Hardly a speck on the map, Cholame is easy to overlook. Located about 30 minutes from Paso Robles near the junctions of Highways 46 and 41, it consists of little more than a cattle ranch owned by the Hearst Corporation and, perhaps more recognizably, the Jack Ranch Cafe.
What makes this small outpost in the middle of a rural stretch of Hwy 46 so notable is that it contains a monument dedicated to James Dean, arguably one of the most famous film actors of all time. Dean famously died in a car crash approximately a mile to the east.
The monument was installed in 1977 by a Japanese artist named Seita Ohnishi and consists of a stainless steel sculpture and concrete wall surrounding a sumac tree. Within the walls beneath the tree are two large inscriptions (placed in 1983). Another is located on the bottom of the stainless steel frame.
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| Littered with coins and debris, the faded text reads: His name was James Byron Dean. He was an actor. He died just before sundown on September 30, 1955, when his Porsche collided with another car at a fork in the road not 900 yards east of this tree, long known as The Tree of Heaven. He was 24 years old. Aside from appearing in several Broadway plays, he starred in three motion pictures - East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant. Only "Eden" had been released before his death. Yet, before he was in his grave, James Dean was already a legend. Every day, somewhere in the world, at the cimema or on television, James Dean lives on. Cinema is no longer just celluloid. Every day we find reminders that drama of James Dean is the theme that we live. He was a youth yearning for one precious touch of warmth between parents and their offspring. He was an individual struggling in this huge land of infinite promise and many races. He was a rebel searching for that cause we must all possess. This young man, seemingly ordinary yet possessing a talent and individuality that were unique in their combination, has come to personify a generation awakened.Many are those who feel strongly that James Dean should not be forgotten. There are some things, like the hatred that accompanies war, that are best forgotten. There are others, like the nobler qualities of Man, to which this young actor directed our attention, that should be preserved for all time. James Dean is all the more with us today because his life was so fleeting. In Japan we say that his death came as suddenly as it does to cherry blossoms. The pedals of early spring always fall at the height of their ephemeral brilliance. Death in youth is life that glows eternal. |
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Text reads:
This monument stands as a small token
of my appreciation for the people of America, from whom I have
learned so much. It celebrates a people who have over the years
courageously followed the path of truth and justice, while expanding
the limits of mankind with their boundless pioneering spirit. It also
stands for James Dean and other American Rebels who taught us the
importance of having a cause.
To all those who helped this stranger from Japan realize his dream of creating this monument, I express my heartfelt thanks - the Hearst family, which graciously made its land available for this monument; Bill Bast and Mrs. Sanford Roth, James Dean's closest and best friends, who shared their memories with me; and the people of this community, who warmly extended their kindness and cooperation. And naturally, to all the James Dean fans who have carried his torch throughout the years, thank you. Seita Ohnishi - July 4, 1983 |
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Text reads:
"What is essential is
invisible to the eye"
This quotation, from Antoine de
Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince", was probably James
Dean's favorite. It seemed to hold a deep and private significance
for him, and he used it often - especially with those he
loved.
William E. Burt |
The monument is often misinterpreted as the location where Dean died. The fatal crash, however, actually occurred about a mile east, where Hwy 41 breaks off of 46 and heads northeast to Fresno. In 2005, on the 50th anniversary of the accident, the state of California renamed this intersection accordingly.
On the north side of the highway at this junction, fans and devotees often leave mementos and memorabilia against the fence at the approximate location of the crash site.
The shrine includes multiple keychains, cigarettes, candles, flowers, photos, beer and soda bottles, sunglasses, lighters, and even a bra! In spite of these lighthearted offerings, what transpired here on this remote stretch of highway lends itself to an aura of solemnity and reflection, and is an important page in American pop-culture history.
