Tag Archives: Elvira

Classic Monsters Modern Art Book

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Anthony Taylor, a celebrated writer whose work has appeared in Famous Monsters of Filmland, Fangoria, Screem, HorrorHound, Filmfax, and several books on a variety of genre subjects, as well as being the organizer of Atlanta’s Monsterama retro horror and sci-fi convention, now has a new book coming out. It is called Classic Monsters Modern Art: 20th Century Horror in 21st Century Illustrations, coming this September from Insight Editions.

According to the description, the book explores “the groundbreaking (and terrifying) pantheon of monsters from the 20th century’s greatest films and fiction interpreted by the world’s most exciting contemporary artists and illustrators in Classic Monsters, Modern Art!” With over 65 artists, taking on subjects like Frankenstein’s creature, Count Dracula, Elvira, Godzilla, King Kong, to more modern-day monsters like Freddy Kruger, this book will feature some amazing artwork of our favorite monsters, in full color, with Taylor giving us all the info needed about them!

Priced at $39.99, these 160 pages will be something you will find yourself paging through over and over, looking at the amazing work that went into each and every illustration. Definitely one for the library!

Book Review: Yours Cruelly, Elvira

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Yours Cruelly, Elvira
Published by Hachette Books, 2021.284 pages.
By Cassandra Peterson

You couldn’t be a horror fan from the ‘80s until now and not know who Elvira is. Sure, while she was always great to look at, as you get past those teenage boy thoughts, you start to realize just how smart and talented the woman behind the makeup and wig is. I was a fan of her since those Thriller Video days, back when trips to the video stores were a weekly thing. I was excited when her first movie came out and laughed quite a bit at the not-so-subtle jokes in there. I’ve met her a few times at different conventions over the years, both as Elvira and as Cassandra, and was always amazed at how funny she was and connected to her fans.

So yeah, a big fan.

When her biography was announced, I quickly pre-ordered it because this was the first time we were really going to hear about the woman behind Elvira. Once I finally got it, it was one of those instances where I just picked it up browse through the photos knowing I would get to it at some point. Next thing I know, I’m 90 pages in! I finished the entire book in about 3 sittings because it was a very easy read but more importantly, we got to hear Cassandra’s story. We learn how she got her start, go-go dancing while she was still underage, going from being a rock band groupie to becoming a Vegas showgirl, to becoming the famous Mistress of the Dark, not to mention the ton of famous people she met along the way.

Continue reading →

The Real Elvira’s Biography!

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Coming this September, fans of Elvira will be able to read the real story behind those … eyes! Cassandra Peterson, the real person inside everyone’s favorite hostess with the most, has her biography coming out right before Halloween. Entitled Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark, from Hatchette Books, you’ll learn about how she left home at age 14 and by 17 was performing at the famous Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Tom Jones, as well as a chance encounter with some guy named Elvis.

You’ll read about her early career trying to make it as a singer, dancer, and actor, even joining the famed comedy improv troupe, The Groundlings, with fellow members like Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman. As well as that fateful date when she auditioned for a job at a local LA tv station as a hostess for late night screenings of classic horror films. The rest is history.

But within the 272 pages, we’ll read about how she made a career out of this loveable, funny, sexy, and always entertaining horror host, while also pulling no punches on how she got there.

Being that grew up with watching Elvira host all those movies on Thriller Video, I can’t wait to dig into this one and will definitely be adding it to my library!