Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles, California, on the south edge of the San Fernando Valley by Burbank (and on the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains from Hollywood). It is part of the Forest Lawn chain of Southern California cemeteries.

The Forest Lawn Memorial Parks are recognized and serve as a cultural institution in the Los Angeles regional area. Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills is a park dedicated to the preservation of American history, and hosts high-profile events such as an annual Veteran's Day ceremony attended by dignitaries and VIPs. The park features such notable sights as:

The Court Of Liberty, which features statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and the Birth of Liberty Mosaic.

The Birth Of Liberty Mosaic, America's largest historical mosaic at 162 feet long and 28 feet high, contains more than ten million pieces of Venetian glass and depicts twenty-five famous scenes from early America, 1619-1787.

Old North Church, a precise replica of Boston's historic church, immortalized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his famous poem Paul Revere's Ride. The historical rooms contain rare documents and mementos of the colonial period.

The Hall Of Liberty American History Museum features a precise duplication of the Liberty Bell, and other exhibits. The museum includes a 1,200 seat auditorium.
Monument To Washington, a marble and bronze tribute to America's first president, created by sculptor Thomas Ball. Four of Washington's generals are also honored in the memorial.

The Lincoln Terrace features a lifelike 16-foot bronze statue of the 16th president by Augustus St. Gaudens, flanked by a panoramic mosaic depicting key scenes from Lincoln's eventful life.

The Plaza of Mexican Heritage features sculptures created by artist Meliton Salas Rodriguez, of Guadalajara, Mexico. Salas Rodriguez used only hand tools to first quarry, then work native Mexican stone into precisely scaled, detailed replicas of art works and artifacts that are representative of the Aztec, Huastec, Maya, Mixtec, Olmec, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Totonac and Zapotec civilizations that preceded modern Mexican culture. A smooth Olmecan head, an intricate Aztec sun calendar and a sinuous Teotihuacan bas relief are some of the sculptural features of the Plaza that are set off by crushed stone walkways and complemented by groupings of Mesoamerican plants. Nearby, the Museum of Mexican History offers free admission to visitors from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.

[edit] History

Forest Lawn (Glendale) was founded in 1917 by Dr. Hubert Eaton, a firm believer in a joyous life after death, who was convinced that most cemeteries were "unsightly, depressing stone yards," and pledged to create one that would reflect his optimistic beliefs, "as unlike other cemeteries as sunshine is unlike darkness." He envisioned Forest Lawn to be "a great park devoid of misshapen monuments and other signs of earthly death, but filled with towering trees, sweeping lawns, splashing fountains, beautiful statuary, and...memorial architecture..."

Interred or entombed in the cemetery are many famous people and their relatives, particularly from the entertainment industry.

[edit] History Before 1917

Before becoming a cemetery, the property was used as a location for some early motion pictures. In particular, it was used for the battle scenes in Birth of a Nation. Nestor Studios built a shanty-town filming Westerns. In 1912 Carl Laemmle's Universal Pictures acquired the assets of Nestor Studios and named this area "Universal City". An early photograph of this area can be seen in the archives of the Los Angeles Public Library archives with the titles "A Birds Eye View of Universal City " (November 24 1913, Bailey, Chas. Z. [1]).

Universal City 1912

In 1912 Carl laemmle toured his west coast operations. He renamed the Nestor Studio - "Universal Studios" and the leased Nestor Ranch - Universal City. He also took control property in Encino. Carl laemmle thought the area was too small for this his ideas of "Universal City". He ordered the purchase the Lankershism land Water Company property :

Lankershism Ranch and Water Company's

subdivision of the east 12 000 Acres of the south one half of the Rancho Ex Mission of San Fernando Purchased lots 276, 277, 278, also a small portion of Lot 279 marked Mary L. Carhart ( left side of the lankershim bridge) Only 230 acres of northern part lot 278 became official studios front lot in 1915. The zoo and other stage were constructed on the nortern sections of Lot 277 and 278. The mountain portions above 600 feet were not incorported into studio use until MCA Universals master plan to level the hills and create the Universal Studio Tour Center and City walk

Universal City Moves

Between 1914 and 1915 "Universal City assets where moved to the lankershism Location. Carl laemmle and his son (Carl laemmle} are both interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Hollywood Forever Cemetery The Providence Ranch land was then used by lasky Studios which later merged with Famous Players

"Jesse L. Lasky died in 1958 and was interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood. His son, Jesse Lasky, Jr. (1908-1988), was a successful author and screenwriter."