Vampira: really, REALLY dead this time
Behold, Maila Nurmi (1921-2008) — Vampira — who died last week in her Hollywood home of unknown causes. She was 87, so there’s a possible cause right there. You may know her from…well, probably just Plan 9 from Outer Space, unless you grew up in California. Her main gig was hostess of several TV creature features on the West coast.
I’m surprised she lasted as long as she did; I don’t think she could squeeze a sardine past that corset.
Maila was born in Finland, but moved to the dark, old world atmosphere of Ashtabula, Ohio when she was two. She arrived in Hollywood in 1938, where she did a lot of modeling and, probably, ‘modeling’ as well. She wore a gown inspired by Charles Addams to a costume ball in 1953, where she was spotted by a television producer. And the rest, as they say, is footnote.
In addition to Plan 9, she also had roles in other premium Hollywood productions, such as I Passed for White, Night of the Ghouls and Sex Kittens Go to College.
Fare thee well, Vampira! Let us hope — just once before she died — she had the strength to open her eyes, bolt upright in bed and scream, “psych!”
Posted: January 18th, 2008 under movies, news, personal, tv.
Comments: 13
Comments
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: January 18, 2008, 8:32 am
This guy, on the other hand, is Sir Cecil Creape, the Phantom of the Opry, Nashville’s host of the Saturday Night Creature Feature in the early 1970s. He wasn’t much to look at, but, then…he wasn’t much to watch, either.
Comment from Gibby Haynes
Time: January 18, 2008, 10:53 am
So the key to a long and uncomfortable life is to have your innards forced into a vertically-alligned, pinched toroid. Huh.
Oh, and 45° eyebrows. Mustn’t forgot those badboys.
Comment from Gibby Haynes
Time: January 18, 2008, 10:55 am
Holy shit, I gots me a bit of picture in my comment box. My chickens are coming home to roost at last. Now, to buy a lottery ticket. Look out world – here I come! Woo.
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: January 18, 2008, 11:00 am
Must be a browser thing. Looks okay in IE6. Stupid, braindead IE6 they make us use at work.
Comment from Gnus
Time: January 18, 2008, 11:01 am
I dunno, Sweasel. but 87 years old sounds like a probable cause to me.
Comment from Garlic Breath
Time: January 18, 2008, 11:15 am
DEAD? HAH! Suckers!
Hello, Hello!
Her name is Vampira(female vampire), and by definition Vampires are the UNDEAD
And you guys fell for it?
Well, OK for you but I’m keeping a little “protection” around just in case
Comment from Muslihoon
Time: January 18, 2008, 12:00 pm
She looks like Morticia. I’ve always had a crush on Morticia.
Comment from Uncle Badger
Time: January 18, 2008, 12:27 pm
Apparently, her funeral is next Tuesday.
Bring your own stakes.
Comment from porknbean
Time: January 18, 2008, 1:06 pm
Not only does her belt squeeze her innards outwards, but it poofed her butt out too.
Comment from Dawn
Time: January 18, 2008, 2:34 pm
I did a goth stint for a few years. I would have killed to look like her.
Comment from Uncle Badger
Time: January 18, 2008, 2:53 pm
Umm, Dawn: don’t you mean would have had to have been killed to look like her? 😉
Comment from Christopher Taylor
Time: January 19, 2008, 1:40 am
I loved her portrayal in the Ed Wood movie. That was a great film, loads of fun.
Comment from eddiebear
Time: January 20, 2008, 1:55 am
When I watched Plan Nine on a DVD my dad has, I was creeped out at how bad everything associated with that movie was.
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