The Many Faces of Maila "Vampira" Nurmi

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The Tuesday Top 10: Horror TV Hosts

Ah, for the days of those groovy ghouls who welcomed us each week to their cheaply decorated and garishly lit studio sets, introducing classic horror films while cramming as many hackneyed puns as possible into every sentence... The TV "horror host" phenomenon was once a big part of local television, particularly in the 1960s, '70s and '80s--before the days of infomercials, when many networks and syndicated channels populated their program lineup with old movies and such.

Alas, although a handful do still operate, the horror host is largely a thing of the past. It seems, in these days when "content" is so compartmentalized on TV into a myriad of specialized channels, and movies are readily available on home video or computers, that those folks who traipsed around in Halloween-store garb while doing Boris Karloff impressions with varying degrees of success, have become moot. Yet for many of us, and many more who came before, these were the people who sparked our interest in horror, introducing us to movies we might never have otherwise seen.

And so, this week, I give you a look at some of the most memorable of the TV horror hosts...

10. Rhonda Shear
Ms. Shear was the host of "Up All Night" on the USA Network in the 1990s, and even though some of the films she hosted were not horror, the late-night program she hosted was very much a basic cable version of the old-school, late-night movie showcases. And the voluptuous Shear, although less goth than many of her female predecessors, nevertheless embodied much of the same vampy aesthetic.

9. Count Gore de Vol
A true renaissance man amongst horror hosts, the Count is best known for his Washington D.C.-area show from the 1970s and 1980s. But in 1998, he truly broke new ground and crossed over into a brand new medium by becoming the first classic horror host to kick off a weekly Internet show. He is also the man behind the Horror Host Underground, whose official website is this year nominated for a Rondo Award.

8. Dr. Morgus
One of the most widely syndicated of the classic horror hosts, Morgus' programming was most prominent in the New Orleans and Detroit areas during the 1960s and '70s. In the 1980s he became exposed to a wide array of markets across the nation, including New York, where I remember seeing him as a kid. For the past five years, Morgus has been back on the air with a cable show in New Orleans.

7. Ghoulardi
One of the most high-profile and beloved of the "golden age" horror hosts, Ron "Ghoulardi" Anderson was an icon for monster kids growing up in the Midwest in the 1960s. His character was more of a groovy hipster than the typical "mad scientist" type, and remains a camp favorite to this day. He left his home base of Ohio in the late '60s and went on to become the major ABC voice-over man of the 1970s. His son is film director Paul Thomas Anderson.

6. Svengoolie
A Chicago institution, the original Svengoolie, Jerry Bishop, hosted a very popular show during the 1970s. His protege, Rich Koz, started carrying on the tradition in the 1980s, and continues to do so to this day--first as "Son of Svengoolie", and now simply as the new Svengoolie. Ironically, he has played the character for much longer than his mentor.

5. Joe Bob Briggs
One of the most recent individuals to keep the horror host format alive, Briggs--a.k.a. John Bloom--is a bit more down-to-earth than his funkier and creepier predecessors. He gathered a rabid fan following as a genre aficionado thanks to his shows on The Movie Channel and TNT in the 1990s, and today works mainly as a straight-up critic, with many books on genre cinema under his belt.

4. Elvira
The Mistress of the Dark, and quite possibly the most famous of all horror hosts. Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson most certainly was the one who became the most mainstream, even getting a motion picture dedicated to her on-screen character. She also had her very own line of VHS horror releases, that predated and prefigured the MST3K phenomenon. She loses a point or two for originality, since her entire persona was largely cribbed from an earlier female horror host soon to be mentioned...

3. Chilly Billy
Chilly Billy Cardille was a Pittsburgh fixture for a couple of reasons. Not only was he the immensely popular host of the Steel City's version of Chiller Theater from the 1960s to the 1980s, but he was also one of the premiere TV announcers in the 1960s and '70s for the WWWF (now known as WWE). He can be seen in Night of the Living Dead as the on-the-spot TV reporter, and his daughter is Day of the Dead's Lori Cardille.

2. Zacherley
Yes, I'm probably biased for having grown up in the Northeast, but Zacherley--a.k.a. The Cool Ghoul--is considered by many as something of a patron saint of horror fandom. He hosted a variety of horror movie showcases on TV in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey in the 1950s and '60s, and even inspired a young boy in Brooklyn who would one day become the father of the writer of this blog. He is also something of an honorary master of ceremonies for the bi-annual Chiller Theatre convention.

1. Vampira
Perhaps the allure of mystery is a big part of Maila "Vampira" Nurmi's continued appeal. Although she only appeared on the air in California during the mid 1950s and almost no footage survives, she is generally credited with being the first true horror host, and the character she crafted has almost become something of a Jungian archetype. She famously appeared in Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space, and has inspired a look which endures to this day (most notoriously co-opted by the aforementioned Peterson). Simply put, Vampira is more than a person, she is a pop culture entity.


* I'm indebted to the Rondo-nominated E-Gor's Chamber of TV Horror Hosts for being such an invaluable source of precious info in putting this list together.

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The Vault of Horror & Day of the Woman Present: The 20 Hottest Women of Horror

Tonight we're talking about the women of horror, so who better to bring on board than the mastermind behind Day of the Woman herself, the irrepressible and irresistible BJ-C? She and myself worked long and hard to compile the following list of the most beautiful female characters in horror history, and I now leave it to BJ-C to bring it to you in her own inimitable style...

20) Gloria Holden (Countess Marya Zaleska)
~When your daddy is the Prince of the Night, one can only assume that you’re going to be a bona fide sex kitten. With those mesmerizing eyes, rocking figure, perfect pout, baby-smooth skin, and lesbian overtones, she’s like rolling all of the women on this list into one. She truly defines what it means to be a Horror Babe.

19) Jenny Agutter (Nurse Alex)
~ If you happen to be an American feeling a sick in London and think you may have possibly been bitten by a werewolf, there's no better cure than Nurse Alex Price entering your hospital room with a short skirt and a tray of pills. Enough said.

18) Sherri Moon Zombie (Baby Firefly)
~Love his work or hate it, Rob Zombie nabbed himself a real fox. Baby Firefly brings the perfect combination of insanity, sex and innocence, all rolled into one character. I’ll give her a B, an A, a B and a Y anytime she wants…

17) Evelyn Ankers (Gwen)
~Every furry man has to have a sexy co-star, and Evelyn Ankers is that woman for the Wolf Man. With those luscious blonde tresses and 40’s pinup body, it's no wonder Lon Chaney [as well as us here at VoH & DotW] noticed her, too.

16) Fairuza Balk (The Craft)
~A woman with turquoise eyes hidden behind black makeup and black lipstick. The lead witch of the coven in The Craft, she made famous the image little Goth girls across America try to emulate. She’s probably the scariest sexy women on this list.

15) Milla Jovovich (Alice)
~She’s got super-human strength, piercing blue eyes and a figure that makes even women swoon. There’s nothing hotter than a girl in little to no clothing, who can completely annihilate zombies. Not to mention, her legs could kill… and sometimes do.

14) Kate Beckinsale (Selene)
~She’s scantily clad in vinyl and leather, and has the ability to destroy anything in her path. Not to mention… she’s hotter than hell. This breathtaking (and powerful) former vampire makes us thank heaven she’s immortal.

13) Janet Leigh (Marian Crane)
~By far the most famous woman to ever take a shower, Janet Leigh as Marian Crane is the hottest embezzler to ever step foot in the Bates Motel. She may have been killed off within the first 45 minutes of Psycho, but her naked figure being stabbed is one of the most sensual & terrifying scenes in horror history.

12) Sadie Frost (Lucy from Bram Stoker’s Dracula)
~Move over Mina, it’s your best friend Lucy we’re looking for! A vivacious starlet who is much praised for her beauty and sweet nature, the poor victim of Dracula has such a vamp look to her already, it’s impossible to overlook her sexiness… even moreso after becoming a vampire.

11) Hazel Court (Elizabeth in The Curse of Frankenstein)
~One of the premier '50s scream queens. Hazel captivated us with that thick hair and plump pout. Not to mention, her hotness got our eyes on someone other than Vincent Price when she stepped on screen. Another one of those curvaceous women, she looked fabulous in every role she played.

10) Caroline Munro (Laura Bellows, Dracula AD 1972)
~One of the sassy and sexy women of Hammer Horror, Caroline Munro grazed the screen in numerous forms. A former Vogue model, her big break was performing as one of Hammer’s girls. She however turned down many roles because they required nudity, such a shame ;)

9) Rose McGowan (Cherry Darling)
~She has those luscious red lips and smokin’ hot body. She's a go-go dancer, a full-fledged bad-ass zombie slayer, and of course, there's the stockless-M4 carbine leg. What else could someone ask for?

8) Jessica Biel (Erin)
~So the remake of TCM wasn’t as well done as it could have been… but Holy Upgrade Batman on the main girl. Jessica Biel was white hot as the uber-conservative daugher of the Priest on 7th Heaven, but seeing her half naked in a horror film... sign me up!

7) Allison Hayes (Mona)
~In Zombies of Mora Tau, we find the 50-Foot Woman herself, Allison Hayes, displaying one of the sexiest brassieres ever created. With an absolute perfect hourglass shape, she completely embodies what it meant to be a 50’s Scream Queen.

6) Nastassia Kinski (Irena)
~The lips that drove men crazy long before Angelina. The character Irena in the remake of Cat People (which is a film already swarming with sex) makes panthers look sexy, and there is something about that iconic movie poster that makes it harder to walk…

5) Isabelle Adjani (Lucy Harker)
~Looking like she was glazed with porcelain, Isabelle Adjani as Lucy Harker in Nosferatu the Vampyre has one of the most breathtaking sets of eyes to ever grace the silver screen. The contrast of her dark makeup on that ivory complexion of hers draws everyone in, with or without a vampire on her neck.

4) Linnea Quigley (Trash)
~ Not sure when Trash is hotter--before she turns into a zombie or after. Her legendary full-frontal graveyard dance is officially the most necessary gratuitous nude scene in movie history. Plus, she’s one of three people on the planet to make pink hair sexy.

3) Anna Falchi (She)
~Italians have given the horror world synth-rock music, realistic zombie makeup, and Anna Falchi. In the film adaptation of Dylan Dog, or Dellamorte Dellamore/Cemetery Man, we get the luxury of staring at “She” as she represents numerous women in the film. For lack of a better description, HOTTEST ZOMBIE EVER.

2) Salma Hayek (Santatica Pandemonium)
~Vampire Freaking Stripper…Never in my life have I ever wanted more to be bitten by a woman than I have after watching From Dusk Till Dawn. Who doesn’t like seeing Vampire Strippers with snakes in their hands? That’s what I thought…

1) Maila Nurmi (Vampira)
~Absolutely exemplifying what it means to have an hourglass figure, Maila Nurmi encompasses everything a sexy gothic pinup should be. From her smashing frame, to her stunning cheekbones, Maila Nurmi jumpstarted puberty for the boys of the classic horror era the world over. Dita Von Teese….eat your heart out.

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Requiescant in Pace 2008: Part 1

Maila "Vampira" Nurmi


Brad Renfro


Roy Scheider


Richard Widmark


Charlton Heston


Hazel Court


Kay Linaker (screenwriter)


Julie Ege


Harvey Korman


Stan Winston (special effects)

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Fear Invades the Living Room: A History of Horror TV, Part 1

Although often overshadowed by the older and less limited tradition of horror in theatrical motion pictures, the horror genre has nevertheless been a constant and important part of the history of television dating back to its very beginning as a commercial medium. It might be a more confined format in terms of running time, and in recent decades in terms of content, but horror television has benefited from something that all TV shows benefit from to one degree or another: intimacy.

It's an intimacy that the more communal movie experience doesn't allow (even more true in the pre-VCR age). And when it comes to a genre whose purpose it is to get under your skin, to exploit that which unsettles and frightens you, that level of intimacy is a major advantage.

Even though the phenomenon of TV didn't take root until after World War II, the concept of horror entertainment within the privacy of one's own home wasn't quite novel even then--after all, horror programs had already been a staple of radio stations going back decades. Perhaps that was why, in the beginning, horror was able to get its footing on television by drawing directly on that earlier medium.

It was Lights Out, a hugely popular horror/thriller anthology radio show of the 1940s, that was the first to make the transition. In 1946, the first of four Lights Out specials aired on American TV, the nation's first real taste of the boob tube's power to send a tingle down the spine using both audio and video components. They were followed in 1949 with a regular Lights Out series that ran for two seasons, presenting tales of the supernatural, some even based on the horror stories of authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allen Poe.

Once Lights Out was a hit, the door was open for a slew of anthology series, most based on the old radio format. In those early days, TV programmers were eager to fill their schedules with whatever they could get their hands on, and further radio adaptations such as Suspense (1949-53) in the U.S. and Appointment with Fear (1949-55) in the U.K. fit the bill. Even horror movie legend Boris Karloff got into the act with a short-lived anthology he hosted called Mystery Playhouse (1949).

The format of presenting a different tale of terror each week proved a stalwart of the early years of television, and Karloff wasn't the only cinematic luminary to benefit from its potential. In 1955, understanding how a TV series could act as the greatest form of self-promotion possible, director Alfred Hitchcock, best known for his suspense thrillers, kicked off his very own anthology show: Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Enormously popular, it ran for nine seasons, giving viewers a condensed TV version of Hitchcock's trademark blend of dark humor and murderous mayhem.

Aside from anthology programming, the other distinguishing feature of horror TV in the '50s was an obvious one. After all, what easier way for content-crazed programmers to fill their slates than by showing previously released movies? B-grade horror films were among the most easily acquired, and thus soon became a late-night staple. Across the nation, hordes of "horror hosts" sprang up. These campy personalities were hired by TV stations to introduce the movies, as well provide entertaining segues to run before and after commercial breaks. The first of these was Vampira, whose 1954-55 program out of Los Angeles set the standard. Among later hosts, New York's Zacherley--"The Cool Ghoul"--was the epitome.

The biggest windfall ever enjoyed by these types of programs was the 1957 leasing to TV by Universal Pictures of its impressive library of 1930s and '40s horror classics. Packaged as "Shock Theatre", the collection of movies that included Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, etc., managed to repopularize those moldy oldies with a whole new generation of youngsters that ate them up with relish. An explosion in monster movie popularity resulted, producing the generation that would forever after be lovingly known as "monster kids".

Meanwhile in the U.K., there was some experimentation going on with presenting horror material in a format other than the ongoing series. The 1955 BBC presentation of The Creature starring Peter Cushing, for example, was an early example of a successful horror TV movie. And true to the British concept of limiting a "series" to a single season--more akin to what Americans would call a miniseries--the BBC also produced the landmark Quatermass Experiment in 1953. It would be followed by two other series, Quatermass II (1955) and Quatermass and the Pit (1958), and later inspired the earliest theatrical successes of Hammer Films.

Nevertheless, the Americans stuck to their anthological guns. In 1959, the series One Step Beyond debuted, showcasing paranormal tales based on supposed real-life accounts. Although a well-produced program, it would be totally eclipsed by another anthology which debuted the very same season, and which ironically did take horror TV one step beyond.

Or more accurately, to another dimension. One of sight, and sound.

Other major shows:

• The Clock (1949-52)
• The Web (1950-54)
• Danger (1950-55)
• Topper (1953-55)
• The Veil (1958)

Soon to come: Part 2 - Terror Comes of Age

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Maila "Vampira" Nurmi 1921-2008

One of the true cult icons of horror has left us. It was first reported late Thursday night on Metroblogging Los Angeles--and later confirmed--that Finnish-born Maila Nurma, better known to her fans as Vampira, has passed away at the age of 86.

The original goth femme fatale, in 1954 Nurmi became the first of many television horror hosts, starting a staple of late-night TV that would live on for nearly 30 years. She had been discovered by the program director of a local L.A. TV station after attending a Halloween party dressed as Morticia Addams from the original Charles Addams New Yorker comic strip.

"The Vampira Show" aired for only one season, but that was enough to make Nurmi an L.A. legend. She even developed a friendship with fellow '50s icon James Dean, which some have speculated may have been more than a friendship.

Unfortunately, Vampira's broadcasts were never recorded for posterity, and this tiny snippet is all that has ever been found:

Nurmi refused to give up the rights to her character and wound up blacklisted in the entertainment business. Needing cash, she accepted a role in Ed Wood's epic disaster Plan 9 from Outer Space, which features the only other footage of her in character, some which can be seen here:

In the early 1980s, another California TV station tried to buy the rights to Vampira for their own horror movie program. When Nurmi refused, they hired actress Cassandra Peterson and created the far less sexy, yet unfortunately much more famous knock-off Elvira. Nurmi later unsuccessfully sued Peterson.

Despite her brief time in the spotlight, Vampira's legacy has been a powerful one. Idolized even by many far too young to remember her, she's one of those figures whose image seems to have somehow permeated the collective unconscious--known even to those who have never heard of her.

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