Maila Nurmi

Maila Nurmi is a name many of you may not know, but I'm damn sure you know her other name. Her other self. A woman who goes with horror as gore~geously as a full moon. The beautiful, the sensational, the trail blazer.

Vampira.

"I love glamour and physical beauty. I've always been fascinated by beautiful men on the screen: Tyrone Power, Robert Walker, with soft-focus filters and velvet voices. That's what Ed Wood was like. Beautiful dreamy eyes and long, sweeping lashes just beautiful. He didn't make a very pretty lady, but he made an awfully pretty man."

Known as the original glamour ghoul herself, Vampira, of late night 50s TV fame, was actually born Maila Syrjäniemi. She later changed to the easier surname Nurmi on December 11, 1921, in Petsamo, Finland. Her uncle was the multiple Olympic medal runner Paavo Nurmi. Maila arrived in the United States with her family as a baby, her father was a writer who lectured on temperance.

It was director Howard Hawks who first discovered Maila while she was performing in Michael Todd's Grand Guignol midnight show "Spook Scandals." He escorted the lovely blonde beauty to Hollywood with the hopes of grooming her into the next Lauren Bacall. He cast her in the film version of the Russian novel DREADFUL HALLOW, but the project was put on hold so many times that Maila walked out of her contract in frustration. She became a cheesecake model and an Earl Carroll dancer for several years in his revues. Maila even shared a chorus line with Lili St. Cyr, the future burlesque stripper extraordinaire.

Maila came up with the idea of "Vampira" at a masquerade contest. She had based her costume on Charles Addams' New Yorker cartoons, Morticia Addams. She appeared in heavy glamorous make up with long fingernails, arched eye brows, a mane of jet black locks, and slim-waisted black attire. That night she won the best costume award. She also caught the attention of local TV. Immediately following, Maila was placed under contract to Channel 7 in Hollywood to see if she could encourage late night viewers to stay up and watch its regular programming of cheapjack horror schlock.

The "macabre madam" became a genuine hit (1954-1955), adding a sexy double entendres and quippy remarks to her campy horror set. She earned an Emmy nomination in 1954 for "Most Outstanding Female Personality." Fan clubs began to appear all over the world. She appeared in "Life," "TV Guide" and "Newsweek" magazine articles, and could be seen around and about town and in Las Vegas judging contests and making variety special appearances. Songs were written about the "Queen of Horror."

She even appeared with arms outstretched and ghoulishly attired in Edward D. Wood Jr.'s PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (1959), as Bela Lugosi's zombie-like mate, for which she is infamously associated. Bela actually was a fan of hers and had always wanted to work with her. Ed Wood shot some footage of her years later as a tribute to Lugosi (he died in 1956 during filming) and added it before the film's release. The film was cited as potentially the worst film ever made (though I must say it is chalk full of charm), but it made her even more famous.

By the late 50s, Maila began to struggle as people lost their love for her and Vampira. She continued to work as much as she could making appearances in movies that didn't give her career the push she had hoped for. After a few less than wonderful films, Maila decided to retire Vampira. In later years, Maila became passionately involved in animal protection rights. A talented painter in her own right, she created some "Vampira" portraits that became a collector's item. Living very modestly in Southern California, she did appear in a tiny gag cameo in the film I WOKE UP EARLY THE DAY I DIED. The film was a tribute to the late Ed Wood made in his honor nearly two decades after his death.

"I just thought he was a low-born idiot. With no talent at all. Just a brazen, foolish idiot... You know, I thought he was just a goon. Ah, I wasn't looking squarely... I just cast a glance, and just dismissed him with a thought. Kind of snobbish and foolish of me. But then over the years as I've mellowed and grown a little more sensible, and I began to look at this man after, after the fact. And I thought, "Incredible what he managed to achieve!" Without any help! And the obstacles that he managed to overcome! Somehow, it's... miraculous. It's more than just persistence. Yes, he had a lot of persistence -- that's for sure. But he also had a gilded karma that this was all intended to be." ~ Maila Nurmi on Ed Wood

Maila has said that Vampira was everything she was not. Maila was an extremely shy, lonely girl growing up. She hadn't any friends growing up and wore hand me downs. Vampira was strong, and confident, and beautiful, and loved. Though I must say that Maila herself was so much more than she knew. Especially to little horror chicks like me growing up. Here she beautifully explains it.



Here is the rare opening to her show...



She has inspired millions and is truly the definition of a Hollywood legend.

Sadly, we lost this iconic woman in horror on January 10th, 2008. She may be gone but her legacy and inspiration will live on forever.

We love you, Maila.

XO,
Jen

Elvira

Elvira is a name synonymous with horror.

A lesser known name would be Cassandra Peterson, though the two are one and the same. You know the infamous horror hostess extraordinaire. The look itself seems to be the embodiment of a femme fatale. Pale, almost vampiric skin. Bone straight, jet black hair. Blood red lips. A skin tight black gown with a dangerous plunging neck line. You've seen it not only on Elvira, the Mistress of Darkness, but also on Vampira and Morticia Addams. The look itself has become as infamous as the characters.

But who is the woman behind the bust? Elvira is widely known for her comedic wit that set her apart from your average horror hostess and, of course, her obvious assets. Cassandra Peterson is much more than a pretty face and a to die for physique.

The woman destined for horror royalty was born in Manhattan. Kansas. She was raised and grew up near a little place called Randolph until the area flooded and her family moved with her to Colorado Springs (naturally in Colorado). Even as a little girl, she was a touch different and meant for more than the average little girl. While others played with Barbies, a young Cassandra was more inclined to gothic play things. Always a touch unconventional, she became a Go-Go dancer at a gay bar in her teens. Days after graduating highschool in 1969 (ha), she drove to Las Vegas and became a showgirl at the Dunes in a show called "Viva Les Girls".

In the 70s she lived life to its fullest, searching for her ultimate calling. In those years she had a small role as a showgirl in the 1971 James Bond film DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, briefly dated Elvis Presley, played a topless dancer in THE WORKING GIRLS (1974), and purportedly posed for the cover of Tom Waits's 1976 album, SMALL CHANGE. In the early 1970s she moved to Italy and became the lead singer of the Italian rock band, I Latins Ochanats. During this time she had a chance encounter with director, Federico Fellini, which led to a small part in ROMA (1972). Back in the United States she toured nightclubs and discos around the country with a musical/comedy act, Mammas Boys. In 1979 she joined the Los Angeles-based improvisational troupe, The Groundlings, where she created a Valley girl-type character upon whom the Elvira persona largely is based.



Then fate would strike in the 80s (my personal favorite decade). Cassandra auditioned for Ginger Grant, the "movie star", in the third GILLIGAN'S ISLAND tv movie. She was turned down, clearly meant for even higher heights. Producers of a horror show called FRIGHT NIGHTS that starred Larry Vincent as horror host Sinister Seymour were looking to revive the show in 1981, 5 years after their stars death. They brilliantly decided to go female. When Maila Nurmi, Vampira, left the show over a disagreement with the producers over who would play her character, the producers decided to audition for talent. Over 200 hopefuls came out to become the new horror hostess and Cassandra left them all in the dust. Her original design for the character was a take off of Sharon Tate in THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS (seen below).

"I figured out that Elvira is me when I was a teenager. She's a spastic girl. I just say what I feel and people seem to enjoy it."

The producers shot it down, so Cassandra went back to the drawing board. She and best friend, Robert Redding, came up with the sexy punk/vampire look that Elvira is known for throughout the world. Unable to continue with the Vampira character, the name Elvira was chosen. What followed was Elvira's Movie Macabre, featuring a quick-witted valley-girl type character named Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. With heavily-applied, pancake-horror make up and a towering black beehive wig to conceal her flame-red hair, the transformation from Cassandra Peterson to the sexy "Elvira" was so drastic that no one ever recognized her out of costume.

But she ran into trouble when Maila sent the studio a "cease and desist" claiming that Elvira was too close to her Vampira. However, the court sided in favor with the studio and producers when it was revealed that Maila's Vampira was, in fact, inspired by Charles Addams' Morticia. What can you say? Greatness borrows from greatness and puts a spin on it to make it their own.



Elvira's Movie Macabre turned Cassandra Peterson into a mega star and a name that will always go hand in hand with horror. One of her most winning qualities is the ability to not only poke fun at the films she reviews, but also at herself. Though drop dead gore~geous, Cassandra was always the first to poke fun at herself and never got so high and mighty that she couldn't take a joke. In fact, the best jokes came from the Mistress of Horror herself.

And a word on her appearance. Everyone can take a lesson for how brilliantly Elvira branded herself. Anyone can tell you what she looks like and what she does. She has received tremendous praise (though not nearly enough in my opinion) for her business savvy as well as receiving harsh criticism against her overtly sexual attire. I think it is an even greater insult for a beautiful woman to be too afraid of what people may say or think to embrace their sexuality. If you are comfortable with it, why repress it? Why should Elvira wear a bloody turtleneck? It's a bizarre double standard that attractive women should downplay their looks in fear of being labelled a whore or a slut whereas men can fully flaunt their sexuality and be a stud or be "a man". I'm so grateful to Elvira to be one of the earliest examples of taking this foolish double standard and giving it a swift and firm kick in the nuts.

Another symbol of Elvira's greatness is the place between her breasts. Her heart. Cassandra is wonderful to her fans. She happily gives out autographs, takes the time to chat with them, and reads the onslaught of letters she gets sent. She would RARELY turn down a fan. Infinite autographs, like the one below, are staples in many a horror collection.

Cassandra is a vegetarian and an activist for gay rights. Here is a kick ass ad that she starred in for PETA.



And the woman is now 60 and going strong. She doesn't even have to re-invent herself. Elvira is timeless. And at 60 Cassandra is just as exquisite a creature as she was when she first burst onto the scene in the 80s. And she shows no signs of slowing down or does she have any plans to. Please enjoy this fang~tastic interview she did recently with someone we simply adore, Ghost, Keeper Of The Night. And find Elvira on just about every social media site. No one is more fit to be called "horror royalty" than the Mistress of Darkness.



Fatally Yours,
Jen

Women in Horror Sketched Perfection

"A flier (hopefully the first of several) for Women in Horror Month. Clockwise from the upper right; Angela Bettis in May, Ingrid Pitt in The Vampire Lovers, Jen and Sylvia Soska in Dead Hooker in a Trunk, Vampira, and Heather Allen in Victor Juliet's Director's Cut."

What a huge fucking honor it is to be included in this beautiful work by Manda Brezicky for the upcoming Women In Horror Month. Thank you for promoting this wonderful event with your radcore artwork, miss!

You, too, can get involved! Submit your own artwork here. This is an incredible community event, everybody is invited. So, if you're a film maker or a fan -- get your gore on the the ladies of the horror scene. It's not a boy's club, or a girl's club, it's an equality club -- the best kind. See you there.

~Sylv

PS I want your blood please.