European cemeteries have always been popular places to visit. In the really ancient gravesites burials often included everyday items, left there for the departed's final journey to the 'Great Beyond.' The higher in importance the person was in life, the richer the treasures were that would accompany them. Perhaps the Egyptian Pharohs were the extreme example of this practice. Ancient cities, like Ostia and Pompeii in Italy, placed their departed citizens in tombs just outside the main entrances. The visitor passed through this necropolis and paid heed to former residents before encountering the current ones. Yet the celebrity, anyone who was held in high regard in life...rich or poor, holds a fascination for the seeker and chronicler of the past. The celebrity gravesite becomes important because there they are. One can almost get a feeling of meeting them, of being in their presence. To the seeker of celebrity burial places it would be redundant to say that an interest in European cemeteries and tombs could command a virtual lifetime of activity. Since such a massive undertaking would truly occupy one on a perpetual full time basis and a huge volume could be written about it, here we are confining ourselves to a few areas and to some of the more easily accessible cemeteries in or near the larger cities.
To any visitor of London, Highgate Cemetery is definitely worth a day trip. The older section is accessible only with a tour group. The newer section can be visited and explored at leisure. Both sections charge an entry fee however. In the bizarrely overgrown grounds of the older section are many unique historical figures. One is of interest to this article; the actor Patrick Wymark (born Patrick Cheesman, 1926-1970). He will be fondly remembered for his characterizations in films such as REPULSION (1965), THE PSYCHOPATH (1966), THE WITCHFINDER GENERAL, vt, THE CONQUEROR WORM (1968), DOPPELGANGER, vt, JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN (1969) and SATAN'S SKIN, vt, BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW (1970). His grave is near the entrance and is usually pointed out at the end of the tour.
On the other side of the road, Swain's Lane by name, in the newer section are a few more personalities of interest. They share the distinction of being permanent residency with Karl Marx. Not far from the entrance is cinema pioneer William Friese-Greene (born Willy Green, 1855-1921). His large marker identifies him as, 'The Inventor of Kinematography.' He is more appropriately 'an' inventor of Kinematography...spelled with a 'K' in the years before the French changed it to a 'C.' His important patent number and date is also inscribed; 'His genius bestowed upon humanity the boon of commercial Kinematography of which he was the first inventor and patentee (June 21, 1889, Number 10301).' This is quite possibly the only grave marker to bear a patent number as part of the inscription. He died in true dramatic form, of a heart attack immediately after addressing a film industry meeting in London. In 1951 the British Film Industry paid an homage to him with a idealized biopic; THE MAGIC BOX. Another plaque bearing an homage to this cinematic pioneer is firmly attached to the front of a building in the resort town of southern England; Brighton. Reportedly, the small shed where he conducted his photographic experiments yet stands in the rear garden. Across a footpath from Friese-Greene is the hard to read ground level monument of Carl Mayer (1894-1944). His inscribed epitaph reads; 'Pioneer in the art of the cinema. Erected by his friends and fellow workers.' Mayer's pioneering efforts include co-authoring (with Hans Janowitz) the screenplay to THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI (1919) as well as solo screenplays to THE LAST LAUGH (1924), TARTUFFE (1926) and SUNRISE (1927). He ended his days in London, refusing any and all efforts to work in Hollywood. Not far from Marx's grave is the grave of Sir Ralph Richardson. Inscribed on it is; 'Sir Ralph David Richardson, Actor, 1902-1983, In treasured and tender memory.' His film career began appearing with Karloff in the British produced THE GHOUL (1933). Of his numerous other screen appearances, other titles of interest to this article are; BULLDOG JACK (1936), THINGS TO COME (1936), THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES (1936), THE WRONG BOX (1966), WHO SLEW AUNTIE ROO? (1971, TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1971), FRANKENSTEIN, THE TRUE STORY (TV, 1973), ROLLERBALL (1975), DRAGONSLAYER (1981) and TIME BANDITS (1981).
Not far geographically from Highgate is Golders Green Crematorium. The deceased are cremated, ashes placed in an urn and either placed in a columbium or buried in a small plot somewhere on the grounds. A plaque is then attached to one of the surrounding walls and a rose bush is planted in one of the perpetually upkept gardens. A small placard with the deceased's name is placed next to the rose bush. One of the most often visited urns in Golders Green is the urn containing the ashes of the author of Dracula; Bram Stoker (1847-1912). To get inside of the East Columbium, where he rests on the fourth floor, one must first borrow the key at the office. His urn also contains the ashes of his son Noel Thornley Stoker who died in 1961. Another very major author of fantastic literature, like THE WAR OF THE WORLDS and THE TIME MACHINE, who was cremated at Golders Green was Herman George Wells (1866-1946). His ashes were taken by his two sons Gip Wells and Anthony West to Poole Harbour in Dorset. There they hired a boat and scattered them over the sea.
Major cinema artists are at Golders Green. Sir Alexander Korda (born Sandler Corda, 1893-1956) as either producer or director was responsible for THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII (1932, pd), THINGS TO COME (1936, dir-William Cameron Menzies), THE GHOST GOES WEST (1936, dir-Rene Clair) and THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1940, dirs-Ludwig Berger, Tim Whelen and Michael Powell). Vivien Leigh (born Vivien Hartley, 1913-1967) will be forever known in her first Oscar winning role as Scarlett O'Hara in GONE WITH THE WIND (1939). Married to Lawrence Olivier for a while and always in delicate health her other Oscar performance was as Blanche Dubois in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951). Sir Cedric Hardwicke (1893-1964) had a distinguished career lasting nearly four decades. A few unforgettable performances include 'Death' in ON BORROWED TIME (1939), Frollo in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939) and roles in THE INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS (1940), THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942), INVISIBLE AGENT (1942) and as the voice of HG Wells in THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953). Peter Sellers (1925-1980), it was said, was never comfortable performing unless he was playing a number of characters...usually eccentrics. This holds true in such films as THE MOUSE THAT ROARED (1959), LOLITA (1962), THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW (1963), DR STRANGELOVE, etc (1963) and AFTER THE FOX (1966). Lamenting on the loss of so many characters like Inspector Clouseau, Major Bloodnik (from THE GOONS fame), Chance the Gardener and the Diabolical Fu Manchu, it was stated, "There was quite a high death toll on that July day in 1980."
Among the many historical figures, musicians, authors, poets artists and performers whose ashes are in permanent residence at Golders Green, several other choice screen performers are of interest to this article. Jack Buchanan (1891-1957) was a matinee idol of major importance. Joyce Grenfell (born Joyce Phipps, 1910-1979) was a delightful eccentric British type. She'll be remembered for her appearances in three of the ST TRINIANS films and as one of the bizarre family members of William Castle's remake of THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1963). Her image of death scene in this film was especially unnerving. She was shown seated upright with a broad smiling face and two knitting needles inserted through her neck at right angles. Lawrence Harvey (born Larushka Mische Skikne, 1928-1973) appeared in roles as diverse as in ROMEO AND JULIET (1954), EXPRESSO BONGO (1959), A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (1961), notably in ROOM AT THE TOP (1959) and THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1963). Jack Hawkins' 1910-1973) career spanned from the 1930's to the 1970's. He appeared in the 1932 remake of THE LODGER, THE FROG (1937), the grim THE PRISONER (1955), THE TWO HEADED SPY (1958) and THEATRE OF BLOOD (1973) as well as mega-productions like THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957), BEN HUR (1959) and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962). Other actors at Golders Green include Jack Hulbert (1892-1978) of BULLDOG JACK (1934), Gordon Jackson (1928-19 ) of THE GREAT ESCAPE and TV's UPSTAIRS-DOWNSTAIRS, Frank Lawton (1904-1969) of DAVID COPPERFIELD (1934), THE INVISIBLE RAY (1936) and DEVIL DOLL (1936), and Ivor Novello (born Ivor Davies, 1893-1951) of Hitchcock's original THE LODGER (1926) as well as it's 1932 remake.
In one of the most often visited tourist spots in London permanently resides who has been described in his lifetime as both 'the greatest living actor' and as one of the worst. Either way Sir Laurence Olivier in death has ‘achieved one of the highest honors that could ever be bestowed upon any mortal'. In 1899 he was placed in the company of England's Poet Laureates by being interred in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. This was ultimately more for the actor who wanted as his epitaph, 'Here lies Laurence Olivier. He was funny.' On the 2nd of February in the King Edward VIII Hospital, Midhurst, Sussex the 'Gentle Monster' himself, Boris Karloff passed away. His funeral was, at his own request, as quiet as possible. Reportedly only four people were in attendance. His remains were cremated at the Mount Cemetery Crematorium of Guildford and his ashes were buried in the lawn of the Garden of Remembrance. In the mid 1970's a move to place a commemorative plaque in St Paul's Covent Garden in London, known as the 'Actor's Church,' was made. On it was inscribed a few lines from Andrew Marvell's Horatian Ode "Upon Cromwell's Return from Ireland," which refers to Charles I. It reads:
He Nothing Common Did or Mean Upon That Memorable Scene
One of the most often visited cemeteries in Paris is Pare La Chaise. The young folk who invade Pare La Chaise do so mainly because of the final resting place of Jim Morrison (1944-1971), formerly of The Doors rock group. Reportedly, the owners of the famed cemetery want him removed. The present headstone, a replacement of the former one that has been repeatedly vandalized into unrecognition, is guarded by security personnel. It can be unnerving to think of the minimally talent 60's rocker's remains in the company of Chopin, Champillion, Balzac, Bizet, Gustave Dore and Oscar Wilde, to name a few. Other more talented performers occupy the grounds. Prominent among them is Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923). Another 'grand lady' is Simone Signoret (born Simone Kaminsky, 1921-1985). Her career goes back to the early 1940's with appearances in films like LES VISITEURS DU SOIR (1942), FANTOMAS (1947), THE WITCHES OF SALEM (1957) and THE SLEEPING CAR MURDERS (1965). Two performances stand out in two memorable films; LE DIABOLIQUES (1954) and GAMES (1967). Six years later she was joined by her husband, Yves Montand (born Ivo Levi, 1921- 1991). The first true auteur of the Cinema of the Fantastique also rests in Pare La Chaise; George Melies (1861-1938). In the 1890's while photographically recording the traffic in front of Paris' Opera House his movie camera jammed and subsequently created the first special effect. Until his final works in 1912 he committed to celluloid the premier screen monsters, ghosts, decapitations, outer space flights and a cornucopia of all forms of la cinematic fantastique. One searching for his gravesite would first come upon a copper bust of him facing away from the main path. Although by the First World war he had lost virtually everything, ie, studio, theater, money, he did live to see the beginnings of an interest and evaluation of his pioneering work. Fortunately the bulk of his work had survived and remains so today. In 1931 he was presented with the Croix de la Legion d'Honneur. His tombstone reads, 'George Melies, Createur du Spectacle, Cinematographique, 1861-1938.'
The ongoing search for celebrity gravesites could easily occupy a lifetime. Several books have already seen publication pinpointing deceased personalities in the London, Paris, New York and California areas. A set of trading cards, packaged in a cardboard coffin, has made an appearance as well. Yet the definitive book has yet to be written. We all fondly remember our favorite show biz personalities. On certain given days a walk across Hollywood blvd will reveal die-hard fans scrubbing and polishing their favorite star's plaques in the sidewalk. It is a human trait to enjoy being brought back to happier times.
Jim Knusch
