Searching for James Dean

Fifty years after his death on a lonely California stretch of road, James Dean still symbolizes the essence of cool. With only three film credits to his name, Dean still inspires t-shirts and other memorabilia. Every September, fans from around the country and the world pay their respects at the spot where he died in Cholame, Calif.

Images of James Dean such as this mural on an underpass on Franklin Ave. in Los Angeles are still prevalent today. Photo by Matt McClain
  
Following the same path James Dean did on the last day of the life, Vic Bent of New York state cruises in his replica 1955 Porsche Spyder drives on the Highway 46 while staying in the area for the 50th anniversary of Dean's death on September 30th. Photo by Matt McClain
   
James Dean impersonater, Scott Brim stands near the site where James Dean died fifty years ago on the day in Cholame, Calif. Photo by Matt McClain
     
  
Fans leave unsmoked cigarettes in a tree that is part of a memorial for James Dean outside the Jack Ranch Cafe in Cholame, Calif. Photo by Matt McClain
   
A small photo of James Dean hangs on a barbwire fence close to where his car landed after his car accident on September 30th, 1955. Dean died of a broken neck after colliding with Cal Poly student, Donald Turnupspeed at the Highway 46 and Highway 41 junction. Photo by Matt McClain
   
Holding a photo by Sandford Roth of the James Dean crash site that had been made into a transparency, Rick Young, right, along with Gus Rojas, center, and Landon Moore try to match up the exact spot of the accident as they stand at the intersection of Highways 41 and 46 Friday on the 50th anniversary of the death of James Dean. Photo by Matt McClain
     
  
As the last glimmer of daylight fills the western sky, traffic heads east on Highway 46 near the Highway 41 junction. James Dean died just before sunset as motorist, Donald Turnupspeed made an ill fated turn in front of Dean's Porsche Spyder. Photo by Matt McClain