Hillside Memorial Park, Jewish cemetery in Culver City, United States.
Hillside Memorial Park is a Jewish cemetery in Culver City, Los Angeles County, covering about 35 acres of hilly terrain. Memorials and monuments of different shapes and heights stand among planted areas throughout the grounds.
The site opened in 1941 as B'nai B'rith Memorial Park, founded by Lazare F. Bernhard and the Groman brothers. It received its current name the following year in 1942.
Al Jolson's 1951 memorial, a 75-foot domed monument designed by Paul R. Williams, drew thousands to its dedication, where Jack Benny gave the eulogy. Jack Benny's own 1974 funeral here was attended by more than 2,000 people, with Bob Hope speaking. The cemetery is owned and operated by Temple Israel of Hollywood, a Reform congregation, since 1957.
The entrance is at 6001 West Centinela Avenue, and the grounds close on Saturdays for Shabbat and on major Jewish holidays. Visitors should keep in mind that some areas have slopes, so comfortable footwear helps.
Al Jolson's 1951 memorial was designed by Paul R. Williams, the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects. Its dedication drew thousands, and Jack Benny delivered the eulogy. The white colonnade crowns a cascade of five tiled tiers that ends in a dark basin.
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