 Cassandra Peterson, Elvira's alter ego, was born in Manhattan, Kansas, and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Just days after graduating from high school, Cassandra traveled to Las Vegas where, at the age of 17, she became the youngest showgirl in Las Vegas history. When Elvis Presley saw her perform he encouraged her to pursue a singing career. She toured Europe extensively as lead singer for an Italian rock band. After returning to the US In the late 1970s she joined the satiric improvisational troupe, The Groundlings, which also produced such stars as Paul Reubens (aka "Pee Wee Herman"), Phil Hartman, Lisa Kudrow and many others. There she honed her now renowned comedic skills as both a writer and performer until the fall of 1981 when she created her now legendary character Elvira- Mistress of the dark. Cassandra has appeared in nearly 50 movies and TV shows including her own recent movie: Elvira's haunted hills  Elvira, the girl with the zonkers that will drive you bonkers The girl with the curves that will rattle your nerves The girl who put the "bra" back in the word bravo. .jpg) Elvira wears a skintight black dress reminiscent of the one worn by Morticia (Carolyn Jones) of THE ADDAMS FAMILY/ABC/1964-66 but with more cleavage and leg showing -- a true public relations device which no doubt accounted for many of her bug-eyed viewers. Describing herself as a cross between Vincent Price and Mae West Elvira delighted in poking fun at her weekly horror movies and attacking everything from the abilities of the actors, directors, low budget scripts, and scenery. Additional members of her cast included Breather (John Paragon) as a greasy fellow who telephoned Elvira during her show and carried on bizarre conversations; Auntie Virus, Elvira's grey-haired relative (Eve Smith), a spunky little old lady from Pasadena who tried to steal the spotlight from her attractive niece; and Attilla, the program director who threaded up such cinematic gems as Beware! The Blob (1972), and The Werewolf of Washington (1973). At program's end, she signed off by looking seductively at the camera and saying "Unpleasant Dreams." In the 1982 edition of her fan newsletter, The Elvira Examiner we discovered that Elvira was born near her mother; her sign was "Stop"; she was tall enough to reach the floor; heavy enough to fill her costume; and when a fan asked her if "They were real?" she responded "Of course, they're real, Darling, these are my real nails. Did you think they were made of silicone?" Her turn offs included dwarves in bad moods and scientists with hatchets. Cassandra Peterson, the gorgeous redhead, who plays Elvira, was a former rock singer, Las Vegas Showgirl, and member of the Los Angeles comedy troupe, The Groundlings. Peterson was hired as Elvira for her T & A...talent and ability. Elvira debuted in Los Angeles in the fall of 1981 on KHJ-TV Channel 9's weekend horror show "Movie Macabre." .jpg) She’s smart but naive, she’s sexually driven but not a slut and let's face it, did you see the set of headlights on that ride? DAMN! (john fallon) |
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