The Sylmar cemetery honoring its unmarked dead with a screening of Ed Wood's 'Plan 9'

Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Robert Garrova, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · July 25, 2026 · 3 min read

Photo: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · view original

Pioneer Memorial Cemetery in Sylmar. (Robert Garrova / LAist) Right below Foothill Boulevard in Sylmar, the second-oldest cemetery in the San Fernando Valley has sat since the 1870s on a plot of land that’s gone from forgotten and overgrown to a cherished place where the living commune with the d...

Why this matters in The Los Angeles

The San Fernando Pioneer Memorial Cemetery's transformation from a neglected plot to a cherished community space is a testament to the power of local preservation efforts. As the second-oldest cemetery in the San Fernando Valley, it holds a significant place in the region's history, with at least 500 people buried on its grounds, including five Civil War veterans. The cemetery's connection to Ed Wood's Plan 9 From Outer Space, with parts of the film shot on location, has also become a unique aspect of its identity. The annual Summerween screening of the film has become a beloved tradition, bringing the community together to celebrate the cemetery's history and the city's quirky cultural heritage. As the cemetery continues to be a vibrant community hub, it's a reminder that even the most forgotten spaces can be revitalized and reimagined, reflecting the diverse and eclectic character of Los Angeles.

About this story

Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: local · Published: July 25, 2026 · Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · Reading time: 3 min

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Summary created by	The Los Angeles Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Robert Garrova, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 25, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 25, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

The Sylmar cemetery honoring its unmarked dead with a screening of Ed Wood's 'Plan 9'

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