So I’ve realized its been six months since the last installment of “The Great L.A. Gravecation of 2011 Revisited” series of articles was published on The Gravecast Blog. I figure it’s about time to get a move on things, especially being that I’m heading back to Tinseltown, October 2nd, roughly forty-two days from today. SO with that being said, let’s get rolling with the discussion on Calvary cemetery.

The History:

The sacred Catholic burial grounds known as Calvary cemetery is at 4201 Whittier Blvd in Los Angeles. Tucked against the bustling Pomona Freeway to the north, the Long Beach Freeway to the east, and finally the Santa Ana Freeway to the south. Directly across the street from Calvary, you will find Home of Peace cemetery, Calvary’s Jewish counterpart.

The parcel of land in which Calvary is situated on was consecrated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1896. With its early beginnings, it’s no surprise that Calvary is one of the areas oldest established cemeteries. The cemetery is located a leisurely fifteen minute cruise from downtown Los Angeles, its various districts and tourist attractions. Calvary cemetery encompasses one hundred and thirty-seven acres of tranquil parkland style scenic views, complete with large horticulture varietals, of lush trees, shrubs, and other beautifully vibrant plantings.

As your making the leisurely stroll along the concrete, and asphalt paved tree-lined roads which intertwine throughout this beautiful yet historic cemetery, pay close attention to the conspicuous detail which characterize in a distinctive manner the true essence in which the artistry in building Calvary’s version of the epic Stations of The Cross were executed.

This is the All Souls Chapel, which sits on the pristine landscaped grounds of Calvary cemetery, Los Angeles. Photo contributed by Jayne Osborne

As you continue through this tranquil museum in stone, under the hot southern California sun. Another point of interest for those strolling about, especially for you architecture aficionados is the All Souls Chapel. Constructed in 1902, this elaborately designed Gothic Chapel, with the beautifully ornate gabled tower and not to mention the heaven soaring spire. The gentleman who gets the utmost honorable credit for the construction of this historic chapel goes to Bishop George Montgomery. One of the fascinating things about the All Souls Chapel is that the chapel is a precise replica of the parochial church in Eaton’s rural district of Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire England.

This is the main mausoleum building at Calvary cemetery, Los Angeles. Photo contributed by Jayne Osborne

Rounding off the history portion of this “L.A. Gravecation of 2011 Revisited” article. Were going to talk about the main mausoleum building at Calvary cemetery. The main mausoleum building truly is a centerpiece in stone. Completed in 1936, this luxurious mausoleum complex, which is surrounded by meticulously manicured grassy acreage, would no doubt be fit for a King, OR Queen. The outer perimeter of the mausoleum is adorned by hand painted stained glass windows. As you walk the corridors, while admiring the names on the crypts lining the walls, look up and you will notice the intricately painted ceilings, and the attention to detail taken in the artistically designed pillars, the alter, etc. So it only makes sense that many of the silent eras most beloved personalities (some of which you will meet shortly) rest inside the walls of this truly majestic mausoleum.

Before we continue with the tour of Calvary cemetery, I’d like to point out that after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The mausoleum had a saintly visitor of sorts, when Saint Vibiana who before the earthquake, rested peacefully in a marble vault at St. Vibiana’s parish in L.A. was eventually relocated to a temporary basement vault at Calvary cemetery. After the construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of The Angels, was finished St. Vibiana was once again moved to a permanent location. This location is a more fitting tribute to the saintly mother of Los Angeles. It includes a beautiful shrine, with the sarcophagus that has St. Vibiana’s remains, and an adjacent chapel, in the crypt of Our Lady of The Angels. If your interested I highly suggest visiting Find A Grave for a detailed biographical sketch of St. Vibiana’s storied life, its fascinating.

The Tour:

Upon my arrival at Calvary, I strolled into the office to get a much-needed cemetery map. That way I could use the map alongside the books I had with me. Among the arsenal of books I had with me were “L.A.’s Graveside Companion: Where The VIP’s RIP” which was written by my really good friend, & the co-host of The Gravecast Show Podcast, Steve Goldstein, another book I had for the stroll around Calvary was “Hollywood Remains To Be Seen: A Guide To The Movie Stars’ Final Homes” by another good friend of mine, Mark Masek. Before I forget, both Mark Masek, & Steve Goldstein have their very own respective websites, where they chronicle their grave hunting adventures. Steve Goldstein’s website is Beneath Los Angeles.com and Mark Masek’s website is Cemetery Guide.com

With books in hand, the Calvary tour begins. After leaving the cemetery office, I hopped back into the Kia Forte I was frolicking around Los Angeles in, and then B-lined it for the main mausoleum building. For a concise background history of this building please reference the “History” section of this article above. As I was strolling up the flight of stairs to the doors of the mausoleum, I was in awe of how architecturally beautiful this building was. After making my way through the doors, I referenced the above mentioned books, and made my way to the hallway where Lionel, Irene, and John Barrymore rest. After being mesmerized from standing in front of the crypts of undisputed Hollywood Royalty, I snapped several photos of the respective crypts with my Canon PowerShot SX130 digital camera. Then made my way outside as there were mourners inside the mausoleum, so out of respect I didn’t want to disturb them.

After exiting the mausoleum, I made a leisurely stroll to the nearby lawn area, where “reputed” Los Angeles crime family boss Jack Dragna rests. After snapping some photos of his graveside, I bid farewell to the infamous mafioso, hopped back into the Kia, and cruised over to where actor, comedian, and the founder of The Three Stooges comedy troupe Ted Healy rests.

After having a Kodak Moment at Ted Healy’s graveside, I then made my way over to where silent and early talkie era actor Ramon Novarro rests. After photographing the Novarro graveside at different angles, I then hopped back into the Kia, and cruised over to where prolific actors Dolores Costello Barrymore, Maurice Costello, and Mae Costello rest. After photographing the three Costello gravesides at different angles, I bid farewell to them. Hopping back into the Kia, I cruised over to the outdoor mausoleum building, where Manson Family murder victim Leno La Bianca rests. After paying my utmost respects to La Bianca, and having another Kodak moment with his crypt. I then drove over to the mausoleum building for some unfinished business.

As mentioned above when I arrived at the mausoleum building, I noticed some mourners after photographing the Barrymore crypts. I then promptly left to go about my grave hunting business in other parts of the cemetery. Once I deemed it safe to return, and I felt that I wouldn’t be intruding on anyone in the vicinity. I made my ascent back into the mausoleum building. After returning to the mausoleum building I again made my way to the hallway where the Barrymore siblings were interred. I then photographed their graveside crypts, for a second time. After this Kodak moment was finished, I then strolled over to another part of the mausoleum, where prolific actor and comedian Lou Costello is interred. After photographing the gravesides of Costello and his blushing bride Anne, I then strolled over to where acclaimed actress Irene Dunne is interred.

After doing my photographic duties at the Dunne crypt, I then strolled to the interment place of another Barrymore sibling, Ethel Barrymore. As I approached Ethel’s crypt, I discovered that she is not interred in the same hallway as Lionel, Irene, and John. While were on the topic of the Barrymore siblings, I think it would be important to point out that the body of John Barrymore, was eventually removed from his crypt, and re-interred in the family plot at Mount Vernon cemetery in Philadelphia.

After leaving the grave of Ethel Barrymore, I strolled over to the graveside crypt of the versatile silent and talkie era actress Pola Negri. After photographing the crypts of Negri, and her mother who’s interred nearby, I then strolled over to where silent era beauty Mary Philbin is interred. After doing a barrage of photos of Philbin’s crypt, I made a leisurely stroll over to where the prolific and highly talented silent era comedienne and actress Mabel Normand rests. After doing a whole slew of photos of Normand’s crypt, I strolled over to the last grave I planned to visit in the mausoleum, and that being the graveside crypt of radio, & film actor John Hodiak. After photographing Hodiak’s grave half a dozen times, I then made my departure towards the exit of the mausoleum, hopped in the Kia, then high-tailed it across the street over to Home of Peace cemetery. I’ll be covering Home of Peace in the next installment of The Great L.A. Gravecation of 2011 Revisited series of articles.

All in all, I really enjoyed my visit to Calvary. It was the first Los Angeles cemetery I visited on my own, (not including when I was at Pacific View Memorial Park, in Corona del Mar in Orange County) without my entourage of Los Angeles based grave hunting friends. If you’re interested, feel free to check out a sampling of the photographs I took at Calvary cemetery below. Another thing I’d like to point out is that if you’d like to see a list of who’s buried in Calvary cemetery, I recommend visiting Find A Grave, or the Calvary cemetery page on Wikipedia. And finally a very special thanks goes to grave hunter Jayne Osborne for contributing the photos of the magnificent mausoleum building and the Gothic All Souls Chapel.

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