Adventures in Grave Hunting by Lisa Burks

Family, Friends and Fans Bid Farewell to Rock Legend Ronnie James Dio

What an honor it was to be a part of the public memorial for Ronnie James Dio on Sunday, May 30, at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. Thank you, Wendy Dio and Dan Padavona for including fans in the celebration of your husband's and father's life.

The public memorial was held the day after friends and family held a more intimate, private funeral.

My friend Karen Fogerty and I arrived around 10:30am to check things out in advance and I'm so glad we did because we were among the first 600+ fans there to get wristbands that secured seats inside the Hall of Liberty.

Fans who did not get wristbands were accommodated with seating and outdoor screens that broadcast the services which included stories from Ronnie's longtime friends and colleagues about his passion for music, great sense of humor and generous nature. Photos and videos played on the stage above the screen, with Ronnie's red rose-drenched casket positioned front and center below the stage.

Music from his life was performed by Scott Warren (Heaven and Hell), John Payne (Asia), Joey Belladonna (Anthrax), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) Geoff Tate (Queensryche) and Paul Shortino (Quiet Riot).

Prior to the memorial, fans were allowed inside the reception area of the hall to take photos of flowers and displays honoring Ronnie, and to sign a banner. Everyone received memorial programs and a commemorative button. Photography was also allowed during the service, but not video recordings.

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund charity organization (which will educated the public on the importance of cancer screenings as well as fund screenings for the needy) was also officially launched this day. Fans were invited to make donations. T-shirts were given to anyone who made a contribution of $25 or more, with 100% of the proceeds going to the organization. Donate here.

Apparently few Westboros showed up outside the gates but were a non-issue.

Read more here: Fans Gather To Remember Ronnie James Dio, by Derrik J. Lang from the Associated Press.

Kudos to Forest Lawn for a job well done. Every aspect of the event was extremely well coordinated and ran smoothly from what I saw and experienced. (Here's a thought -- how about let's do same for Michael Jackson fans at the Glendale location on the first anniversary of his passing later this month?)

Rest in peace, Ronnie! The world has lost a great voice, and an even greater heart. Thank you for being you. ♥

83rd Annual Valentino Memorial Service This Sunday

There's been 82 of them so far and I'm ashamed to say that I haven't been able to make one ~ yet!  The 83rd time is a charm though.

I'm referring, of course, to the longest running Celebration of Life show in town ~ the Rudolph Valentino Memorial Service, held annually every year since his passing. It has always occurred on the exact date and time of his death, at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in the foyer of the Cathedral Mausoleum where the screen idol is entombed.

The 83rd consecutive service takes place this Sunday, August 23, beginning at 12:10 p.m.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is located at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd.in Hollywood, Calif. Here's a map.

Image courtesy of Tracy Terhune ~ my VMS idol.and author of
Valentino Forever: The History of the Valentino Memorial Services

This year's celebration of Rudy's life ("Contrary to some misguided opinions we do NOT celebrate his death," notes Allan Ellenberger, author of The Valentino Mystique) is two-fold. In addition to the afternoon service, a free outdoor screening of three films will take place once the sun goes down.

Here's a sneak peek at what's on the agenda for the service:

• The featured speaker will be Jeanine Villalobos, the great granddaughter of Rudy's brother Alberto Valentino. She will share private letters written by Alberto to his wife Ada back in Italy. They reveal his thoughts and observations about the public's outpouring of emotion over Rudy's death as he traveled with the body cross country from New York to Los Angeles on the Valentino funeral train, right on through to the funeral and entombment. The letters have been kept within the family and never made accessible to researchers, and have been translated from Italian to English specifically for her presentation. Jeanine's appearance also marks the first time in over 75 years that a member of the Valentino family will speak at such a service. Alberto and Ada are interred in the Abbey of the Psalms across the park from the Cathedral Mausoleum.

• The late, great silent film organist Bob Mitchell will be honored with a special tribute to his nearly 30 years of involvement with the service. He began his participation with Bob Mitchell's Boys Choir and later was a speaker/singer and musical accompaniast.  Bob passed away this summer, at the age of 96.  He continued entertaining until the very end, making his final pulic performance less than a month before his death. He, too, is interred at Hollywood Forever, outside the Abbey of the Psalms in the Sanctuary of Memories.

The legendary and beloved Bob Mitchell

•  Donna L. Hill will make her debut speaking appearance at a Valentino Memorial this year.  Donna is the creator of Falcon Lair: The Rudolph Valentino Homepage and author of the forthcoming book, Rudolph Valentino: The Silent Idol.

•  Also debuting at the service will be a new video short which spotlights the relationship between Rudy and his second wife, the colorful  Natacha Rambova.  (Speaking of Natacha, check out Allan's blog where he explores a very intriguing question: where would Rudy have ended up, had he still been married to her when he died. Terrific reading, as usual, from Allan!)

Now for the evening screenings.  I have attended these before and highly recommend them. The films are projected on the outside wall of the Cathedral Mausoleum at the Fairbanks Lawn. Hollywood Forever is home to many of these types of events, but the Valentino one was the originator of the trend. To watch a Rudy film outside while his body lays inside is quite an experience.

Here's what's on the triple bill:

•  "A Society Sensation" - a 1918 comedy short about a wealthy society playboy who falls in love with a poor fisherman's daughter. It will be presented with a recorded score by Bob Mitchell.  This is the only score Bob ever recorded professionally for a silent film.

•  "Stolen Moments"  - a 1920 romantic drama short about a seductive Brazilian novelist with no scruples, featuring Vince Morton playing a live score. This was the last film Rudy made before "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" which launched his career.

•  "Valentino Forever" a 7-minute film which recaps the unique history of the Valentino Memorial Service.

Rudy's Crypt Front ~ snapped December 1, 2007

Rock Walk

Actor Rock Hudson was the first major public figure to die from AIDS.  After his death in 1985 his body was cremated at Grand View Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif. and his ashes were later scattered at sea, leaving no grave site for fans to visit.

There is, however, a bronze memorial plaque for him in West Hollywood, located at 8594 Santa Monica Blvd. which I found and photographed for the first time yesterday.

The memorial is just one of dozens like it that line Santa Monica between Fairfax and Doheny.  Together they make up the West Hollywood Memorial Walk. Proceeds from the sale of these tributes benefit Aid For AIDS (AFA) which is the oldest and largest provider of financial assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County.

AFA helps over 3,000 clients a year pay for rent, utilities, transportation, health care and pharmaceutical needs when they are threatened by homelessness and the financial crises their health condition often causes.

Rock also has a cenotaph at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cathedral City, Calif. and an online memorial page at Findagrave.com.

Schlitze Surtees (1901-1971) ~ "One of Us"

The next time anyone tries to put me down by calling me a pinhead I'm going to smile and say "thank you very much for the compliment!"

Any of us should consider ourselves quite fortunate to be described as such.  It puts us in the company of the most famous and beloved "pinhead" of all time, Schlitze Surtees, a special human being who died in 1971 yet is still remembered today for bringing unadulterated joy, laughter and love to the world around him.

Schlitze ~ Our Fearless Leader

My first encounter with Schlitze (also commonly spelled Schlitzie) was many years ago, when I saw him in the Tod Browning directed MGM film Freaks.  As one promotional lobby card reads, it is the story of the love life of the sideshow, although the underlying theme that I got out of it was one of unconditional love for human beings of all shapes and sizes (bad guys excluded, of course.)

In Freaks, Schlitze was one of the good guys.  Or rather, he was a good guy in real life who was cast in the role of a good girl, but that's a whole other story.  The point is, I have loved this film for many years and Schlitze's exuberant featured-role performance is the main reason why it's so special to me.

 

I've come to learn so much about Schlitze's carnival and film career and personal life over the years, thanks to my good friend, Scott Michaels, who so adores this gentle soul that he has his image tattooed on his right forearm.  The more I learned, the more I grew to adore him as well.

Back in October 2007, a discussion began among fellow Death Hags on Scott's message board regarding the fact that Schlitze's grave had remained unmarked for nearly 40 years.  In fact, for many years, the whereabouts of his remains was a mystery until research conducted by dedicated fans confirmed that he had been buried in a pauper's grave along with two other souls, courtesy of Los Angeles County, at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Rowland Heights, Calif.
 

Fast forward to February 2009.  After generous and heroic efforts by board members, most notably Shelly Lichoff of Columbus, Ohio, approximately $400 was donated to the cause, a headstone was placed on Schlitze's grave and what appears to be a first annual "Schlitze's Day" was organized to remember and memorialize him.

I was honored to be included in the events that sunny day, celebrating Schlitze's life with a group of wonderful people, most of whom I did not know beforehand, but felt fast friends with from first hellos.

Friends of Schlitze gather at his newly-marked grave



Placed in late 2008, it was already in need of some upkeep



Scott does the honors



Cleaned up and ready to be decorated!



Bill Paredes Jr. sticks a penny in the ground ~ Schlitze loved to spit-shine pennies



Verne Langdon and Reverend Bryan Moore each spoke with
heartfelt eloquence about The Importance of Schlitze

Reverend Bryan Moore conducted the service.  He shared that whenever he sees Schlitze on film or in a photograph, Schlitze is usually smiling which in turn makes us smile, too. "On a level of purity, Schlitze quite literally exuded happiness, simplicity and love," he said. "To this day, Schlitze has the capacity to make us feel and make us smile."

Verne Langdon also spoke, from experience.  He had known Schlitze over the course of many years and recalled their first meeting at a carnival, when Verne was 9-years-old and Schlitze was a veteran featured attraction.  He felt an immediate and everlasting bond with the star, and that their meeting was fate.

Like most children, Verne loved cartoons.  When he asked his mother to take him backstage to meet Schlitze he discovered that Schlitze "was a living cartoon, alive on the inside" and remarked how Schlitze had a natural way of "making a child out of each and every one of us."

Verne also recalled how over the years when their paths would cross, Schlitze always seemed to remember their bond and be happy to see him again, despite not having much in the way of conversation between them.  Schlitze communicated with his eyes, his smile and his laugh.

For a personal recollection of the day written by Verne, and to see videos of the speakers, please be sure to visit Scott's site, Findadeath.com. 

Three friends I actually did know prior to Schlitze's Day: Scott,CC and Steve


Scott's Schlitze tattoo



Scott and CiCi made beautiful grave rubbings of Schlitze's new marker



Schlitze and Me

Many thanks to everyone who made this day so special:  Scott Michaels, Verne Langdon, Shelly Lichoff, Bryan Moore, Heather Saenz, Micah Harris, Tim Harris, Phil De Croocq, Liesel Damota, Joel Malmen, Nick Lichoff, Bill Paredes, Bill Paredes Jr., Gary and Gail Koch, Michael Kriegsman, CC and Steve Goldstein.

More photos from the day may be viewed at the Schlitze's Day Flickr Photo Album.

For additional information about Schlitze, please be sure to visit Scott Michaels' Findadeath additional tribute page;  There's Something About Schlitze, a comprehensive site by Tom Hernandez; and a Findagrave.com memorial page where you can leave messages and virtual flowers in his honor.

Rest in peace, dear Schlitze.  Thank you for being uniquely you.

Watch Schlitze's big scene in Freaks

Charmin pays tribute to Mr. Whipple

By DAVID HINCKLEY
NY DAILY NEWS TV CRITIC
Thursday, December 13th 2007, 4:00 AM

Forget those $2 million Super Bowl spots.

This year's most memorable television ad is running right now: Procter & Gamble's 30-second tribute to the late Dick Wilson, better-known for two decades as Mr. Whipple, the man who told the ladies not to squeeze the Charmin.

The new spot, scheduled to run through this week, features clips of Mr. Whipple from various moments during his 1964-1985 run, telling different women with the same hint of exasperation not to squeeze the Charmin he was surreptitiously squeezing himself.

Like the ads themselves, the tribute is simple and perfect. Bizarre as it might seem to honor a man for squeezing a roll of bathroom tissue, it's precisely the way one of America's great TV ad icons should be remembered.

"Dick Wilson meant a lot to the Charmin brand," says DeWayne Guy, a spokesman at Procter & Gamble. "He's a big part of the reason Charmin is the country's best-selling bathroom tissue. So it was always in our minds that we'd do this tribute."

Because the spot consists of archival clips interspersed with black-and-white printed messages, Guy says, "We were able to put it together and get it on the air within a week of his death."

Among the handful of advertising characters who have had anything close to Mr. Whipple's lofty profile - the Maytag repairman, the Marlboro Man, Clara Peller of "Where's the beef?" - none who have passed away have received this kind of national memorial to their defining image.

"Mr. Whipple was unique in that he almost transcended advertising," says Guy. "He's an icon not just for our brand, but for America. When I tell people I work for Charmin, the first thing they say is, 'Mr. Whipple!' "

Mr. Whipple's ascent was so fast that by 1967, three years after his debut, Charlie Walker scored a top-10 country hit called "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon."

"I'm not sure you can plan for a Mr. Whipple," says Guy. "Something like that is very organic."

There also may be fewer Mr. Whipples in the future, for several reasons.

Advertising, like all media, is moving to multi-imagery that's heavy on special effects. Ad agencies also seem less inclined to establish long-term human characters whose profile could draw attention away from the product - a trap P&G avoided with Mr. Whipple by having the Charmin name be part of his tagline.

That's one reason today's ad icons include the Aflac duck and the Geico gecko, who live only to serve the product and won't have to be memorialized because they can live forever.

But Dick Wilson lived to 91 and Mr. Whipple still outlived him, a pretty good run for both.

"This spot is unusual because it really isn't about selling something," says Guy. "It's more about just saying thanks and goodbye to a member of the family."

See vintage Charmin commercials here on YouTube!

Further reading:

Dick Wilson at Wikipedia
E! News: TV's favorite toilet paper pitchman has reached the end of the roll

We recently visited Mr. Wilson's new and still unmarked plot where his cremated remains were interred at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills to pay respects - here it is:

Leave a flower and/or note for him here at Findagrave.com.