Official media pass given to Examiner reporter at cemetery (Photo: Robert Kenney)
This following story was written at Forest Lawn Cemetery:
Michael Jackson's final resting place, Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California is now surrounded by extensive police and law enforcement officers. In preparation for this evening's funeral service, massive security is now in full force, and it will continue throughout the day and evening. Heavy security measures will continue not only on the ground, but will also be enforced in the air, according to Tom Lorenz of the Gledale Police Department.
At 4:15 this morning, this media press pass was issued on site to the Examiner reporter writing this column.
Law enforcement agents, both in uniform and in plain clothing, have been stopping every vehicle that approaches the road leading to the cemetery.
Many streets around the area have been shut down. The only vehicles allowed in the area are those of credentialed media, law enforcement and others connected to the Jackson funeral.
Media trucks had begun to arrive by 4 am this morning, and by 4:30 am, an estimated 27 members of the media had been issued their media passes. Press was directed by law enforcement officers to a command post that was set up for meda check-in. As members of the media arrived, police officers scrutinized their Identification, press credentials, license plate numbers, drivers licenses and other information. A nearby area is set up to provide facilities for credentialed press.
The cemetery is closed today, except for the Jackson funeral.
Police officers only provided scant information to reporters regarding the Jackson family's funeral plans. Tom Lorenz of the Glendale police department stated that he has been in constant communication with the Jackson family throughout the week.
The funeral is scheduled to begin at 7 pm tonight. One Glendale police officer on the scene told Examiner that Jackson's funeral could last until midnight or later.
Security at the scene is heavily enforced. Lorenz notified members of the press earlier this week that during the evening prior to the funeral, helicopters will be using their special equipment to locate anyone trying to get on park property or hide. K-9’s will be also on duty, he said.
Streets around the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Entrance will be closed and restricted to media only until Friday.
No parking signs are posted in the entire closure area. Parking in the surrounding area is restricted to law enforcement and media.
The Glendale Police Department has obtained temporary flight restrictions. All aircraft requesting to operate within the restricted airspace will need to comply under FAR regulations 91.137 (d)(4) and (e) 1-5 through the local Flight Service Station. According to Lorenz, Glendale police will have an FAA inspector onboard one of their police helicopters to assist in monitoring the event.
The cemetery where Jackson will be laid to rest is now home to numerous Hollywood legends, including Jean Harlow, Mary Pickford, Humphrey Bogart, Clara Bow, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dorothy Dandridge, Jimmy Stewart, Spencer Tracy, David O. Selznick and Clark Gable.
In an interesting twist, L. Frank Baum, who authored The Wizard Of Oz book series, is also laid to rest there. Clara Bandick, who played the role of Auntie Em, and Charlie Grapewin, who played Uncle Henry in the 1939 feature film of the same name, are also interred at Forest Lawn. An adaptation of Baum's literary work, titled The Wiz, was featured on Broadway in 1975, resulting in several Tony Awards. Two years later, Motown Productions obtained the rights to the play, and that version of Baum's work was released as a feature film in 1978 by Columbia Pictures. Michael Jackson had played a key role in the musical film, as Motown head Berry Gordy cast him as the Scarecrow. Diana Ross, who Jackson appointed in his will as a successor to raise his children if his mother was unwilling or unable to do so, played the lead role of Dorothy.
Shortly after Jackson's death, a glittering billboard honoring the pop icon was placed atop the famous Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. The theater, best known for being the site where famed actors and actresses placed their hands in cement in front of the building, is located along the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Those hand prints, footprints, and signatures of the movie greats who imprinted them, can still be seen there today. Now known as Mann's Chinese Theater, it was originally financed by Sid Grauman, who owned it with three other investors, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Howard Schenck. Grauman is also buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale.
Also in resting at the Glendale cemetery is Larry "Curly" Fine of The Three Stooges, who were among the Jackson's favorite comedians.
Music icons including Sam Cooke, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Mary Wells, Art Tatum and Nat King Cole are also buried at Forest Lawn.
Additional updates will be provided in this section of Examiner throughout the day.
This Examiner column will be reporting updates throughout the day and the funeral, directly from Forest Lawn Cemetery.
For more information:
www.forestlawn.com/About-Forest-Lawn/Locations-and-Directions-Glendale.asp
www.examiner.com/x-19141-Hollywood-Concerts-Examiner
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