You can meet the Mistress of the Dark at Spooky Empire in Orlando.


Billed as a rock 'n’ roll, horror, Halloween, tattoo and film festival, Spooky Empire continues to be one of Florida’s premiere convention events. Hurricane Matthew forced organizers to postpone Spooky Empire in October, but now the organizers have attracted an incredible group of media guests to showcase this year's rescheduled event. It runs Friday through Sunday, Dec. 2-4.

Among the guests featured are Ric Flair aka  “the Nature Boy,” “Weird Al” Yankovic, Bill Moseley ("Halloween"), the cast of Netflix’s hit series "Stranger Things," Kane Hodder ("Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2," "The Devils Rejects," "Friday the 13th"), Tony Moran ("Halloween"), Butch Patrick (best known as Eddie Munster of TV's "The Munsters"), Amanda Wyss ("Nightmare on Elm Street," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "Better Off Dead"), and the iconic Cassandra Peterson — better known as Elvira: Mistress of the Dark.

I spoke with Cassandra about the Elvira character, her favorite horror films and the beginning of Elvira. So, let’s “Shake, Rattle & Know”: Cassandra Peterson/Elvira: Mistress of the Dark.

QUESTION: A lot of things that become a part of pop culture come and go, but Elvira has been enduring and endearing and is still loved as much today as she was more than 20 years ago. What is it about the character that has allowed that type of longevity?

ANSWER: Endearing? Now that’s an interesting choice of words for Elvira, but I love it. I like to think that Elvira is sexy, spooky and funny. Without any one of those three elements, she wouldn’t be who she is. If the sexy thing isn’t for you, that’s OK, you still have spooky and you still have funny. Maybe just the spooky works for you, and Elvira has that, too. I think she offers something for everybody.

Q: There has never really been anything quite like Elvira before. Maila Nurmi did some similar things as Vampira before you, but nothing like you since. Do you think when you retire there will ever be another Elvira?

A: Never say never. There could be, but I don’t know that it would be the same. There has never been another Mae West, and I just idolized her. There have been actresses a little similar, maybe like a Bette Midler, but never another Mae West. I would like to think I am irreplaceable, but you never know.

Q: Do people still think Elvira is a vampire?

A: I don’t get that too often anymore, but I used to hear that a lot. She is not a vampire. I would say she has one foot in the sorceress realm and the other in the macabre world.

Q: What is your favorite horror film?

A: Wow, that is a tough one because there are so many different genres of horror films. I really like the old classic B movies. You know, the ones done in the '50s and '60s that were just so bad that they were good? Two of my favorites were "Plan 9 from Outer Space" and "Manos: The Hands of Fate." They were just so bad they were great.

Q: Do you have an advantage over other celebrities because you can have a normal life and not be recognized without the makeup?

A: Absolutely! I have the dream job for an actor. I do not have a celebrity friend in the world who would not want what I have that way. I do get recognized every once in a while without the makeup on, but not often. As I do more conventions out of makeup it happens more often than it used to. It is nice to be able to go anywhere I want, when I want, and not be recognized.

Q: A lot of people might be surprised to hear that you really started out as a singer in a rock band. How did you go from fronting a rock band to becoming Elvira: Mistress of the Dark?

A: I actually started out as a dancer then went into singing. I was a showgirl in Vegas before I joined the band and started touring all over Europe. I came back to Los Angeles and got more into acting and joined the improvisational troupe the Groundlings. That’s really where Elvira started, so I sure came full circle on that one.


A: A fan gave me a baby python once. It was about the size of a pencil, and I ended up keeping it until it got to be over 13 feet long and over 100 pounds. Then he had to go to a zoo. There have been a million other wacky things people have given me, you have no idea!

Q: What about the craziest thing a fan ever did to meet you?

A: There has been so many. I have had people try to climb through my dressing room window, but I would put that more in the stalker category than just crazy. I have had people hide out behind bushes and around corners to try and meet me. I have had fans who flew all the way from Japan for just one day to meet me at a convention. There has been some pretty amazing things.

Q: When Elvira first got started the character was known for being “edgy.” By today’s standards it takes a lot more to be considered edgy. Do you think if Elvira was just starting today, she would have the same kind of success?

A: That’s a great question and I probably would have had to push the envelope even further than I did. The problem is, if I had pushed the envelope any further, I may have lost a big part of my audience and may not have been as popular. I would have cut my slice of the pie down to a little tiny wedge. I think it’s a good thing that Elvira, as she is now, appeals to kids, teens and people of all ages. If I had to have pushed the envelope further I would not have had as broad of an audience.

Q: Let’s talk about your branding and image. Have you come across a lot of Elvira knockoffs?

A:(laughing) Oh, yeah! I still get it all the time. I have a person whose job it is just to scan online and see what is being sold without permission. I have even had people make appearances at shows claiming to be Elvira. I would get a call and they would say, “Hey, I hear you are in Kansas this weekend,” or something and I am like, “No, I’m not.” That’s venturing over into lawsuit territory there. I have protected my brand for a long time, and I’m going to keep protecting it. I have also seen my image on everything from clocks to you name it. It’s a full-time job just policing all the products using Elvira’s image.

Q: What is the craziest product that you did lend your image?

A: I branded one of those smelly car things. You know, the things that hang from your car rearview mirror. I mean, what is Elvira supposed to smell like anyway?


The details

What: Spooky Empire, a rock 'n' roll, horror, Halloween, tattoo and film festival

When: 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2-4

Where: Orange County Convention Center (West Concourse), 9800 International Drive, Orlando

Cost: Admission is $35 in advance, $40 at door for Friday and Sunday; $40 in advance, $45 at door for Saturday; a three-day pass is $65 in advance, $75 at door

Info: Call 954-258-7852 or visit For more on Elvira, visit or send a Tweet to @therealelvira.

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