The Duchess Anastasia - Buried in Virginia?

 

Most famous graves are fairly cut and dry.  A celebrity dies, they're laid to rest, and I tell you where to go.  Sometimes however, there's a little bit of a mystery involved, like the space alien buried in Texas, or TV's Mr. Ed, who was laid to rest in an Oklahoma farmer's backyard.  Such is the case with this week's subject, Grand Duchess Anastasia.

In case you were asleep during high school history, Anastasia was the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas of Russia.  In 1918, the entire family was murdered during a Bolshevik revolt, but it was the beginning of a mystery that would last for nearly a century.

In 1922, a woman who would be known as Anna Anderson made her first public claims to be the surviving Anastasia.  She told a tale of being secreted away after the attack and spending the intervening years in seclusion.  Much of that time was spent in a mental hospital in Berlin. 

When she first went public, she received equal parts criticism and support.  Most significantly, surviving members of the family would claim emphatically that she was not who she claimed to be.  Over the next forty years, Anderson would often find herself in a courtroom, attempting to prove her claim, which she was never able to do.

In 1968, Anderson received a six-month visa to the United States.  Her trip was paid for by Jack Manahan, a history professor at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  Just as the visa was set to expire, the two were married in a simple ceremony, becoming well-known local eccentrics.  Manahan, who was 20 years her junior, was now referring to himself as the "Grand Duke-in-Waiting" as well as a son-in-law to the Tsar.  Their story was even profiled on that great 70s documentary series In Search Of, hosted by Leonard Nimoy.

By 1983, Anderson's health was in serious decline.  That November, she was institutionalized once again and given a court-appointed legal guardian.  It didn't sit well with Manahan however, who checked her out just a few days later.  The couple would spend the next three days on the run, living out of area convenience stores.  She was returned to the healthcare facility, where she died of pneumonia of February 12, 1984.  She was cremated, and her ashes were buried in Germany.

In failing health himself, Manahan bought a plot at the University of Virginia Cemetery in Charlottesville.  He ordered a headstone for both he and his wife, whom he forever immortalized as "Anastasia."  

Rest in peace.

Trivia

• Manahan eventually passed away on March 22, 1990.  He was 70 years old.
  
  
• In 1991, DNA testing was conducted on the bodies of the Royal family.  It was compared to DNA samples of Anderson, taken from a 1979 medical procedure.  It determined conclusively that she was in fact, not Anastasia.  Her true name was Franziska Schanzkowska, a Polish factory worker with a history of mental illness.
  
  
• A number of books have been written about the troubled life of Anna Anderson.  Check out this selection from Amazon. 
  
  
• Anna Anderson's story has also been chronicled by other documentaries as well, including Unsolved Mysteries and Chicken Soup for the Soul.  The couple also sat down with local Charlottesville station WSLS for this interview in 1968 (no audio).

The Lost Grave of Andy Williams

 

"I still don't think I'm as good as anyone else."

Every now and then in my research, I come across a grave so unique that it immediately piques my interest.  Such was the case with Andy Williams, a famed singer I had certainly heard of, but knew very little about.  When I discovered the sad story of his final resting place in Branson, Missouri, I knew I had to go there to see it for myself.

Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams was born in Wall Lake, Iowa, on December 3, 1927. When he was just 16 years old, he moved with his three older brothers to Los Angeles, having formed the Williams Brothers Quartet.  Their act caught the attention of Bing Crosby, who put them on his 1944 album Swinging on a Star.

Williams went solo in 1953 and enjoyed a long and prosperous career.  He recorded his signature song Moon River in 1962, having been asked to perform it at the Academy Awards.  Although it had been recorded by Audrey Hepburn one year earlier for her feature film Breakfast at Tiffany's, the ballad would forever be associated with Williams.

In 1991, older brother Don invited Williams to Branson, Missouri, an up-and-coming tourist mecca in the Ozark Mountains.  There, he was encouraged by locals to open his own theatre and he did just that.  The Moon River Theatre officially opened on May 1, 1992.  It was the first non-country and western attraction to open in the predominantly rural setting.

Williams appeared regularly at theatre for the next 20 years, often joined by fellow crooners, including Glen Campbell, Ann-Margret, and 70s icon Charo.  It was from this venue where he announced in 2011 that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.  It ultimately took his life just one year later, on September 25, 2012.  He was 84 years old.

In keeping with his last request, Williams was cremated, and his ashes were sprinkled on Moon River itself, an artificial pond located on the property.

The pond as it appears in 2025.

The theatre's final curtain call came just a few years after Williams passed away.  The property was sold in 2021 and is currently being redeveloped as the Truth Traveler Theatre, a Bible-based attraction offering a 5D virtual reality ride, one that promises to "bring the Bible to life."

When this blogger visited the site in February 2025, it was in a state of redevelopment.  The Andy Williams signage has been removed, but the building's recognizable mountainesque facade remains.  The future of the pond is unclear.

Rest in peace.

Trivia

• In 2009, Williams released his autobiography Moon River and Me: A Memoir.  Pick up a copy on Amazon.
  
  
• Want to see video of his watery grave?  Scott Michaels, who runs the fantastic Dearly Departed website, took viewers on a tour in 2022.  Check it out on YouTube.
  
  
• A popular urban legend tells that Williams overdubbed the singing voice of Lauren Bacall in the 1944 film To Have and Have Not.  Sources including Bacall herself claimed that this was not the case.  Take a listen on YouTube and judge for yourself.
  
  
• The theatre appeared, kind of, in a 1996 episode of The Simpsons.  Check out this clip on YouTube.
  
  
• While in Branson, be sure to visit the Ripley's Believe it or Not! Odditorium, home to the world's largest roll of toilet paper (4,000 pounds).
  
  

Eileen Brennan

 

"Actors are crazy or we wouldn't be doing this."

Eileen Brennan was born Verla Eileen Regina Brennen in Los Angeles, California on September 3, 1932.  She was the daughter of Regina Menehan, a former silent film actress.  

After graduating high school, Brennan moved to Washington, DC, where she attended Georgetown University.  She later attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City (see Trivia below).

Early stage roles included that of Annie Sullivan in a 1961 off-Broadway production of The Miracle Worker.  She also originated the role of Irene Molloy in the original 1964 Broadway production of Hello, Dolly!.  Hollywood was beginning to notice, and she made her feature film debut three years later in the Bud Yorkin comedy Divorce American Style.

In 1980, Brennan was cast in the role for which she is most famously associated, that of Captain Doreen Lewis in the Goldie Hawn film Private Benjamin.  She was nominated for an Oscar award that year for Best Supporting Actress.  In 1981, she resumed the role on the ABC sit-com adaptation of the film, for which she would ironically win an Emmy award (see Trivia below).  Then in 1985, she appeared in the cult-favorite comedy Clue, taking on then iconic role of Mrs. Peacock.

By 2013, Brennan has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, which ultimately took her life on July 28th.  She was 80 years old.  She was laid to rest with her family at Edge Hill Cemetery in Charles Town, West Virginia.  As of 2024, her grave remained unmarked, but is in the lower right-hand corner of the photo below.

Rest in peace.

Trivia

• When Eileen adopted her stage name, she changed the spelling of her last name from "Brennen" to "Brennan."
  
  
• Brennan was a finalist for the role of Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, the role that famously went to Mary Tyler Moore.
  
  
• Early in her career, Brennan shared an apartment in New York City with future Golden Girls star Rue McClanahan.
  
  
• In 1981, Brennan reprised her role of Captain Lewis in the ABC sit-com adaptation of Private Benjamin.  One year into production, she was involved in a serious car accident in Venice Beach, which resulted in her leaving the show.  She was replaced on the series by former Alice veteran Polly Holliday, but the ratings would never be the same.  The series was canceled after two seasons.
  
  
• Shortly before she passed, YouTuber Larry Hoffman caught up with Brennan at her Toluca Lake home.  The result was this truly awkward interview.  Here's another one in which she discusses selling her Emmy Award when she ran out of money.  These are just sad.
  
  
• Based on the board game of the same name, Clue was released as a novelty film with three different endings.  To quote the commercial, "whodunnit depends on where you see it."  This blogger vividly remembers seeing "Ending A," which appears as the final solution in the home video and streaming editions of the film.

Jack Kent Cooke

 

"I don't intend to die."

Jack Kent Cooke was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on October 25, 1912. His family later relocated to Toronto, where Cooke attended Malvern Collegiate Institute.  He had an eye for business from an early age, and by 14, he was already selling encyclopedia door to door.

When he was in his early 20s, Cooke became a runner on the floor of the Toronto Stock Exchange, which served to enhance his business acumen.  He then went to work for Colgate-Palmolive, where he met his future business partner Roy Thomson.  The two would later co-own a series of radio stations and newspapers in Quebec and Ontario.

With his eye on the sports world, Cooke came to America in 1950, later becoming a legal American citizen.  Ten years later, he acquired 25 percent interest in the Washington Redskins, a football franchise he would become associated with for the rest of his life.  By 1985, he was sole owner of the team.  During his tenure, they'd win the Super Bowl an impressive three times.  During this time, Cooke also owned the Los Angeles Lakers (basketball) and the Los Angeles Kings (hockey).

Jack Kent Cooke died of congestive heart failure on April 6, 1997.  He was 84 years old.  He was laid to rest at Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery in Uppperville, Virginia, about an hour outside of Washington, DC.  The service was attended by more than 400 local dignitaries and sports figures.

Rest in peace.

Trivia

• If you want to learn more about Jack Kent Cooke, take a voyage to Amazon.  Its all in books.
  
  
• Upon his death, the Redskins franchise was sold to businessman Daniel Snyder.  Under his ownership, the team would experience three decades of loss.  Despite years of Cooke saying otherwise, Schneider ultimately changed their name to the Washington Commanders in 2022.
  
  
• Cooke was married an astounding five times to four women, remarrying wife #4 Marlene Ramallo Chalmers.  It was a scandalous marriage that brought headlines of infidelity on a near daily basis, as the younger Mrs. Cooke was known to have a host a male paramours at the ready.  Despite this, Cooke remained married to her until his death.
  
  
• The majority of Cooke's estate, valued at $825 million, helped establish the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, an organization that offers scholarships to help the young reach their maximum potential.  He left both Ramallo and wife #2 out of his will, but the former successfully sued the estate for a reported $20 million.
  
  
• Cooke's first divorce was presided over by a then unknown judge by the name of Joseph Wapner.  Years later, he would become a household name as star of The People's Court, and his grave would be profiled by this blog.

Elly May!

 

"This has been a Filmways presentation!"

Donna Douglas was born Doris Ione Smith in Pride, Louisiana on September 26, 1932.  She was the youngest of Emmett and Elma's two children and had show business aspirations from an early age.  In 1957, she was named both Miss Baton Rouge and Miss New Orleans.

She moved to New York to pursue an acting career and soon found work as a model in a series of toothpaste advertisements.  That led to her being cast in small roles on both The Perry Como Show and The Steve Allen Show in small, recurring roles.  These and other parts earned her a role in the Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine feature Career (1959).  The following year, she'd make a memorable appearance in the classic Twilight Zone episode Eye of the Beholder.

In 1962, Donna was cast in the role for which she is most famously identified, that of Elly May Clampett on the CBS sit-com The Beverly Hillbillies.  The series ran for nine seasons and made household names of Donna and her co-stars.

When the series was canceled in 1971, Donna remained active in Hollywood, while pursuing other career opportunities as well (see Trivia below).  She would also continue to make public appearances as Elly May, raising money on telethons, serving as grand marshal in parades, or signing autographs at celebrity conventions.

In 2005, Donna returned to her hometown in East Baton Rouge, where she would spend her final years.  By 2014, she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which ultimately took her life on January 1, 2015.  She was 82 years old.

Donna is buried at Bluff Creek Community Cemetery in Bluff Creek, Louisiana.

Rest in peace.

Trivia

• Donna had a second career as a gospel singer and released several such albums, the first being Donna Douglas Sings Gospel, released in 1982.  Take a listen on YouTube, then pick up a copy on Amazon.
  
  
• Donna was also a published author, releasing two children's books and a cookbook, the latter of which contains recipes from some of her show business friends, including Buddy Ebsen, Debbie Reynolds, Gavin MacLeod and more.  You can pick up a copy of Southern Favorites with a Taste of Hollywood on Amazon.
  
  
• When production on the series concluded in 1971, Donna earned her real-estate license in Beverly Hills.  She didn't stay in the profession for long however, as she remained active in Hollywood.
  
  
• In 1993, Donna reunited with her Beverly Hillbillies co-stars Buddy Ebsen and Max Baer for an episode of The Jerry Springer Show, at a time when the talk show was still relatively legit.  Curious?  Check it out on YouTube.
  
  
• In 2011, Donna successfully sued Mattel Toys claiming they had appropriated her name and likeness for a Barbie doll without her approval.  You can buy one on Amazon.
  
  
• The grave of Donna's co-star Nancy Kulp, who played Miss Jane Hathaway on the series, has also been profiled by this blog.  Click here for the September 2023 report.

The Pyramid Tomb of Nicolas Cage

 

It isn't often that this blog gets to report on someone who's still among the living.  Last year, we showed you the Connecticut grave of actress Stephanie Zimbalist, alive and kicking at 68.  Another Hollywood notable to have already procured their final resting place is actor Nicolas Cage, owner of a unique pyramid tomb in New Orleans, Louisiana.

He was born Nicolas Kim Coppola in Long Beach, California on January 7, 1964.  If that name sounds familiar, its because he is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola, director of such Hollywood classics as The Godfather and the over-appreciated The Godfather, Part 2. 

By the time he was a teenager, he was already asking his famous uncle to give him a screen test, hoping to show off his acting chops.  Then in an effort to avoid the appearance of nepotism, he changed his name to Nicolas Cage, his surname in tribute to the Marvel Comics character Luke Cage.  He has since starred in such blockbusters as National Treasure (2004), Con Air (1997), and Face/Off (1997). 

From a young age, he would visit his famous family at their property in New Orleans' famed French Quarter.  Cage grew to appreciate the gentile, southern town, which he would later call his home.  After achieving great success in Hollywood, he bought a number of properties in the area, including the LaLaurie Mansion, purported to be the most haunted house in all America.

Having developed deep ties to the Big Easy, Cage opted to make it his final resting place.  In 2010, he purchased space in the famed St. Louis Cemetery #1, just outside the French Quarter, much to the chagrin of local residents.  Hoping to be eternally housed next to the city's famed Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, Cage knocked down pre-existing graves that had long since fallen into disrepair.  Ironically, he would choose the perpetual care option for his tomb, guaranteeing that it will always be maintained following his death.

Rest in peace.  Eventually.

Trivia

• St. Louis Cemetery #1 is the only graveyard that this blogger has ever had to pay to get into.  Tours are by appointment only.  Interested?  Visit the official tour site.  Be sure to ask for Zelda.  She is a fantastic tour guide who answered all of our questions.
  
  
• The Latin inscription "Omnia Ab Uno" translates to "everything from one."
  
  
• Other famous internments include civil rights activist Homer Plessy and chess master Paul Morphy.  Musician Dr. John is purported to be there as well, but his final resting place cannot be confirmed.
  
  
• In recent years, Cage has run afoul of the IRS, who've ceased most of his properties.  Under Louisiana law however, his final resting place cannot be claimed.