Maila Nurmi
Maila Nurmi as she appeared in the 2001 documentary SCHLOCK! The Secret History of American Movies.
Born	December 21, 1921 (1921-12-21) (age 85) Petsamo, Finland
Occupation	Actress
Website	http://www.vampirasattic.com/

Maila Nurmi (born Maila Elizabeth Syrjäniemi, December 21, 1921 in Petsamo, Finland—now Pechenga, Russia) created the well-remembered 1950s character of Vampira. Her portrayal of this character as a television horror host and in films was influential over decades that followed. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The area of Petsamo (Pechenga in Russian) in northern Lapland, indigenously inhabited by Samis, came to Finland in 1920 and to the Soviet Union in 1944. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The area of Petsamo (Pechenga in Russian) in northern Lapland, indigenously inhabited by Samis, came to Finland in 1920 and to the Soviet Union in 1944. ... Petsamo is located at the Barents Sea coast between Russia in the east, Norway in the west and Finland to the south. ... The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ... Horror hosts are a particular type of television presenter, often tasked with presenting low-grade films to television audiences. ...

Early life

Born Maila Syrjäniemi, she claimed to be the niece of the Finnish athlete Paavo Nurmi, who began setting long-distance running world records in 1921, the year of her birth. She moved to the United States with her family when she was two years old and grew up in Ashtabula, Ohio, home to the largest Finnish-American community in Ohio. Arriving in Los Angeles at age 17, she modeled for Alberto Vargas, Bernard of Hollywood, and Man Ray, gaining a foothold in the film industry with an uncredited role in Victor Saville's 1947 film, If Winter Comes. Like many struggling actresses in the 1950s, Nurmi (along with Julie Newmar, Tina Louise, et al.) posed for pin-up photos in dozens of men's magazines such as Famous Models, Gala, and Glamorous Models. Paavo Johannes Nurmi ( ) (June 13, 1897 Turku – October 2, 1973 Helsinki) was a Finnish runner. ... Railyard in the port of Ashtabula Hubbard House Projected primary nuclear strike targets for Ohio, circa 1990 (FEMA Image, with Ashtabula labeled) Ashtabula is a city in Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States, and the center of the Ashtabula Micropolitan Statistical Area (as defined by the United States Census Bureau in... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Alberto Vargas (1896–1982) was a noted painter of pin-up girls and erotica. ... For other uses, see Man Ray (disambiguation). ... The year 1947 in film involved some significant events. ... Julie Newmar (born Julie Chalene Newmeyer on August 16, 1933) is an American actress, dancer and singer. ... Tina Louise (born February 11, 1934) is an American model, singer, and film and television actress, best known for her portrayal of Ginger Grant on televisions Gilligans Island. ...

Origin of Vampira

The idea for the Vampira character was born in 1953 when Nurmi attended choreographer Lester Horton's annual Bal Caribe Masquerade in a costume inspired by a character in The New Yorker cartoons of Charles Addams. Her appearance with pale white skin and tight black dress caught the attention of television producer Hunt Stromberg, Jr., who wanted to hire her to host horror movies on the Los Angeles television station KABC-TV, but Stromberg had no idea how to contact her. He finally got her phone number from Rudi Gernreich, later famed as the designer of the topless swimsuit. The name Vampira was the invention of Nurmi's husband, Dean Riesner (1918-2002), screenwriter of Dirty Harry, Charley Varrick, Play Misty For Me and numerous other movies and TV episodes. January 7 - President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. ... Lester Horton (January 23, 1906 - November 2, 1953) was an American dancer, choreographer, and teacher. ... For other uses, see New Yorker. ... Charles Samuel Addams (January 7, 1912–September 29, 1988) was an American cartoonist known for his particularly black humor and macabre characters. ... This article is about a television transmitting location or company. ... KABC-TV, channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, licensed to Los Angeles, California. ... Rudi Gernreich (1922-1985) was a fashion designer and gay activist. ... Dean Riesner (November 3, 1918-August 18, 2002) was a prolific American film and television writer. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... For other uses, see Dirty Harry (disambiguation). ... Movie poster for Charlie Varrick Charley Varrick is a 1973 crime film directed by Don Siegel and starring Walter Matthau, Andrew Robinson and Joe Don Baker. ... Play Misty for Me is a 1971 thriller film, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. ...

Maila Nurmi in Plan 9 from Outer Space

On Friday night, April 30, 1954, KABC-TV aired a preview, Dig Me Later, Vampira, at 11:00 p.m. The Vampira Show premiered on the following night, May 1, 1954. For the first four weeks, the show aired at midnight, moving to to 11:00 p.m. on May 29. Ten months later, the series aired at 10:30 p.m., beginning March 5, 1955. As Vampira, Nurmi introduced films while wandering through a hallway of mist and cobwebs. Her horror-related comedy antics included talking to her pet spider Rollo, and encouraging viewers to write for epitaphs instead of autographs. When the series was cancelled in 1955, she retained rights to the character of Vampira and took the show to KHJ-TV 9. A single kinescope episode of The Vampira Show and several episode scripts are held by private collectors. Image File history File links PlanNine_07. ... Image File history File links PlanNine_07. ... This article is about 1959 film. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1954 in television involved some significant events. ... The Vampira Show is a 1950s Emmy-nominated television show hosted by Vampira. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the day. ... See also: 1954 in television, other events of 1955, 1956 in television and the list of years in television. // Events April 1 - The DuMont Television network drastically cuts back its programming. ... An epitaph ( literally: on the gravestone in ancient Greek) is text honoring the deceased, most commonly inscribed on a tombstone or plaque. ... Kinescope (IPA: ) originally referred to the cathode ray tube used in television monitors. ...

Nurmi made television history as the first horror movie hostess. In the years that followed, Universal Studios released a syndicated package of 52 horror classics under the program title Shock Theater. Independent stations in major cities all over the U.S. began showing these films, adding their own ghoulish host or hostess (including Vampira II and other lookalikes) to attract more viewers. This trend flourished over the next few decades, culminating in the 1980s with Cassandra Peterson's sexy Elvira, Mistress of the Dark character. This article is about the American media conglomerate. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Cassandra Peterson (born September 17, 1949) is an American actress best known for her on-screen horror host persona 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. ...

Nominated for an Emmy Award as "Most Outstanding Female Personality" in 1954, she returned to films with 1955's Too Much, Too Soon, followed by The Big Operator and The Beat Generation. Her most notable film appearance was in Ed Wood's camp classic, Plan 9 from Outer Space, as a Vampira-like zombie (filmed in 1956, released in 1959). In 1960, she appeared in I Passed for White and Sex Kittens Go to College, followed by the 1962 film, The Magic Sword. (See Filmfax no. 13, December 1988 for more on Vampira.) An Emmy Award. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1958 in film involved some significant events. ... Promotional poster for The Beat Generation The Beat Generation is a motion picture released in 1959 by MGM starring Steve Cochran and Mamie Van Doren, with Ray Danton, Fay Spain, Maggie Hayes, Jackie Coogan, Louis Armstrong, Cathy Crosby and Ray Anthony. ... Edward D. Wood, Jr. ... Camp is an aesthetic in which something has appeal because of its bad taste or ironic value. ... This article is about 1959 film. ... The year 1956 in film involved some significant events. ... See also: 1958 in film 1959 1960 in film 1950s in film 1960s in film years in film film Events The Three Stooges make their 180th and last short film, Sappy Bullfighters. ... See also: 1959 in film 1960 1961 in film 1950s in film 1960s in film years in film film // Events April 20 - for the first time since coming home from military service in Germany, Elvis Presley returns to Hollywood, California to film G.I. Blues August 10 - Filming of West... I Passed for White is a 1960 film directed and adapted for the screen by Fred M. Wilcox from a novel of the same name by Reba Lee as told to Mary Hastings Bradley. ... // Events Dr. No launches the James Bond film series, the longest-running motion picture franchise of all time, running more than 40 years. ... The Magic Sword (also known as St. ...

Personal life

Nurmi was acquainted with Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and briefly dated Orson Welles. In the early 1950s, she was close friends with James Dean, and they hung out together at Googie's coffee shop on the corner of Crescent Heights and Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Her explanation for their friendship: "We have the same neuroses." Dean commented, "I have a fairly adequate knowledge of satanic forces, and I was interested to find out if this girl was obsessed with such a force." ^[1] Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe award winning American actress, model and sex symbol. ... Elvis redirects here. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ... For the film, see James Dean (film). ... Sunset Boulevard (officially known as West Sunset Boulevard, except in Beverly Hills) is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades. ... Greetings from Hollywood Hollywood is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., that extends from Vermont Avenue on the east to just beyond Laurel Canyon Boulevard above Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards on the west; the north to south boundary east of La Brea Avenue...

Later life

In the early 1970s, Nurmi opened "Vampira's Attic", an antiques store in her home on Melrose Avenue. She also sold handmade jewelry and clothing. She made items for several celebrities including Grace Slick of the music group Jefferson Airplane and the Zappa family. In the 1980s, Nurmi was asked by KHJ-TV to revive her Vampira character for television. She worked closely with the producers of the new show and was to get an executive producer credit, but Nurmi eventually declined their proposal. KHJ-TV continued with the show and changed the name of their character to Elvira. Later, Nurmi sued Cassandra Peterson, the actress who played Elvira. The case was dismissed when Nurmi was unable to pay for legal expenses. In 1994, Maila Nurmi was portrayed by actress-model Lisa Marie in Tim Burton's Ed Wood, and she was the subject of a 1995 Finnish documentary, About Death, Sex and Taxes by Mika J. Ripatti. Her last film role was in 1998's, I Woke Up Early the Day I Died. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Grace Slick (born Grace Barnett Wing on October 30, 1939) is an American singer and songwriter, who was one of the lead singers of the rock groups Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Starship, and as a solo artist, for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s. ... Jefferson Airplane is an American rock band from San Francisco, a pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Cassandra Peterson (born September 17, 1949) is an American actress best known for her on-screen horror host persona 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. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... For the daughter of Elvis Presley, see Lisa Marie Presley. ... Timothy Tim William Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an Academy Award-nominated American film director, writer and designer notable for the quirky and gothic atmosphere of his films. ... Ed Wood is a biopic directed by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp as the cross-dressing cult movie maker Edward D. Wood, Jr. ... The year 1995 in film involved some significant events. ... The year 1998 in film involved some significant events. ...

In 2000, Image Entertainment released Plan 9 from Outer Space on DVD. The disc contains a bonus two-hour documentary Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The Plan 9 Companion with extensive interviews with Nurmi and other cast members.

In 2001, Nurmi opened her official website http://www.vampirasattic.com, and began selling autographed memorabilia and original pieces of art on eBay. Today, Nurmi lives with her pets in a small North Hollywood apartment. Unlike Elvira, Nurmi has authorized very few merchandising contracts for her Vampira character, though the name and likeness has been used unofficially by various companies since the 1950s. In the 1990s, Nurmi authorized a Vampira model kit and figurine, and in 2004, she authorized merchandising of the Vampira character by Coffin Case. Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the online auction center. ... North Hollywood is a district in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles, California. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2000, Nurmi was featured alongside cult filmmakers Roger Corman, Doris Wishman, David F. Friedman and others in Ray Greene's documentary Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies, about the American exploitation films of the 1950s and 1960s. In 2006, Nurmi was interviewed for American Scary, a documentary about local late-night horror movie hosts. In 2007, Nurmi was the subject of another documentary called Vampira: The Movie. The documentary, directed by Kevin Sean Michaels, featured interviews with Maila Nurmi herself, with numerous horror stars about Vampira, and with Cassandra Peterson about the Elvira lawsuit. Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926), sometimes nicknamed King of the Bs for his output of B-movies (though he himself rejects this appelation as inaccurate), is a prolific American producer and director of low-budget exploitation movies. ... Doris Wishman (July 23, 1912 - August 10, 2002) was an American screenwriter. ... David F. Friedman 24 December 1923 Birmingham, Alabama, USA is an American filmmaker and producer. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Cassandra Peterson (born September 17, 1949) is an American actress best known for her on-screen horror host persona 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. ...

Awards

She was inducted into the Monster Kid Hall Of Fame at The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards.

In Popular Culture

• In 1958, singer Bobby Bare recorded a song about Nurmi's character entitled "Vampira."
• The New Jersey horror-punk group The Misfits recorded a song with the same title included on their 1982 album, Walk Among Us.
• London Punk pioneers, The Damned, paid homage to Vampira with the track "Plan 9 Channel 7" on their 1979 album Machine Gun Etiquette.
• The Devin Townsend Band had two songs, "Vampolka" and "Vampira", on the album Synchestra. "Vampira", the first single from the album, was made into a music video.
• The minor Simpsons character Booberella is an obvious play on either Nurmi's character Vampira, or the more buxom Elvira as played by Cassandra Peterson, given her low cut top (and other blatant references to her breasts), stereotypical "Horror" accent, and being the host of a horror film television channel.

See also: 1957 in music, other events of 1958, 1959 in music, 1950s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 28 - Little Richard begins attending classes at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama February 14 - The Iranian government bans rock & roll because they claim that the form... Bobby Bare Bobby Bare (born Robert Joseph Bare on April 7, 1935 in Ironton, Ohio) is an American country music singer and songwriter. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the band. ... See also: 1982 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1982 Record labels established in 1982 list of years in music // January 15 - K.C. and the Sunshine Bands Harry Wayne Casey is seriously injured in an automobile accident in Miami, Florida. ... This article is about the music group. ... See also: Musical groups established in 1979 Record labels established in 1979 1979 in music (UK) // Stevie Wonder uses digital audio recording technology in recording his album Journey through the Secret Life of Plants. ... The Devin Townsend Band is a progressive metal band from Vancouver, Canada. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... Fraudcast News is the 22nd and last episode of The Simpsons fifteenth season, first aired on May 23, 2004. ... Cassandra Peterson (born September 17, 1949) is an American actress best known for her on-screen horror host persona 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. ...

References

See also

• The Vampira Show
• Halloween
• Elvira

The Vampira Show is a 1950s Emmy-nominated television show hosted by Vampira. ... This article is about the holiday. ... Cassandra Peterson (born September 17, 1949) is an American actress best known for her on-screen horror host persona 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. ...

External links

• Vampira's Attic
• Vampira's YouTube Channel
• Maila Nurmi/Vampira at the Internet Movie Database
• Vampira: The Movie official site
• Weegee with Maila Nurmi in 1952 Peter Gowland photo
• Vampira su CultSirens.com
• full text of court decision: Nurmi v. Peterson