Dead and Kind of Famous – Details, episodes & analysis

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Today we bid adieu to Season 1! Join us as we visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to pay tribute to Season 1's final featured individuals (Tomata du Plenty and Maila Nurmi) and share some significant personal news as Courtney announces her upcoming move to Minnesota. To see our other grave offerings for Season 1, check out our instagram or substack!

In short order, we do all of the following in this episode:

• Record from a bench in Hollywood Forever Cemetery on a cloudy day surrounded by peacocks
• Announce that the podcast will continue remotely despite Courtney's upcoming relocation to Minnesota
• Visit Vampira's grave where fans have left lipstick kisses, makeup, flowers, and trinkets
• Explore unexpected graves including one for a woman described as an "occasional wife"
• Color a peacock-themed page as an offering to Tomato DiPlenty 
• Share the origin story of our friendship and creative partnership
• Reflect on how graves and memorials represent the importance of chosen family

THANK YOU so much for listening this season and also showing us so much love. It means the world and we will see you for Season 2 in the fall!

If you liked what you heard, or if you have any feedback at all—the good, the bad, the ugly, the dead, the alive—please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know what you think.

Love, Courtney and Marissa <3

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Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.

Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous
See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

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Spoiler alert!!! - Tomata keeps doin' stuff in this episode.  Our deep dive into his life reveals an artist who refused to be defined by any single medium, constantly evolving from drag performer to punk rock icon to folk artist without ever losing his authenticity.

When a broken leg temporarily halted Tomata's performance career in 1983, he discovered a children's paint kit in an alley and began creating art. That same year, he received an HIV diagnosis – a death sentence in the 1980s. Yet instead of despair, he saw synchronicity and opportunity, launching an artistic career that would sustain him for the rest of his life. His approach was refreshingly unpretentious: "I always have lots of $20 pieces in the show because I think people should have art."

 Even in his final interview, just months before his death from AIDS-related cancer, his optimism and self-deprecating humor remained undimmed. For those seeking permission to reinvent themselves creatively, Tomata's story offers not just inspiration, but liberation. Have you been limiting your own creative expression? Perhaps it's time to follow Tomata's lead and simply create without overthinking.

Episode Links:

Population 1: https://youtu.be/B3QpxnCRtVY?si=b5OZfMaKce75kaNC

Eva Braun - https://youtu.be/gIdlqWcGn_s?si=OpAI7nSRrS8bRSxZ

Visual Art journey - https://sandraschulman.medium.com/tomata-du-plenty-from-screamer-to-artist-b5648dd369d

Jack Rabid Interview - https://bynwr.com/posts/the-screamers-tomata-du-plenty

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315411162470

https://art-for-a-change.com/Punk/psketch5.htm

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Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous
Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.

Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous
See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

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What if the ghost of James Dean haunted an actor's career? Christopher Jones, a man forever overshadowed by his uncanny resemblance to the rebel icon, lived a life that was as electrifying as it was cursed.

Jones's journey through the swinging '60s is a cocktail of passion and paranoia, particularly in his tumultuous relationship with Susan Strasberg.

Throughout the episode, we navigate Jones's on-screen triumphs and setbacks, from his role in the cult classic "Wild in the Streets" to the challenging production of "Ryan's Daughter," which saw director David Lean both frustrated and fascinated by Jones's enigmatic presence. Despite the controversies that hounded him, Jones’s unique charisma left a lasting impression, one that still echoes in the halls of Hollywood lore. Tune in for an exploration not just of a man, but of a myth in the making, a tale of ambition, love, and the spectral shadow of a legend.

Links from this episode:
 
 Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124440739/christopher-jones

National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=domestic_violence

Wild in the Streets on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fozufGZubYc

NY Times Obituary: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/movies/christopher-jones-actor-who-quit-field-dies-at-72.html
 
For a full list of sources for this episode, please visit our Substack at https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous

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Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.

Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous
See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Send us a text

Have you ever strolled through a graveyard and felt a sudden wave of curiosity about the people resting beneath the headstones? Especially the one’s featuring a mysteriously unrecognizable yet glamorous headshot? If you’ve ever been to Los Angeles’s most iconic cemetery, Hollywood Forever, then you know the type. And on their new podcast, Dead and Kind of Famous, hosts Courtney Blomquist and Marissa Rivera will be focusing on the graves of the, well… dead and kind of famous folks that are laid to rest there. 

A seasoned actress who’s been in at least half the commercials that flash across your tv, Marissa herself is kind of famous and brings a current industry perspective. Courtney, on the other hand, brings an endless curiosity about Old Hollywood and dead people and the perspective of a complete nobody. 

Get to know them and their impressive (Marissa) and wildly eclectic (Courtney) backgrounds in this brief episode. Hopefully they’ll be your new best friends and guides to making sure that the stories of Hollywood’s dead never die. And if you (like Courtney) aren’t famous, just remember… you’re also not dead yet. 

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Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous
Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.

Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous
See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

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Ever wondered what it takes to be dubbed a Hollywood bon vivant? Join us as we kick off "Dead and Kind of Famous" with the eccentric and flamboyant life of Baron Clement von Frankenstein. We'll take you through our amusing adventure in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where we use Find a Grave to track down the baron's final resting place. Marissa and Courtney share their first impressions of his marble tombstone, the origin of his captivating surname, and even improvise an obituary that will leave you in stitches. 

From youthful escapades and inheritance windfalls to a colorful Hollywood career, Baron Clement von Frankenstein's life was nothing if not extraordinary. Learn about his transformation from an English nobleman to a beloved character actor, with memorable roles in everything from "Young Frankenstein" to "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." 

This episode also uncovers Baron Clement's unexpected financial rescue from his nanny, his stint as a singing King Henry VIII in an Anaheim theme restaurant, and his general randy antics. We delve into his acting journey, his off-screen exploits, and his final roles, painting a vivid picture of a man who lived life to the fullest. Whether you're intrigued by his inclusion in People magazine’s list of top bachelors or curious about the drama at his own funeral, this episode promises a rich tapestry of stories you won't want to miss. Cheers to the Baron- the most loveable of friends!

Links from this episode:
Vegan Truffles: https://minimalistbaker.com/2-ingredient-dark-chocolate-truffles/
Baron's find a grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/216051539/clement-george_freiherr-von_und_zu_franckenstein
Baron's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clementvon/
The Short Documentary of the Baron by Matthew Ford: https://www.facebook.com/1245812342/videos/10219355947949855/

Sources are listed on Substack at https://deadandkindafamous.substack.com/

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Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous
Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.

Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous
See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Send us a text

At the intersection of drag theater, punk rock innovation, and fearless artistic evolution stands David Xavier Harrigan - better known to those in-the-know as Tomato DePlenty. 

From his early days with the revolutionary Cockettes (described by John Waters as "insane hippie drag queens" creating "complete sexual anarchy"), to founding Ze Whiz Kidz in Seattle, to pioneering synthesizer-based punk with The Screamers, Tomato consistently positioned himself at the cutting edge of artistic movements.

What makes Tomato's story so compelling isn't just his artistic versatility - it's his uncanny ability to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. 

He embodied his personal philosophy: "Let's do things" and "Do plenty." 

Listen in as we uncover the first chapter in the fascinating life of this punk pioneer, theatrical innovator, and boundary-breaking artist who helped shape multiple movements while remaining just outside the spotlight.

Links From This Episode:

Tomata's Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18803/tomata-du_plenty

The Tupperware's at the TMT show recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyezrW9SNP0

The Screamers Target Studios Promo Video: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18803/tomata-du_plenty

Gary Panter's famous rendering of Tomata: https://obeygiant.com/gary-panter-a-provocateur-print-available-now/

The Cockettes Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gPxQvN0f1c

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Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.

Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous
See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Send us a text

Well, here it is. The final installment of our four part series on Maila Nurmi. Maila didn’t get all she deserved in her life and she never really reaped the benefits of her creations. But the life she lived was full of adventure, fascination, excitement and in many ways, love. In this particular episode, we explore her final romances, alleged marriages and marriages of convenience. We also dig into her lasting friendships (including Marlon Brando) and her counterculture grandmother relationship to the punk musicians of the late 70s and 80s. We all need someone to love and care for us, and Maila always found her community, even in her old age. 

This serves as some consolation for the loss of her intellectual property and her legal battles against her unwelcomed predecessor, Elvira. There's a lot of dirt to dig into here and we DIG.

Thank you for listening to this one, and please leave us comments with any tributes or words you’d like to pass along for when we visit Maila’s grave. 

Links for this episode:

Maila and Satan’s Cheerleaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2duQNeim6k

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Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous
Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.

Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous
See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

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Just when Maila’s career was starting to run out of steam, some luck with Liberace kept her in the spotlight for a time. But this was quickly followed by bad decisions, bad boys and a very bad movie called Plan 9 from Outer Space. Pop in those ear buds, friend. You don’t want to miss this.

Links from the show:

https://youtu.be/alPPXVJA4Kw?si=K0PQr8H7zHZCKA1x

https://youtu.be/wtPgPYwtBhs

https://youtu.be/qsb74pW7goU?si=BdDQ_BQEM72T2pkU

Follow us on...

Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous
Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.

Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous
See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Send us a text

This podcast is all about making sure that the stories of Hollywood’s dead never die, and after this absolutely horrific week, we need to do just that in our own small way. Thank you to all of the firefighters, volunteers, loving citizens of Los Angeles, and people helping from afar. Humanity is the only thing that can save us in these dark times. 

Below you’ll find the links to the Los Angeles Times article that we referenced and used as a source for this episode in addition to links to various charities who are doing great work. Thank you so much for listening. We love you, Los Angeles <3

The LA Fire Victims: Who they Were

Dalyce Curry's Funeral Services GoFundMe

Charities

The American Red Cross

Baby2Baby

California Community Foundation

California Fire Foundation

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

Pasadena Humane Society

World Central Kitchen

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Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.

Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous
See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Send us a text

As we unravel the layers of Vampira's gothic charm, we celebrate her unique blend of dark humor and magnetic persona that captivated 1950s audiences. Picture her cruising Sunset Boulevard in full vampire regalia, her chilling scream echoing through the night—a scene that marked her groundbreaking show, Nightmare Attic. We reminisce about her vibrant friendships with Hollywood's misfits, including the infamous James Dean, and explore how their shared fascination with the macabre defined an unforgettable era in Hollywood's history.

But beyond the allure and glamour lies a story of personal and professional challenges. Discover how Maila's defiance against network constraints led to the controversial end of her show, and how her tumultuous friendship with James Dean unraveled amidst public pressures. From media sensationalism to personal betrayals, Maila's resilience shines through. Join us as we uncover the complexities of Maila's journey—a narrative filled with haunting setbacks, unexpected friendships, and a relentless spirit that continues to inspire.

Follow us on...

Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous
Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.

Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous
See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!