JPiC’s Inktober offers the fourth entry in the “Regional TV Horror Movie Hosts” series.
After the death of Larry Vincent, Los Angeles’ TV’s local horror movie host “Sinister Seymour,” station KHJ was looking to revive the weekend broadcast. At first, they contacted Maila Nurmi, who played TV hostess “Vampira” in the 1950s. While Nurmi was not interested herself, she suggested singer-dancer Lola Falana for the role. Instead, producers held auditions. They selected vivacious Cassandra Peterson, who created the goth vixen “Elvira.” Nurmi was infuriated and sued the station for infringement, claiming the character was too close to her own “Vampira.” An eventual court battle was found in Cassandra’s favor.
Elvira’s stint as the host of “Movie Macabre” was an instant hit. With her slinky black dress, prevalent cleavage and Valley Girl attitude, Elvira dropped double entendres left and right in a cross somewhere between Morticia Addams and Little Annie Fanny.
Elvia’s popularity grew and soon she was making appearances on The Tonight Show and in a series of commercials for Mug Root Beer and Coors Beer (where her trademark cleavage was covered up). She also popped up, in character, on various TV series like CHiPS and The Fall Guy. She hosted Hallowee’en events at California’s Knott’s Berry Farm. The “Elvira” brand was everywhere, including action figures, trading cards, perfume, pinball machines and many other properties. She even starred in two theatrical films.
More recently, Cassandra has retired the “Elvira” character, but has been known to “unretire” her now and then.