Ep 6: Celebrity Cemetery
Podcast:
Photo Gallery:
Gallery photo essay of Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park by Scott Philbrook. All Rights Reserved. These photos are arranged in an order that follows Marc's report. Most graves are self-explanatory, but some are unmarked. The unmarked graves with the 2 flower pots are Roy Orbison and his wife. The blank spot next to Lew Ayres that Marc is pointing at is Frank Zappa in a fully unmarked grave with no headstone of any kind. The large blank headstone with the hedges and grass is George C. Scott. Not all folks mentioned in the report are featured and we added Jonathan Harris from Lost In Space and of course Jack Klugman!
Background:
Marc D'Andre our Correspondent at Large, is back with one of his special tours of the final resting place of not only Marilyn Monroe, but countless Hollywood icons of film and television. Put your headphones on and be transported to the park with Marc as he tells you a little bit about its residents who are probably all going to be glad to know you still care about them.
Legend:
A large collection of some of the most famous people in the world have been put to rest in this small, unassuming cemetery that is nearly impossible to find if you don't know exactly where it is.
Stories:
Links for this episode, compiled and curated by Marc D'Andre. If you can't click on these, visit our website.
On Natalie Wood
On Bob Crane
On Eddie Albert
Interesting Fact:
While we weren't looking for him, we also stumbled across Jay Sommers at Pierce Brothers. He is buried a short walk from the star of the show he created, based somewhat on an old radio show that he worked on 15 years prior called, "Granby's Green Acres".
On Richard Conte
On Roy Orbison
- Roy performs 'Pretty Woman' not too many years before he passed away at a concert backed by music giants
On Jim Backus
- Jim's last TV appearance, as Mr. Howell, in an Orville Redenbacher commercial with 'Lovey' from Gilligan's Island
- Backus as Mr. Magoo
On Frank Zappa
On Dorothy Stratten
- Dorothy on Carson from 1980
- A people magazine article on Peter Bogdonavich and Dorothy (We linked to both of these in our first show as well)
On Carl Wilson
- Carl performs 'God Only Knows' in a small setting.
On Dominique Dunne
- A People Magazine article on Dominique from 1983
- A Vanity Fair article from 1984 about her dad and the case
On James Coburn
- Bruce Lee training at home with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Coburn.
- James Coburn on The Muppet Show
On Peggy Lee
- Peggy Lee, 'Is That All There Is?'
- Peggy Lee and the Benny Goodman Orchestra, 'Why Don't You Do Right' 1942
- Peggy Lee on the Judy Garland show singing 'I Like Men' in a duet with Judy
On Janet Leigh
On Ray Bradbury
On Carrie Hamilton
On Eric Douglas
On Karl Malden
On Walter Matthau
- The Trailer for 'The Bad News Bears'
- Walter's monologue for Jack Lemmon when Jack received the AFI lifetime achievement award
On George C. Scott
On Merv Griffin
- The Wikipedia page on Merv
- Buy 'The Merv Griffin Show'
- An LA Times article from the Wednesday before this posting (12.10.14)
- Don Rickles and Mr. T on the Merv Griffin Show
On Farrah Fawcett
On Rodney Dangerfield
On Peter Falk
On Carroll O'Connor
On Billy Wilder
On Jack Lemmon
- Roger Ebert interviews Jack Lemmon
- What role Walter Matthau really wanted to play
- A great scene from, 'Grumpy Old Men'
On Sage Stallone
On Dean Martin
On Burt Lancaster
On Marilyn Monroe
On Richard Poncher
On Buddy Rich
On Christopher George
On Mel Torme
On Swifty Lazar
On John Cassavettes
On Eva Gabor
On Armand Hammer
On Don Knotts
On Truman Capote
On Heather O'Rourke
- Snopes.com report on the strange deaths surround the 'Poltergeist' movie
- Bio.com on the 'Poltergeist Curse'
On Groucho Marx
Interesting Fact:
People often leave tokens of love and appreciation on gravestones. Sometimes they leave change. Although the origins of this are muddy, some believe that if you leave some change, the deceased will grant you a wish. Others believe in the change as an offering that dates back to being able to pay the toll to be ferried across the River Styx by Charon (Greek Mythology).
Credits:
Episode 006 - 'Celebrity Cemetery' Produced by Scott Philbrook,Forrest Burgess, & Marc D'Andre, Ryan McCullough Sound Design, Scott Philbrook Editing. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2014, All Rights Reserved.
photo sources: all photos by Scott Philbrook for Astonishing Legends.