“Nearly twenty years ago, as responsible adults, Bernardo Puccio and I decided to arrange for our final resting place. Didn’t want to leave that choice to family. After looking at several cemeteries, including Westwood Memorial and Forest Lawn, we chose Hollywood Forever (at the time Hollywood Memorial Cemetery). The location we selected was by the serene and beautiful lake in the Garden of Legends. We’d be surrounded with Hollywood stars like Tyrone Power, Marion Davies and Paramount studio mogul Harry Cohn. The site also had a splendid view of the Hollywood sign which symbolically represented our realized dreams of one day living and working in Los Angeles. Now we could be in Hollywood ‘forever.’

Eleven years later, in 2005, after three years of planning and construction, our memorial was completed. We chose a classic Greek design in white Carrara marble that would hold our ashes. The monument’s poetic engraving describes the commitment we made to one another 30 years before after a chance meeting at a West Hollywood restaurant:

TWO HEARTS
TWO SOULS
TOGETHER IN LOVE
FOREVER IN ETERNITY

We also wanted people to know once walked this earth as a couple….and as of 2012…..
for thirty-six years. Tyler Cassity, owner of Hollywood Forever, would later gift us with a tribute engraving on the East side of our monument:

BERNARDO PUCCIO AND ORIN KENNEDY
WERE UNITED IN MARRIAGE ON
SUNDAY, THE TWELFTH OF OCTOBER
TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT

The monument looked so beautiful we decided to celebrate our longtime relationship with friends and family with an unveiling, after which we screened a Hollywood Forever produced video of our lives in the adjacent Cathedral Mausoleum, Valentino’s resting place. The newspapers got wind of our story and although the LA Times headlined the event as
“In death they do not part – in fact, they have a party”, for us it was a serious public statement of our love. International interest also followed our story with film segments on English, French, German and Australian TV.

After taping our Life Story, for family and close friends, the film maker of that video asked if we would allow him to document our story as a feature documentary. He believed Bernardo and I were representative of what it takes to sustain a successful long term relationship; not only for same-sex couples, but for all couples regardless of gender. We agreed and so the unexpected journey began and the feature documentary AN ORDINARY COUPLE was born.

Three years later, the California Supreme Court would rule that denying opposite-sex couples the right to marry was unconstitutional. So on October 12, 2008, we were legally married in a loving and emotional ceremony here in Los Angeles.
One month later Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that stated:
“ Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California,” was passed by a small margin of voters, thus overturning the CA Supreme Court’s ruling. That put our marriage in jeopardy.

Bernardo, Gloria Allred and Orin at the Premiere at Outfest

It was challenged, and the Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, and allowed our marriage and 18,000 other same-sex marriages that happened before the November elections to stand. At this point our film’s story ended, but the battle continues as the issue winds its way through the federal courts.

On August 4th 2010, U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that Prop 8 was unconstitutionally discriminatory. His decision was appealed and again a three judge panel upheld Prop 8 as being unconstitutional. Another appeal followed to a larger Federal Court, found unconstitutional, appealed and the case will probably end up in the Supreme Court.

In 2010 AN ORDINARY COUPLE was selected by the Birmingham SHOUT Film Festival and went on to win Best Documentary Feature and Audience Choice Awards, as well as the Audience Choice Award at the Fort Lauderdale Int’l Film Festival. AN ORDINARY COUPLE was also an official selection at Outfest in Los Angeles, Newfest in New York City, the Austin Film Festival, and Cinema Diverse in Palm Springs.

Our monument is now featured on Karie Bible’s Hollywood Forever Walking Tour. We have the distinction of being its only LIVING celebrities!

Bernardo Puccio, born in Birmingham, AL, is a distinguished interior designer and event planner. Orin Kennedy from New York City, after a 26 year career as a TV location manager, is Chairman Emeritus of the Location Manager’s Guild of America (LMGA).”

Proud Moment screening with Black Swan and 127 Hours at Austin Film Festival

AN ORDINARY COUPLE REVIEWS

EXTRAORDINARY.
“It’s the story itself that packs the punch, and this couple’s story can’t help but be extraordinary.” Austin Chronicle – Cindy Widner

BEAUTIFUL.
“This is a beautiful personal love story..like watching a movie on the history of gay America.” Cinema Pride – Amos Lassen

ENTERTAINING.
“It is more than entertaining…..laugh out loud..true outpouring of emotion.
Their love is clearly present and completely confident in the fact that it transcends politics, propositions and even ashes in a flashy monument at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.” The Austinist – Nick Gio Barbieri

INSPIRING.
“The duo are thoroughly inspiring.”
Examiner.com
WONDERFUL.
“Wonderful documentary. It’s enough to make you believe in love again.”
Greg in Hollywood

“Worth your time and money.” We Ho News – Roy R. Oldencamp

TIMELESS.
“Fantastic story of love and the search for happiness. Fantastic to see these two characters together. cinemagay.it

CHARISMATIC.
“A charismatic couple who live life to the fullest, and do it with great flair.”
Century City News – Marci Weiner
CHARMING.
“The reasoned tone and charming subjects of “An Ordinary Couple” could quietly change some minds.” Wade On Birmingham – Chance Shirley

ANYTHING BUT.
“Puccio and Kennedy, on paper, seem to be an ordinary couple, but meeting them proves to be anything but.” FRONTIERS – G.M. Kramer and L.Goldberg

POPULAR.
“A popular study of LGBT history told through the stories of men who have lived through it.” indieWIRE

Douglas Fairbanks

Jean Dujardin

I realize that THE ARTIST is lightening in a bottle. I know it won’t bring silent films back into multiplexes, BUT the one thing I hope for is that someone….somewhere decides to be curious and investigate more about Fairbanks and silent films in general. There are so many gems out there on DVD just waiting to be discovered.

In 1939 Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in GONE WITH THE WIND making her the first African American to win an Academy Award. In 2010 when Mo’Nique won the Best Supporting Actress prize for PRECIOUS she paid tribute to McDaniel by wearing a similar gown with a gardenia in her hair much like McDaniel did on her Oscar winning night. In her speech, she said, “I would like to thank Miss Hattie McDaniel for enduring all that she had to–so I would not have to.” (*McDaniel has a cenotaph at Hollywood Forever, but is actually interred at the Rosedale cemetery.)

For TREASURES OF THE SIERRA MADRE, John Huston won Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay while his father Walter Huston took home the prize for Best Supporting Actor. In 1985 John Huston directed his daughter Angelica Huston in the film PRIZZI’S HONOR which netted her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. The Hustons became the first family to have three generations in a row of Academy Award winners.

To read more facts about Academy Awards history, check out the Academy’s Oscar Legacy web page. It is filled with photographs and fascinating bits of information.

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

This week the UCLA Film and TV Archive (in the Hammer Museum) will start a new retrospective entitled “SPENCER TRACY: THAT NATURAL THING”. While Mr. Tracy is buried elsewhere, many of his collaborators are residents of Hollywood Forever! Their names are mentioned below along with the film title they worked on.

By the way, many of the early 1930s films in this series are NOT ON DVD and may never be available. This is a really rare opportunity, so take advantage!!! Click HERE to see a full schedule for this series.

.

FACE IN THE SKY (1933)
Directed by Harry Lachman

MAN’S CASTLE (1933) / THE LAST HURRAH (1958)
Columbia Pictures – Harry Cohn

THE POWER AND THE GLORY (1933)
Produced by Jesse L. Lasky

SHANGHAI MADNESS (1933)
Co-starring Fay Wray

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1941)
Directed by Victor Fleming

CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937)
Directed by Victor Fleming
Cinematographer: Harold Rosson

THE ACTRESS (1953)
Cinematographer: Harold Rosson

This year they are selling tickets to the event online and I really encourage you to buy in advance! There is limited parking, so get there early.

Check out the below video from last year.

I hope to see you there! By the way, due to the festivities, I can’t do any tours on Saturday, but I do have a tour scheduled for Sunday, October 23rd at 2:00pm.

Saturday, October 8, 2011
6000 Santa Monica Boulevard
Hollywood 90036
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Tours depart every 20 minutes until noon.)
$20 per person — ADSLA Members FREE!
You can also buy tickets online!

Photograph from "Laughing Squid"

Saturday, October 1st, 2011
Doors: 5:30 pm / Show: 5:30 pm (event ends at 12:00 am)

Click HERE for tickets!

Hollywood Forever
Los Angeles, CA
$10.00
Tickets

LINDA RAMONE AND JRA CHIEF OF STAFF JOHN CAFIERO PRESENT

THE 7TH ANNUAL JOHNNY RAMONE TRIBUTE

SPECIAL GUESTS:
THE MISFITS
and
MISFITS RECORDS RECORDING ARTISTS
JUICEHEAD
SIGNING THEIR NEW ALBUMS
“THE DEVIL’S RAIN” & “HOW TO SAIL A SINKING SHIP”
GET THEM BOTH—3 DAYS BEFORE THEY ARRIVE IN STORES!
+ EXCLUSIVE MISFITS VINYL
AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE EVENT

GRAMMY AWARD WINNER & RNR HALL OF FAMER: TOMMY RAMONE
DRUMMER, PRODUCER & FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE RAMONES
MEET & GREET WITH FANS
ON-SITE INTERVIEWS

*** DOUBLE FEATURE – OUTDOOR SCREENING – AFTER DARK ***

THE RAMONES: JOHNNY, JOEY, DEE DEE & TOMMY
LIVE ON DON KIRSHNER’S ROCK CONCERT
FILMED IN 1977 & SCREENED IN
ITS ENTIRETY FOR THE 1ST TIME IN DECADES
COURTESY OF HISTORIC FILMS

AND

BELA LUGOSI, VAMPIRA & TOR JOHNSON STARRING IN ED D. WOOD JR.’S 1959 B-MOVIE CULT CLASSIC:
“PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE” —NOW IN 3D!

Here are some upcoming events that may be of interest:

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Patrick Wolf in the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
Doors: 8pm / Show: 9pm
Admission is $20. PARKING IS FREE ON SITE

Purchase tickets at hollywoodforever.ticketfly.com 
Questions? email events@hollywoodforever.com

________________________________________________________

September 16^th 2011

SUSPIRIA
Directed by Dario Argento (1977, 98 mins)
A classic of the supernatural horror genre starring Jessica Harper.

Outdoors on the Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever
Gates 6:30 pm / movie 8:00 pm NEW TIME !!!
No reservation necessary
$10 donation tickets available at gate
Picnic Reservations and Parking Passes online

Parking $10
DJ Mahssa spins before and after the screening
Bring blankets, drinks and picnic dinner for this screening below the stars. as a courtesy to other moviegoers: NO TALL CHAIRS!!!

For more information on Cinespia visit www.cinespia.org
If you have any questions please e-mail: events@hollywoodforever.com

________________________________________________________

September 17^th, 2011

FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH
Directed by Amy Heckerling (1982, 90 mins)
Starring Sean Penn and Jennifer Jason Leigh

Outdoors on the Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever
Gates 6:30 pm / movie 8:00 pm NEW TIME !!!
No reservation necessary
$10 donation tickets available at gate
Picnic Reservations and Parking Passes online

Parking $10
DJ Gaslamp Killer spins before and after the screening
Bring blankets, drinks and picnic dinner for this screening below the stars. As a courtesy to other moviegoers: NO TALL CHAIRS!!!
For more information on Cinespia please visit www.cinespia.org

____________________________________________________

September 24^th 2011

E.T.
Directed by Steven Speilberg (1982, 111 mins)
Starring Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore

Outdoors on the Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever
Gates 6:30 pm / movie 8:00 pm NEW TIME !!!
No reservation necessary
$10 donation tickets available at gate
Picnic Reservations and Parking Passes online

Parking $10
DJ Cut Chemist spins before and after the screening
Bring blankets, drinks and picnic dinner for this screening below the stars. As a courtesy to other moviegoers: NO TALL CHAIRS!!!
For more information on Cinespia visit www.cinespia.org

________________________________________________________

September 27^th 2011

Thurston Moore
In the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever

Doors: 8:00 pm / Show 9:00 pm
Admission is $25. PARKING IS FREE ON SITE
Purchase tickets at hollywoodforever.ticketfly.com
Questions? email events@hollywoodforever.com

To keep up with the latest list of concerts, movies and cultural events at Hollywood Forever, click on their official website!