Halloween-edition Flashback: Elvira on the set in 1988
FROM THE PHOTO ARCHIVES
Through the years, the photographers of the Los Angeles Times have been on hundreds of sets for movies, television shows and commercials. Today being Halloween, I thought you might enjoy this photo I dug up in the stacks of the paper's library. It shows Cassandra Peterson, better known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, being tied to the stake during the 1988 filming of her movie.
It's shot by Al Seib, who remains one of the very best photojournalists here at the paper today as well as being one of the classiest people you'll ever meet.
Seib took the photo during a marathon overnight filming for the production in Burbank. He not only caught a great moment, I suspect his work inspired the poster for the September 1988 release, which looks suspiciously similar to The Times photo that ran with a prominent Sunday feature on Elvira's then-surging career on March 20, 1988.
An what is Elvira up to today? According to her website, tonight she will be part of the nighttime Halloween events at the historic Eastern State Penitentiary, Al Capone's onetime residence, which is now a grim tourist attraction.
RELATED: MORE RARE PHOTOS FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ARCHIVES
Stanley Kubrick at work on the set of "Dr. Strangelove"
The stars of "Star Trek" at work on the animated series in 1973
"Star Trek" fans protest NBC plans to cancel the show in 1968
Leonard Nimoy at age 20 in 1952, ready to live long and prosper
Superman on stage on Broadway in 1966
-- Geoff Boucher
