Comments on: Maila Nurmi aka Vampira, Mistress of the Dark, Dead at 86 http://www.bittenandbound.com/2008/01/15/vampira-mistress-of-the-dark-dead-at-86/ The Not So Pretty Side of Hollywood Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:58:16 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Alexis http://www.bittenandbound.com/2008/01/15/vampira-mistress-of-the-dark-dead-at-86/comment-page-1/#comment-6813 Alexis Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:57:38 +0000 http://bittenandbound.com/2008/01/15/vampira-mistress-of-the-dark-dead-at-86/#comment-6813 Fascinating story. Actually, she was NOT the first 'vamp' or 'vampire' as she claims. In 1915 there was 'Les Vampires' with the French actress, later writer and director, known as Musidora playing Irma Vep, an anagram for Vampire. Fabulous stuff! There are clips on YouTube. Look for 'The Ring That Kills'. Look up Musidora on Wikipedia. The archetype of the vamp evolved in the late 19th and early 20th century as a projection of men's combined lust and terror of women's increasing independence and sexual aggression/ freedom compared to what they had been comfortable with, complete control and suppression. In the late 19th century, Salome was all the rage. In the early 20th century you had Musidora and the American Theda Bara - whose name was supposed to be an anagram for 'ARAB DEATH'. These were the first Vamps and 'Vampiras' in popular culture. So, her narcissistic rage against Cassandra Peterson was just that. Elvira was just a Vampira for another age. And so it goes. I would add that the raven haired intense Vamp is the opposite of the sunny blonde archetype in Hollywood. Fascinating story. Actually, she was NOT the first ‘vamp’ or ‘vampire’ as she claims. In 1915 there was ‘Les Vampires’ with the French actress, later writer and director, known as Musidora playing Irma Vep, an anagram for Vampire. Fabulous stuff! There are clips on YouTube. Look for ‘The Ring That Kills’. Look up Musidora on Wikipedia.

The archetype of the vamp evolved in the late 19th and early 20th century as a projection of men’s combined lust and terror of women’s increasing independence and sexual aggression/ freedom compared to what they had been comfortable with, complete control and suppression.

In the late 19th century, Salome was all the rage. In the early 20th century you had Musidora and the American Theda Bara – whose name was supposed to be an anagram for ‘ARAB DEATH’. These were the first Vamps and ‘Vampiras’ in popular culture. So, her narcissistic rage against Cassandra Peterson was just that. Elvira was just a Vampira for another age. And so it goes.

I would add that the raven haired intense Vamp is the opposite of the sunny blonde archetype in Hollywood.

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