Before Elvira, there was Vampira. Maila Nurmi became or rather created a costume she dubbed Vampira. Catching the eye of some prominent people She quickly became the host of ''The Vampira Show'' during 1954. Appearing in several films, modeling, and really blazing the trail for Elvira in the sexy spooky female host media world. In 1957, she appeared in Ed Wood's film Plan 9 from Outer Space.

In 1989 Maila Nurmi brought a $10 million law suit against Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) for stealing her act. But Nurmi lost.