WEIRD MAG: Welcome to Weird Magazine Elvira/Casandra Peterson.

E: Hi Nice to Be Here.

WEIRD MAG: Before I ask you about the Fox Reality Series to Find the Next Elvira. How did you get started doing ELVIRA?

E: Well I was an actress here in LA and a Friend of mine told me about a Horror hosting gig on a local TV chanel andshe said I ought to go in and Audition for this show. So after a few weeks they were still looking for someone and I told the producers to come check me out at The Groundlings which is a comedy inprove group here in Hollywood. Lots of great Comics came out of Groundlings, Paul Reuban Will Ferrel and the late Phill Hartman. So they came down to see me perform and they really liked the Valley Girl type character I was doing and they asked me to do Horror hosting and asked me to come up with a costume and a whole look. A friend of mine designed the costume and wig and makeup. So I started doing the show and I thought I would have plenty of time to go out and look for REAL WORK. It really took off after being on TV for about a week, and at the time my phone number was listed in the phone book, that was a mistake cause I started getting all these calls non stop. But instantly I realized It was more powerfull than I had envisioned.

WEIRD MAG: How long ago was that?

E: I don’t know Like 1981. (Laughs). Gosh like 26years ago.

WEIRD MAG:You’ve created an American Pop Culture ICON. What do you think about that?

E: Yeah, I’m pretty happy about that. I think ELVIRA Has become more and more Iconic. But I cant wait she is an ICON that can just stand on her own and I don’t have to do anything. Except sort of run the behind the scenes business end of things.

WEIRD MAG: Well what do you do for Halloween every year?

E: Ohh my gosh, well I’m always working obviously. People always say well what are you going to be for Halloween? And I’m like are you Kidding? (Duhh) ELVIRA.Umm but Halloween start for me at the end summer and I start getting ready and doing telivision appearences and pre-taping TV shows. I’m doing the FOX REALTY CHANNEL -REALLY AWARDS - tonight where i’m presenting an award with Tommy Lee for best Reality Star. I’m also promoting all the HOT TOPICs stores this month theres over 700 stores in the Country. Doing there Halloween promotions this year. After that i’m going to New Jersy for a big Horror convesntion CHILLERS. Then come back do another day on my TV show then I’m doing a fundraiser where they are unveiling a one of a kind Barbee Doll for CHarity for children with AIDS. OMG- Then i’m off to Salem Mass. to goto a Hot Topic store, I’ve only got 4 Days off this whole month. And then on halloween morning I’ll actually be on the Today Show in New York City. (So thats what I do on Halloween).

WEIRD MAG: You know I grew up watching you on TV in the early 80’s and I was curious did you have any influences on you in Telivision?

E: Ohh Yes! I Loved the Twilight Zone. That was my favorite show. I also loved the Adams Family and when the Munsters came out I was totally an Adams Family Freak! I was so anti Munsters. It was like you could’t like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones you know. You could only Love the Bealtes and not the Stones. So I was Adams Family freak, and I mean my favorite actor was Vincent Price. I saw House on the Haunted Hill and that gave me nightmares for about a year when I was in 2nd grade.But when I was a kid other little girls were collecting Barbee Dolls. I was collecting all the Monstors series toy kits, like Frankestein, Mummy, Dracula. So I was a Weird kid to begin with you know. AND my Mother owned a costume shop so I worked in the costume business and I dress up like nobodies business on Halloween and that WAS MY HOLIDAY!

WEIRD MAG: Has Elvira been your calling in Life for Casandra Peterson?

E: Well many times I’ve thought about that Russell. Because it wasn’t like I set out to be a Horror host. I was more like a comedian and doing funny stuff and comedy. But in retrospect I do look back at my childhood; being so into Horror as a kid. Which I have to say is rare for a little girl. Other kids thought of me as a freak. And then being SO in LOVE with costumes. My mother would make the coolest costumes, one year I was Miss Kitty from GunsSmoke and one year I was I Dream of Jeanie, or Ginger on Gilligans Island. So when Other Kids were wearing the little plastic costumes out of the little packages and the plastic around their heads and the rubber strings. I was STYLING you know. So its really funny that I would grow up and end up WEARING A COSTUME ALL THE TIME! So its what I was into and I think being into Horror Genre, I do think it was meant to be.

WEIRD MAG: Tell us about this Reality Show on FOX?

E: YES OCT 13th FOX REALITY CHANNEL the Search for the next Elvira. We are NOT looking for the replacement Elvira but rather many CLONES of additional ELVIRA handmaidens so that they can go out and do more appearences that I’m not able to make. But yes. We want an Elvira Clone Army to go out and take controll over the planet eventulaly! This will help me as I get so many requests to do hundreds of these charity events and appearences, so I kinda got this Idea from Santa Clause. But this way there is you know, more of me.

WEIRD MAG: Well these are kind of Big Shoes to Fill.

E: BIG BRA to FILL. Really. It is.

WEIRD MAG: Is it true that you dated Elvis?

E: I DID Well I wouldn’t say I dated Elvis. I went out with him in Vegas. I actually had an amazine 2 days with him. And he gave me some advice that really changed my life. First of all i was a huge Elvis freak for starters. I mean OMG it doesn’t get any better than this. This was back whe he was Young, handome and georgous. So it was my dream come true to just meet him. I was 17 and a showgirl in Las Vegas at the time and he told me I should get out of Vegas and go onto Holloywood and pursue my singing and dancing career and acting. So I took his advice and I left Vegas about a year later. At the time I was the youngest showgirl in Vegas, If It wasn’t for Elvis I think I’d probably be the oldest showgirl in Vegas. (LOL) So thank God he came along.

WEIRD MAG: Wow that is an amazing story! Do you have any encouraging words for young people today just trying to break into the entertainment business, acting or comedy?

E: Yeah I defintly have the formula for them. I can tell anybody how to do it. All it does it takes fortitude. That is IF you stick with it long enough you will eventually make it. It’s as simple as that. When I was young actress starting out in Hopllywood I had alot of Girlfriendsthat we would go to auditions together. Most of them were more atractive than me and certainly some had more talent than me. But the difference was that they got tired of struggling and starving and one by one dropped off; many of them ran off and got married to doctors or lawyers and started various business of their ownAnd I just kept plugging away and pluggin away. And I was 30 years old when I became ELVIRA. And that was pretty long in the toothe in Hollywood for most actress generally people will tell you your washed up at 30 if your a woman. (which is ashame but true unfortunatly). But the whole thing is that if you just stick at it long enough and don’t give up! Stick with it, you will eventually get there. Thats what i would say Don’t Give UP!

WEIRD MAG: So do you still plan to do any more Movie Macabre or new TV shows?

E: Well It’s funny you mentioned that. I am working on a new DVD release of 6 of my old movies with some of my Origional Shows being released this month from RHINO Records. I’m also working on a network online where you will be able to view classic horror film genres exclusivly on the web with my comments on the site . Thats also in the works very exciting. I have some other great projects that is a little too early to talk about still but lots of stuff.You havn’t seen the last of me thats for damn sure! LOL

WEIRD MAG: Well I was working on the Cover of WEIRD MAGAZINE this past week. And I put Elvira on there , but It wouldn’t be the same unless I interview you !

E: OHH MY GOD THATS THE GOAL OF MY LIFE TO BE THE COVER GIRL ON THE COVER OF WEIRD MAGAZINE! ( LOL).

WEIRD MAG:You’ve created an American Pop Culture ICON. What do you think about that?

E: Yeah, I’m pretty happy about that. I think ELVIRA Has become more and more Iconic. But I cant wait she is an ICON that can just stand on her own and I don’t have to do anything. Except sort of run the behind the scenes business end of things. But it is a lot of Fun.

WEIRD MAG: Well thank you for time and the memories. Happy Halloween Elvira.

E: Thanks You Russell anything thats WEIRD, I’m there for ya!

INterview by Russell Dowden