<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.fark.com/goto/12619476/coleandmarmalade.com/2022/10/26/cat-poses-for-tours-in-the-hollywood-forever-cemetery/%3Futm_source" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Meet Close Up, the resident cat of Hollywood Forever Cemetery. If you're lucky you might see him lounging on Cecil B. DeMille's grave where he greets tour groups. Welcome to Caturday, It's Almost Halloween edition</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">.</span><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div dir="ltr"><br><div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Courtesy of <i>Coke and Marmalade</i> at:</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="https://coleandmarmalade.com/2022/10/26/cat-poses-for-tours-in-the-hollywood-forever-cemetery/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark">https://coleandmarmalade.com/2022/10/26/cat-poses-for-tours-in-the-hollywood-forever-cemetery/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark</a></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">————————————————</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(68, 64, 90); color: rgb(68, 64, 90); font-family: Rubik, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">A striking black cat named “Close Up” resides at the 123-year-old iconic </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://hollywoodforever.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-timing-function: linear; color: var(--link_color); caret-color: rgb(68, 64, 90); font-family: Rubik, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Hollywood Forever cemetery</a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(68, 64, 90); color: rgb(68, 64, 90); font-family: Rubik, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"> in Los Angeles</span></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(68, 64, 90); color: rgb(68, 64, 90); font-family: Rubik, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></span></b></div><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);">A striking black cat named “Close Up” resides at the 123-year-old iconic </span><a href="https://hollywoodforever.com/" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-timing-function: linear; color: var(--link_color); caret-color: rgb(68, 64, 90); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: blue; text-decoration: none;">Hollywood Forever cemetery</span></span></strong></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"> in Los Angeles, a final resting place for many Hollywood legends. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90); background-color: white;">Each year, the cemetery, founded in 1899, receives thousands of visitors who come to pay respects to Hollywood royalty like Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Burt Reynolds, and Rudolph Valentino. If they’re lucky, they may also get a glimpse of the resident cat ready for his close-up.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90); background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Sometimes, Close Up may be seen near the director and producer Cecil B. DeMille’s grave, which is where he got his name. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90); background-color: white;">When tour groups come through, the friendly cat will sometimes follow along, striking poses on the headstones. As you can see below, the cat’s bestie will sometimes strike a pose too!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90); background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90); background-color: white;">According to staff, Close Up has become a “minor celebrity” in the cemetery, with visitors who come just to see him and give him a treat. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90); background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90); background-color: white;">However, he wasn’t always so friendly. When he arrived about four years ago, he was called “Mr. Growly.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90); background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);">When visitors arrive, they may expect to see many cats like Close Up, as the cemetery has managed as </span><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/feral-cat-colonies-of-hollywood-forever-cemetery" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-timing-function: linear; color: var(--link_color); caret-color: rgb(68, 64, 90); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: blue; text-decoration: none;">many as five</span></span></strong></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"> feral cat colonies on the 65-acre property.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90); background-color: white;">Here, the feral cats have everything they could ever need. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Shelters, ten feeding stations stocked with wet and dry food, and water are available for the cats. Generally, the cats hang out at the front wall of the cemetery near Santa Monica Blvd. If he feels like it, Close Up may pose for a picture or two but it’s up to him.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">TNR (trap, neuter, release) programs at Hollywood Forever are ongoing. Through the efforts, Michelene Cherie and nonprofit FixNation help to control the cat population with a consistent 60 to 65 cats in 2021. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);">As part of their efforts, they helped over 60 cats and kittens find homes.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(68, 64, 90); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);">Unlike most cemeteries, this one is very active and alive, with lots of activity in the California sunshine. Along with cats, visitors may see over 50 peacocks, Zeus and Helen, the swans, geese, ducks, turtles, koi, raccoons, squirrels, possums, and rabbits. Somehow, they all tend to get along in a little peaceable kingdom.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90); background-color: white;">Surprisingly, the birds tend to hang out in the area adjacent to the cat feeding stations.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);">Every day, people come and go amid the palm trees, walking on the Fairbanks Lawn in a unique ethereal atmosphere. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p data-slot-rendered-dynamic="true" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(68, 64, 90); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);">Unlike most burial grounds, the site is also a cultural events center, holding concerts, movie screenings, yoga meditation, and other events. Yoga instructor </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ThatLAYogi/" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-timing-function: linear; color: var(--link_color);"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: blue; text-decoration: none;">Mary DeCaro </span></span></strong></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box;">sometimes holds “Kitty Yoga” classes to raise funds for the Hollywood Forever cat colony and FixNation. This year, the cemetery was even designated a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/24/hollywood-forever-cemetery-resting-place-to-the-stars-named-a-historical-site" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-timing-function: linear; color: var(--link_color);"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: blue; text-decoration: none;">historic-cultural monument.</span></strong></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);">Over the years, Hollywood Forever has become a staple of LA culture, with the “most popular outdoor cinema event in Southern California,” writes <a href="https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/cinespia-at-hollywood-forever-cemetery-returns-with-double-screening-weekends-exclusive/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;">Los Angeles Magazine.</span></i></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 64, 90);">One annual event is the Dia De Los Muertos celebration, the largest outside Mexico, which Michelene Cherie helps plan. This year marked the 23rd annual celebration, which lasts for two days in November. As people enjoy celebrating the lives of loved ones who have passed away, it has become one of the <a href="https://www.dailynews.com/2021/10/18/these-are-12-day-of-the-dead-events-that-are-happening-live-this-year/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;">biggest celebrations </span></b></a>in the area. </span></p></div><div dir="ltr">————————</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Photos . . .</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_102922_01.jpg">http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_102922_01.jpg</a></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_102922_02.jpg">http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_102922_02.jpg</a></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_102922_03.jpg">http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_102922_03.jpg</a></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_102922_04.jpg">http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_102922_04.jpg</a></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">————————————————</div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><div><b>“Caturday”</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> by Linus Petit</span></div><div><a href="http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_by_Linus_Petit.mp3">http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/Caturday/Caturday_by_Linus_Petit.mp3</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span dir="ltr">http://www.MoscowCares.net</span></span></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>