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.
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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?
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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