Celluloid at the Cemetery

I'm sure that every time you're at the cemetery and see the big white wall of a mausoleum you say to yourself, "wow, what a great place to watch a movie."

Of course, you don't say that because it's absurd, creepy and maybe a little disrespectful...

But then there's Hollywood Forever- a cemetery whose entire back property line borders the Paramount Studios and where many of Hollywood's stars and starlets are buried. And just in case you don't remember some of the names many had their portrait etched into the headstones. It's really the epitome of Los Angeles- a town that is all about being seen. So with that in mind, I don't think the deceased are bothered that 2,000 people gather in an empty corner of the cemetery every summer weekend night to watch classic Hollywood films projected on the side of an enormous mausoleum- especially since the $10 cover charge goes towards preserving the original prints of the old movies as well as beautification of the cemetery grounds.

Rosa, her sister, and I joined our friends Reah and Andrew last weekend for our first Hollywood Forever experience, and it was one of the coolest things I've ever done in this town. There was also a strong sense of community that I haven't experienced often in L.A.

Although the movies don't start until it's dark (around 9:30 pm), the gates open at 7:30 and the party actually begins around 6 pm. That's when everyone begins to arrive to get a good place in line, but in order to do so your entire party needs to be present, so groups spread out their blankets and chairs on the front lawn and start with appetizers and cocktails. Then when the gates open it's a respectful, hushed dash down the lanes and to the back corner, where everyone sets up the blankets and chairs once again, and this time dive in on their main course for the evening. Some groups even bring low tables, candles and we also saw a fondue fountain.

That night's showing feature was Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much", starring Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day. Rosa and I actually just saw it for the first time not more than a couple of months ago, so it was a pleasure to be able to pay just as much attention to the crowd as the movie. I'm sure that watching a film with that many people evoked some of the same feel that audiences experienced back in the hey-day of the local moviehouse. The cheering was more boisterous, the tension was thicker, and the laughing louder. We were definitely all in it together.