Hollywood is one of the most famous places of the world. Being an embodiment of the American dream and a symbol of fame and success, it lures young and ambitious people to start chasing the luck. Numerous stars and superstars of the past contributed to the growth of the motion picture industry in the 20th century. Evidently, fame is not long to last, but yet the stories of the people, who spent their entire lives in hopes of attaining some forms of mortality on the stage and silver screen, should not be forgotten.
Some fans for years continue to adore the talent of their favorite actress or an actor, even long after their death. Certainly, it is quite natural for them to wish visiting the grave of the idol. There is nothing odd or disrespectful about it. On the contrary, as for many of us it is normal to express the respect for a died beloved relative or a friend, so do many fans seek out the final resting places of the silver screen idols. Leaving a flower on the grave of the favorite actor or actress is a sign of recognition and recollection of the wonderful moments stars have given us.
Most of the movie celebrities are buried in Los Angeles. The last resting places of such megastars as Rudolph Valentino, Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby and Clark Gable as well as such recently departed Gene Autry, Jimmy Stewart are found at the memorial parks of LA. You would probably be surprised how beautiful and neat they are: memorial parks have manicured green lawns and modern, brightly-lit mausoleums. All of these cemeteries are open to the public, though the attitudes towards tourists differ widely.
The Pierce Bros. Westwood Memorial Park, for instance, has very welcoming attendants, who will readily answer your questions. It is also your best bet if you have an opportunity to visit only one graveyard in LA. The Pierce Bros. Westwood Memorial Park is a tiny and intimate, with stars' graves fairly easy to find (contrasting with the massive Forest Lawns). Located behind the towering high-rises of Wilshire Boulevard, the Pierce Bros Westwood Village Memorial Park is out of sight of a casual observer. However, this cemetery is a final resting place for numerous major celebrities of the Hollywood, including famous actress Marilyn Monroe, Donna Reed, Dean Martin, Natalie Wood, Roy Orbison, Carroll O'Connor, Jack Lemmon and others.
Established in 1899, the Hollywood Memorial Park has an admirable collection of old-fashioned standing headstones, monuments and statues. This burial ground is very large; hence, visitors should better take advantage of the map, which can be picked up at the entrance. Fortunately, the administration of this memorial park is cooperative. The Hollywood Memorial Park is a final resting place for the most celebrated stars in the history of Old Hollywood, including Rudoph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Nelson Eddy, Peter Lorre, Janet Gaynor, Tyrone Power and Clifton Webb.
At the same time, "Golden Age" Hollywood stars, such as Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Jimmy Stewart, Jean Harlow, Humphrey Bogart, actress Mary Pickford, Errol Flynn, Spencer Tracy, are buried at the Forest Lawn. Forest lawn itself is far more than only a memorial park; it is also a museum, an art gallery, an architectural showcase, a Hollywood tourist trap and a religious retreat. However, its sheer size makes sightseeing for a casual visitor, wishing to see movie stars graves almost impracticable. Even having a map does not guarantee finding a particular grave. As such, if you are interested in visiting the graves of movie stars, you would better come to the Pierce Brothers Westwood, Hollywood Memorial or Holy Cross Cemetery Park, where the grounds are smaller, the stars' graves are easier to find, and the management is more reasonably welcoming.