Goodnight Maila....

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It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Maila Nurmi, better known as Vampira. She died in her home , of natural causes , yesterday at the age of 86.

Maila was the first full on over the top Vampire Hostess to stalk the silver screen, back in the 1950's. Maila INVENTED full on over the top, living and loving it in a Haunted House Wehoooooo! Or perhaps, she was just the first one of us to know that creepy, dark , slinky , curvy and beautiful had as much of a place on television as anyone from Ozzie and Harriet to Leave it to Beaver ( the shows at the time ) or as any blonde fresh faced sitcom today.

Like many dark dreamers, Maila was inspired by Charles Addams cartoon Diva, Morticia. When I was growing up, there were kids who wanted to be one of the Brady Bunch , the Dukes of Hazzard or the Bionic Women. Then there were those of us who eagerly awaited re-runs of the Addams Family ( or the Munsters ) and dreamed of growing up and being Morticia , with a meat eating killer plant .

Long, long before Motricia and Cleopatra, there was Maila and her pet spider Rollo.

From her first preview episode ( Dig Me, Vampira ) and on through the next 52 shows, Maila, as Vampira introduced horror films, wandering through misty cobweb covered halls, making television history. She was Americas first Horror Show Hostess.
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I was interviewed for a documentary called American Scary last year, ( as was Maila ) filled with a who's who of American Horror TV Hosting personalities, but Maila Nurmi was truly the Queen. We all owe her so much. She was the first, to have the same vision, of what beautiful could be..

Where ever there are bats, spiders, cobwebs, magic , strange sounds coming from the attic, or screams from the graveyard, where no one is ever dead for long, you will find Miala Nurmi. Even if you have never heard of her, or seen her work, you will know her.

And I will be there too , my darlinGs...Carrying on showing you how beautiful the night can be.

Miala, we will miss you.

And see you in our dreams.

Love, Malena

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Dave Alexander recently conducted an interview with Maila ( very likely her last ) for Rue Morgue. It will be published, along with a memorial, in their next issue.