James Dean
1931 1955
Key scenes from the
classic motion picture "Rebel Without a Cause"
were filmed at the Griffith Observatory
in Spring 1955. Although many movies
have been filmed at Griffith Observatory,
"Rebel Without a Cause"was the first to
portray the Observatory as what it is and to contribute positively to the
Observatory's International reputation.
This monument acknowledges Griffith Observatory's long and continuous
involvement with Hollywood film
production by remembering the young
star of that motion picture.
James Dean
(On second plaque: Not pictured )
1931 James Dean 1955
This is not a monument to a rebel, those
were only rolls he played. James Dean
was an American original who on a basis
of high school honors and a period of five
years time rose to the very pinnacle of
the theatrical profession and through
the magic of motion pictures lives on
in legend.
Presented in 1988 by the artist
Kenneth Kendall who sculpted it in
1955-1956 at the request of James Dean
and dedicates it to his memory.
It ended with his body changed
to light
a star burns forever in
that sky
"The Flight of Quetzalcoatl"
Aztec Poem
Marker can be reached from East Obseratory Ave., on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
