Published by Courtney Blomquist and Marissa Rivera
Arts
TV & Film
Performing Arts
Film History
Is the breaking news of today breaking you? Are true crime podcasts making you feel like trash? Then come on down and listen to us talk about old news and dead people who were NOT murdered!! Oooo ethical AND intriguing... This is the podcast where two friends - one who's a nobody (Courtney Blomquist) and one who's kinda famous (Marissa Rivera) - dive into the life stories of dead folks who enjoyed a touch or two of fame in their time and now reside permanently in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. So if you need to escape the now for an hour and you want to show your respect for some amazing life stories that have perhaps been forgotten, hit that follow button. Because with your help, we can make sure that the stories of Hollywood's dead never die. And believe me - these stories are WAY too good to be forgotten.
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back, taphophiles! On this episode, we follow Mabel as studios circle, deals fall apart over shady money splits, and she learns how to play the game without losing herself. Along the way, we get the wild details that make her life feel bigger than fiction: a Warner Brothers gig in Cuba, wealthy admirers serenading her under the window, and a Mexico booking that includes revolutions, floods, and Mabel somehow keeping her cool through all of it. We also talk through what her negotiations reveal about power, labor, and racism in classic Hollywood and mid-century ice shows, including the pressure to keep her pay secret and the constant attempt to treat her brilliance like an inconvenience. If you love untold history, figure skating history, and stories about refusing to be managed out of your own life, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review, then tell us what moment made you respect Mabel even more? Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
She Ignored the Haters to Be an Ice Skater : Mabel Fairbanks Part 1
Send us Fan Mail Hey Hollywood Forever Taphophiles! We're back, and Miss Marissa Rivera is back too! Thanks so much for giving us the space for some summer fun vacationing. We couldn't wait until Thursday to share this one with you, so here ya go! Let's get into it- Just picture it: It's 1923. A little child sleeps on rooftops, stoops, and eventually a bench in Central Park with nothing but newspaper for warmth and grows up to become one of the most important names in figure skating most people have never heard. We’re telling the beginning of Mabel Fairbanks’ story, and it’s equal parts heartbreaking, infuriating, and weirdly joyful, because Mabel’s love for the ice never stops pulling her forward. Turns out that the 1920's was a HORRIBLE and very scary time to be a child, especially a black child. Mabel faces racist exclusion at rinks, gets denied opportunities that white skaters take for granted, and still keeps showing up until coaches can’t ignore her. Subscribe so you don’t miss part two, and if this story moves you, share the episode and leave a review so more listeners can learn Mabel Fairbanks’ name. Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
The Desperado of Deceit : David Avadon
Send us Fan Mail NOTE: After this episode, we will have a brief pause due to vacation scheduling and making space for all that DREADED summer fun. I hope you all are doing the same, sweet taphophiles! Check out another great show, Candy is Dandy while we're away! A tombstone at Hollywood Forever Cemetery calls him the “Desperado Of Deceit” and that’s not a metaphor. We’re telling the story of David Avadon, a working magician and exhibition pickpocket who made a career out of taking watches, wallets, and ties from volunteers on stage and then handing everything back for laughs and applause. And would you believe that he got his start by teaming up with a Rabbi? We get nerdy about the craft. What actually makes pickpocketing work as entertainment? We talk misdirection, sleight of hand, psychology, touch, timing, and why the best performers pair technical skill with comedy and improv. We also break down the Magic Castle, the Academy of Magical Arts, and the exclusive invitation-only culture that shaped Avsdon’s long run as a respected Los Angeles magician, plus his travel, celebrity pockets, writing, and film and TV consulting. If you love Hollywood history, stage magic, odd jobs, and niche true stories with jokes and real research, hit subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find Dead and Kind of Famous. Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Harmless Weirdo, Hair Brighter than the Sun : James Michael Tyler
Send us Fan Mail Today, we discuss the life of the actor, James Michael Tyler, the man who turned barista experience and a last-minute bleach job into 148 episodes of Friends . I mean is that luck, magic or a strange version of highly-paid-hell where you are stuck being a barista forever no matter what you do? We dig into the “arc” of his famed Friends character, Gunther in our first ever crossover episode! That’s right, we’re teaming up with Jessica and Zach from Because it Was On - the ultimate podcast for sitcom lovers. We follow James Michael (JMT) through the tragic childhood loss of his parents, to a geology degree turned acting MFA that leads him to good ‘ol LA. Los Angeles becomes a parade of survival jobs, including years at a coffee shop, until one “extra” gig on a new show called Friends needs someone who can actually work an espresso machine for the Central Perk scenes. And the rest is freshly brewed history. Then Jessica and Zach dig into the character himself: the “harmless weirdo” trope, the way side characters act as audience stand-ins, and the moments where sitcom comedy brushes up against real discomfort. But the actor himself was 100% lovable and oddly normal for once? On this show, that in and of itself is bizarre. Share this with your favorite Friends fan and leave a review with a side character you think deserved their own episode. Subscribe to Because it Was On ! - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/because-it-was-on/id1662116080 “If You Knew” read by James Michael Tyler - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf-Gt_ZOAuc Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Beige Don't Age, But Grey Face Does : Herb Jeffries Part 2
Send us Fan Mail A plane crash, a scar across the face, and a spine injury so bad doctors push reconstruction surgery. We trace how Jeffries finds Autobiography of a Yogi, seeks out Paramahansa Yogananda at the Mount Washington ashram, and commits to months of yoga that he credits with a shocking recovery. From there, the timeline opens up into Paris nightclubs, celebrity circles, hit records, and the media machine that keeps trying to label him. We talk through the Life magazine profile that praises him for “choosing his race,” and why that framing is both historically revealing and deeply uncomfortable to read now. Then we get into the controversy that won’t sit still: Jeffries’ racial ambiguity, the claims that he had no verifiable African ancestry, and the Jet magazine confrontation over him listing “white” on marriage certificates. We’re not delivering a neat verdict. We’re asking what representation meant in mid-century entertainment, what passing and identity policing look like when you’re famous, and whether impact can coexist with a story that keeps shifting under pressure. Listen, then come argue with us: subscribe, leave a review, and drop a comment with your take on Herb Jeffries’ legacy. Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
The Controversial Jazz Cowboy : Herb Jeffries Part 1
Send us Fan Mail Hey Taphophiles! Are you ready for another wild ride? Well good. Hop in, losers! Herb Jeffries is the kind of Hollywood Forever Cemetery resident who forces us to slow down and ask harder questions than we planned to ask. There’s the Louis Armstrong napkin of recommendation, the jazz career that was delivered by Duke Ellington’s “Flamingo” and the black singing cowboy persona… that was attributed to a man who was not truly black. Herb made his choices based on the type of music he wanted to make and the kind of artists he wanted to work with. And so we look at his story knowing that the lens of today’s criticism needs to be recalibrated to match the circumstances of the past. What do you make of Herb Jeffries after hearing the first half of his story? There’s a lot to discuss, so please tell us your thoughts in the comments! Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
A Low Life in High Heels to the End: Holly Woodlawn Part 5
Send us Fan Mail If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! This is the final installment of our Holly Woodlawn series and it’s not a quiet last act. The deaths of Andy Warhol, Candy Darling and Jackie Curtis left Holly looking for a fresh start and with that, her Hollywood chapter began. Fate led her to meet Jeffrey Copeland, the unexpected co-writer of her life story, A Low Life in High Heels, which has been the main source for this series. Jeffrey wrote another book just last year called Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn that reveals the way he cared for Holly, dedicated himself to her book, and came out the other side with nothing, despite the fact that Madonna herself wanted to produce a film based on the book. With cameos from Maila Nurmi, Hibiscus, Gorilla Rose, Lily Tomlin, and Divine, this is a finale you won’t want to miss. Links: Famous photo “Flower Power” featuring Hibiscus : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower_Power_%28photograph%29 Divine Knew - https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalHumor/comments/13dp99w/divine_knew/ Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
A Bottle in Bed and a Beer in the Drawer: Holly Woodlawn Part 4
Send us Fan Mail We trace Holly Woodlawn’s rise through Paul Morrissey’s lens, the buzz from Trash, and the spiral that followed as headlines collided with addiction and a brazen UN scam. It’s fame at full voltage and a human wrecking ball underneath, ending with a jaw-dropping 1971 interview and a tease of what comes next. This is old, old Hollywood news, but it's so much better than the stupid current news, so hop in and go back in time with us:) Unhinged Interview: https://youtu.be/U5wuwngAXGA?si=4H1HEYbzilpiBwbK Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Miss Donut, the Cemetery Heiress : Holly Woodlawn Part 3
Send us Fan Mail A sex change budget blown and a cinematic breakup lead to upstate pig-slut shenanigans and a Miss Donut crown. Confused? You should be. In this episode, Holly finds her last name, meets Warhol, and almost ruins her chance with him shortly there after. If you've been listening to parts 1 and 2, it's no surprise that this chapter is quite the wild ride on the wild side. And get ready - Holly is going to be our first 5 part episode! Side note- apologies for the late episode posting. The holidays of it all, darling! Hope you had cheerful times and we're happy to get back to you. Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Esoteric Escapades: Holly Woodlawn Part 2
Send us Fan Mail From streetwalking to a pseudo housewife life, this episode is a journey in and of itself. Holly sold her body, slept on the subway, and even suffered from "streetwalking pneumonia". But she survived. She also met her future Warhol Factory counterparts, Candy Darling and Jackie Curtis, and found herself in a very serious relationship with a straight man who made the mistake of gifting her a Macy's credit card. This isn't a tidy origin story. In fact, it's wildly messy and kind of terrifying. But it is in this episode that Holly steps into her own and finds her zone. You don't wanna miss this. Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Lightning Bolts and Shaved Legs: Holly Woodlawn Part 1
Send us Fan Mail A lightning strike beside a soda machine. A pair of freshly shaved legs in a roadside motel. A runaway from Miami who would become the source of the first verse of Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side . She was a Warhol Superstar, trans icon, and hilarious writer as exemplified in her autobiography, A Lowlife in High Heels . This is the origin story of Holly Woodlawn—born in Puerto Rico, raised between San Juan, New York, and Miami Beach—and this episode traces how glamour became both her shield and her signature. Holly is the heavy hitter of the season, and this episode is the first in several more to come. Get ready for a wild first chapter of a trans trailblazer that will steal your heart. Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
The Gregarious Aquarius : Carroll Righter
Send us Fan Mail We're back, baby! Season 2 of Dead and Kind of Famous is here for you so that you can continue to joyfully think about graveyards even though Halloween has passed. And catch up with Marissa and Courtney about how they're adjusting to living across the country from one another. But today, we're talking about Carroll Righter, "reader to the stars" and astrological legend who made horoscopes mainstream. Although he had many a celebrity client, he could never remember their names and often would refer to people as "Mr. Taurus" or "Ms. Libra". With mentions of Robert Mitchum, Marlene Deitrich, Maya Angelou and Ronald Reagan, the mashup of Hollywood stars and celestial stars in this episode is NOT to be missed. Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Cemetery Kisses and Peacocks: A Season 1 Finale
Send us Fan Mail Today we bid adieu to Season 1! Join us as we visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to pay tribute to Season 1's final featured individuals (Tomata du Plenty and Maila Nurmi) and share some significant personal news as Courtney announces her upcoming move to Minnesota. To see our other grave offerings for Season 1, check out our instagram or substack ! In short order, we do all of the following in this episode: • Record from a bench in Hollywood Forever Cemetery on a cloudy day surrounded by peacocks • Announce that the podcast will continue remotely despite Courtney's upcoming relocation to Minnesota • Visit Vampira's grave where fans have left lipstick kisses, makeup, flowers, and trinkets • Explore unexpected graves including one for a woman described as an "occasional wife" • Color a peacock-themed page as an offering to Tomato DiPlenty • Share the origin story of our friendship and creative partnership • Reflect on how graves and memorials represent the importance of chosen family THANK YOU so much for listening this season and also showing us so much love. It means the world and we will see you for Season 2 in the fall! If you liked what you heard, or if you have any feedback at all—the good, the bad, the ugly, the dead, the alive—please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know what you think. Love, Courtney and Marissa <3 Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Punk to Paint: Tomata Du Plenty Part 2
Send us Fan Mail Spoiler alert!!! - Tomata keeps doin' stuff in this episode. Our deep dive into his life reveals an artist who refused to be defined by any single medium, constantly evolving from drag performer to punk rock icon to folk artist without ever losing his authenticity. When a broken leg temporarily halted Tomata's performance career in 1983, he discovered a children's paint kit in an alley and began creating art. That same year, he received an HIV diagnosis – a death sentence in the 1980s. Yet instead of despair, he saw synchronicity and opportunity, launching an artistic career that would sustain him for the rest of his life. His approach was refreshingly unpretentious: "I always have lots of $20 pieces in the show because I think people should have art." Even in his final interview, just months before his death from AIDS-related cancer, his optimism and self-deprecating humor remained undimmed. For those seeking permission to reinvent themselves creatively, Tomata's story offers not just inspiration, but liberation. Have you been limiting your own creative expression? Perhaps it's time to follow Tomata's lead and simply create without overthinking. Episode Links: Population 1: https://youtu.be/B3QpxnCRtVY?si=b5OZfMaKce75kaNC Eva Braun - https://youtu.be/gIdlqWcGn_s?si=OpAI7nSRrS8bRSxZ Visual Art journey - https://sandraschulman.medium.com/tomata-du-plenty-from-screamer-to-artist-b5648dd369d Jack Rabid Interview - https://bynwr.com/posts/the-screamers-tomata-du-plenty https://www.ebay.com/itm/315411162470 https://art-for-a-change.com/Punk/psketch5.htm Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Let's Do Things: Tomata Du Plenty Part 1
Send us Fan Mail At the intersection of drag theater, punk rock innovation, and fearless artistic evolution stands David Xavier Harrigan - better known to those in-the-know as Tomato DePlenty. From his early days with the revolutionary Cockettes (described by John Waters as "insane hippie drag queens" creating "complete sexual anarchy"), to founding Ze Whiz Kidz in Seattle, to pioneering synthesizer-based punk with The Screamers, Tomato consistently positioned himself at the cutting edge of artistic movements. What makes Tomato's story so compelling isn't just his artistic versatility - it's his uncanny ability to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. He embodied his personal philosophy: "Let's do things" and "Do plenty." Listen in as we uncover the first chapter in the fascinating life of this punk pioneer, theatrical innovator, and boundary-breaking artist who helped shape multiple movements while remaining just outside the spotlight. Links From This Episode: Tomata's Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18803/tomata-du_plenty The Tupperware's at the TMT show recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyezrW9SNP0 The Screamers Target Studios Promo Video: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18803/tomata-du_plenty Gary Panter's famous rendering of Tomata: https://obeygiant.com/gary-panter-a-provocateur-print-available-now/ The Cockettes Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gPxQvN0f1c Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Punk Vampira: Maila Nurmi Part 4
Send us Fan Mail Well, here it is. The final installment of our four part series on Maila Nurmi. Maila didn’t get all she deserved in her life and she never really reaped the benefits of her creations. But the life she lived was full of adventure, fascination, excitement and in many ways, love. In this particular episode, we explore her final romances, alleged marriages and marriages of convenience. We also dig into her lasting friendships (including Marlon Brando) and her counterculture grandmother relationship to the punk musicians of the late 70s and 80s. We all need someone to love and care for us, and Maila always found her community, even in her old age. This serves as some consolation for the loss of her intellectual property and her legal battles against her unwelcomed predecessor, Elvira. There's a lot of dirt to dig into here and we DIG. Thank you for listening to this one, and please leave us comments with any tributes or words you’d like to pass along for when we visit Maila’s grave. Links for this episode: Maila and Satan’s Cheerleaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2duQNeim6k Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Post Vampira: Maila Nurmi Part 3
Send us Fan Mail Just when Maila’s career was starting to run out of steam, some luck with Liberace kept her in the spotlight for a time. But this was quickly followed by bad decisions, bad boys and a very bad movie called Plan 9 from Outer Space. Pop in those ear buds, friend. You don’t want to miss this. Links from the show: https://youtu.be/alPPXVJA4Kw?si=K0PQr8H7zHZCKA1x https://youtu.be/wtPgPYwtBhs https://youtu.be/qsb74pW7goU?si=BdDQ_BQEM72T2pkU Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
We Love You, Los Angeles: Remembering the Victims of the Fires
Send us Fan Mail This podcast is all about making sure that the stories of Hollywood’s dead never die, and after this absolutely horrific week, we need to do just that in our own small way. Thank you to all of the firefighters, volunteers, loving citizens of Los Angeles, and people helping from afar. Humanity is the only thing that can save us in these dark times. Below you’ll find the links to the Los Angeles Times article that we referenced and used as a source for this episode in addition to links to various charities who are doing great work. Thank you so much for listening. We love you, Los Angeles <3 The LA Fire Victims: Who they Were Dalyce Curry's Funeral Services GoFundMe Charities The American Red Cross Baby2Baby California Community Foundation California Fire Foundation Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Pasadena Humane Society World Central Kitchen Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Prime Vampira: Maila Nurmi Part 2
Send us Fan Mail As we unravel the layers of Vampira's gothic charm, we celebrate her unique blend of dark humor and magnetic persona that captivated 1950s audiences. Picture her cruising Sunset Boulevard in full vampire regalia, her chilling scream echoing through the night—a scene that marked her groundbreaking show, Nightmare Attic. We reminisce about her vibrant friendships with Hollywood's misfits, including the infamous James Dean, and explore how their shared fascination with the macabre defined an unforgettable era in Hollywood's history. But beyond the allure and glamour lies a story of personal and professional challenges. Discover how Maila's defiance against network constraints led to the controversial end of her show, and how her tumultuous friendship with James Dean unraveled amidst public pressures. From media sensationalism to personal betrayals, Maila's resilience shines through. Join us as we uncover the complexities of Maila's journey—a narrative filled with haunting setbacks, unexpected friendships, and a relentless spirit that continues to inspire. Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
Pre-Vampira: Maila Nurmi Part 1
Send us Fan Mail Get ready to unravel the journey of a remarkable woman who bucked the expectations of her time at every turn. Maila Nurmi (better known as Vampira) was really and truly the original mistress of the night. As we take a look at her early years, we can see that dichotomy was always present for her. Her father was a teetotaler, while her mother was an alcoholic. She loved beauty, but she also gravitated towards darkness. Maila's path was anything but conventional, and through her trials and triumphs, we highlight a narrative packed with resilience, creativity, and a touch of eccentricity. This story also features NOTABLE run-ins with Orson Welles and Marlon Brando. Tune in to discover how one woman's bold spirit changed the landscape of horror hosting forever. Links from this episode: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23914415/maila-nurmi https://www.amazon.com/Vampira-Me-Maila-Nurmi-aka/dp/B01GF6970Q https://www.amazon.com/Glamour-Ghoul-Passions-Vampira-Maila/dp/1627311009 Support the show Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
