{Hollywood} Forest Lawn Glendale: The Great Mausoleum and The Church of the Recessional
Continuing on in Forest Lawn Glendale…
Before we venture over to the Great Mausoleum, we have one important pitstop: The Church of the Recessional, where both Clark Gable and Carole Lombard’s funerals were held–Clark on November 19, 1960 and Carole (with her mother) on January 21, 1942.
Naturally, we tried to see inside but there wasn’t much to see through the windows and all the doors were locked. Here is a photo of the inside, from Forest Lawn’s website:
And now…onto the Great Mausoleum. A place I have thought of often and had always hoped to visit.
It is absolutely gorgeous to behold in person.The building is huge beyond belief; I couldn’t even get it all in one picture.
The picture above is of the Memorial Terrace Entrance, where we entered. Yes, we did see the Holly Terrace Entrance, which has become well-known the past two years because of a certain King of Pop interred behind the doors. Holly Terrace was built on later and is on the other side of the building from the Memorial Terrace.
The inside was just as I had imagined it would be: absolutely gorgeous, pristine and very peaceful. We were in the only two people in the mausoleum at the time and it just felt so peaceful, there isn’t another word for it.
A recreation of the Last Supper Window is in the main hall. The only thing that interrupted the peacefulness of the mausoleum is the booming broadcast of the unveiling of this window every thirty minutes. I didn’t get a picture of the actual window, since I was busy elsewhere in here, but here is where they unveil it.
One of the mausoleum’s newest residents, Elizabeth Taylor, is still without a marker. But here she is, entombed under this huge angel, before you reach the Last Supper Window.
Past Elizabeth’s final resting place and to the right is a beautiful hallway called the Sanctuary of Benediction.
On the right are many long plots, with William Powell’s parents and actress Marie Dressler among the residents.
Across from them are very impressive rooms that house Sid Grauman (of Grauman’s Chinese Theater) and famed comedian Red Skelton.
The very last room on the left hand side is for Jean Harlow, Clark’s close friend and co-star in The Secret Six, Red Dust, Hold Your Man, China Seas, Wife vs. Secretary and Saratoga, who died in 1937 at age 26.
She is entombed in the middle of three plots with the simple inscription, “Our Baby.” Her mother was also placed in the room, although unmarked. The third space shall remain empty.
At the end of the hall, past a gate, is the room for Irving Thalberg, MGM’s “wonder boy” producer. Irving was the one who gave Clark a shot at the studio and guided him into some of his most well-known roles, such as Fletcher Christian in Mutiny on the Bounty. He died at age 37 in 1936.
Irving’s inscription reads “My Sweetheart Forever,” from his wife, actress Norma Shearer, who is entombed above him, marked “Norma Arrouge,” her second husband’s name.
Norma starred with Clark in Strange Interlude, Idiot’s Delight, and she was the one he smacked around in his star-making turn in A Free Soul.
Irving’s parents Henrietta and William are also in this room, along with his sister, Sylvia.
Now we leave the Sanctuary of Benediction and go back out into the main chapel and into a section called “Columbarium of Prayer.” There are two hallways in the section, the one to the left being “Sanctuary of Trust,” the final resting place for Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.
At the end of the hall on the left side, is a room for David Selznick, legendary producer of Gone with the Wind, among his other distinct projects. His actress wife Jennifer Jones and their daughter Mary Jennifer are also entombed in this room.
To reach the Selznicks, you would have to walk past a simple marble bench.
It is here, on the right hand side across from the bench, that Clark Gable rests for all eternity, next to Carole Lombard.
Carole’s mother Elizabeth Peters, who perished with her in the plane crash, is on the other side of Carole.
Clark’s widow, Kathleen “Kay” Williams Gable, is one row down and to the left of him, on the very bottom row.
I wish I could put into words what it meant to me to stand in front of Clark and Carole’s bronze nameplates and to put flowers in their empty vases. But it’s just a bit hard to express, it was very emotional for me. What I can say is that when I left the mausoleum for some reason I had a renewed sense of purpose for what this site can be.
That wraps up my adventures in Hollywood. Thank you to everyone for “tagging along”!
33 Comments
Kendra
Great photos, Meredith! I didn’t know so many famous names were buried in that one mausoleum. Thanks for the fab virtual tour!
Hassie
Emotional, indeed!!! I’m in tears just reading and viewing your photos. I can’t imagine standing next to their crypts, but you made me feel as if I was right there, too. I’ve said this before…you do such a fabulous job in preserving and keeping Mr. Gable’s memory alive. I’m sure he would be honored by such dedication and devotion these many years after his death.
Pam
admin
Thank you Kendra! There are a lot more celebrities in there too, that we couldn’t see, such as Jack Carson, Lon Chaney, WC Fields, Russ Colombo…. It’s amazing the names all in one building!
admin
Thank you Pam! I really appreciate that. I was pretty speechless when I was standing there. It’s like all this work and time spent on him and…there he is. And there was just something so peaceful about seeing them there, side by side.
Vincent
The many famous people there have meant so much to our society and our culture, and it’s good that we can honor them (as long as it’s done with the dignity and taste they deserve). I know when I visited in 1989 and was able to leave a flower for Lombard, it was a moving moment for me. An excellent piece; thank you for writing it.
lovegable
thank you!! from your photo, I feel as if I was right there, too. Mr Gable is alive in my heart.
june
I finally am having time to catch up on all of your trip and hard work….how amazing. Like Vincent, I was able to place flowers in 1975, and sat with David, holding hands and brushing away tears. Thank you so much for these memories. When is the book coming out?
Zella Taylor
I sure enjoyed these pictures,I loved Clark Gable,His life,movies,etc.So sad about his daughter,not being told ,who she was,reading up on her and found this site.I know there are a lot of famous people at Forest Lawm..There is not movies like the old days.they are missed.So Sad
Jennifer H.- NYC
Ok I found it!! Haha Im oooohh -kay!! LOL These are such great shots M & the info & more u submitted for each one (pics) & the story you write…fabulus! Love the “one u had to take at Carole’s old house with Powell”-hahaha. Wel u took an array of pics & thx 4 posting. But by the look of it, you would need to be in Ca. for a month to get ALL the pics you wanted to get, but I think you did a darn great job with what u have here my friend! You seem VERY determined to get these shots & visit all the places u wanted to get to…I KNOW I WOULD! Good job bud! …..Now back to reading “Gossip Fridays” Great thing, always something new i NEVER knew about! ~Jen
zeke
How were you able to get so close to crypts of Gable/Lombard/Thalberg/Harlow etc. to take such great photos without being thrown out. I’ve heard security in the Great Mausoleum is pretty tight.
admin
I think I just got lucky!! I didn’t have any trouble.
Lola
So you took pictures when it’s strictly forbidden to do so? With all those security cameras? Yes, it would be lucky, but I wouldn’t be so disrespectful of the policies.
admin
If anyone had asked me not to, I wouldn’t have. There was no sign saying you couldn’t either.
Debbie
What an amazing site you have here. I just ran across it, and your articles are wonderful and done with such class. Thank you for sharing this and the photos. It means so much when you can’t see these things for yourself. Fantastic job! I just entered my email address to subscribe. It will take awhile for me to catch up anyway. Thanks again.
admin
Thank you so much Debbie!! I appreciate your gracious comment!!
Berta.
Excelente trabajo. Nunca había tenido la ocasión de verlo tan bien.
Siga con su labor sobre Clark Gable.
Susan Flanagan
I feel it was meant to be that you got in and took the photos. You are totally respectful and devoted to Mr. and Mrs. Gable. It was a lovely tribute you created and we were able to benefit from it too. Many thanks for this great site. I come here daily and it brings me lots of amusement. Thank you so much!
Kimberly Kennedy
Just fantastic. I loved everything you wrote and photos too. Glad you got to visit and share. I wonder where William Powell was burried. I know he owns the empty tomb next to Harlow. He wanted to be burried next to her until he fell in love with “Mousie”.
admin
Thank you!!
William Powell is buried in Palm Springs somewhere, next to Mousie.
Kim Robson
Thank you for posting these wonderful photos. I’m a lifelong Carole fan, and I’m doing research for a book I’m writing that involves Russ Columbo and Carole and Lansing Brown. Your photos are by far the best I’ve seen yet of the Great Mausoleum’s interior. So glad you didn’t get in trouble. There *is* a chain at the entrance to the sanctuary of Trust, though, is that correct?
admin
Thank you! I appreciate your comment!
Yes all the hallways in there either have chains or gates.
Bibi Lopez
Wow! Love this! Thank you for sharing : )
Peggy Hill
Thank you so much for the pics. Love them all! You are good at what you do. Thank you again. Thank you Mr Gable, Ms. Lombard, Ms. Harlow, & MGM for all your years of entertainment. Godspeed to you all!
admin
Thank you Peggy!
Mrs.McCall
I just came across your site and what an amazing site you’ve made. I had to register. I was lucky enough to have been born into a family in the 1980s that still adored Mr.Gable and his films. I’ve read many books about him and his life. Of course my favorite film starring him was GWTW. He was in my eyes the definition of a fine gentleman. Why don’t they make men like that anymore? Lol.
I really enjoyed looking at your photos from Forest Lawn. You can feel the emotion from just viewing them. I hope to visit there one of these days. My favorite modern day actor that passed away almost two years ago and so young, is also at Forest Lawn, the late Paul Walker.
Anyways, I wanted to say thank you for making this site for fellow fans and for also sharing so many photos of the great King of Hollywood, Mr.Clark Gable.
Rachael
I’ve just become entangled in a passionate admiration of Mr. Gable. My husband John, whose currently in prison, looks and acts just like him lol. I guess watching his movies makes me feel close to him. What a beautiful man he was inside and out. Although 87 years my senior his presence on film is so timeless. And these are great photos! Thank you for sharing, because I’ll probably never make it there 🙂 ~Rachael
Pearl
Definitely a great read! Thank you for sharing, I cried with you at your ending! I’m so happy to have stumbled upon this site, I’m glad that these memories are being kept alive.
Carolyn
I just found your site and am delighted! I have been a life long fan of Clark Gable and have just developed an interest in his wife, Carole Lombard. I have been fortunate to have visited their grave sites several times when living in Los Angeles. My first child is buried not far from the Great Mausoleum in Forest Lawn. It truly is a lovely experience to visit their grave sites, along with so many other great stars of that era. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the Gabels. This is a wonderful site and I look forward to reading more of your entries in the future.
Sheila
Wonderful images. I must visit this extraordinary place one day. Many thanks for all the great work on your site.
Kelley S.
I thoroughly enjoy this blog, thank you 🙂
DONNA SHUFORD
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS FOREST LAWN TOUR !!!
I JUST FLEW FROM HAWAII TO THE LAX AND ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS CAROLE AND CLARK’S HOME AND THEIR FUNERALS IN CALIFORNIA. I’VE LOVED THEM FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
TODAY MARKS THE 57TH ANNIVERSARY OF CLARK’S DEATH.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING!!!!
Victoria
Thank you for posting these photos! I visited Forest Lawn in 2005 and while peering down one of the halls, a security lady asked us to leave. I was heartbroken. Thanks for sharing again!