Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery

The Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery in Culver City, California, United States. Many Jewish people from the entertainment industry are buried there. The cemetery is known for Al Jolson's elaborate tomb (designed by Los Angeles architect Paul Williams), a 75-foot-high pergola and monument atop a hill above a water cascade, all visible from the adjacent San Diego Freeway.[1][2]

Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Waterfall and Al Jolson monument at Hillside Memorial Park
Map
Details
Established1941
Location
6001 West Centinela Avenue, Culver City, California, US
CountryUnited States
Coordinates33°58′50″N 118°23′23″W / 33.98056°N 118.38972°W / 33.98056; -118.38972
TypeJewish
Owned byTemple Israel of Hollywood
Websitewww.hillsidememorial.org
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History

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Built on 35 acres of rolling hills in an undeveloped area near Inglewood, the cemetery was originally founded as B'nai B'rith Memorial Park in 1941 by Lazare F. Bernhard and Robert S. and Harry Groman, founders of Groman Mortuaries in 1936 and sons of Charles Groman, who co-founded the first licensed Jewish mortuary west of Chicago, Glasband-Groman-Glasband, before it was renamed "Hillside Memorial Park" in 1942. Because of objections by the Inglewood Chamber of Commerce, they were not granted a permit to operate by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors until July 1943.[3][4][5]

In 1951 the park became famous when Al Jolson's widow, Erle, purchased a large plot and had erected a 75-foot-high domed monument in his memory. Thousands attended the dedication and service, which included a eulogy by Jack Benny.[3]

After a bitter legal dispute between the Groman brothers, and Robert's death in 1957, the park was acquired by Temple Israel of Hollywood, which continues to own and operate it.[3][5]

Jack Benny's funeral in 1974 included a eulogy by Bob Hope and was attended by over 2000 people, including dozens of well-known members of the entertainment community.[6] Major figures in the worlds of philanthropy, women's rights, law, education, medicine and religion are interred at Hillside, some of whom are listed below.[3][5]

Notable interments

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B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

W

Z

See also

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References

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  1. ^ David Gebhard, Robert Winter, An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles (Gibbs Smith, rev. ed. 2003), ISBN 978-1586853082, p. 119. Excerpt available at Google Books.
    Gebhard, David; Winter, Robert (2003). Winter, Robert (ed.). An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles (Digitized from original text) (1st, revised ed.). Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. p. 119. ISBN 1-58685-308-2 – via Open Library.
  2. ^ Rodman, Edmon J (January 31, 2013). "You ain't heard Kol Nidre yet". Washington Jewish Week. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d Meares, Hadley (March 14, 2014). "Hillside Memorial Park: A Jewish Modernist Masterpiece in the Midst of the City". KCET. Public Media Group of Southern California. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  4. ^ "Distinguished Residents of Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary" (PDF). hillsidememorial.org. Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary. 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Our History | Hillside Memorial". Hillside Memorial. Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  6. ^ Nordheimer, Jon (December 30, 1974). "Thousands Watch Hollywood Farewell to Benny". The New York Times. Los Angeles. p. 26 (original print edition). Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  7. ^ "Bernard Alben Obituary". Legacy.com. Los Angeles Times. August 29, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  8. ^ "DJ AM Laid to Rest in Private Funeral". September 3, 2009.
  9. ^ Higgins, Bill (November 21, 2010). "Hollywood publicist laid to rest at emotional funeral". Reuters. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  10. ^ Victoria Talbot, 'Edith Flagg, Fashion Pioneer and Philanthropist, Dead at 94', The Beverly Hills Courier, August 22, 2014 Volume XXXXVIIII, Number 34, pp. 4;18 [1] Archived August 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy's funeral will be held on Sunday in Los Angeles". February 28, 2015.
  12. ^ Elaine Woo, "Deborah Raffin dies at 59; actress was also a force in audio books", Los Angeles Times, November 21, 2012.
  13. ^ Regan, Marilou (May 1, 2013). "The Happening Freddy Sessler: "World's Oldest Rolling Stones Groupie" (and Keith Richard's Best Friend)". Loveyouliverollingstones.com. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
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