Life Is Better On Vacation: Hollywood

Sunday 16 March 2014

Bronson Caves (aka The Batcave)

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Address: Canyon Dr., Griffith Park
Date: Feb 2014

"Atomic batteries to power. Turbines to speed."
"Roger. Ready to move out."
Fans of the 60s TV show Batman will want to see this location when visiting Griffith Park. It is located not on any road that leads to the Griffith Observatory but further (Adam) West on Canyon Road. We parked in a gravel parking lot and then entered the trail heading south. We did notice the sign warning that there were rattlesnakes in the area but we had no intention of running off into the bushes or turning over rocks. We stayed on the dirt road that was wide enough to drive a truck full of camera gear or a Batmobile through.

Just a short way up the trail and there on the left we spotted it. In fact we looked straight through it. It was missing some vegetation and there was no little red and white road barrier, but we knew we had reached our destination. The caves had been created by a quarry that operated in the early 1900's and since then many film and television productions have used the site. None has done so quite as famously as the Batman television series.
Now how do we get back from here? I believe it is about 14 miles to Gotham City.

Map of Our World

Bronson Caves

Post # 2

Saturday 15 March 2014

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Address: 6000 Santa Monica Blvd.
Date: Feb 2014
Website: www.hollywoodforever.com

Right in the middle of Hollywood is a cemetery that is worth visiting. The beautifully maintained grounds are a great place for a relaxing stroll. There are many famous people who have chosen this as their final resting place. A few notables we visited were Don Adams of Get Smart fame, and Johnny Ramone of The Ramones, whose bust rises out of his gravestone to forever strum away.

One grave we had planned to visit was that of Mel Blanc, best known for being just about every voice you hear in the Looney Tunes cartoons. We had expected to find him in "The Garden of Legends" so we wandered around the pond checking each grave in hopes the next was his. Eventually we gave in and asked a groundskeeper for assistance. He did not know where to find Mel, but did let us know that the flower shop has maps available. Off to the flower shop where just a quick look at a map and we were on to plot #34.

This took us back to "The Garden of Legends" which was still looking lovely with the sun shining and geese swimming in the waters. Some time passed and again it was back to the flower shop, where maps cost $5.00. G. Mel Blanc resides in plot #84 (you see how that happened?) and has a simple gravestone that states That's All Folks.