Sleeping in Beauty ~ Rest in Peace, Michael Jackson

Ten weeks after his untimely death, Michael Jackson was finally laid to rest last night at Forest Lawn Glendale in the Great Mausoleum, Holly Terrace, during a much publicized private funeral.  

I was invited to be a guest commentator on ZDF German TV and would like to say a big, big thank you to producer-reporter Melanie Hillmann for arranging my media credentials.  While there, I was also interviewed by Channel One Russia, BBC World News and our local newspaper, the Glendale News-Press.

As a cemetery historian, it was an unparalleled experience to be a part of the scene outside the park gates on Glendale Blvd., which had been closed to traffic for the historic event.

Michael Jackson's casket prior to entombment (© Reuters 9/3/2009)

The Jacksons filmed the funeral (speculation abounds that the footage will be used in their upcoming A&E reality show) and provided a public video feed of the guest arrivals.  Beamed around the world by a pool camera, the feed cut out once Michael's casket arrived at the Great Mausoleum in a hearse after a short drive from the cemetery mortuary.

After the ceremony, I was told by eyewitnesses that once the funeral was over -- which was a loving celebration of Michael's life -- no one from his family opted to watch his casket be entombed. (This is not an unusual practice.)  Forest Lawn personnel handled the sacred, solemn task with dignified professional aplomb, sealing Michael and his gold casket into an elaborate marble sarcophagus some time after approximately 9 p.m.

Based on insider descriptions of the immediate area, my best guess -- and this is ONLY an educated grave hunter's guess, not an officially confirmed fact -- is that Michael now rests on the main floor of the terrace, at the end of a sanctuary hallway with cathedral ceilings, under three stained-glass windows which are a re-creation of Nicola D'Ascenzo's "The Ascension."

No public photos have been released of this stunningly gorgeous location since Michael was possibly entombed there less than 24 hours ago. But a quick look through my Forest Lawn archival materials produced this promotional image, released by Forest Lawn in 1952, showing a final resting place that is truly fit for a king:

Ascension Window Sarcophagus promotional photo
(© 1952 Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Association)

Word has it that the price tag, which also includes an unspecified number of nearby crypts reserved for other family members, is in the neighborhood of $600,000.

This sarcophagus was one of the last (and possibly the last) remaining interment type of its kind on Holly Terrace or within the entire mausoleum itself.  It has remained largely unchanged since it was constructed 50 years ago.  I saw it in person about a year ago. The photo does not do it justice. It's breathtaking.

At that time it was also notable because it remained seemingly unoccupied, sans any engraved names, dates or epitaphs.

The only difference I noticed from the original photo was the addition of a marble and brass waist-high gate in front of the steps, which partitions it off from the rest of the hallway.  Update: the partition was always there per other vintage photos I've seen. The photo above was taken from inside the gate.

Construction began on the Great Mausoleum in late 1917.  It was constructed of steel and concrete, with each terrace on its own foundation, although they are all connected in a "building within a building" architectural style.

Engineers designed the entire structure to be earthquake-proof, and their work stands up today in spite of several monumental tremblers over the decades.

The Great Mausoleum, Holly Terrace addition in red
(© 1939-top, 1952-bottom Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Association)

Holly Terrace was opened to the public on March 21, 1949.  Forest Lawn invited and encouraged the public to visit the new terrace with a promotional campaign that included large ads in newspapers like The Los Angeles Times. 

Glorious artwork such as a marble replica of Donatello's St. George statue and a stain-glassed re-creation of Raphael's "Madonna of the Chair" painting were the attraction -- pre-need purchases of cremation niches, crypts and sarcophaguses within "the finest mausoleum memorial property available anywhere" was the sell. 

Since the Great Mausoleum is rumored to be fairly sold out (no official figures are available) I wonder if this could be an additional reason as to why the public visitation policy (now limited only to the Memorial Terrace to see The Last Supper Window) has radically changed over the years? It seems to make dollars and sense to me.

Thank you to Mark Masek and Harry Martin for your research and brainstorming assistance!

Comments

[Michelle]

For someone who's donated over $300 million to various charities... well deserved. We'll miss you Michael. Thanks for posting the pics.

[SWB]

No one has any right to say how someone else should bury their loved oned. It's nobody's business outside of the Jackson Family. What arrogance and audacity.

[A.M.]

@SWB- Yes, it's disgustingly arrogant for Jenny to attempt to dictate how someone should bury their son/brother/father. It never ceases to amaze me that so much venom is directed towards the dead and those they leave behind. The Jackson Family had the funds to bury Michael in such a manor and it was their prerogative to do so. Perhaps if Michael was part of the pseudo-aristocracy in the country, Jenny would have no problem with the way in which he was buried.

[Lisa Burks]

I will be mostly offline until 11/15, responding to emails after that date. Thanks! LB

[RUTH]

THANKS MS LISA. MY HUSBAND AND I WAS THERE AND HAD NO IDEA WE WERE SO CLOSE. WE DROVE BY THE PLACE OF THE PICTURE IN RED AND HAD NO IDEA. WE WENT IN AND SAW "THE LAST SUPPER". CAME OUT DROVE UNDER THE UNDERPASS AND DROVE OUT. WE WERE SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR. WOW!! WE DROVE IN ON THAT ROAD GOT OUT WENT IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE. INSIDE THE MAUSOLEUM ITSELF IS BEAUTIFUL. I CAN SEE WHY THEY CHOSE IT, AND LIKE A PREVIOUS COMMENT HIS FANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VISIT. WHAT AN INJUSTICE, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND. SOME PEOPLE JUST ARE NOT GOING TO DO RIGHT AND BEHAVE AND BE DISRESPECTFUL. THERE IS ALWAYS ONE WHO WILL SPOIL IT FOR THE REST. THANKS LISA, NOW WE KNOW.

[Melissa]

With respect to the photos of Michael's crypt (vintage and current) I want to rush to the defense of Karen Faye. I feel her rumored photographing and selling images of his stately burial location was truly a loving gesture for all of his millions of fans who will never be allowed to visit. The act insured we all could see and then imagine visiting his grave. By selling them to a high bidder she guaranteed their publishing/posting. I see her harsh judgment by the public as unfair. I am so glad you have posted as much information as you have and also included the recent images now owned by TMZ.

[Marlene]

I think it is a beautiful place and Michael would appreciate the beauty of it but as far as it being a place where he 'deserves' well that I have to take issue with and say he doesn't 'deserve' to be there at all. He deserves to be here on EARTH playing with his children and entertaining his fans. Michael is not supposed to be gone away. This was a HORRIBLE thing that happened and the more I think about the fact that he is actually gone- I get sick to my stomach.

I don't understand why everyone has a problem with his casket being pure gold. What would they prefer it to be? A pine box? Michael was more precious than gold or silver but if he had to be put in something it was only fitting and proper that it be a gold casket!

I can't even believe I'm using these words in speaking about him. I hate this. I try to find other words to use but there aren't any. I love Michael and I always will. Nothing can or will ever erase you from my heart or my memory. Not time. Distance.Space.Not Even Death...NOTHING! You painted my heart with the beautiful colors of your music and I will dance forever in the rainbow of beauty you gave to me and the world.

God Bless You Angelface!

[Judith Roskos]

I was lucky enough to purchase an a burial site in the Great Mausoleum. It will be an honor to be laid to rest among some of the greatest entertainers in the world

[Silliee]

Wow, it's a beautiful place. I wish that .. some day, when the sky is bright and the birds sing their beautiful melody, maybe 50 years from now, or more - that we fans, and the people that loved him, supported him, cried for him and adored him, would get a chance to visit his grave. I will not feel that my life is fullfilled if I don't lay down some yellow and white roses on his grave, and a note that tells him: "I understand you, Michael. To me, you were never misunderstood. I love you."

[Tracey]

Wow, I've just found this site after I searched the Forest Lawn website to find where my beloved Michael was laid to rest... Truth be told, I didn't think that information would be available on line, but I'm glad I was wrong...Now I can see that if we had to live through the misfortune of losing the most wonderful person who lived, I'm glad that he is resting in a place that befits him... He was the only one with the charisma, elegance and style to carry off anything that for others may seem extravagant.... It wasn't extravagant, his resting place isn't extravagant... It is exactly what he deserves, it is exactly what is MICHAEL! Anyone who truly loved him would know that and wouldn't question it... If you loved him for real, you loved everything about him! Accept this! The Jackson family has done right by Michael because if they don't know him, then who does??? They would know that if Michael could pick his final resting place for himself, he woud have picked the same!!!!! Why does this surprise people??? I am astounded by some of the comments I have read from others... Anyone with anything negative to say has obviously landed on the wrong website and comments page, because you are obviously not MJ fans, so stay away and don't make it awful for us who have loved and adored him for as long as we can remember... At least that's the truth for me.. I have loved Michael since I can remember my own self! He was only 10 years older than me...
Anyway, Michael, you know that I love you, you know that I fight for you because I believe in you more than 100%.
My heart has ached since you left us behind and I will love you forever, precious Angel.

Love you always xxxx