This is my grandmother's house. The embedded images are from the 70's.
Who says you can't go back?
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Death Hag Sticker of the Day GOOBLE GOBBLE! It's Schlitzie!
Schlitzie the beloved pinhead from FREAKS.
To hear the wonderful, heartwarming and heartbreaking story of Schlitzie's life, see Findadeath.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Thursday, April 23, 2015
James Earl Ray Deathaversary April 23, 2015
A few years ago it came to my attention via my friend Joe Walker, that James Earl Ray, the man who murdered Dr. Martin Luther King, once lived in Hollywood.
Circa 1967, Ray was a resident of the Gerswin Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard.
Joe clarifies, "An ad in a paper called the LA Free Press which was where "swingers" met. After he was arrested they went way back into his life because, while he agreed to plead guilty, he later recanted saying he was put up to it, etc. I am attaching a clipping from a report on Ray, along with the address of the Gershwin and the PO box he used in Alhambra - coincidentally now a nursery school."
This building had another notable resident, fiction-writer
Kenneth "No one has sued me yet." Anger.
The ever changing face of Hollywood - when developers opted to destroy other buildings on the street to build a Petco, there was a terrific rare view of an old auto repair shop sign.
Sad, this is almost like archaeology here.
Another fatality of vaginal rejuvenation - the X-Spot porn theater/shop where Nick Stahl, the Terminator 3 actor, was arrested.
Tragical.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
David Koresh 22nd Deathaversary
David Koresh died on this date, April 19, 1993
The ruins of Waco Texas have found their way into the
Dearly Departed Tours Museum
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Titanic 2
While going through some old papers this morning, I found these photographs I took in Cobh Ireland around 1996. Cobh is the former Queenstown. The brick building is the former White Star Line ticket office.
The Titanic stopped here on April 11, 1912 to pick up mail (RMS Titanic = Royal Mail Ship Titanic) and it's last 123 passengers.
The ship left this port bound for New York.
This is the very last land that the Titanic and most of the people aboard ever saw.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Titanic 103rd Deathaversary April 15, 2015
Today marks 103 years since the Titanic sank.
I've collected a few photographs and visited some locations over the years. Here are some pictures and files I've saved.
The Texas Embassy off Trafalgar Square - the former White Star Line ticket office in London
The Texas Embassy is formerly Oceanic House, where people would buy their ocean travel tickets.
White Star offices, Liverpool
Titanic related grave marker in Clinton Twp, MI
Belfast Shipyard - photographs by Peter Suarez
Belfast, where the Titanic was built
Shipyard where the Titanic was built
Belfast
The Lady in Black - IMPOSTOR!
The legendary Lady in Black who visited Rudolph Valentino's grave on the anniversary of his death.
Over the years there have been a dozens of them. Even a black lady wearing white.
Real
Impostor!
I love this picture
Long live these old Hollywood traditions.
Long live the dead stars.
Long live the dead stars.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Grandma Walton - Ellen Corby's 16th Deathaversary!
Ellen Corby
June 3, 1911 - April 14, 1999
I can't explain why I've always been nerd about The Waltons. It might be because I've lived in major cities for my entire life and I've always fantasized about a kinder, gentler existence.
Fantasized, because in real life I'd probably get strung up for liking the mens.
On television I enjoyed a weekly escape from Detroit. From being taken from my friendly familiar school and bussed to a horrible school with bars on the windows and security guards on walkie-talkies in the lunch room. Being bullied, threatened and extorted on a weekly basis. Oh wait, that happened before bussing too. Yeah, give me Walton's mountain any day.
In the late 80's I started to write fan letters to stars. I received some terrific letters back. Letters from Jimmy Stewart, Lucy, George Burns... Quite honestly, I chose a lot of celebrities who I didn't think were doing much and might take the time to reply. So, I wrote Grandma Walton.
She wrote me back.
To have an actual connection with a "star" was pretty awesome. I think it was some sort of weirdo validation I felt I needed.
Now it just so happened that I've be visiting Los Angeles shortly after this exchange, and on one of the letters she wrote, was a return address label. When I got to LA, I bought a Thomas Guide and searched out Ellen Corby's home, first stopping at a florist to pick up a bouquet to surprise her.
Surprise.
I went to the house, walked up the steps and rang the bell. Nothing. I waited a minute, rang again. Nothing. I decided to go back to my car and leave the flowers and a note. The peephole opened. "WHO ARE YOU?" I explained that my name is Scott, I wrote Ms. Corby a fan letter and she wrote me back from this address. I just wanted to drop off flowers for her and say 'thanks'. I placed the flowers on the porch and backed away slowly.
As I reached the sidewalk, the woman opened the door and called for me. She said that she had no idea who I was therefore was concerned/frightened. I explained that I understood, and could you please give these flowers to Ms. Corby. After chatting for a few minutes, she introduced herself as Stella Luchetta, a friend of Ellen's. Ellen had a stroke in 1976 and had been staying with Ms. Luchetta. She said if I were to return the next day around 3pm, I could meet Ms. Corby. Whoa.
Funny, as I was leaving the private security WESTEC officers came speeding up the street and ran up to Stella's door. No doubt she pushed some button to notify them that a psycho was on her porch. Luckily I was watching this out of my rear view mirror as I was driving away. HAHAHA.
Now here's the shitty part.
The next day I was offered to be be shown around the LA area cemeteries by a friend. It was my only chance. There was no way I could get word to Stella that I was not going to be there. I just... blew it off.
I wish I had my priorities straight. I had no idea I'd be living in LA in 5 or so years and the cemeteries will always be there.
I felt terrible. When I got home I penned Ms. Luchetta and Ms. Corby an apology.
This was the response.
"We were waiting - No Scott."
I still feel shitty.
When The Waltons ceased production, Ellen spent her time watching reruns, and logging them diligently in a book. She waited around, and inevitably, they would wheel her in for reunion specials. It was great to see her, because the show never could be the same without her... but she was reduced to a cameo, and mumbling a few mono syllabic lines.
A few weeks before she died, Ellen was moved into the Motion Picture Country Home, in Calabasis, CA.
On Ellen' last day in life, Stella brought her a Cobb salad from Mirabelle's on Sunset. It was her favorite restaurant. Ellen ate about 3/4 of it, and decided to rest. She sent Stella on her way. Her last words to Stella were, "Love you."
Ellen died later that evening, April 14th, 1999.
She was 87.
Ellen was cremated, and is inurned in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale. There was no funeral, but a small memorial service attended by Michael Learned, Lynn Hamilton (Verdie on the show), a few fans, and Earl Hamner.
Earl wrote Ellen a page of script for a Walton's scene, special for the funeral.
It was sealed in her niche.
She also had a passion for lady bugs.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Mrs Howell's 24th Deathaversary. WE NEED YOU!
Natalie Schaefer
November 5, 1900 - April 10, 1991
"I don't know how we're going to explain to our friends that we spent several years with people who aren't even in the social register."
I don't know what's more sad: Mrs. Howell is dead, Mrs Howell died 24 years ago, or Mrs. Howell would be 114 if she were alive today.
What I do know is that the cute home she died in has been destroyed.
WE NEED YOU!
Read about it on Findadeath
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