Happy Birthday Cassandra Peterson
September 17th, 2009 . by TexasFredHappy Birthday Cassandra Peterson
Cassandra Peterson (born September 17, 1951) is an American actress best known for her on-screen horror hostess character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. She gained fame on Los Angeles television station KHJ wearing a black, gothic, cleavage-enhancing gown as host of Movie Macabre, a weekly horror movie presentation. Her wickedly vampish appearance was offset by her comical character, quirky/quick-witted personality, and valley girl-type speech.
The Elvira character rapidly gained notoriety with her tight-fitting, low-cut black gown which showed more cleavage than had ever appeared on local Los Angeles television before. The movies featured on Elvira’s Movie Macabre were always B grade (or lower). Elvira reclined on a red Victorian couch, introducing and often interrupting the movie to lampoon the actors, the script, and the bad editing. Adopting the flippant tone of a California valley-girl, she brought a satirical, sarcastic edge to her commentary without ever being crass or mean-spirited. Like a macabre Mae West, she reveled in dropping risqué double entendres as well as making frequent jokes about her eye-popping display of cleavage. In an AOL Entertainment News interview, Peterson revealed, “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.” Her campy humor, obvious sex appeal, and good-natured self-mockery endeared her to late-night movie viewers as her popularity soared. At the same time, Elvira was embraced as an icon of the waning 1980s punk movement as well as the emerging Goth subculture. SOURCE
As Elvira you are HOT HOT HOT!!
But Cassandra, darling… Please, do us ALL a HUGE favor?
Stay in character!
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Oh man, did Elvira get MY attention!!
BZ
I think she’s much prettier without the garb! But I’m a girl.
Elvira has HELD my attention, for quite a number of years!!
My mother used to chew me out when she found out I watched her on late night. Mom was like that! LOL!!! I thought she was funny and helped us all not take ourselves too seriously. It’s easy to forget how to have fun with things.
Love watching her. She just made me laugh.
Well? Some things from So Cal are good! She lived near Vista for a time way back when, and I thought that she was the definition of Drop Dead Gorgeous period. Not just when she was in costume.
She was one hell of a stripper I am told, I never saw her in that role. But? I do know where she learned to dance. It was at a teen club called London Fog…
Blonds may have more fun, but brunettes get the job done!
Happy birthday Cassi!
As long as she’s in character, it’s still here in my mid 50′s…
After watching Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, I always got a chuckle, and I always got a good night’s sleep and not one chuckle came from a nasty word of the four letter variety or from making fun of someone (other than the actors on whatever campy movie was for the night’s watching).
Yep, I recall the girl and the song….I liked the song, but never a fan of the girl.
I like her car….1958 TBird convertible with the spider web grill…too cool…
I dunno Fred, I think she looks better without all the makeup. She might even be a real likable woman if she has enough of a sense of humor to make up Elvira.
I always looked for the quality of her acting……………….
Whaddaya mean, unhuh, bullshittttt too?!! LOL
Best CLEAVAGE EVER!!!!
@Rob… Not a doubt in my mind…
Happy birthday to one sweet lady - in or out of her Evira character. From a long-time Evira fan