Hillside Memorial Park is loud. Not because of the residents—obviously—but because it sits right against the 405 freeway in Culver City. If you’re looking for the cemetery where Al Jolson is buried, you don't actually need a map. You just need to look up.
Most celebrity graves are modest. Even the big ones. You go to Forest Lawn and you’re squinting at brass plaques in the grass. But Jolson? He went the other way. He’s resting under a massive, six-pillar marble canopy that features a literal waterfall cascading down the hillside into a pool. It’s visible from the highway. It is, quite honestly, the most "Old Hollywood" thing you will ever see in person.
I’ve spent years poking around Los Angeles history, and Hillside is a weirdly specific vibe. It’s predominantly Jewish, it’s incredibly manicured, and it feels like a high-end country club where nobody talks. Jolson isn't just a resident here; he’s the landmark.
The Architecture of a Legend’s Ego
When Al Jolson died in 1950, he wasn't just some singer. He was the "World’s Greatest Entertainer." This was the man who starred in The Jazz Singer, the movie that basically killed the silent film era. You can’t put a guy like that in a standard hole in the ground.
The monument was designed by Paul Williams. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Williams was the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects and the man who defined the look of LA luxury. He designed homes for Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball. The Jolson memorial at Hillside is his masterpiece of funerary art.
It’s a circular temple. Gold mosaic tiles line the interior of the dome. There’s a bronze statue of Jolson, life-sized, down on one knee in his trademark "Mammy" pose. People get weird about that now, understandably, but in 1951, it was seen as the definitive image of his career.
The waterfall is the real kicker. It’s 120 feet long. It’s loud enough to drown out the roar of the 405. Standing there, you get the sense that Jolson wanted to make sure that even in death, he was still the loudest guy in the room. It’s gaudy. It’s beautiful. It’s totally over the top.
Why Hillside is Different From Forest Lawn
A lot of tourists get confused. They head to Hollywood Forever or Forest Lawn Glendale looking for the big names. Those places are great, but Hillside Memorial Park has a different energy. It’s private. It’s selective.
Because it’s a Jewish cemetery, the iconography is different. You won’t see many crosses or weeping angels. Instead, you see simple stones mixed with massive, modernist mausoleums. Jolson is the anchor, but he’s surrounded by a massive amount of talent.
- Jack Benny is here. He’s in a private room in the mausoleum.
- Leonard Nimoy—yes, Spock himself—rests nearby.
- Michael Landon, the Little House on the Prairie star, has a family tomb that’s almost as impressive as Jolson’s.
- Dinah Shore is tucked away here too.
Walking through Hillside isn't like a hike through a park. It’s a stroll through the credits of every black-and-white movie you’ve ever loved. Honestly, the density of talent in this one patch of land near the LAX airport is staggering.
The Complicated Legacy of the Jazz Singer
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Jolson’s legacy is... messy.
In the cemetery where Al Jolson is buried, you see the statue of him in blackface. To a modern visitor, it’s jarring. It’s a reminder of a time in entertainment that we’ve mostly tried to move past. But to understand why the monument exists at this scale, you have to understand his impact.
Jolson was the first real "superstar." Before him, performers stayed behind the footlights. Jolson ran into the aisles. He talked to the audience. He was the bridge between vaudeville and the modern era. When he died, the lights on Broadway were dimmed for ten minutes. The scale of the waterfall at Hillside reflects the scale of the grief the world felt in 1950.
Critics like Gerald Early have argued that Jolson’s use of blackface was more complex than simple mockery—that it was a way for a Jewish immigrant to navigate American identity—but that doesn’t make it any less uncomfortable to look at today. The monument doesn't hide from it. It’s all right there in bronze and marble.
Getting There and What to Expect
If you’re planning to visit, don't just put "Al Jolson" into your GPS. Put in Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W Centinela Ave.
The security at the gate is usually pretty chill, but they might ask who you’re visiting. You can just say you’re there to pay respects to Mr. Jolson. They’re used to it. The cemetery is open most days, but it’s closed on Saturdays for the Sabbath and on Jewish holidays. Check the calendar before you drive out there.
Once you pass the gate, follow the main road up the hill. You can’t miss the fountain.
Pro Tip: Park at the bottom of the hill and walk up. The view of the Los Angeles basin from the top of the Jolson monument is actually one of the best "secret" views in the city. You can see the planes taking off from LAX and, on a clear day, the Pacific Ocean.
The mausoleums are also worth a look. They are climate-controlled and feel more like a luxury hotel lobby than a place for the dead. You’ll find Moe Howard (the leader of the Three Stooges) in one of the wall crypts. It’s a weird contrast—one of the funniest men in history resting in a place that is intensely quiet and formal.
The Maintenance of a Waterfall Grave
People always ask who pays for the water.
Jolson left a massive estate. He was incredibly wealthy when he died, and his will provided for the perpetual care of the monument. The waterfall isn’t always running—drought restrictions in California sometimes affect it—but the Hillside grounds crew keeps the marble pristine.
It’s a massive engineering feat. The water is recirculated, obviously, but keeping a 120-foot cascade clean in the middle of a dusty city is a full-time job. You’ll often see workers scrubbing the tiles or checking the pumps.
It’s interesting to compare Jolson’s spot to his contemporaries. George Gershwin is in New York. Eddie Cantor is here at Hillside, but in a much more subdued crypt. Jolson’s grave is a performance. It’s his final act. He’s been "on stage" at Hillside for over 70 years now, and he’s still drawing a crowd.
Why You Should Actually Go
Is it macabre? Maybe a little. But visiting the cemetery where Al Jolson is buried isn't really about death. It’s about the sheer audacity of the early 20th-century entertainment industry.
We don't build things like this anymore. We don't build 120-foot waterfalls for singers. We post a tweet and maybe hold a tribute concert. Hillside represents a time when stars were treated like deities.
Even if you aren't a fan of his music, or if his style makes you cringe, the site is a piece of Los Angeles history that explains the city’s DNA. LA is a place built on spectacle. Jolson’s grave is the ultimate spectacle.
Plus, it’s just peaceful. Despite the freeway, there’s something about the sound of that water that makes you forget you’re in the middle of one of the busiest cities on earth. It’s a weird, beautiful, complicated spot.
Practical Steps for Your Visit:
- Check the Jewish Calendar: Hillside is strictly closed on Saturdays and major holidays like Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah.
- Respect the Environment: It’s an active cemetery. People are there mourning. Keep your voice down, even if you’re just there to see Spock or the Stooges.
- Bring Water: It gets incredibly hot on that hillside. There isn't much shade near the Jolson monument until later in the afternoon.
- Look for the Details: Don't just look at the statue. Look at the gold leafing under the dome. Look at the way Paul Williams angled the pillars to frame the view of the city.
- Visit the Mausoleum: Head inside the main building to find Jack Benny and Cyd Charisse. The stained glass in there is worth the walk alone.
Exploring Hillside is a two-hour commitment if you do it right. It’s a crash course in the history of the people who built the world’s imagination. Just follow the sound of the water. You'll find him.
Next Steps for Your Los Angeles History Tour:
- Visit Hollywood Forever: After Hillside, head to Santa Monica Blvd to see the contrast between the classic Jewish memorial style and the more "rock and roll" vibe of Hollywood Forever.
- The Paul Williams Trail: Search for a map of Paul Williams' residential architecture in Beverly Hills to see how the same man who built Jolson's tomb designed the homes of the living.
- LAX Theme Building: If you’re already in Culver City, drive ten minutes south to see the Theme Building at LAX—another piece of mid-century architecture that defines the "Space Age" era of the city.
