Malia Nurmi: Pleasant Screams

Before there was 'Elvira;' before there was 'Morticia Addams;' even before there was 'Lily Munster,' there was 'Vampira.' The very name gives an air of mystique and horror. The character of Vampira had been created and played by the first horror hostess of late night TV-Malia Nurmi.

According to her biography on IMDb, Nurmi was born in Finland and came to the United States while still a baby. The blond bombshell was whisked off to Hollywood by Howard Hawks to star in one of his projects, but the constant "holds" on the film caused Nurmi to quit before completion.

In her article on Wikipedia, the editor states that the character of Vampira came about as a result of a masquerade party she attended. Inspired by cartoons from The New Yorker, Nurmi donned black wig and a black dress with a tightly fitted waist. Her pale skin and black clothing caught the attention of a television producer, Hunt Stromberg, Jr. He tracked her down and asked her to host the new horror movie show that KABC-TV wanted to air. She agreed and in 1954, The Vampira Show began airing at Midnight Saturday night.

In the 1980's, Nurmi was asked to revive her role of Vampira for another show on KHJ-TV, but she declined. The show continued and a relative unknown, natural red head named Cassandra Peterson took on the new role: Elvira. Eventually, Nurmi would try to sue Peterson for copyright infringement, but the case was thrown out of court. Being a "child of the 80's," I certainly remember Elvira. I remember, vaguely, my mother telling me of a woman named Vampira, upon whom she said Elvira was based. Having done research on Nurmi, I must say I would have loved to have seen her shows. Everything that made Elvira hot in the 80's, originated in Vampira-right down to the silly double entendres. She would tell viewers they could write in for an epitaph instead of an autograph. Vampira made 1950's late night television.

To say that Nurmi lived an interesting life would be a gross understatement. Her friends included some of Hollywood's most tragic actors and actresses-James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Lili St. Cyr, and others. Nurmi pioneered a generation of television that shaped viewing and pushed the boundaries. As the first "horror hostess," she is truly the original "scream queen." Nurmi passed away, silently, however, in her sleep on January 10, 2008.

Pleasant screams, Vampira. Thank you for all you've done.