Graveside Recap April 1st 2011 Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

02 Saturday Apr 2011

Posted by Josh Perry in Gravecast Recaps

The day began with me awaking from a deep groggy slumber around 8am. After getting the monthly bills paid, and getting the day kicked off to a rocking start. I decided that today would be the perfect day to hit the cemeteries. The weather conditions were optimum for graving purposes. It was cloudy, & in the upper 40s, outstanding conditions for grave hunting. Being that, I usually never go anywhere without a handmade cigar. The first thing I had planned after leaving my humble abode. Was to stop by the cigar shop for some much-needed cigars. After having small talk with one of the guys who works at the cigar shop. It was then time to roll out, so off I went into the abyss.

The goal for the today’s trek was Holy Sepulchre cemetery. Holy Sepulchre is on 10 Mile Rd, west of Telegraph Rd, and east of Inkster Rd, in Southfield, Michigan. This sacred cemetery was founded in 1928 and is maintained by the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.

According to the website Find A Grave which is a treasure trove of grave hunting & cemetery insanity (I say that in a good way). There are twenty-seven notable subjects buried within the confines of the sacred burial grounds of Holy Sepulchre. Among those who are buried in the cemetery include an abundance of individuals who poses stunning arrays of athletic ability, which include professional hockey, baseball, and football players. Not to mention several past owners of the Detroit Tigers baseball franchise. Holy Sepulchre is also the final home to former Michigan Governor Harry F. Kelly who served as Governor from 1943-1946. Along with several state representatives.

Other notables who live in eternal harmonic bliss include Anthony Giacalone. There were two sides to Anthony Giacalone. The first being a loving father, husband, and family man. The second being a notorious Detroit goombah you know mafioso. Giacalone resides in the main mausoleum.

Now that I provided the background to Holy Sepulchre let’s get started with the trek. The day started with me arriving at the cemetery. I stopped into the cemetery office to inquire about a few names. All of which I’ve found before but due to getting a new camera for Christmas I wanted to get some new snapshots of their respective gravesites. After leaving the office and thanking the gentleman who graciously provided the locations I inquired about. I hopped into my vehicle, and made my way towards the main mausoleum. I spent a good hour in the mausoleum, walking the corridors , and marble hallways.

One of the graveside crypts I found in the mausoleum was of professional golfer Walter Hagen. Hagen played the game during the first half of the 20th century. And has a total of 45 PGA tour wins in various tournaments. Moving along another crypt I found in the mausoleum (for the third time) was of Chicago gangster Frank Lake. Much to my surprise after leaving the rackets in the 1930s and depending on who you ask Lake, resided in the affluent neighborhoods of Birmingham, or Bloomfield Township, Michigan. He lived a very comfortable life after moving to southeast Michigan and owned a coal & ice manufacturing company. He lived out his years in relative peaceful obscurity dying in the 1940s from a heart attack.

Continuing on after working my way through the mammoth mausoleum I headed towards the main part of the cemetery where the burials repose in the more traditional way you know six feet under. Being that I was tired beyond recognition from my little rendition of “Walk America”. I was gonna do things quick. I had a few gravesites to find but due to being exhausted from my little walk I just found one gravesite before heading home.

The lone gravesite I found was of Jay Sebring. I’ve been to his gravesite many times over the past few years. Sebring’s claim to fame other than being THE hairstylist to stars such as George Peppard, among others. Was that he had the misfortune of being the unfortunate recipient of Charles Manson and his motley crew of hippie worshiped murderous followers. When I originally found out that Sebring reposed in eternal harmony in suburban Detroit. I was pleasantly surprised that someone with Hollywood ties was buried in the area.

While I was at the graveside of Jay Sebring, I snapped about eight photos, at different angles. One of the photos I snapped at the Sebring graveside included a “Death Hag” bumper sticker. Being that I didn’t want to literally stick the bumper sticker on the gravesite I used small rock I found nearby, and a piece of a branch to hold the sticker down.

So that’s pretty much how the day went. I didn’t find any new gravesites per say. But I paid my respects to some of the people I’ve found during previous treks to Holy Sepulchre. Some of which are my favorite finds in that cemetery.

Grave Hunting Chronicles: Locked Inside a Mausoleum With You By Steve Goldstein

01 Friday Apr 2011

Posted by Josh Perry in Gravecast Chronicles

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Beneath Los Angeles, Hillside Memorial Park, LA's Graveside Companion Where The V.I.P's RIP, Steve Goldstein

To make things a little more entertaining on Graveside Stroll. I’ve decided to offer some grave hunting friends the opportunity to share some of their favorite grave hunting stories with you, the readers of the blog. The first “Grave Hunting Chronicles” story comes to us from my dear friend Steve Goldstein. So without further adieu here is Steve Goldstein’s story titled “Locked Inside a Mausoleum With You…”

Locked Inside a Mausoleum With You…
by Steve Goldstein

It was a Wednesday, around 3:45 in the afternoon. I had just gotten out of a business appointment in Culver City and was done for the day, so I thought I would drop into nearby Hillside Memorial Park for a quick visit. It was my first time grave hunting here, so I went straight to the mausoleum. I knew the cemetery would close at 5:00, so I had just an hour or so to see the mausoleum and get out. Many people have seen this building without knowing it. It’s that big white one behind the Al Jolson Waterfall as you drive down the 405 Freeway. Ever since that day, I always point it out and tell this tale….

As I entered the building, a groundskeeper nodded hello to me. I nodded back and began to explore. Jack Benny and his wife, Mary, are in a great black sarcophagus at the end of the hall. Nearby, Eddie Cantor, Jeff Chandler, David Janssen, Georgie Jessel, Dick Shawn, Dr. Ralph Greenson (Marilyn Monroe’s shrink), Michael Landon, and Dinah Shore are all quietly entombed. Alan Sherman, Michael Bloomfield and other musical memories from my youth, plus baseball hall of famer Hank Greenburg. Great place, no doubt about it. I’ll have to come back. But now it’s 4:30, better get home.

I walked to the front entrance to the building and found it locked tight. No problem, I thought, I’ll just go out a side entrance. Nope, that’s locked, too. As I ran through the building, starting to panic now, every door was bolted shut. I knew that if I didn’t get out of there in the next 30 minutes, I was spending the night here, and I really didn’t want to do that. Although, of all the mausoleums to spend the night in, this one would be the one, because instead of the usual marble benches, this one had over stuffed couches, so if you absolutely had to sleep here, you would be pretty comfortable. But I wasn’t thinking about that right now. I was making noise. Lots of noise. I had to get somebody’s attention. I began to look around for something to throw through the glass doors. I was breaking out.

Suddenly, I became very calm. I noticed a small office to my right, the door slightly ajar. Entering the Mausoleum Office, I found a telephone on a desk. I picked it up and dialed ‘0.’ An operator answered, “Hillside, how may I direct your call?”
“I’m locked inside your mausoleum. I was wondering if you would send someone up to let me out.” I’m sure she thought it was a prank call. She replied, “There is no phone inside the mausoleum.” “Yes, there is, and I’m on it right now.” She asked me what the extension was. I looked down at the phone and answered, ‘306.’ “I’ll call you back,” she said.

I waited what seemed an eternity. Finally, the phone rang. “Yes?” I answered. “Where are you exactly?” a confused sounding operator asked me. “I’m in a small office near the front entrance.” She instructed me to go stand by the door, and somebody would be along to let me out. Sure enough, moments later, the same groundskeeper who had greeted me an hour earlier came up to the door, laughing. “Locked you in, huh?” “Yeah, funny stuff.”

With that, I left the Hillside Mausoleum, jumped into my car and sped off. I’ve been back many times, of course. And that mausoleum office has been locked every single time. I can’t help but believe that I had help that afternoon. I was making so much noise to get out of there, I probably woke up Jack Benny or somebody, and like the munchkins, they sent me home.

(excerpt from Beneath Los Angeles, © 2001 Steve Goldstein)

And there you have it the first Grave Hunting Chronicles story as told by veteran grave hunter Steve Goldstein. For those of you who are interested Steve is the author of “LA’s Graveside Companion Where The V.I.P’s RIP” which was published in 2009. He’s also the proprietor of the celebrity grave hunting website Beneath Los Angeles.com.

In Memoriam Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor 1932-2011

23 Wednesday Mar 2011

Posted by Josh Perry in In Memoriam

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Butterfield 8, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Raintree Country, There's One Born Every Minute, Westwood Memorial Park

There comes a time in one’s life where we pass into the great beyond. Today one of the most lovingly beautiful women passed away. The woman I speak of is Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor. Who succumbed to the symptoms related to congestive heart failure at the age of 79.

Liz Taylor was born in the opulent North West London district of Hampstead. Her parents Francis, & Sara were American born citizens living in England at the time. When WWII erupted into full-blown chaos, her mother brought Liz, and her older brother Howard back to the United States to live. Being that she was born in England Liz was granted dual citizenship of the United States, and England.

Through a family friend, Hedda Hopper, Liz and her parents were introduced to Andrea Berens and her fiancée Cheever Cowden. Who at the time was the chairman and one of the lead stockholders at Universal Pictures in Hollywood. After a meeting which was arranged with Cowden by Berens. At the first moment of meeting the future starlet Cowden was mesmerized by the stunning beauty Taylor beheld before his careful analyzing eyes. And this is how Dame Taylor got her starstruck ascent into movie stardom.

After the meeting with Cowden, and Liz Taylor’s name was brought up at showbiz parties, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer would soon take notice and offered her a contract. But for some unforeseen reason the young up and coming celebutant failed to secure a contract with MGM. After an audition with the enchantingly colorful producer John Considine who noted that Taylor couldn’t sing. Despite this heartbreaking setback Universal Pictures signed Elizabeth to a six-month renewable contract in 1941 for a meager $100 a week.

Taylor had roles in over 70 films spanning just about sixty years. At the tender age of nine Taylor appeared in her first role as Gloria Twine in the 1942 film “There’s One Born Every Minute.” This film was the stepping stone to a long and prosperous career. Which included an extraordinary array of awards, and nominations.

Some of these nominations included an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress in the 1957 film “Raintree Country” then again for the 1958 classic “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” Some of the awards she won were for the 1960 film “Butterfield 8” and the list goes on. If your interested in seeing a complete listing of Taylor’s film credits I highly suggest you visit here.

Some of the things Taylor was passionate about included raising money for AIDS research. She also had a keen eye, for luxurious jewelry pieces, and was also a noted jewelery designer in her own right. Taylor was married a total of eight times beginning with Conrad “Nicky” Hilton the hotel socialite, and ending with Larry Fortensky. Seven of the marriages ended in divorce, and one ended up with Taylor becoming a widow when she was married to Michael Todd. Through the eight marriages, she had a total four children.

As you can see Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor had an illustrious career, and somewhat rocky social/private life. She will live on as the last true dame of the golden era of Hollywood and be truly missed by millions of fans. On a lighter note there are several rumors floating around that she will most likely be buried at Westwood Memorial Park cemetery in Los Angeles, as that’s where her parents rest in peaceful bliss.

Toto's Memorial Marker

23 Wednesday Mar 2011

Posted by Josh Perry in General Articles

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Tags

Hollywood Forever Cemetery, JP Myers, Steve Goldstein, Toto, Toto Memorial Marker, Tyler Cassity, Wizard of Oz

The endeavor begins in October of 2010. A friend of mine JP is hard at work at the medical diagnostic firm he works at. During a break at work JP has a discussion with a co-worker, about the Huell Howser show. One episode in particular the co-worker mentions, Huell is interviewing Steve Goldstein (another friend of mine) about famous animals (you know animal actors).

The co-worker brings up the fact that Steve & Huell film a segment at the location which used to be the Carl Spitz Ranch which is now part of the Ventura freeway. Carl Spitz was the famed animal trainer who trained a multitude of animal actors back in the golden era of Hollywood. Including Toto the little dog in The Wizard of Oz film.

Growing up in southern California, a stones throw away from many of the film studio lots which churned out 100’s of blockbuster films. JP has fond memories as a child watching “The Wizard of Oz.” After the discussion with the co-worker and realizing that he not only lived less than a mile away from the site, but went to elementary school several blocks away from the ranch. JP decides then and there that it will be his quest to gather the resources, and interest to have a memorial marker erected in Honor of Toto and that’s where this story begins.

To get the ball rolling, JP enlists the help of Steve Goldstein. The original plan was to have the memorial placed at the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park, but the idea was put to rest, when the board of directors of the cemetery turned down the proposal to place an upright marker on the grounds of the cemetery.

Then fast forward to about a week ago, it was announced that Tyler Cassity who owns Hollywood Forever cemetery was more than willing to donate a plot, and offered to build the memorial honoring Toto. The work is not finished yet. While Hollywood Forever agreed to donate the plot, and construct the memorial honoring Toto at no cost.

In return for the Toto memorial to be placed at Hollywood Forever JP is asking for donations so he can donate the money to the Hollywood Forever Endowment Fund. The endowment fund is what will keep the cemetery up and running for tourists, and Angelenos, to enjoy for years to come . The money goes towards the up keep, maintenance, and proper care of the cemetery grounds.

For those of you who are interested in learning more about this extremely worthy cause. I highly suggest you visit the official Facebook page here. If you visit the official Facebook page there are some examples of what the memorial may look like. There was also some recent media attention given to this worthy cause. The Los Angeles CBS affiliate did a story on Toto’s planned memorial marker. You can check that out by clicking here.

On a final note. I’d like to congratulate JP Myers, and Steve Goldstein for putting this thing together and getting the ball rolling. I’d also like to personally thank JP for donating the photo of Toto & Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz film, and giving me some background info on how this whole thing got underway. The memorial marker if you’re wondering should be in place by May of 2011.