<a href="http://www.pussycatmagazine.com/archives/Octoberissue/vampira.html"><img src="http://scifipedia.scifi.com/images/thumb/c/cd/Vampira.jpg/230px-Vampira.jpg">
<b><h2>R.I.P MAILA ELIZABETH NURMI (SYRJANIEMI) (AKA - VAMPIRA)
December 21, 1921 - January 10, 2008</h2></b></center></a>
In 1954 an icon was 'born' to television which influenced sub-cultures for decades, in fact is still influential to this day. A little known, yet well respected actress by the name of Maila Nurmi was asked to host late-night horror movies on TV in Los Angeles (after attending a masquerade party as Morticia Addams from The Addams Family cartoon strip - yes BEFORE the TV Series). She appeared on Dig Me Later, Vampira, which became an overnight cult TV hit simply entitled The Vampira Show. Even though this show lasted for only a year, Nurmi owned the character of Vampira and took it with her to other TV stations. Often imitated but never bettered, Vampira became on icon for the macabre and off-beat (even appearing, most famously, in Ed Wood's classic 'Plan 9 From outer Space'). Finally the ultimate homage was by Cassandra Petersen, otherwise known as Elvira, in the 1980's which was a direct result of a rekindled interest in Vampira's original shows by a Los Angeles TV Station, which offered to revive the Vampira character but Nurmi declined (sadly, only one original show known to be in existence). Nurmi ultimately sued Petersen for breach of copyright, but had to drop the case due to her inability to pay the exorbitant legal expenses.
Nurmi was a contemporary of such luminaries as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, dated Orson Wells and was close friends with James Dean. Apparently both she and Dean had 'the same neuroses' and understood 'satanic forces'. Those familiar with Dean's personal life can read between the lines and see why she was such an underground cult celebrity, which obviously bled into her professional work.
Maila passed away peacefully in her sleep, on January 10th, leaving behind no blood relatives, but a legacy which will be remembered for Halloweens to come. In her passing, friends are asking for anyone who wishes to pay their respects to do so with a donation to <a href="http://www.muchlove.org/index.php">Much Love Animal Rescue</a> in Maila's name.
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