Cassandra Peterson began her career as Elvira in 1981. Her latest venture is ‘Elvira’s Cookbook from Hell: Sexy, Spooky Soirées and Celebrations for Every Occasion.’Illustration by Source: Evan Agostini/Getty Imag
Cassandra Peterson has spent more than four decades as the undisputed Queen of Halloween. Her reign began in 1981, when she unleashed her glamorous, gothic, wisecracking alter ego, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, on the late-night TV series Movie Macabre. Peterson’s creation – a sharp-tongued, pun-slinging, slit-dress-wearing campy vamp – shot to fame by gleefully interrupting vintage horror movies with cutting jokes, and a heap of double entendres. Her blend of humour and horror brought the show into multiple syndication deals and non-stop public appearances. “During Halloween,” she jokes, “I’m like a turkey on Thanksgiving – everyone wants a piece of me!”
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On the eve of releasing her latest project, Elvira’s Cookbook from Hell: Sexy, Spooky Soirées and Celebrations for Every Occasion, Peterson opens up about eerie entertaining, her downtime when the wig comes off, and how she (and her devoted fans) are keeping Elvira’s afterlife very much alive.
What do you think is Elvira’s most powerful gimmick?
There are funny and spooky horror characters. There are sexy and spooky horror characters, but there’s no combo like her. Now I’ve blown my cover, so now there’ll be a million of them! God help us all!
You met Elvis when you were working in Las Vegas early on in your career. Did he influence some of Elvira’s gusto?
I credit Elvis for getting me to Elvira. I was the youngest showgirl in Vegas, and if it wasn’t for him, I’d be the oldest. He told me to get the hell out of dodge and come up with a plan. It’s spooky you should bring him up because something is happening in the future for Elvira that involves one of his family members. Also, Austin Butler, who played Elvis in the Baz Luhrmann movie, just bought my old house.
Many don’t know that you were cast in Fellini’s 1972 film, Roma. Learn any lessons from him?
He taught me that any idiot can be in movie. I was just standing there on the street and the next thing I know, I’m an extra. I worked on that set for 30 days and it gave me the confidence to say, “I can do this acting thing.” Rome and Portofino are still my top vacation spots – just not in the summer, there’s too many tourists.
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What movie have you seen the most times and why?
I’ve seen Night of the Living Dead more than any other movie. Lately, I’m addicted to Everything Everywhere All at Once. I use that movie as a way to judge people – if they liked it, I want to hang out with them. I recently watched it three times back-to-back on a plane. My partner kept looking over at me laughing and crying. She asked if I was having a breakdown.
Which meal from your cookbook would you say is the perfect meal to make on a hot date?
I’ve got a whole chapter inspired by Elvira getting set up with a werewolf. I write about how she should have seen the signs – he kept clogging the drain with hair and her neighbour’s goats kept getting decapitated. My hot date recipes are Barbecued Bat Wings, Frankenfinger Fries and Bat-Out-Of-Hell Hummus.
Which one of your recipes do you think Martha Stewart would appreciate the most?
The poison apple pie. Listen, she’s calling herself the queen of Halloween but we all know the real deal! Martha, I love you girl, but come on! We both know I’m the Queen! I do call myself ‘the Martha Stewart of the macabre,’ so maybe she’s getting back at me. I would totally bake my Ginger Dead Cookie recipe with Giada [De Laurentiis] though. I have one of her cookbooks.
You helped create Elvira with your best friend, Robert Redding, who passed away of HIV/AIDS-related causes at its height. What part of Elvira reminds you of him the most?
He helped with her dress, makeup and wig – the hair inspired by his favourite singer, Ronnie Spector from The Ronettes. Robert tweaked Elvira, giving her a leather edge and heavy metal touches. With the drag and punk scenes happening, that all fed in. We didn’t want Elvira to look like a cliché female vampire. I found a letter from Robert saying, “Elvira could be the biggest thing in your life … someday there will even be a Mattel doll of her.” I just did two Mattel Horror High dolls so he foretold the future.
Have you ever seen any Elvira-inspired designers on the runway?
Alexander McQueen made very Elvira-y things. I wrote to him because he made a handbag called Elvira. I wasn’t trying to sue … even though I do have a trademark on my name … but I never heard back.
What book in your library do you recommend?
The original Interview with a Vampire – Anne Rice was brilliant. She combines horror with sensuality. The sexiest monster will always be Dracula. He dresses well, looks good and can keep your neck busy all night.
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Elvira has been called both sexist and feminist. Your thoughts?
A combination of both. The sexism is usually aimed at herself – it’s self-deprecating … but I consider myself a feminist, so Elvira is too – in a weird, skewered way.
Any tips for someone who is trying to be you for Halloween?
Wear black and follow drag queens on social media who do a pretty damn great job of my makeup. They get how to blend the blue stripe that’s going on and the fuchsia – which is tough.
In your 2021 autobiography, you said you tried to quit Elvira but never could. Why?
I was supposed to retire her when I turned 30, then 40, then 50. That didn’t happen. She also keeps giving me more ideas to live off. Thank God, because her fans want her to live forever!
