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 Green Hills Memorial Park, where we’ll find such stars as Charles
Bukowski, Yokozuna, D. Boon, and many more.
Join us, won’t you?
Our exploration of cemeteries around Los Angeles brings us to the very southern end of LA County,
to the South Bay.
Green Hills Memorial Park is in the San Pedro area, not far from Long Beach.
From these hills you can see the port of Los Angeles off in the distance… and if you
squint real hard, you might just see the Queen Mary docked in the port.
Green Hills was established in 1948 on 120 acres, a partnership between local business
and community members to serve the needs of the South Bay.
As our radius outside Hollywood expands, we won’t find as many stars here as say Westwood
or Hollywood Forever, but there are a number of notable figures here, so let’s go meet
some of them.
Let’s begin our tour following the main road in on the right to Bay View Drive, stopping
just past the archangel statue in the Faith and Hope section.
Here lies silent film cowboy, Bob Custer, whose real name was Raymond Glenn.
He came to Hollywood from Kentucky, and would soon become one of the more popular Western
actors of the 20s, seen in films like The Border Whirlwind, and Santa Fe Rides… around
50 films in all.
But he found difficulty performing in talkies, and his career dwindled thereafter.
By the 40s he retired from acting, and lived to be 76, passing away from a heart attack
in 1974.
Backtracking to the T-intersection and Avalon drive, we find Ocean View section on the right.
Up the hill a ways we find the unmarked grave of Glen Glenn.
During the golden age of film and television, there were few bigger names in sound than
Glen Glenn.
As a sound engineer he would record sound for hundreds of film and television productions,
like I Love Lucy.
In 1937 he formed the Glen Glenn Sound Company, which would work on the soundtracks to an
estimated 20,000 film and television productions over the years, shows like The Andy Griffith
Show and That Girl, and films like The Ape Man.
In 1960, while visiting his home in New Brunswick Canada, Glen and his wife were killed in an
automobile accident, when their car plunged off a dirt road into Newcastle Creek.
He was 52.
Let’s continue up near the top of the hill in this same section.
Just a few rows in from the road is figure skater, Rhode Lee Michelson.
In 1958 she was the US Nationals Ladies Novice Champion, and would go on to place second
in the US Junior Ladies Championship.
In 1961 she was the US Ladies Senior Bronze Medalist, earning her a spot on the US World
Figure Skating Team.
In February 1961 she was aboard flight 548 from New York to Brussels, along with the
rest of the US figure skating team, to compete in the World Figure Skating Championship in
Prague.
Tragically, the plane crashed in Belgium, killing all 72 aboard, including the entire
US figure skating team, which consisted not only of America’s top figure skaters, but
coaches as well.
It was a devastating loss to the figure skating world.
Young Rhode, who had only begun to shine, was just 17.
Further east in this Ocean View section, up the hill from Avalon Drive, is the grave of
Charles Bukowski, a prolific underground author and poet.
The unapologetic, often abrasive Bukowski wrote of the depravity of urban life and of
the downtrodden in American society.
His stories were often somewhat autobiographical, featuring down-and-out writers working odd
jobs, living on the fringes of society.
One such character was named Hank Chinaski, his thinly-veiled alter ego, and the anti-hero
of books like Ham on Rye, and Hollywood.
His novel, Hollywood, fictionalizes his experience writing the screenplay for the film Barfly,
which itself is a fictionalized account of Bukowski’s life in Hollywood in the 60s
to the 80s.
Other of his writings would be made into films, including Factotum.
Throughout his career Bukowski wrote thousands of poems, hundreds of short stories, and six
novels.
He summed up his philosophy on art and life with two simple words here on his gravestone:
“Don’t Try.”
At face value perhaps a strange and uninspiring message to the world from the grave… but
it’s not a message of apathy.
In his own succinct way, what Bukowski was saying was don’t just try, do.
Don’t TRY to be a writer…
BE a writer, without coercion or commercial ambition.
And the boxer between his birth and death dates suggests that life itself is a struggle.
Charles Bukowski died from leukemia at age 73.
Let’s hop back in the car and make our way back around to Bay View drive, toward the
far northeastern corner of the cemetery.
Here we find one for you wrestling fans.
Close to the wall is The Mighty Yokozuna, whose real name was Rodney Anoa’i.
He was a professional wrestler in the 80s and 90s, part of the World Wrestling Federation.
He was of Samoan descent, and adopted the stage persona of Yokozuna, a reference to
the highest ranking of sumo wrestling.
“What do you have to do to The Undertaker to keep him down?”
“Put him in a casket and nail it shut, I guess.”
“Look at this, Yokozuna!”
“Wow, that’s one way to do it!”
“Tremendous impact…”
Yokozuna was a two-time WWF World Heavyweight Champion, two-time Tag Team Champion, and
winner of the 1993 Royal Rumble.
Rodney came from a family dynasty of wrestlers, which includes his cousin, Dwayne “The Rock”
Johnson.
In 2000, while on an independent wrestling tour of Europe, Rodney Anoa’i died from
a pulmonary edema in his Liverpool hotel room.
He was just 34.
The Mighty Yokozuna was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.
From here let’s head now to the middle of the cemetery, to the Cypress Mausoleum.
Let’s head into the Sanctuary of the Cross.
Low on the wall is the niche of Adelle Davis.
She was an author and nutritionist, considered the most famous nutritionist of the mid-20th
Century.
She advocated for improved health through better nutrition, consuming natural foods
and vitamins.
She wrote four best-selling books, “Let’s Cook It Right”, “Let’s Have Healthy
Children”, “Let’s Get Well”, and “Let’s Eat Right To Keep Fit.”
Over 10 million copies of her books have been sold, which not only helped usher in the health
craze in the 60s and 70s, have also helped shape America’s eating habits.
Adelle died from multiple myeloma at the age of 70.
A little farther down is the Cypress section of the mausoleum.
Here is the crypt of Don Terry, an actor known for playing the clean-cut American hero on
screen.
He’s perhaps best remembered as Commander Don Winslow, in Don Winslow of the Navy, and
Don Winslow of the Coast Guard.
Other films include Squadron of Honor.
He didn’t only play war heroes on screen…
Don was also a decorated war hero in real life, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander,
and receiving the Purple Heart.
After the war he retired from acting, and worked for StarKist Tuna.
His wife Katherine was heiress of StarKist.
Katherine and Don would use their wealth for philanthropic causes, donating tens of millions
of dollars to improvements at universities like USC, The California Museum of Science
and Industry, and the California Hospital Medical Center.
Ergo, you’ll see many university and hospital facilities around southern California named
for Katherine and Donald Loker.
Continuing along Hillcrest Drive we reach the Parkview Mausoleum, which bears no small
resemblance to a Tuscan Villa.
Let’s follow this outer terrace around to meet John Bubbles, a great all-around entertainer.
Born John Sublett, John Bubbles was well-known as a tap dancer, actor, and singer of the
Vaudeville stage in the 20s and 30s.
He was half the popular stage duo of Buck and Bubbles, the first Black artists to perform
at the Radio City Music Hall, as well as the first Black artists to perform on television,
in 1936 for the BBC.
Bubbles was an innovator of tap, pioneering what he called “Rhythm Tap.”
As an actor, John Bubbles originated the role of Sportin’ Life in the 1935 premier of
George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.”
He can also be seen in a handful of films, like 1937’s Varsity Show.
And when a young Fred Astaire needed tap dancing lessons, he came to Bubbles, whom he considered
the finest tap dancer of his generation.
Later in life he would entertain troops on USO tours.
John Bubbles died at age 84 from a cerebral hemorrhage, and was later inducted into the
Tap Hall of Fame.
Back the way we came, we proceed now to the upper terrace, to find the grave of Paul Conrad.
He was an artist and cartoonist, best known for his political cartoons.
In a career that spanned some 5 decades he skewered those in power, and defended the
common man in his cartoons.
Known particularly for his work at the Los Angeles Times, his cartoons would be syndicated
nationwide, and commented on social and political issues from poverty, to civil rights, the
Watergate Scandal, and the Vietnam War.
Conrad’s work would earn him three Pulitzer Prizes, and he would continue to produce cartoons
right up until his death at age 86.
While we’re up here let’s go check out the interior of the Parkview Mausoleum.
Moving on now to the northwest corner of the cemetery, to the Pacifica Mausoleum.
Heading into the north court we find the crypt of Charlotte Harris.
She was a cellist, who played with a number of orchestras across the country, but is perhaps
best remembered for her time playing cello as a featured performer on the Lawrence Welk
Show.
She played with Welk for close to two decades, and would also do session music for films
like Around the World in 80 Days.
Later in life she taught cello here in the Palos Verdes area, living to be 89.
The section just north is the Pacifica Addition.
Here we find the niche of actor Lewis Collins.
He’s perhaps best remembered for his tough-guy role of Bodie in the British TV series, The
Professionals, in the 70s and 80s.
And his film roles include Sergeant Godley in Jack the Ripper.
Around this time Lewis Collins auditioned for the role of James Bond, after the retirement
of Roger Moore… but the role went to Timothy Dalton.
Collins also had a military career, as part of the Parachute Regiment.
He died from cancer at age 67.
Let’s head back into the cemetery now, stopping at Starlite section on the right.
Here is another one for you wrestling fans, Louie Spicolli.
He was a professional wrestler in the WWF, as Rad Radford, and later in the ECW and WCW
as Louie Spicolli.
Known for his use of the Death Valley Driver, he was an AWF heavyweight champion, as well
as 2x WWA World Trios Champion, with Bill Anderson and Tim Patterson.
Louie struggled off and on with drug abuse throughout his life.
On February 15, 1998, he overdosed, and choked in his own vomit in his sleep, passing away
at age 27.
He was posthumously inducted into the Southern California Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Back to the T-intersection let’s take a right onto Green Hills drive, and stop at
the Resurrection Slope on the right.
Here rests William Joseph Clarke.
He was one of the great blues harmonica players, known for his use of the amplified harmonica.
William performed in clubs around the Los Angeles area, and released a number of albums,
including the hit, “Must Be Jelly.”
[music] Clarke was just 45 when he died from a bleeding
ulcer, after a performance in Fresno.
Just a hop across the street southwest is the Garden of Reflection.
Here lies Pola Illery, real name Paula Gibson.
The Romanian-born actress is known for her portrayal of Vamps in silent and early talkie
films.
Her career began in Romania and France, starring in films like Under the Roofs of Paris and
Parada Paramount.
At the time she was considered Romania’s most exotic star.
After making Le Tombeau Hindou in 1938 she fled Europe to escape Nazism, and retired
from acting.
During the war she worked as a nurse for the Red Cross.
Pola lived to be 83.
Let’s make our way around the wall to the courtyard to the south.
Here we find Barbara Slater.
Fans of The Three Stooges will recognize her from two films of the era, Three Smart Saps
and Half-Wits Holiday.
“Good evening Miss Lulu.”
“My, but you look charming.”
“Why thank you, boys, you look charming too.”
She also appeared alongside Charlie Chaplin in Monsieur Verdoux, and gave a memorable
performance in the film The Lady Confesses.
She quit acting in 1947 but spent her later years as a theater and dance instructor for
the Pasadena Playhouse.
She lived to be 76.
Barbara was married to actor Robert Foulk.
He had close to 300 credits to his name, including as Mr. Wheeler on Green Acres, and Sheriff
Miller in the Lassie series.
He also made multiple appearances on shows like The Loretta Young Show, and Bonanza.
Robert lived to be 80.
Our next stop brings us to the Churchyard.
Whereas most of Green Hills follows the memorial park style, this little Churchyard here calls
back to the old school churchyards one would see on the east coast or back in England.
Here in the churchyard, we find the grave of Annie Montrose Hagins, who was often credited
as Montrose Hagins.
As an actress she’s perhaps best remembered for her role as Miz Coretta Jackson in the
Famous Jett Jackson series and TV Movie, and as Grandmother Davis in Homefront.
And on film she can be seen as Grandma Jenks in Coming to America, and Bess in Say Anything.
Annie didn’t start acting until she was in her 60s, prior to which she was an elementary
school teacher in Gary, Indiana.
She was also a civil rights activist, and board member of St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Her exact birth year is disputed, but Annie Montrose Hagins lived into her 90s.
Before we move on, let’s take a moment to remember those who served their country and
communities.
For our last stop of the day, we make our way around and north to Lakeview Lawn.
Up the hill a short ways is D Boon.
In 1980 D Boon formed the punk rock band, Minutemen, a pioneering group of alternative
rock.
Boon was singer, songwriter and guitarist for the band.
During their five-year career the Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs.
Among there popular tracks was “This Ain’t No Picnic.”
[music] And if you’re a fan of Jackass, you’ll
recognize their track “Corona” as the main theme of the show and movies.
[music] The band continued until December 22, 1985,
when Boon was killed in a van accident in the Arizona desert.
He was just 27…another tragic entry in the 27 Club.
After the death of D Boon, the Minutemen disbanded.
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!
Remember me with a smile.
May that someday be said of all of us.