"Plan 9" Cemetery To Be Plaqued Monday

Above, Bela Lugosi in Plan Nine From Outer Space. 

by Armand Vaquer

But, on Monday (which is Memorial Day), Platrix Chapter No. 2, E Clampus Vitus will be erecting a plaque at the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery in Sylmar, California.

A number of notable pioneers in Los Angeles history are buried there. It is said that some 600 people are buried at the cemetery, but there's only a few headstones there.

The cemetery was abandoned for a number of years and the tombstones fell victim to neglect and vandalism. In recent years, the cemetery has been under care by historical groups.

The cemetery is noted for a particular movie production: Ed Wood's Plan Nine From Outer Space (1959). The movie was shot around 1956-57, but not released until 1959.

According to IMBD trivia on the movie:

The cemetery used for filming is the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery in Sylmar, CA. It still stands, although many of the grave stones were stolen or vandalized. 

Bela Lugosi appears in footage shot just before his death, but with no script in mind. Edward D. Wood Jr. wrote the script to accommodate all the footage shot in a cemetery and outside Tor Johnson's house in the new production. Lugosi was doubled by Tom Mason, Wood's wife's chiropractor, who was significantly taller than Lugosi, and played the part with a cape covering his face.

The cemetery was near Tor Johnson's home.

The plaque dedication will take place at 11:00 at the cemetery at 14451 Bledsoe, Sylmar.

Monsterpalooza 2013 - Part 2

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

Above, Kong dominates the Monsterpalooza Museum.

Along with King Kong, there seemed to be a lot of Erik from The Phantom of the Opera.  The Chaney Family had a booth there as did Sara Karloff and Bela Lugosi Jr.

I was pleased to meet and be photographed with Academy Award winning actor Martin Landau.  I also saw 2001: A Space Odyssey stars Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood.  I had met Gary Lockwood before when I used to patrol in Malibu.  He lives at one of our gated community accounts in Point Dume.

Back in the day, I used to pick up copies of G-Fan at the Creature Features store in Burbank to do the  highlights summaries for kaiju message boards (as issues tended to be slow in coming).  They closed down about 7-8 years ago.  They had a booth at the show and they are now open in Arcadia, California.  We talked a little and perhaps they will be carrying The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan at their store.

Here's some more from opening day:

Above, a rather well-done replica Robby the robot from "Forbidden Planet."

Above, the crew of the "Orca" from 1975's "Jaws."  Great likenesses of Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss.

Above, yours truly with Academy Award winner (for his role as Bela Lugosi in "Ed Wood")  Martin Landau.

Above, Erik and Christine from "The Phantom of the Opera."

Above, I took this photo because this reminds me of a co-worker in Malibu.