I probably need help.
Whenever I watch an old movie, I can’t help looking at each of the actors and thinking: “I wonder if that guy’s dead.”
I don’t know why I do it — probably a morbid thing.
Definitely a morbid thing.
But I can’t help myself. If it’s in black and white, I’ll become obsessed. I’ll see an older actress, and I’ll think: “Oh yeah — she’s a goner.” If I see a child actor, I might think, “Well . . . that one has a chance.” But then I’ll figure out the numbers in my head and conclude: “But probably not.”
So as I was watching “The Wizard of Oz” last night, I was going through my morbid mental checklist:
Judy Garland: dead
Scarecrow: probably dead
Toto: long dead
And so on. Amazingly, there are still enough Munchkins around to be available for the yearly Wizard of Oz Festival, which is held not in Kansas but, rather, Indiana.
The thing about old movies is that here these people are — alive, young and happy (at least happy on screen). In the movie you’re watching, these peolple were in their time, just like we are now. And now they’re no more.
(sigh)
Did I mention I have a birthday coming up? Yeah. Let’s not go there.
Anway, since not everyone in old movies is dead, I often find myself going to Dead or Alive?, which not only tells you which celebs have kicked the bucket, but it also categorizes celebrity deaths by cause (including by choking, plane crash, or surgical complications), which ones died before 30 (i.e., River Phoenix, Freddie Prinze, Brandon Lee) and which ones made it to 100 (Hal Roach, George Burns, Bob Hope).
You can be certain that anyone mentioned on Find a Grave is no more. Here you learn a little about the celebs and their tombstones.
A while back, my wife and I went to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which lies in the shadows of the Hollywood sign in — you guessed it — Hollywood. Among the famous people laid to rest there: Cecel B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Sr., Rudolph Valentino and Mel Blanc. But the coolest tombstone of them all goes to Johnny Ramone.
Posted on November 17th, 2008 by Pat
Filed under: The World According to Pat
You’re right, Pat. You probably have a problem.
That said, I’ve always been a big fan of cemeteries, civilian and celebrity alike. I love roaming down an avenue of weathered tombstones and stately mausoleums, reading epitaphs and making grave rubbings.
Half of the fun is guessing the life stories hidden under those mounds of earth.
That festival takes place in my hometown. Fortunately or unfortunately, I’m not sure which, it only blew up after I was already gone. Some love it, some hate it. All I know is that the tin man on stilts that walked in the parade I saw was pretty cool, whereas all the old munchkins running around just kinda weirded me out. Getting back to your theme…I guess those munchkins won’t be attending for long. Who will throw the candy in the parade?!?
Steve:
My friend Scott (who commented on the Mellencamp entry) is also from there. I’ll ask him how the festival went this year.
If he went to Chesterton High School I will know him. It is a small town. If you met him at IU my best guess is Scott Verel (or something like that). Either way, your blog continues to be strangely familiar.
Steve,
Scott Lawson, actually.
And the OzFest is no longer in Chesterton. It’s held at the Porter County Fairgrounds … a topic of much angst among some OzFest fans.
One Munchkin just died last week … another one just won a lawsuit. Still, minor Munchkins show up every year … and even their children take in the festival. A bit bizarre, actually. It would probably make for a fun feature story on CBS Sunday Morning or NPR.
And, by the way, since you wonder about Toto, Pat…
http://www.kansasoz.com/infototo.htm
Gotta love the internet.
Scott, I just happened to be moving books tonight and couldn’t help but look you up in my yearbook. You were actually a freshman while I was a senior. What are you doing hanging out with an old guy like Pat? Sorry Pat, happy early birthday. Anyway, my last name is Lytle.
In other Wizard of Oz news, some folks think that if you start Dark Side of the Moon at just the right time while you play the movie the two go well together. I have tried it and it is kinda cool for a while.
Sorry to detract from the dead munchkins….
Steve,
I recognize you name and will bust out my freshman yearbook at some point.
My older brother graduated in 1987 (he’s a grandfather now, just to make us feel our age). His name is Alan Lawson … married Melissa Kochan (divorced several years later).
There were a myriad of Lawson cousins between 82 and 86 as well. Pete, Steve, Cate, Brian).
And, yes Pat, it is cool that your blog is a little bit of classmates . com.