Hollywood Forever Cemetery

I wish I could afford to purchase a plot in this gorgeous and somewhat kitschy cemetery, but it’s pretty steep. In the Summer they project films on the side of a huge mausoleum and everybody brings picnics and sits on a huge lawn to watch ‘em! We’ve seen everything from “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” to “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” there, and trust me the hipster crowd did not forget to bring their “herbal refreshments”, ha ha!! Everyone is pretty respectful though, and I like to think that the spirits of the famous Hollywood residents buried there get a kick out of seeing the kids come to watch their old films. It’s the only place where you can see movies under the stars…and over them. ;)

I visit at least one cemetary in every place I visit. I love ‘em! I take a lot of photos of the tombstones, and the graveyard itself. Wish I’d had the chance to go to this one when I was in LA.

I hadn’t visited it because I’d heard about problems with the cemetary being upkept. However, this has changed in the last few years, it’s supposed to be in great shape now!

summer movies at the cemetery: best activity in LA hands down.

I went there this summer…..just walking along, checking out various graves (some of which are extremely lavish – giant book sculptures, fountains, steps etc), when a murder of crows descended on me. I am not joking! They weren’t going to rip my hair out or anything, but I ran the hell out of there. And this was in the daytime! That place looks quite surreal with giant palm trees interspersed among the gravestones and mausoleums. Only found one famous grave (it was pretty huge, so it’s bloody easy to get lost) – Mel Blanc. It was smallish, tall, slim, no ornate carvings or markings, but a simple inscription: “That’s All, Folks”, and someone had left a soft toy of Pepe Le Pew against the headstone. Very poignant.

This coincides with one of my 43Things: “watch for the Lady in Black at Rudy Valentino’s Crypt”.