Forest Lawn Glendale, part 2: Stars' Graves (2024)

From the cemetery's mainentrance, use the map to drive to the northeast corner of the park, whereyou'll find the Court of Freedom, with its large mosaic, and a 13-foothigh statue of George Washington. Walk in the main doors of the FreedomMausoleum here, turn right, then stop at the first hallway on yourleft: the Sanctuary of Heritage.

Here, clustered on the same right wall of this onesmall corridor, you'llfind the tombs of six superstars: AlanLadd(#203582), JeanetteMacDonald(#203642), Nat King Cole (#203692),GeorgeBurns and his wife GracieAllen (#203602), and ClaraBow(#203484), all located on the same right (south) wall of the same corridor.To be sure you've found the right corridor, look for the bustof AlanLadd to the left of histomb.

Thecrypt of actor AlanLadd (1913-1964)islocated two spaces in from the main hallway and two spaces up from thefloor.

Ladd starred in the classic western "Shane,"as well as numerous other films in the 40's & 50's, including "ThisGun For Hire," "TwoYears Before the Mast,""Whispering Smith," and "TheGlass Key."

Just to the left of these two,and at the very top, is the crypt of the "Unforgettable."singer NatKingCole (1919-1965),father of singer Natalie Cole.

Thesweet-voiced Mr. Cole won 28 gold records for a string of hits that included"Ramblin'Rose," "MonaLisa,"and the ever-popular "TheChristmasSong"("Chestnutsroasting on an open fire...").

Justto the left of Nat and Jeanette (and two over from Alan Ladd)is the crypt of beloved comic GeorgeBurns(1896-1996) and the other half of the popular"Burns& Allen" comedy team, his wife GracieAllen(1902-1964). The two starred together onthe radio and in movies until Gracie's death.

George had a great deal of success on his own laterin life, as the nation's most popular senior citizen, starring in filmssuch as "Oh,God" and living to the ripe old ageof 100. But he never remarried.

Backout in the main hallway, head back past the main door to the first corridoron the left (west) past the entrance (the Columbarium of Victory.)On the back wall of this room, a few spaces to the right of the centralstatue, is the small niche containing the ashes of DorothyDandridge(1923-1965).Her life was the subject of a 1999 TV movie, "DorothyDandridge,"starring HalleBerry in the title role.

A singer as well as an actress, she also starred as'Bess' in "Porgy&Bess." Alas, her Hollywoodpotential was restricted by the prejudiced times; she went bankrupt anddied of a barbiturate overdose at age 41.

Now, go down the stairs to the bottom floorof this mausoleum , and you can find the tombsof several other notables, including two members of America's favoritecomedy teams.

Oneis Larry Fine (1902-1975),one of of the original ThreeStooges(Larry, Moe &Curly) - he was the balding one with the frazzledhair around the edges. Between 1930 and 1966, Larry appeared in over 200movies and "TheThree Stooges" television show, virtuallyalways as a Stooge, somewhat playing the straight man to Moe and Curly'smore outrageous behavior.

(Foryou Stoogeophiles out there, Moe is buried at Hillside,and Curly is buried at Home of Peace.)

You can find Larry's crypt (#22247) downstairs, inthe Sanctuary of Liberation, a corridor on the west side of thelower mausoleum, at its far south end. His crypt is about four in fromthe hallway, on the bottom row.

Theother two are members of the MarxBrothers.Not Groucho (he's at Eden) or Harpo (he was cremated *),but ChicoMarx (1887-1961),the brother who played the piano and liked to fake a thick Italianaccent, is here. You'll also find the lesser-known GummoMarx(1893-1977).

Youcan find Chico's crypt (#22018) inthe Sanctuary of Worship, the next corridor south of LarryFine's. His crypt is on the right side of that corridor (as you face itthe corridor from the hallway), 2 spaces in from the hallway, but ratherhigh up (about six spaces up, just above the crypt of one Virginia M. Heidanus.)

Gummo's crypt(#21057) is directly across the hallway on the east side, in the Sanctuaryof Brotherhood; the crypt is three spaces in from the hallway and threeup from the bottom.

* It is rumored that Harpo's ashes were scattered at the seventh hole of the Rancho Mirage golf course, near Palm Springs.

Alesser-known star today, but a major personality in his own time, is alsoburied down here: silent screen star FrancisX.Bushman(1883-1966).His crypt (#21408), can be found in the Sanctuaryof Gratitude, the last corridor on the north side of the building,onthe west side of the hall. His crypt is three spaces in from the hall andfour spaces up from the bottom. Bushman was one of the silver screen'sfirst matinee idols. He began his work in the silents, churning out almost100 films before 1927 (including the original "Ben-Hur")and another 25 after sound arrived.