A Visit to Pacific View Memorial Park

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Southern California, so we decided to enjoy the sunshine and pay a visit to Pacific View Memorial Park.

We virtually had the place to ourselves as we strolled the grounds, so it was also a good way to enjoy some "socially distanced" exercise in these strange times.

Our first stop was to pay our respects to John Wayne. His grave was unmarked for many years, apparently for security reasons, but it now has one of the loveliest markers I've ever seen. (Click on this or any photo to enlarge it for a closer look.) It was an honor to be able to visit.

The Duke's grave overlooks the Pacific Ocean; it's just about in the center of this photo, marked with yellow flowers left by a previous visitor.

While we were there we were able to visit the final resting places of several other performers from the classic film era. It was quite special to visit the gravesite of Marion Mack, who was Buster Keaton's leading lady in the classic silent film THE GENERAL (1926).

She is buried alongside her husband, Louis Lewyn, who produced many shorts during his career.

I always enjoy seeing June Storey, who played Gretchen in IN OLD CHICAGO (1938) opposite Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, and Alice Faye. She had small roles in "B" films I've liked such as CAREER WOMAN (1936) and SORORITY HOUSE (1939), and most notably she appeared as Gene Autry's leading lady in ten films. Her final theatrical film was TOO LATE FOR TEARS (1949).

Like many actresses, Storey is buried under her married name.

Margaret Early made her film debut in STAGE DOOR (1937), then next appeared in JEZEBEL (1938) and THE YOUNG IN HEART (1938). She played Clarabelle Lee in a pair of Andy Hardy films, JUDGE HARDY AND SON (1939) and ANDY HARDY'S PRIVATE SECRETARY (1941). Her final film before retiring was CINDERELLA JONES (1946) with Joan Leslie and Robert Alda.

Dorothy Dare was onscreen from 1933 to 1942, with credits including HAPPINESS AHEAD (1934) and GOLD DIGGERS OF 1935 (1935), in which I described her as "vivacious." She left the screen after THE YANKS ARE COMING (1942).

James Cagney's little sister, Jeanne Cagney, who played his sister Josie in YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942) and appeared in other films with her brother, is also buried at Pacific View.

She's buried next to her brother, producer William "Bill" Cagney:

Our last stop was at the final resting place of John Eldredge, a familiar face from countless film and television roles dating from 1934 up through the year of his death in 1961. I just saw him a couple weeks ago as the railroad executive who fires Robert Preston in WHISPERING SMITH (1948). I couldn't begin to guess how many times I've watched his work; another favorite is SNOWED UNDER (1936), in which he plays Glenda Farrell's attorney.

It was a lovely day and a valuable opportunity to reflect on the great enjoyment each of these filmmakers has given me over the years thanks to their work.

Additional photo posts on the final resting places of historic Hollywood figures: A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 2, A Visit to the Forest Lawn Museum, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2014), A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Musicians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Comedians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Actors, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - Writers, Directors, and More, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 1, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 2, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 3, A Visit to Desert Memorial Park, Los Angeles National Cemetery, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 2, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 3, A Visit to Forest Lawn Cathedral City, A Visit to Oakwood Memorial Park, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 1, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 2, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2019), A Visit to Woodlawn Cemetery, A Visit to Valley Oaks Memorial Park, and A Visit to Valhalla Cemetery.