He would often go out for drinks with his opponents after a match. Tor was a professional wrestler, but it was just a put on. What little info I was able to learn about Tor was from Rudolph Grey’s book, Nightmare of Ecstasy – the Life and Art of Edward D. She claimed she fucked James Dean, and that’s all I need to know. Maila (photo by Mark Berry) lived on Hollywood Boulevard in a low-income apartment building. IMHO Elvira completely ripped off Vampira, and Maila Nurmi had a lawsuit against Elvira for years, but didn’t have the resources that Cassandra Peterson has, therefore had to drop the suit. The outfit Vampira wore was a sort of Morticia Addams style, and she hosted horror flicks on Los Angeles television in the ’50s. Coinkydink?įor those of you who don’t know, Maila Nurmi was the woman who played Vampira. Coincidentally, just a block over from a street called Nurmi. What is most interesting to me about Tor, is that the last footage of Bela Lugosi that exists (now I’ll probably be lambasted by people who are experts saying, “Well ACtually – Bela did…”), with him smelling the rose bush, was actually filmed outside Tor’s home in Sylmar. I also bopped over to the records archives and looked up Ed Wood’s probate file on the suggestion of my new pal, Steve, who was on my tour last week. Dull dull dull, but I did lunch over at Clifton’s. I am stuck at jury duty today, and brought my laptop. Tor, from what little I’ve read, was a pretty nice guy. I’m sure there are a lot more of you that are experts on this subject, I just dip in when it interests me. Bela Lugosi, certainly! But Ed’s movies, for as terrible as they are, have staying power. Like several people associated with Ed Wood, Tor would be largely forgotten if it weren’t for making Ed’s horrible films.

Tor johnson mask