The Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary is a
Jewish cemetery in
Culver City, California, United States. Many
Jewish people from the entertainment industry are buried here. 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]
History
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]
^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]
The Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary is a
Jewish cemetery in
Culver City, California, United States. Many
Jewish people from the entertainment industry are buried here. 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]
History
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]
^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]