B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping the work of Cassandra Peterson into the ol’ VCR.

Well friends, today is the day—we’re OFFICIALLY halfway to Halloween! 

So I thought what better way to celebrate today than with a spotlight on the Mistress of the Dark herself, Cassandra Peterson. 

Cassandra Peterson was born on September 17th, 1971, in Kansas. 

Her interest in horror began at a young age, as did her interest in show business. 

Cassandra Peterson began working as a go-go dancer in gay bars and nightclubs as a teenager (I know, I know). 

After graduating high school, she became a Vegas showgirl, where she met and went on a date with Elvis. 

Yes, I’m serious. 

From there, Cassandra Peterson had a few small roles in movies like The Working Girls and Diamonds Are Forever before moving to Italy to become the lead singer for both The Snails and I Latins 80. 

(I’m aware that she just keeps getting cooler and cooler) 

There, she was also introduced to Fellini, who cast her for a tiny part in Roma (1972). 

When Cassandra Peterson came back to the U.S., she landed in Miami, where she worked as a showgirl, joined Playboy as a model, and performed all over the states with Mama’s Boys, a comedy/musical group. 

A few years later, she became part of The Groundlings, where an early iteration of Elvira was born. 

In 1981, Cassandra Peterson auditioned for a horror host role in Los Angeles, booked the role, and thus, Elvira’s Movie Macabre was born. 

Now, I’m not going to dive into the drama surrounding the program’s inception, but I’ll briefly mention it for context. 

Maila Nurmi, aka Vampira, was initially brought on because the producers wanted to reboot her original show. 

However, they refused to hire who she wanted to play Vampira (or a version of Vampira—it’s not clear), so Cassandra Peterson was hired on. 

Maila Nurmi took legal action because she believed Elvira was a rip-off of Vampira, but Cassandra Peterson won. 

And unfortunately, this wouldn’t mark the end of Cassandra Peterson’s issues with getting Elvira her much-deserved spotlight. 

While Elvira’s Movie Macabre ran for five years, the feature film that was meant to catapult Elvira into the mainstream, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, actually bombed at the box office.

(It’s one of my personal faves, so I don’t understand it either) 

Cassandra Peterson went on to film a pilot for a show centered around Elvira that wasn’t picked up (um, why) and has had several projects stuck in development hell or simply cancelled.

However, she did release Elvira’s Haunted Hills in 2000, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2003. 

I do want to clarify that I’m not saying any of this in a derogatory way. 

I think that Cassandra Peterson was ahead of her time, and it speaks volumes that a horror host whose Hollywood debut technically flopped is still one of the most recognizable characters of all time. 

Also, Cassandra Peterson is more than just Elvira. 

She’s appeared in campy cult films like All About Evil as well as classics like Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. 

Cassandra Peterson is also an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and came out herself in her autobiography, Yours Cruelly, Elvira. 

She also recently sold her Tesla and donated all the money to NPR, and she filmed a video of it being towed away with the words “Elon Sux” on the side. 

That’s why, although she’s had bad luck over the years with projects, it’s so badass to watch her be a household name, giving all those who wouldn’t give her a chance the middle finger. 

Cassandra Peterson flipped the horror host on its head with her biting commentary, double entendres, and big…comedic stylings. 

It’s also a testament to how fame doesn’t always depend on the quantity of your content, but rather, the quality. 

Over the years, Elvira has graced our screens to host movies for Halloween and, most recently, to celebrate her 40th anniversary with a four-movie marathon on Shudder. 

Cassandra, if you ever read this, thank you. 🖤

You walked so that so many other badass women in the horror community could run, including this writer.