Thirty-four thousand souls rest here. Welcome to Hollywood Cemetery.
Established in 1895 this 52-acre expanse was initially envisioned as a Garden of Rest. It served primarily Caucasian residents of the Houston Heights. A picturesque lake once graced its grounds. A horse and buggy path encircled it. This charming feature sadly disappeared during the 1920s.
But Hollywood Cemetery is more than just a resting place. It’s a living history book. Here lies Mollie Bailey the Circus Queen of the Southwest a Confederate spy who later ran a large circus. She gave free tickets to Civil War veterans and poor children. In one of her tents she even showed the first motion picture ever seen in Texas. It depicted the sinking of the USS Maine. Sadly she rests in an unmarked grave. A historical marker now commemorates her remarkable life.
Imagine the renowned composer Segar Ellis. He wrote You’re All I Want for Christmas a song later covered by Bing Crosby and Frankie Laine. He also composed the Houston Oilers fight song. A true Houstonian.
Then there is the story of Fritz Hahn. A blacksmith who owned Hahn & Clay. He had a unique headstone. His old anvil. Chromed and topped with tiny tongs and a hammer. It’s one of the city’s most distinctive grave markers.
The cemetery’s history mirrors Houston’s own. The construction of I-45 in the 1970s dramatically altered the area. Low-income housing emerged. The demographic landscape of the cemetery shifted. Most burials now are Hispanic. The cemetery faced challenges and mismanagement. It went through foreclosure. The Texas Department of Banking stepped in. Now under new management Hollywood Cemetery is undergoing a ten-year renovation plan.
Hollywood Cemetery isn’t just a repository of the past. It’s a place of ongoing renewal. A testament to the enduring spirit of Houston. A place where history and community intertwine. Take a moment to reflect on the lives lived and the stories untold. Each headstone whispers a unique tale. Explore these grounds. Discover the lives that shaped this city. Hollywood Cemetery. A captivating piece of Houston’s rich tapestry.