We値l have a pre-weekend gathering at the Official Dearly Departed Weekend hotel, the Hollywood Orchid Suites. Hang out poolside and chat with old friends, new friends and future friends. BYO. If you decide to stay at the Orchid Suites, you値l get a discounted rate.
The "Official Hotel" for this year's Annual Death Hag Weekend, the Hollywood Orchid Suites is located at 1753 Orchid Ave. The Orchid Suites is a Top Rated hotel with TripAdvisor.
The Orchid Suites is centrally located near West Hollywood and adjacent to the Hollywood and Highland complex, The Chinese Theater, The Hollywood Walk of Fame, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and many other attractions. It is also within close access to the Metro Red Line, and Universal Studios & Citywalk.
As you place your reservation, mention you are there for the Death Hag Weekend for event pricing. The first 15 reservations will get a special rate. We hope to see you there!! Call 800-537-3052 to make your reservation or online.
The Dearly Departed Tours Tomb Buggys will escort guests to the
Los Angeles Police Museum. We値l browse their many displays including the ones devoted to The Black Dahlia, the Patty Hearst kidnapping and the infamous Onion Field Murders.
After the museum we値l head to the Los Angeles Police Academy for lunch. We値l grab some grub in their legendary restaurant, and recreate the "Charlie痴 Angels" pose under the famous gates.
The Friday daytime activity includes transportation, admission and meal.
Rounding off our very official day, we値l have our cocktail party in the classic hospital building located on the grounds of the L.A. County Coroner. We値l have a proper bar with properly revolting finger foods. Author Mark Masek ("Hollywood Remains to Be Seen: A Guide to the Movie Stars' Final Homes") will enthrall us with a presentation about the history of the Coroner痴 office, and Chief Craig Harvey will fascinate us with a tour of the Service Floor for a bare bones (literally) tour.
After the tour, Brian Donnelly will host a pub quiz with great prizes.
Saturday afternoon is free time, but we'll let you know of several different wonderful things to do in the L.A. area. But don't wear yourself out.
Saturday night is the main event. We値l dine amongst the dead in the Pasadena Mausoleum, at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena. Mark Masek will share the fantastically juicy story of the "Chop Shop" Lamb Funeral Home scandal involving the very cemetery where we値l be dining.
We are extremely honored to have as our main speaker for the evening John Gilmore, celebrated author and legend of the Hollywood scene. Gilmore started his career as a motion picture, television and stage actor in Los Angeles, and included James Dean and Marilyn Monroe among his friends. Gilmore's books include Hollywood memoirs, true crime and hard-boiled fiction, and he has been described as "the quintessential L.A. noir writer." While other authors try to tell the story of Hollywood in the middle of the 20th century, Gilmore was there, right in the middle of it all. Gilmore's books include "Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia," "Laid Bare: A Memoir of Wrecked Lives and the Hollywood Death Trip," "The Real James Dean," "L.A. Despair: A Landscape of Crimes & Bad Times," "Inside Marilyn Monroe," "Manson: The Unholy Trial of Charlie and the Family," "On the Run with Bonnie & Clyde," and many others. His presentation is guaranteed to be fascinating, unique and unforgetable.
The evening will also include a conversation with Erin Murphy, who played "Tabitha" on the hit 1960s TV series, "Bewitched." Erin will discuss some of her "Bewitched" co-stars, including Agnes Moorehead ("Endora"), Maurice Evans ("Maurice"), Alice Ghostley ("Esmeralda"), Marion Lorne ("Aunt Clara") and permanent Mountain View resident Maudie Prickett ("Mrs. Peabody").
And while at the Pasadena Mausoleum, you can also pay your respects at the final resting place of George "Superman" Reeves.
There will also be a raffle, a silent auction of really spectacular things, and amazingly wonderful prizes peppered throughout the weekend.
The ultimate goal of this weekend is to raise funds to place a marker on an entertainer's grave. Every person deserves a stone to mark their final resting place, somewhere that people can visit. This year's beneficiary is actor Jonathan Hale. Hale is best known as Mr. Dithers, Dagwood's boss, in the "Blondie" movies. He also co-starred in a couple of episodes of "Superman." (Do you see? There痴 a theme here.) Hale committed suicide at the Motion Picture Country Home on Feb. 28, 1966.
Oct. 3 to 6, 2013