Arts & Entertainment

Horror Fest Dusts Off 1986 Video Of Elvira In Salem

The Mistress of the Dark, who hosted an MTV Halloween Special from Salem, returns to the Witch City next month.

SALEM, MA -- Cassandra Peterson -- known to anyone who grew up in the 1980s as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark -- is coming to Salem on October 4 to host a 30th anniversary screening of the film "Elvira, Misstress of the Dark." To promote the event, Salem Horror Fest posted a clip of one of Elvira's best-known visits to Salem: the 1986 Elvira MTV Halloween special, which featured skits and music videos.

The 1988 film is the story of a famous horror hostess who quits her job after being sexually harassed by a new boss, then moves to a small, fictitious, Massachusetts small town. Once there, she battles an evil uncle and townspeople who want her burned at the stake. Peterson's Elvira character had become an overnight sensation after the release of her 1981 film, "Movie Macabre."

But locally, the peak of her fame may have been 1986's MTV special. The trailer for the show posted by Salem Horror Fest shows Peterson as Elvira jumping into the arms of a Salem Fire Fighter, caressing the "Entering Salem" sign and running past famous local landmarks, including the Salem Witch Museum.

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Photo and video by Salem Horror Fest.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).


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