Elvira and Thirteenth Ground Set Los Angeles Haunted Hayride Takeover

It’s been over 4 a long time since Cassandra Peterson first introduced her horny and sassy alter ego Elvira, Mistress of the Darkish to tv screens, placing a bodacious spin on the film mocking horror schtick popularized by Vampira and Sinister Seymour earlier than her. On the basic 80’s horror sequence Film Macabre, based mostly in Hollywood, her quip-filled cinematic commentary, campy California lady attraction and distinguished cleavage made her a right away hit, garnering nationwide syndication, a significant movement image and a fiendish fanbase that’s endured to at the present time.

Elvira additionally grew to become the face of Halloween by way of a partnership with Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif. that included a thematic stage present and a myriad of merchandising. After a pair hiatuses, Peterson ended her relationship with Knotts for good final 12 months, but it surely was removed from a farewell to scary season celebrations for this beloved glamour ghoul.

“I had been with Knotts for therefore lengthy, it form of ran its course,” Peterson, 73, tells The Hollywood Reporter throughout an unique Zoom chat asserting her model new partnership with Los Angeles Haunted Hayride and its producer Thirteenth Ground Leisure. “I really like Knotts, however I’m actually blissful to companion with Thirteenth Ground as a result of it was getting form of repetitive. I’m blissful to inject some recent, new power into the character and into the issues I’m doing. It’s very thrilling.”

Launched in 2009 by the Mark Cuban-backed Ten Thirty One Productions, the Hayride was acquired by Thirteenth Ground Leisure Group — identified for placing on Halloween occasions throughout the nation — in 2018. Peterson, who used to dwell in Los Feliz, Calif., says she took her daughter to the close by hang-out in Griffith Park yearly. “For me, it’s very particular. It’s one in every of my favourite L.A. sights at Halloween. I’m thrilled to be affiliated with such a cool occasion.”

Thirteenth Ground’s CEO and founding companion Chris Stafford, additionally on the Zoom, reveals that Elvira can be injected into the narrative and lore of Haunted Hayride in a large number of the way.

“We form of reworked the Hayride backstory in 2019,” he explains. “We created the city of Midnight Falls and the fascinating factor from a narrative standpoint, is that it’s perpetually trapped within the Eighties. They’re having their annual Halloween pageant and the inhabitants are creepy, kooky and offbeat. It’s form of horror comedy-themed so Elvira was a pure match.”

The hayride element, by which visitors pile right into a slow-moving open wagon and roll via the depths and darkness of the park filled with chilling sights, freaky props and scare actor encounters, modifications a bit yearly. For 2025, there can be “FM radio-style” audio programming dubbed “Elvira After Darkish,” with thematic playlists in between comical commercials because the host guides what visitors will see subsequent.

Along with the trip, the occasion presents mazes and its hottest, referred to as Trick or Deal with, is being renamed “Elvira’s Trick or Deal with Mayhem” that includes a facade of her new dwelling in Midnight Falls. Additionally, one of many Hayride’s hottest props, its creepy animal skeleton carousel, could have an Elvira-themed overlay that includes her canine Gonk, from the eponymous 1988 movie.

“I’m a baby of the ‘80s so Elvira has been a legend to me for a lot of, a few years,” Stafford enthuses. “We couldn’t be happier to work along with her and her workforce. We’re attempting to breathe some new life into the model and attempting to do some various things as a result of we share a fanbase, particularly within the L.A. market.”

An unlimited but close-knit group, particularly on the West Coast, darkish tradition fans look ahead to October yearly, however nowadays they don’t restrict themselves to fall. Retailers like Tub & Physique Works and Michael’s shops now launch objects for “Summerween” and there’s even a depraved August conference referred to as Midsummer Scream, which Stafford says led to the brand new partnership. The con’s government director and co-founder David Markland is credited with introducing him to Peterson. The duo formally introduced Elvira’s Haunted Hayride alliance and activation plans immediately on the Pasadena occasion.

“The hang-out and Halloween followers are simply rabid right here so I believe it’s an ideal synergy,” Stafford provides. “There can be distinctive retail alternatives for each of our followers, and experiential alternatives for folks to flee from actuality a little bit bit extra this Halloween. I believe all of us want that and that’s a part of why it’s as in style as it’s.”

Peterson concurs. “Since I began doing issues for Halloween again at nighttime ages, it has simply grown and grown,” she says. ”It doesn’t decelerate. It’s gotten to be such an enormous trade, it’s encroaching on Christmas relating to spending cash. And the good factor is, all people’s looking for themselves. It’s nearly like self-care. You purchase issues for your self to put on, have enjoyable and go to events.”

Talking of commerce, Peterson, who owns the rights to her character, which she created as a part of the Groundlings comedy troupe within the early ‘80s earlier than getting the KHJ-TV (now referred to as KCAL) film host gig, capitalized on Elvira’s common attraction early on. It turned her right into a multi-million greenback enterprise year-round. From clothes and jewellery to dwelling decor, Elvira stays another pin-up, in style with film buffs and goth tradition vultures alike.

Thirteenth Ground hopes to make the most of the star’s gross sales potential past the Hayride. “The retail factor will contain unique merchandise that may solely be obtainable at Thirteenth Ground occasions, about 17 or 18 places throughout the nation,” Stafford shares. “These exclusives will attain all throughout our footprint.”

Along with new t-shirt designs and retro-style collectables, Peterson says she’s excited a couple of new Elvira apron with a rendering of her well-known low-cut black gown obtainable as a part of Thirteenth Ground’s unique “Baker’s Bundle” (that includes her new cookbook and different goodies).

“It’s actually cute should you want a quick costume — simply slap it on and also you’re good to go,” she says, including that Elvira’s Cookbook From Hell (Hatchette), can be out worldwide in September. That includes fearsome food and drinks recipes alongside eerie entertaining concepts, it follows up her 2021 New York Instances best-selling memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira.

Although Peterson gained’t be there within the flesh each night, she is scheduled to attend Haunted Hayride’s media evening in September and her spirit can be absolutely built-in into the expertise. Because the Thirteenth Ground workforce completes planning, Stafford doesn’t need to give every thing away, however he assures, “there can be a variety of completely different artistic methods to work together along with her.”

“Elvira has develop into a personality that form of transcends me,” says Peterson reflecting on the cultural influence of the fearsome femme. “Her picture has develop into part of Halloween. It’s a little bit like Santa Claus is to Christmas, so it’s one thing that may proceed for years and years and years.”