The Chapel of the Gardens from “Hollywood”

Altadena’s Mountain View Mausoleum may not be Southern California’s most well-known mausoleum, but it’s certainly one of its prettiest.  A true hidden gem, the place remained off my radar the entire time I lived in nearby Pasadena.  I only learned about it in May 2019, years after I moved to Palm Springs, thanks to its appearance in a Season 4 episode of Lucifer.   When I finally stalked the stunning site, the Grim Cheaper and I spent hours exploring its every nook and cranny, wandering the vast lower-level chambers, and admiring each inch of stained glass.  So when its onsite bethel, The Chapel of the Gardens, popped up in the final episode of the new Netflix series Hollywood, I recognized it immediately.  Though I blogged about Mountain View last October, I figure a write-up on the chapel itself is now due.  (Warning: if you have yet to watch Hollywood – and really, what’s stopping you? – avoid this post as it is rife with spoilers.)

[ad]

I covered Mountain View Mausoleum’s history in my October column, but I’ll give you a brief recap here.  The gorgeous sanctuary was designed by architects Clarence L. Jay and Cecil E. Bryan in 1925.

The sprawling Neo-Mediterranean-style site boasts countless deep corridors, a myriad of stained glass windows fabricated by Judson Studios, murals hand-painted by artist Martin Syvertsen, and a small blush-colored chapel known as The Chapel of the Gardens.

Though small, the space is serene, warm, and inviting.

Its mid-century feel notwithstanding, I am fairly certain the chapel is original to the mausoleum’s 1925 design.

Producer Ryan Murphy has long been familiar with Mountain View Mausoleum, having featured it in both 2015’s American Horror Story: Hotel and 2018’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.  That, coupled with its decidedly 1950s aesthetic, must have made its use in Hollywood a no-brainer.

The Chapel of the Gardens only appears once on Hollywood, in the final episode titled “A Hollywood Ending.”  It is there that the funeral for Tinseltown executive Dick Samuels (Joe Mantello) takes place.  Though the name of the chapel is shown in the scene . . .

. . . I would have recognized it regardless.  I’d know those pink walls anywhere!

Thanks to its retro look, the production team did not have to change much for the shoot.

The Chapel of the Gardens was not the only area of Mountain View utilized in the scene.  Following the funeral, Henry Willson (Jim Parsons) approaches Ace Studios head Avis Amberg (Patti LuPone) and asks her to greenlight his film in the vestibule outside the mausoleum’s offices.

That room can be found at the eastern end of the Great Gallery.

The décor was swapped out for the filming in order to “retro”-fit the space, so to speak, and make it appear a bit more fancy.

Despite the changes, it is still very recognizable from its cameo.

  Considering Mountain View Mausoleum’s popularity as a filming location (you can read about its many onscreen appearances here), I’d think The Chapel of the Gardens would have been used in additional productions, but I have been unable to unearth any.

For more stalking fun, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine, and Discover Los Angeles.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 

Stalk It: The Chapel of the Gardens, where Dick Samuels’ funeral was held in the “A Hollywood Ending” episode of Hollywood, is located inside Mountain View Mausoleum at 2300 North Marengo Avenue in Altadena.  Both the chapel and mausoleum are open to the public daily.