March 30, 2005, Mitch was found dead in his
New Jersey hotel room from an accidental drug overdose. He was 37. His death was announced April 1,
leading some to initially believe believe it was an April Fools’ Joke. Tragically, it was not. This is Gethsemane Cemetery. Let’s head
into the Chapel Mausoleum. High on the wall is the crypt of Mr. Perfect, Curtis Hennig.
He was a professional wrestler, wrestling for the AWA in the 80s. In 1987 he won the
AWA World Heavyweight Championship. He would then move to the WWF. be regarded as one of the best competitors
Pro Wrestling ever produced. In 2003 Hennig died from a cocaine overdose in his Florida
hotel room. He was 44. Mr. Perfect was posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall
of Fame. Fort Snelling is a National Cemetery here
in Minnesota, where heroes rest. Among them, a hero named Thomas Burnett. Tom was aboard
Flight 93 on the morning of September 11, 2001, when it was hijacked by terrorists.
He called his wife and she told him of the attacks on the World Trade Center. He and
the other passengers realized it was a suicide mission and the terrorists intended to crash
their plane into a high-profile target as well, likely the White House or Capitol Building.
Tom and several other passengers knew they couldn’t just sit quietly and formulated
a plan to take back the plane. He ended his call with his wife telling her, “Don’t
worry, we’re going to do something.” And they did, heroically storming the cockpit,
preventing the plane from reaching its target, but in doing so lost their lives when the
hijackers crashed the plane into a Pennsylvania field. Tom was 38. His and the others’ courageous
actions will be remembered forever. Earlier we visited the creator of Dungeons
& Dragons. Here is one if its artists, David Sutherland. David was one of the original
illustrators for Dungeons & Dragons. His notable work includes the cover of the original Dungeons
Masters Guide, as well as drawing the popular isometric maps, like that of Castle Ravenloft.
But now, it’s time for David to map heaven. He died from liver failure at age 56.
This is the Minneapolis Jewish Cemetery. Here we find Dear Abby herself, Pauline Phillips.
She was an advice columnist who began the well-known newspaper column, “Dear Abby”
in 1956. It became the most widely syndicated newspaper column in the world, with over 100
million readers. It was well-known for sound, compassionate advice, delivered with the straightforward
and sometimes comedic style of a good friend. Pauline wrote the column alone until 1987
when her daughter joined her. After an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in the early 2000s, her daughter
took over the role of Dear Abby entirely. Pauline lived to be 94.
Adath Yeshurun Cemetery is in Edina. Here we find a composer named Bebe Barron. She
was a pioneer of electronic music, building and designing instruments with her husband,
Louis, to manipulate electronically generated soundwaves and recording them to tape… among
the first to do so. Their innovative sound and techniques caught the ears of producers
of the landmark 1956 film, Forbidden Planet. They were hired to compose the score for the
film, which was the first entirely electronic film score. Eerie and sinister, it was unlike
anything audiences had ever heard before. It was so unusual, the musician’s union
wouldn’t even allow it to be called music, but rather, “electric tonalities.” It’s
now what we think of as the sound of sci-fi. Bebe lived to be 82.
We’re now at St John the Baptist Parish Cemetery. This is where 60s teen idol Bobby
Vee is laid to rest. He was a popular singer, who had some 38 Hot-100 hits, six of which
were Gold singles, like “Take Good Care of My Baby.” Vee would often appear as himself
in film and television, like 1962’s Play it Cool. Vee was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
later in life, passing away at age 73. Rolling right along we reach Greenwood Cemetery.
In these grounds rests author Sinclair Lewis. As his stone indicates, he was the author
of “Main Street.” The satirical novel was written in 1920 and became immensely popular.
Other notable works include the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Arrowsmith. A few years later Sinclair
would become the first American author to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
You can see his work on screen as well, like the Oscar-winning 1960 film, Elmer Gantry.
Lewis died while in Rome from advanced alcoholism, at the age of 65.
One of the biggest names to come out of Minnesota, for a time, didn’t go by a name at all,
just this symbol. We’re at Paisley Park just outside Minneapolis, the creative home
of Prince Rogers Nelson – Prince. The talented singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist
pioneered the Minneapolis sound, incorporating a number of styles, from funk and R&B, to
rock, pop, and jazz. He’s considered one of the most talented and versatile musicians
of his generation. He rose to prominence in the 80s with hits like “When Doves Cry,”
and “1999.” His sixth album, Purple Rain, would also serve as the soundtrack to his
1984 film of the same name. He won an Oscar for Purple Rain. Prince would go on to become
one of the best-selling artists of all time. In 2016 doctors were called in to help Prince
overcome opioid addition. Tragically, though, help would not come soon enough. Prince died
from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, at just 57. He was cremated, his ashes placed
in a custom 3D-printed urn, made to resemble Paisley Park. The urn was on display for a
time here at Paisley Park, but has since been removed from public display and placed in
the vault. Paisley Park itself now stands as a monument to Prince’s legacy.
This is Dassel Community Cemetery. This unique monument belongs to Magnus Johnson. You could
probably guess from the mini capitol dome that Johnson was a politician, who served
in both the House and the Senate. He’s the only Swedish-born person to serve in the US
Senate. Here too is his son, Francis. His curious claim to fame is as the creator of
the world’s largest ball of twine rolled by a single individual. For reasons unknown,
Francis wrapped twine for hours a day from 1950 to 1979, until it measured some twelve
feet in diameter and weighed around 17,000 pounds. Weird Al even referenced it in his
song, “The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota.” This Calvary Cemetery is located in Rochester
Minnesota. Here lies Moonlight Graham. In 1905 he played just a single game in the Major
Leagues with the New York Giants, as a right fielder. He never got a chance at bat. He
then played in the minor leagues before becoming a doctor. Graham would be one of the characters
in the book, Shoeless Joe, which was later made into the film, Field of Dreams. Dr. Archibald
“Moonlight” Graham was portrayed by Burt Lancaster in his final film role, and by Frank
Whaley as young Archie. The real Doc Graham lived to be 88.
Time to say goodbye to Minnesota, and hello to their neighbors to the south, in Iowa.
Resurrection Cemetery in Dubuque is our first Iowa stop. In these grounds rests Don Ameche.
The beloved actor and comedian began his career on Vaudeville, before becoming a major star
on radio in the 30s. Hollywood would come calling, making him a romantic lead in films
like Hollywood Cavalcade, and Down Argentine Way. He enjoyed something of a second career
in the 80s, as the villain in Trading Places, and as Art in Cocoon, a role which earned
him an Oscar. Don died from cancer at age 85. After his death he was cremated, his ashes
reportedly buried somewhere here in the family plot of his wife, Honore Prendergast… though
the exact location remains something of a mystery, and there is no marker for him.
Moving into the Des Moines area, we reach Highland Memorial Gardens. Here is a musician
named Paul Gray. He was the bassist, background vocalist, and songwriter for the heavy metal
band Slipknot. He was known as the Pig, or #2. He was a founding member of Slipknot,
which formed in 1995, and rose to prominence after the release of their debut album in
1999. Their hits include “Wait and Bleed,” and “Psychosocial.” On May 24, 2010, Gray
was found dead in his Iowa hotel room from an overdose of morphine and fentanyl. He was
38. Let’s wrap up our time here at Highland
enjoying a little music from the bell tower. This is Riverside Cemetery, the burial site
of Grant Wood. Wood was one of America’s great painters, known
for his work depicting the American Midwest. He’s particularly well-known for his 1930
painting, American Gothic. It remains one of the most familiar images of 20th Century
art. Grant Wood was just 50 when he died from pancreatic cancer. He’s buried here alongside
his sister, Nan, who was the model for the farmer’s daughter in American Gothic.
At Oak Hill Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, we find the other model for American Gothic. This
is Byron H. McKeeby. He was the dentist and family friend of Grant Wood, and was the model
for the farmer in American Gothic. A quiet, unassuming country dentist, with one of the
most famous faces in the world. Our last Iowa stop is Mount Calvary Cemetery
in Cedar Rapids. Here lies Fran Allison. She was immensely popular with children for decades,
as the human performer in a show of puppets, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, which ran from 1947
to 1957… something of a predecessor of shows like Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers. The show
was mostly ad-libbed, Fran interacting with the puppet characters in whimsical ways. Fran
would earn an Emmy nomination for Most Outstanding Personality. She lived to be 81.
We’ve reached Missouri. At Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kearney, we find a man indelibly
embedded in American folklore. Here lies Jesse James. He was an American frontier outlaw,
active in the 1860s and 70s. During this time, he formed the James-Younger Gang, known for
robbing trains, banks, and stagecoaches across the Midwest. After a disastrous attempt to
rob a bank in Minnesota that left many of the gang dead, Jesse James returned to Missouri
to live quietly under an assumed name. But there was a bounty on his head, one cashed
in by a new recruit to the gang. Bob Ford shot him in the back of the head. Dead at
34, Jesse James went from minor celebrity to Wild West legend. He was originally buried
on the property of his home, before being exhumed and moved here to Mount Olivet. James
was portrayed by Brad Pitt in the movie, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward
Robert Ford. Connecting history through the world’s graveyards,
we travel to Richmond Cemetery, and find the man who shot Jesse James, Bob Ford. He was
an eager new recruit, joining the gang around the time when Jesse was considering giving
up the life of crime. But the $10,000 bounty, along with the promise of a full pardon for
past crimes, was too much for Bob to resist. On April 3, 1882, he shot Jesse James in his
own home while his back was turned, while famously dusting a picture on the wall. Bob
Ford and his brother claimed the reward and turned themselves in, but were dismayed when
charges were brought against them. They were sentenced to death by hanging for murder,
but were pardoned by the Governor. 10 years later a man named Edward O’Kelley entered
the saloon that Bob Ford owned, pulled out a shotgun, and killed him. Bob was 30.
Next up is Forest Hill Cemetery in Kansas City. Here lies Buck O’Neil. He played baseball
in the Negro American League, between 1937 and 1955, mainly for the Kansas City Monarchs
as a first baseman. After retiring from playing, he would become a scout for the Chicago Cubs,
and then in 1962, the first black man to coach in Major League Baseball, also for the Cubs.
Buck was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022. He lived to be 94.
Another baseball legend is here at Forest Hill: Satchel Page. He was a pitcher in the
Negro Leagues, beginning in the 20s. He’d become one of the greatest players in the
Negro Leagues. In 1948, at age 42, he made his debut for the Cleveland Indians, making
him not only the first black pitcher in the American League, but the oldest player to
ever debut in the Major Leagues. He played his last Major League game in 1966, at the
age of 59… also a record that stands. Paige died after a heart attack at age 75.
Let’s move on to Missouri’s music legacy. Lincoln Cemetery is in Independence. Here
lies the legendary Charlie “Bird” Parker. He was a jazz saxophonist, band leader, and
composer. Parker was virtuosic as a soloist, and a pioneer of the bebop style -- one of
the most influential figures in modern jazz. His innovations expanded the harmonic language
of jazz, a style perhaps best exemplified in his track, “Ko-Ko.” Drug addiction
and mental health problems took their toll on Bird’s health and career. He died March
12, 1955 at the Stanhope Hotel in New York, from lobar pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer,
and had also suffered a heart attack. He was 34. Charlie Bird Parker was portrayed by Forrest
Whitaker in the 1988 film, Bird. This mausoleum is found at Mount Moriah Cemetery.
Here we find the niche of Ralph Barton. Before there was Al Hirschfeld, there was Ralph Barton,
the first Hollywood caricaturist. He became well known for his cartoons and caricatures
of celebrities and movie stars in the 1920s. Among his most famous is this 1922 caricature
from Vanity Fair, featuring many of the giants of Hollywood’s nascent years. How many can
you identify from our previous videos? Let’s see, there’s Douglas Fairbanks, Marry Pickford,
Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Will Rogers, Bebe Daniels, Bill Hart, Wallace Reid, Gloria
Swanson, Nazimova, Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, Fatty Arbuckle, Rex Ingram, Alice
Terry, and Cecil B. DeMille… among others. Barton’s work was much in demand and became
synonymous with the Jazz Age. But at the onset of the Great Depression his career waned,
and so did his self-esteem and sanity. Barton shot himself in the head at age 39.
Let’s take a ride now to Peach Valley Cemetery in Anderson. Here lies actor Dabbs Greer.
He’s perhaps best remembered for his role as Reverend Alden in Little House on the Prairie,
and Jonas on Gunsmoke. And his film roles include as Old Paul in The Green Mile, and
Wilbur in Little Giants. Every character actor, in their own little sphere, is the lead.
This is Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery. Earlier we visited Jesse James… well here
is the “Younger” of the James-Younger Gang, Cole Younger. Cole was the eldest of
the Younger brother who joined the James gang, bouncing state to state robbing banks and
trains. After the robbery in Minnesota that went awry, the Youngers and James’s separated.
Cole, and brothers Jim and Bob were eventually caught and imprisoned, then paroled in 1901.
Cole lived out the rest of his life in relative normalcy, passing away at 72, while Jim, buried
nearby, committed suicide a year after being paroled.
This is Bellerive Memorial Gardens in the St. Louis area. Here is the grave of Stan
Musial. He was a professional baseball player for 22 seasons, playing outfield and first
base for the St. Louis Cardinals between 1941 and 1963. He’s regarded as one of the greatest
left-handed hitters in the history of the game. He would win three World Series with
the Cardinals, as well as being a 24x All-Star, and 3x MVP. After playing, Musial would serve
as general manager for the Cardinals, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
in 1969. He lived to be 92. There’s an Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Cemetery here in Missouri, in Lancaster. This is where William Preston Hall is laid to rest.
He was a 19th and early 20th Century animal broker and circus impresario. He would be
known as “The Colonel,” “Diamond Billy,” and “The Horse King of the World.” This
latter moniker came as he was heavily involved in the horse and mule trade. It was on an
overseas business trip in this regard that he developed an interest in circuses, and
expanded his trade to include more exotic animals like elephants and camels, which he
would broker for circuses. He even travelled briefly with his own show, the Great W.P.
Hall Show. He died from cancer at age 68. Hazelwood Cemetery in Springfield is our last
Missouri stop. Here lies Payne Stewart, a professional golfer who won 11 PGA Tour events,
including three major championships. He won his first major title in 1989, and would be
a popular fixture with golf enthusiasts. But his tragic and untimely death at the age of
42 would be one of the most unusual accidents in aviation history. On October 25, 1999 he
was aboard a Learjet from Orlando, bound for Dallas. Shortly after takeoff the plane went
silent… controllers unable to contact or get a response from the crew. A fighter pilot
in the area was sent to intercept the plane. He made visual contact of the plane flying
normally, but still unable to make contact. Hours later a second fighter plane was directed
to intercept. He too spotted the plane flying normally, unable to see into the cockpit because
the windows were frosted over, and there was still no reaction at all from the plane, flying
eerily quiet, almost like a ghost through the air. It never turned toward its intended
destination of Dallas, but continued northwest in a straight line. Nearly 4 hours after takeoff,
the plane suddenly and rapidly began to descend, spinning out of control, and crashing
in South Dakota. Investigators determined that what had happened was shortly
after takeoff cabin pressure was lost and all aboard were incapacitated by the lack
of oxygen. With auto-pilot engaged, the airplane continued to fly on its own until it simply
ran out of gas. After his death, Payne Stewart was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Where should we head next, Hugh Jackman? Oklahoma. Let’s begin by visiting “Oklahoma’s
Favorite Son.” We’re at the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore to find the grave of its
namesake, Will Rogers. The skills Will Rogers developed as a youth in rural Oklahoma, such
as riding and roping, would be brought to the Vaudeville stage in the early 1900s in
wild west shows. By 1917 he joined the Ziegfeld Follies, where he not only exhibited his skills
as a cowboy, but began also making humorous observations about life. He would soon become
as well-known as a humorist as he was a performer, his earthy anecdotes and folksy style allowing
him to address otherwise controversial issues. By the 20s and 30s he was one of the most
famous and popular entertainers in America. He would star in a number of films in this
era – silents like “The Ropin; Fool,” and talkies like “Life Begins at 40.”
Before his death, Rogers once said, “When I die, my epitaph, or whatever you call those
signs on gravestones, is going to read: ‘I joked about every prominent man of my time,
but I never met a man I didn’t like.’ I am so proud of that, I can hardly wait to
die so it can be carved.” He didn’t have to wait long. In August 1935 he was flying
with famed aviator Wiley Post in Alaska. On takeoff, the engine failed at low altitude
and the aircraft plunged into the lagoon, killing both Rogers and Post. Will Rogers
was 55. He was temporarily entombed at Forest Lawn Glendale, before finally being laid to
rest here. In our previous visit to Oklahoma in our first
Viewers series we visited the grave of Roy Clark at Memorial Park Cemetery here in Tulsa.
At the time his grave was unmarked. Since that time, this beautiful marker has been
placed. Roy was a musician and actor, known and loved by generations of country fans as
the co-host of the sketch comedy show, Hee-Haw, beginning in 1969, for over 300 episodes.
“Welcome to Hee Haw, staring Buck Owens and Roy Clark.”
He’d make guest appearances on shows like The Beverly Hillbillies, and in 1987 joined
the Grand Ole Opry. Roy was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009, and
lived to 85. Another legendary country musician rests here,
Bob Wills. He’s considered by many as one of the founders of Western swing music, “The
King of Western Swing.” He rose to prominence in the 30s, putting out a number of chart-topping
hits in the years to follow, like “Sugar Moon.” Bob Wills died from pneumonia at
age 70. This is Hillcrest Memory Gardens in Spencer.
Here lies Charles Hall. He was a United States Army Air Corp Aviator during WWII. A member
of the famed Tuskegee Airman, in January 1943, he was one of the first black pilots assigned
to combat duty with the 99th Pursuit Squadron in North Africa. During a mission in the Mediterranean
theater in July 1943, Lieutenant Hall earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for shooting
down a German fighter. In doing so, he became the first African American pilot to earn official
credit for shooting down an enemy plane in the Second World War. Hall was just 51 when
he died. Welcome to Pawhuska, gateway to the tallgrass
prairie. Pawhuska City Cemetery is where Ben Johnson is laid to rest. He was a world-champion
rodeo cowboy, stuntman, and actor. His rodeo experience brought authenticity to his roles
on screen in Westerns. His role as Sam the Lion in 1971’s The Last Picture Show would
earn him the Oscar for best supporting actor, and a Golden Globe and BAFTA as well. In 1982
Ben was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame. He died from a heart attack
at age 77. We’re at Rose Hill Burial Park now. In the
wall of crypts we find Glen A. Larson. He was a television producer, known for creating
numerous popular shows, like Battlestar Galactica, Magnum, PI, Knight Rider, and more. He would
also compose the theme music for many of the shows he created. Glen died from cancer at
age 77. Next up is Greenhill Cemetery. This lovely
view brings us to the grave of actor James Noble. He’s perhaps best remembered for
his role as Governor Gatling on the 70s and 80s series, Benson. And his film roles include
as Rev. Witherspoon in 1776, and Father O’Flanagan in Airplane II. James lived to be 94.
Our journey through America’s Heartland brings us now to Dougherty Cemetery, and the
grave of Kay Starr. She was a pop and jazz singer who enjoyed considerable popularity
in the 40s and 50s. Kay would have a number of chart-topping gold singles, like “Wheel
of Fortune” in 1952. She would play herself in a couple films, including When You’re
Smiling in 1950. Kay died from complications of Alzheimer’s at age 94.
We’ve arrived at Sunset Memorial Park in Norman. Here lies Michael Dunn: actor, singer,
prodigy, and bona fide genius. Despite standing just 3’10” tall, Dunn made a big impact
on screen. He played Dr. Loveless in The Wild Wild West, and had a memorable turn on Star
Trek. On film Michael was nominated for an Oscar for his role in 1965’s Ship of Fools,
making him the first actor with dwarfism to be nominated for an Academy Award.
This is a Ship of Fools. I’m a fool, and you’ll meet more fools as we go along. This
tub is packed with them.” Michael was also nominated for a Tony Award
for his role in the play, "Ballad of a Sad Café." He was just 38 when he died in his
sleep. Park Grove Cemetery is our next Oklahoma stop.
Here we find the grave of Ralph Blane. He was a composer, noted for co-composing music
and songs for the movie, Meet Me in St. Louis. These songs include “The Trolley Song,”
and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Blane was inducted into the Songwriters Hall
of Fame in 1983, and lived to be 81. Moving right along to Sunny Lane Cemetery.
This is the niche of singer Rickey Smith. You fans of American Idol will remember him
as a finalist in season 2 of the popular singing competition. He was a fan favorite and ultimately
finished in 8th place. Tragically, Smith was killed in a multi-car wrong-way crash on an
Oklahoma highway in 2016. He was just 36. This walk down Memory Lane takes us to a cemetery
called Memory Lane. Here lies Tim Holt. He was a popular Western star in the 40s and
50s. Perhaps destined to be so, as he was the son of Western mega-star, Jack Holt. Tim’s
best-known films include The Magnificent Ambersons, and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Tim
Holt was just 54 when he died from cancer. Years later the Golden Boot Awards honored
Holt for his lifetime contributions to western cinema.
Grave Creek Cemetery is in Hitchita. Here lies a beloved Native American actor named
Will Sampson. He was from the Creek Nation in Oklahoma. As an actor he played Ten Bears
in The Outlaw Josey Wales, and Taylor in Poltergeist II, but he is perhaps best remembered for
his role as Chief Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
“Can you hear me too?” “You bet.”
“I’ll be god-damned, Chief. They all… they all think you’re deaf and dumb.”
Will was also well-known as a painter. He suffered from scleroderma, which affected
his heart and lungs. In 1987 he underwent a heart and lung transplant, but died from
post-operative kidney failure. He was 53. The structure here on his grave is a traditional
Native American spirit house. These are built over the grave to serve as a home for the
spirit of the deceased. Our last Oklahoma stop takes us to Highland
Cemetery in Okemah. Here lies the legendary Woody Guthrie. He’s considered one of America’s
greatest folk singers. Over his career he wrote hundreds of country, folk, and children’s
songs, as well as ballads. In 1940 he wrote his best-known song, “This Land is Your
Land,” which he wrote in response to “God Bless America.”
Many of his songs had a political slant, strongly opposing fascism, and inspiring future musicians
like Bob Dylan. Woody Guthrie died from complications of Huntington’s Disease at the age of 55.
His epitaph “Bound for Glory” is the title of his partially fictionalized autobiography,
later made into a movie starring David Carradine as Woody.
Let’s cross the border north now into Kansas. Our strolls through the great plains brings
us to cemeteries like Waldron Cemetery, where rests Tammy Faye Bakker. She rose to prominence
as a televangelist with her husband, Jim Bakker, in programs like The 700 Club and The PTL
Club. Tammy Faye became well-known for her glamorous and eccentric personality, heavy
eye makeup, and for being perhaps the only mainstream televangelist to support LGBT rights
and reaching out to AIDS patients. Jim and Tammy gained additional notoriety after Jim
was imprisoned for fraud and conspiracy in 1989, resulting in the dissolution of their
program. Tammy Faye would go on to appear in other TV programs, like Roseanne, and as
a panelist on Hollywood Squares. She died from cancer at the age of 65. Jessica Chastain
just won an Oscar for her portrayal of Tammy Faye in the 2021 film, The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
This is Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence, Kansas. You fans of basketball know the name
Dr. James Naismith. He was a Canadian-born physical educator and sports coach, known
as the man who invented basketball. In 1891 he designed the game of basketball while teaching
at a YMCA training school, seeking a vigorous indoor activity for his students on a rainy
day. The following year he wrote and published the original basketball rule book. He later
became an athletic director at the University of Kansas, where he founded the University
of Kansas basketball program. The Basketball Hall of Fame is named in his honor, in which
he himself was inducted in 1959. Naismith died after a brain hemorrhage at age 78.
We’ve arrived now in Grenola, and Green Lawn Cemetery, where rests Eugene Pallette.
The prolific character actor of Hollywood’s Golden Age parlayed his rotund physique and
distinctive frog voice into memorable roles like Friar Tuck in The Adventures of Robin
Hood, and Alexander in My Man Godfrey. He died from throat cancer at age 65. He was
cremated, his ashes interred here with his parents.
Next up is Oak Hill Cemetery. Meet George Walker. He was an actor and performer in the
late 19th, early 20th centuries. He’s best remembered for teaming up with Bert Williams,
the duo becoming one of the most popular performing teams of the Vaudeville stage. In 1903 they
would produce and star in the very first Broadway musical both written by and performed by black
artists, titled In Dahomey: A Negro Musical Comedy. It was not only a popular success,
but marked a significant shift in the representation of blacks in the theatre in that era. Walker
and Williams would also form The Williams and Walker Company, an agency to support African-American
artists. George Walker died from syphilis at just 39.
Evergreen Cemetery is in Fort Scott. This is where Gordon Parks is laid to rest. He
began his career as a prominent photojournalist in the 40s through the 70s, depicting the
marginal existences of African-Americans. He’s then turn to filmmaking, becoming the
first African-American to write, produce, and direct a film for one of Hollywood’s
major studios. The film was 1969’s The Learning Tree. He would follow this up directing the
1971 hit, Shaft. In addition to all this, he was a writer, painter, and composer. The
multi-talented Gordon Parks received the National Medal of Arts in 1988, and lived to be 93.
We’re in Topeka now, and Topeka Cemetery. Here we find Hal Foster. He was a comic strip
artist and writer, known for creating and producing the comic strip Prince Valiant,
a fantasy adventure set in medieval times. It debuted in 1937, and continues to this
day under other artists. Foster was known for the incredible detail and precision of
his artwork. He lived to be 89. Our travels take us now to Caldwell Cemetery,
where rests Max Showalter. One of his more notable film roles is alongside Marilyn Monroe
and Jean Peters in Niagara. And on the Broadway stage he played Horace in over 3,000 performances
of Hello Dolly! Max was also a familiar face on television, making guest appearances on
just about every major show of that era, like Perry Mason, Hazel, and of course my favorite,
The Twilight Zone. He died from cancer at age 83.
This Highland Cemetery is in Wichita. Here we find Sidney Toler. As an actor he’s best-remembered
for his recurring role as Chinese-American detective, Charlie Chan, in 22 films between
1938 and 1946. The character of Charlie Chan originated in books, and was conceived in
an effort to portray Asians in a more positive light, as an intelligent protagonists and
hero, rather than the stereotypical villain. And while it may have been a step in that
direction, the legacy of the Charlie Chan character on screen is still a mixed one,
as he was often portrayed on screen by white actors, like Sidney Toler. He died from cancer
at age 72. Moving into Independence, we reach Mount Hope
Cemetery. In these grounds Is a noted playwright by the name of William Inge. In the 50s he
had a string of Broadway hits, including Come Back, Little Sheba, and Picnic, which earned
him the Pulitzer Prize. With his depictions of small-town life, he became known as the
Playwright of the Midwest. He would take his skills to the big screen as well, winning
an Oscar for writing 1961’s Splendor in the Grass. Several of his plays would be adapted
as films as well, like Marylin Monroe’s Bus Stop, as well as Picnic. Inge died of
suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at the age of 60.
Our last Kansas stop is Elmwood Cemetery in Coffeyville. Here we find another one for
you old west outlaw enthusiasts -- this is the graves of the notorious Dalton Gang. Brothers
Bob and Grat Dalton began their lives in law enforcement before turning to a life of crime.
Bob was the de-facto leader of the gang, who would rob banks and trains from California
to Oklahoma. Bob was ambitious, and wanted to outdo Jesse James, by robbing to banks
in one day in broad daylight. They attempted this feat on October 5, 1892. The gang split
up to rob two banks across the street from one another simultaneously. As they attempted
to make their escape after the robbery, Bob and Grat Dalton, and Bill Power were shot
and killed. The three were buried here, and for a time their grave was marked only by
this pole, which was the hitching pole they had used to tie up their horses on the day
of the robbery. Years later, surviving brother and fellow Dalton Gang member, Emmett, placed
this stone. Next up is Nebraska. We begin our time here
in Hyannis, in a tiny cemetery in rural Nebraska, and the grave of Chuck Hayward. He was one
of Hollywood’s great stuntmen, known particularly for his work in Westerns, doubling for most
of the great Western stars of the 50s to the 80s. He’s particularly known for his association
with John Wayne, doubling and doing stunts in some two dozen of Wayne’s films. For
his stunts with horses, he rode a falling horse called Twinkle Toes, which you can see
here on his marker. Chuck would soon find himself acting in small roles as well, on
shows like Gunsmoke, and movies like The Big Country. He died from Hodgkin’s Disease
at age 78. Moving into the capital of Nebraska, Lincoln,
we reach Wyuka Cemetery. In these grounds we find Gordon MacRae. He’s best remembered
for his starring roles in musical films of the 50s, perhaps most notably, in Oklahoma,
and Carousel. He’s also remembered for starring alongside Doris Day in On Moonlight Bay, and
By the Light of the Silvery Moon. He would take his singing skills to many of the variety
shows of the era as well, like The Ed Sullivan Show. He died from pneumonia complications
of cancer at age 64. The music inscribed here on his stone is the song “Oh, What a Beautiful
Mornin,” which he sang in Oklahoma. “Oh what a beautiful mornin’”
Our next Lincoln stop is Lincoln Memorial. Let’s head into the mausoleum. Here is the
niche of actress Sandy Dennis. Her best-known role is that of Honey in the 1966 film, Who’s
Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The role would earn her an Oscar for best supporting actress.
Other notable roles include The Out of Towners alongside Jack Lemmon. She also had a notable
career on stage, twice winning a Tony, for the plays A Thousand Clowns, and Any Wednesday.
Sandy died from ovarian cancer at just 54. Back out to the grounds, we find the grave
of Brandon Teena. Born a female as Teena Brandon, he began identifying as male in his teens,
reversing his name to Brandon Teena. When two acquaintances learned Teena’s biological
sex was female, this infuriated them, and they forced him to disrobe to reveal the fact
to attendees of a Christmas Eve party. Later they kidnapped Brandon and gang raped him.
Brandon reported this to police, but no charges were brought against the men, Brandon being
treated more as a suspect rather than victim. Incensed that the crime was reported to police,
the two men sought out Brandon again, shooting and stabbing him to death. He was 21. His
life and death were dramatized in the feature film, Boys Don’t Cry, in which Hilary Swank
gave an Oscar-winning performance for her portrayal of Brandon Teena. His murder, along
with that of Matthew Shepard years later, led to increased lobbying for hate crime laws
in the United States. Our last state of the day is South Dakota.
Mount Moriah Cemetery is in Deadwood. Here are legends of American folklore, like Wild
Bill Hickock. Wild Bill garnered much notoriety in his time, as a frontier soldier, Union
scout, lawman, gambler, and showman. He was also involved in several notable shootouts
throughout his life, his skills as a marksman making him a frontier legend. He also toured
briefly with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, but he was not particularly fond of performing
for crowds. In 1873, Wild Bill was playing poker here in Deadwood. A man Bill had beaten
in poker the day before entered the saloon, and shot him point blank in the head. Wild
Bill died instantly at age 39. The poker hand he was playing showed two black 8s, and two
black Aces, which has since become known as “dead man’s hand,” as alluded to in
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Wild Bill has been portrayed on screen many times, including
by Jeff Bridges in 1995’s Wild Bill. Resting next to Wild Bill is another legend
of the old west, Calamity Jane. Wild Bill and Calamity Jane were closely associated
as frontier legends and acquaintances. She too was a scout and renowned markswoman, known
for being a rowdy adventurer, holding her own alongside the rugged boys, spitting tobacco
and chugging beer. She even began the habit of dressing like man after donning a uniform
as a scout. But this rough and rugged adventurer also had a soft side, loved by those in Deadwood
for her role in nursing people back to health during a smallpox epidemic. Having the reputation
of being able to ride and shoot better than most men, later in life she took her skills
on the road in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, performing sharp-shooting astride her
horse, bringing the rip-roarin’ west to life for audiences across the country. As
her health waned from alcoholism, she expressed a desire to, upon her death, be buried next
to her friend Wild Bill, whose grave she occasionally visited. She was actually 51 when she died
in 1903. Calamity Jane was portrayed by Doris Day in the 1953 film, Calamity Jane, among
numerous other media incarnations. Our final stop on our journey through America’s
Heartland is in De Smet South Dakota. This city is famous for its association with a
little house on the prairie. In De Smet Cemetery we find the graves of the Ingalls Family.
Charles and Caroline Ingalls were the parents of Laura Ingalls Wilder, who documented her
adolescence in the American Midwest in the late 1800s in a series of children’s books,
The Little House on the Prairie books. The first book was published in 1932. As documented
in these books, the Ingalls family moved about quite a lot in those early years, from their
original family home in Wisconsin, to Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and eventually settling down
here in De Smet. Here Charles operated a general good store, held various elected positions,
including justice of the peace, and helped build the first congressional church of De
Smet. Charles, his wife Caroline, and daughters Mary, Carrie, and Grace are all buried here
in De Smet. Laura, who wrote the “Little House” books, is buried in Missouri. Charles
Ingalls was famously portrayed by Michael Landon in the beloved “Little House on the
Prairie” TV series and TV movies in the 70s and 80s, and his wife and daughters who
rest here alongside him were also portrayed as characters in the books and shows.
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.
