The crowd gathers amongst the tombstones and crypts of the graveyard. They march in by the hundreds and take their places on the grass. The sun begins to drift below the horizon and then the clock strikes nine. Suddenly the wall of the giant mausoleum is bathed in light. That's when the party really begins.
Movies Under the Stars... and Above a Few as Well
It sounds like some intricate Gothic ritual, or the opening of a horror movie, but it's not. It's an outdoor film series hosted by a group called Cinespia. The screenings are held every Saturday night, and the occasional Sunday, during the summer starting in May. What makes this event truly unique, is that the screenings take place inside the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
A graveyard is not the place you expect to see people lining up in a rush to get in early. But this event draws a crowd of hundreds hours before the gates are even opened. Once they make it inside they head to the lawn that stretches out before the Cathedral Mausoleum, home to Rudolph Valentino, Peter Lorre and other stars of days past. Then they spread their blankets and settle in for a trip back to Hollywood's golden age.
How It All Started
A set designer named John Wyatt ran into Tyler Cassity, the owner of Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Wyatt was a classic film fan and he thought the cemetery would be an ideal place to screen classic movies. Cassity jumped at the idea and the cemetery screenings were born.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Many of the films were directed by, produced by, or starred someone buried here. That adds a touch of mystery and sometimes a soft sadness to the films. Seeing them up on the screen as dashing young stars and then walking past their graves after the credits have rolled is an experience you can only have here.
In addition to Valentino and Lorre, the roll call at Hollywood Forever includes director Cecil B. DeMille and gangster Bugsy Siegel. You'll also find Darla Hood and Carl Switzer, better known as Darla and Alfafa from the Little Rascals. More recent arrivals include Iron Eyes Cody and Dee Dee Ramone.
R.I.P. at Hollywood Forever
- Mel Blanc
- Marion Davies
- Douglas Fairbanks
- Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
- Peter Finch
- Janet Gaynor
- John Huston
- Paul Muni
- Eleanor Powell
- Tyrone Power
- Clifton Webb
- Fay Wray
A Great Saturday Night
Wyatt and Cassity's creation has grown into a booming success. It will give you a taste of Hollywood's golden past and a memory of a Saturday evening you won't soon forget. If you haven't checked it out yet, add it to your must-do list.
Plan Ahead
The trick to getting the most out of this event is planning. The films are good fun all on their own, but a great meal and a bottle of wine take it to the next level. You'll also want a cozy lawn chair, and a couple of blankets. You can use one to claim your territory, but you'll probably want another to wrap up in before the night is over. It may be Summer, but it gets chilly in the cemetery at night, so dress in layers.
Bring a flashlight, it's dark at the end of the night and it helps to have a little light when you're trying to load everything back into your car. It's also a good idea to bring some insect repellent and toilet tissue. The Porta-Potties are clean, but they often run out of supplies by the end of the evening. There's no running water, so you may want some Handi-Wipes or sanitizing gel.
Things To Bring
- Lawn Chairs
- Picnic Dinner
- Wine Opener
- Blankets
- Flashlight
- Insect Repellent
- Tissue/Toilet Paper
- Handi-Wipes
- Sanitizing Gel
Shopping Suggestions
Whole Foods Market
7871 Santa Monica Blvd (at Fairfax Ave)
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 848-4200
If you are in need of a picnic dinner, this Whole Foods is right down Santa Monica from Hollywood Forever. You can put together a great dinner of ready made hot or cold food in no time. They've also got a pretty good wine selection.
For The Rest:
Target
7100 Santa Monica Blvd (at La Brea Ave)
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 603-0004
This Target is also right down the street from the cemetery. You can get lawn chairs, blankets, insect repellent and just about anything else you can think of.
