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Birth of a Cemetery: Forest Lawn Memorial-Park
In Birth of a Cemetery, John F. Llewellyn reminds us that even supremely successful enterprises often emerge from chaotic beginnings. Llewellyn’s book is essential reading for cemetery scholars and fans who want the inside story of how modern cemeteries develop, and the challenges they face.
Llewellyn chronicles the mindboggling organizational drama from 1905 until the mid-1920s accompanying the founding of what was first called Forest Lawn Cemetery. While early American cemeteries were founded by faith-based organizations or public entities, by this time, cemeteries had become hybrid institutions, partly non-profit, partly profit. They exemplified the period’s seemingly unlimited, and largely unregulated entrepreneurial spirit.
Forest Lawn also mirrored the booming, racially divided city and suburbs of early 20th century Los Angeles. The cemetery’s founders recognized the opportunity that growth represented, but had trouble settling on a management and sales program that would allow them to fully exploit it. Instead, they squabbled, backbit, and gossiped as they endlessly tried to find a system that would work, and time after time theirs produced more debt than profit.
Some familiar faces in California history, Hubert Eaton, architect T. Paterson Ross, Motley Flint, the Glassell family, among others, populate the story. Many are civic leaders, while more than a few are scoundrels trying to figure out that most LA of pursuits, a quick success.
Eventually, Hubert Eaton would take control, invent his version of the “memorial-park,” and infuse the landscape with the values for which the institution became famous, middle class families, patriotism, and faith. Within a decade, as Llewellyn demonstrates in the final chapters, the newly christened Forest Lawn Memorial-Park would become the model for most cemeteries founded in the US.
Llewellyn chronicles the mindboggling organizational drama from 1905 until the mid-1920s accompanying the founding of what was first called Forest Lawn Cemetery. While early American cemeteries were founded by faith-based organizations or public entities, by this time, cemeteries had become hybrid institutions, partly non-profit, partly profit. They exemplified the period’s seemingly unlimited, and largely unregulated entrepreneurial spirit.
Forest Lawn also mirrored the booming, racially divided city and suburbs of early 20th century Los Angeles. The cemetery’s founders recognized the opportunity that growth represented, but had trouble settling on a management and sales program that would allow them to fully exploit it. Instead, they squabbled, backbit, and gossiped as they endlessly tried to find a system that would work, and time after time theirs produced more debt than profit.
Some familiar faces in California history, Hubert Eaton, architect T. Paterson Ross, Motley Flint, the Glassell family, among others, populate the story. Many are civic leaders, while more than a few are scoundrels trying to figure out that most LA of pursuits, a quick success.
Eventually, Hubert Eaton would take control, invent his version of the “memorial-park,” and infuse the landscape with the values for which the institution became famous, middle class families, patriotism, and faith. Within a decade, as Llewellyn demonstrates in the final chapters, the newly christened Forest Lawn Memorial-Park would become the model for most cemeteries founded in the US.
476 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 21, 2018
This was really hard for me to rate - because it didn't fulfill my requirement from the title but it was well written, thorough and interesting.
It is a detailed look from the very inception of the idea of a cemetery and not just any cemetery - arguably the most famous of all in Los Angeles - Forest Lawn. The author has detailed every plan, cost and argument that brought the memorial park known today - into being. With information about the founders, owners and employees - with certificates and paperwork etc as evidence for the story being told.
This in itself was interesting - however, the main object of my reading it was to learn more about the famous residents such as Jean Harlow etc and why the Hollywood film industry embraced this cemetery above all others as the place to reside after death.
Unfortunately, if you are like me and looking to find out about that side of Forest Lawn - this book has absolutely nothing in it for you. If you're interested in construction, planning and building a cemetery - then this is the book for you.
If I had been interested in the whole of the book being about construction I'd have given it 5 stars for that - this author knows his stuff! But because it had nothing in it of true interest to me - I'd rate it 3 stars - so in the interest of fairness - I've compromised and given it an overall 4 star rating .
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Tropico Press for providing me with a digital advance reader copy for my honest and unbiased review
It is a detailed look from the very inception of the idea of a cemetery and not just any cemetery - arguably the most famous of all in Los Angeles - Forest Lawn. The author has detailed every plan, cost and argument that brought the memorial park known today - into being. With information about the founders, owners and employees - with certificates and paperwork etc as evidence for the story being told.
This in itself was interesting - however, the main object of my reading it was to learn more about the famous residents such as Jean Harlow etc and why the Hollywood film industry embraced this cemetery above all others as the place to reside after death.
Unfortunately, if you are like me and looking to find out about that side of Forest Lawn - this book has absolutely nothing in it for you. If you're interested in construction, planning and building a cemetery - then this is the book for you.
If I had been interested in the whole of the book being about construction I'd have given it 5 stars for that - this author knows his stuff! But because it had nothing in it of true interest to me - I'd rate it 3 stars - so in the interest of fairness - I've compromised and given it an overall 4 star rating .
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Tropico Press for providing me with a digital advance reader copy for my honest and unbiased review
November 21, 2018
Buy From Amazon https://amzn.to/2A0ZdIh
Watch On YouTube: https://youtu.be/8PkfsDewv2w
I, David, once worked for a perpetual care cemetery. I found then that it was much more complicated than most would believe. Even to someone who has worked in the industry, Birth of a Cemetery: Forest Lawn Memorial-Park by John F. Llewellyn makes for some very enlightening reading.
The business student in me was entertained by the convoluted ways they structured three different companies to reach one goal.
It was an eye-opening experience to read about what went into the purchase of a crematory. Readers are told how some of the people involved in Forest Lawn took their duties to the families super seriously, while others squabbled like kids on a school ground.
This was a very interesting book and would make great reading for anyone studying business, business law, history, or Funeral Industry science.
This book is well-written and amazingly researched. It is very entertaining and informative. We give it all five stars.
We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.
We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Manian Debil Productions is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Buy From Amazon https://amzn.to/2A0ZdIh
Watch On YouTube: https://youtu.be/8PkfsDewv2w
Watch On YouTube: https://youtu.be/8PkfsDewv2w
I, David, once worked for a perpetual care cemetery. I found then that it was much more complicated than most would believe. Even to someone who has worked in the industry, Birth of a Cemetery: Forest Lawn Memorial-Park by John F. Llewellyn makes for some very enlightening reading.
The business student in me was entertained by the convoluted ways they structured three different companies to reach one goal.
It was an eye-opening experience to read about what went into the purchase of a crematory. Readers are told how some of the people involved in Forest Lawn took their duties to the families super seriously, while others squabbled like kids on a school ground.
This was a very interesting book and would make great reading for anyone studying business, business law, history, or Funeral Industry science.
This book is well-written and amazingly researched. It is very entertaining and informative. We give it all five stars.
We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.
We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Manian Debil Productions is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Buy From Amazon https://amzn.to/2A0ZdIh
Watch On YouTube: https://youtu.be/8PkfsDewv2w
October 18, 2018
#BirthOfAcemetery #NetGalley
John makes a beautiful tribute book to this emblematic cemetery which is the Forest Lawn Memorial-Park. The book is well documented and illustrated.
John makes a beautiful tribute book to this emblematic cemetery which is the Forest Lawn Memorial-Park. The book is well documented and illustrated.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews