Recently I got a copy of the book “Forever L.A. A Field Guide To Los Angeles Area Cemeteries & Their Residents” by Douglas Keister. The publisher is Gibbs-Smith and retails for $19.99 at your local, or favorite online bookstore and has 156 pages.

The Low Down:

This was the first book I’ve read by the critically acclaimed author and photographer Douglas Keister.  Not being too familiar with Doug’s work besides what I’ve read about him online. I was seriously looking forward to what he had to offer in this book.

In the first half of the book Doug takes the readers on a tour of 12 of the main cemeteries in Los Angeles.  A sampling of those cemeteries include but is not limited to Forest Lawn Glendale,  & Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills,  Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Inglewood Memorial Park, & Westwood Village Memorial Park.

The second half of the book covers architecture found in the cemetery, symbols, secret societies/clubs which have their symbols adorned on grave markers, etc.

While not everyone who was famous in Hollywood is mentioned  most of the key figures are. Were talking you got The Three Stooges, Rudolf Valentino, George Burns & Gracie Allen, and the list goes on.

The nicely detailed colorful photos were one of my favorite things about the book. Add that for pretty much everyone listed in this book GPS coordinates are included.  One of the neat things I thought was nice about this book is that it was small enough to fit in your back pocket, but big enough where the typeset wouldn’t hurt the eyes.

One feature I thought was really classy was the fact that in the back of the book. There is a fold out map which lists the major roads with a caricature which represents the cemeteries in the greater Los Angeles area. Another thing I thought was helpful in the back of the book there was a complete listing of practically all the cemeteries in and around Los Angeles with GPS coördinates, and contact/website info included.

Bottom Line:

This book must be at the top of your list of grave hunting books to buy. Its got everything a grave hunting book should have, and more. Plus it comes HIGHLY recommended by me.