Line #29 Creator/ElviraMistressOfTheDark


1	[[quoteright:334:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lolz3_1659.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:334:''"[[SigningOffCatchphrase Unpleasant dreams!]]"'']]
3
4	->''"You'll always be my mistress\
5	The Queen of Halloween\
6	Haunting every midnight\
7	On my TV screen\
8	If I die tomorrow\
9	Or a zombie eats my brain\
10	I'll raise myself up from the dead\
11	Just to sing your name!"''
12	-->-- '''Ghoultown''', "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVC7UbuWGRc Mistress of the Dark]]"
13
14	When you hear the name "Elvira", one thing immediately comes to mind[[note]](Well, other than Music/TheOakRidgeBoys' song...)[[/note]]: the quick-witted [[ValleyGirl valley girl]], [[UsefulNotes/AllHallowsEve Halloween]] icon, and quintessential symbol of all things spooky: Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.
15
16	She was born Cassandra Peterson on September 17, 1951. She spent the 1970s struggling to make it as an actress, appearing as an extra in films like ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'' and Creator/FedericoFellini's ''Film/{{Roma\|1972}}''. In 1981, she hit the big time. Adopting the stage name "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark", she became the first nationally syndicated HorrorHost, and emerged as one of the most original and outrageous characters in popular culture, with a large cult following. The movies featured on ''Elvira's Movie Macabre'', her first show, were always B grade (or lower) and Elvira often enjoyed interrupting the movie to lampoon the actors, the script, and the bad editing. In 1995, TNBC had her star in ''Attack of the Killer B Movies'', which followed suit but also had co-stars such as [[Series/SavedByTheBell Dustin Diamond]] joining her in the riffing in an attempt to attract younger viewers. The movies, themselves, were also greatly cut for time and colorized.
17
18	Elvira's reign as "Queen of Halloween" has now spanned over thirty years and includes two feature films, an IMAX film and 2 motion control rides. She has appeared in national ad campaigns for Pepsi and Coors, recorded 5 music [=CDs=], published 4 books and licensed over 400 products, including [[Pinball/ElviraAndThePartyMonsters three]] [[Pinball/ScaredStiff pinball]] [[Pinball/ElvirasHouseOfHorrors machines]], [[VideoGame/{{Elvira}} two video games]], BC Rich guitars, three comic book series, Elvira’s ''Night Brew'' beer, ''Evil'' perfume (recently followed by ''Vamp'', ''Zombie'', and ''Black Roses''), gourmet soft drinks, "hosted" a supplement for the horror role-playing game ''TabletopGame/{{Chill}}'', and a slot machine from IGT. Elvira also boasts the best selling female costume of all time.
19
20	[[TheAgeless She doesn't age.]] And she's [[https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjQ1OTUwODYyOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTY4Nzg5ODE@._V1_UY1200_CR134,0,630,1200_AL_.jpg a natural redhead]].
21
22	She was previously married to singer Mark Pierson. They have one daughter named Sadie. In 2021, her memoir ''Yours Cruelly, Elvira'' revealed she's been in a relationship with trainer Teresa Wierson since 2002, whom she'd initially [[LadyLooksLikeADude mistaken for male]], and is the first woman [[ClosetKey she ever was attracted to]]. Peterson stated she didn't come out at first due to fear of prejudice, but felt it was time.
23
24	For the tropes concerning her eponymous 1988 film, [[Film/ElviraMistressOfTheDark1988 see here]].
25
26	For tropes concerning the 2001 film ''Elvira's Haunted Hills'', [[Film/ElvirasHauntedHills see here]].
27
28	----
29	!!Mistress herself:
30
31	* ActorRoleConfusion: Peterson herself acknowledged that many fans have mistaken her for the character she played over the years.
32	* BawdySong: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS7c41AbjQI 2 Big Pumpkins]]. So big!
33	* BoobBasedGag: Part of the costume, leading to such catchphrases as:
34	-->The sassy lassy with the classy chassis!\
35	The girl who put the "boob" back in the "boob tube!"\
36	The gal with the enormous... [[LastSecondWordSwap er, ratings]]!\
37	The peace (piece) that everyone's dying to rest in!\
38	Every Trickers' Treat!\
39	That chick who put the "rack" in "Dracula!"
40	* CoolOldLady: Now in her seventies and still attracting as many younger crowds as she did in her heyday.
41	* CrossCastRole: Before her famous role as Elvira, Peterson even worked in gay clubs as a drag queen.
42	%%* DeadpanSnarker: Constantly!
43	* DistractedByTheSexy: Especially the men in her movies.
44	* DivineDate: Elvira denies she worships the devil, but admits she ''dated'' him once.
45	* GuestHost: In 2004, she hosted an ''E! True Hollywood Story'' episode devoted to Scream Queens. She also has the honor of being a three-time guest judge on ''Series/RuPaulsDragRace''.
46	* HorrorHost: The [[TropeCodifier first nationally syndicated one]], though her lighthearted attitude and willingness to mock the films she runs technically makes her a ''parody'' of the trope.
47	* MsFanservice: Her curvy figure and vampy looks have gained quite a following for someone who started out hosting horror movies in Los Angeles. It's hardly a surprise to learn she did straight-up nude photoshoots before she made it famous, given how willing she is to flaunt her sexuality.
48	* NavelDeepNeckline: Her costumes typically feature cleavage slits going down to her navel.
49	* OlderThanTheyLook: Cassandra Peterson was born on September 17, 1951. One big advantage of playing a character who uses a ton of makeup is that you never show your age. Even out of costume, however, Cass is still looking pretty good.
50	* PerkyGoth: Pretty much the UrExample. Elvira, while dressed as a goth with the pale skin and black hair, is always chipper and upbeat and making terrible puns.
51	* RealSongThemeTune: As of ''Movie Macabre (2012)'', it's [[http://youtu.be/mXNTQ-GmMkM "What Can I Do?"]] by The Black Belles.
52	* SigningOffCatchphrase: "So, until next time... unpleasant dreams!"
53	* UnEvilLaugh: Amusingly, instead of the purr or cackle you might expect, Eliva's laugh is a rather nerdish snort.
54	* JustForFun/XMeetsY: ''Creator/RogerEbert'' described her as a combination of ''Creator/MaeWest'' and ''ComicBook/{{Vampirella}}''.
55

Context Creator / ElviraMistressOfTheDark