In 1954, Maila Nurmi shocked the world as sexy horror host Vampira on KABC. She rocketed to national, then worldwide stardom, then quickly faded ... although her character was a clear blueprint, much later, for Cassandra Peterson's "Elvira" character on TV and in the movies. Nurmi died in 2008.

In 2010 Off-Ramp contributor R.H. Greene, who became friends with Nurmi in her later years, told her story for Off-Ramp in a documentary called "Vampira and Me." (The radio doc became a film in 2012.)

Support for this podcast comes from Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

"I would run my sticky fingers across images that seemed to be beamed from some magical, alternative universe where people gave dinner parties and owned patio furniture." -- David Dean Bottrell's "Crafty Little Christmas" 

Every year, I'd put my name next to twenty toys in the JC Penny and Sears Christmas catalogs, and guess what ... every year I wouldn't get everything I wanted. And every years I was sorely disappointed. Big surprise. It took a long time before I woke up,  changed my ways, and discovered a lot more happiness on Christmas. 

The Christmas catalog played a slightly different role for actor/writer/teacher/Kentuckian/homosexual David Dean Bottrell, and this week, we're setting the proper mood for the season -- don't be greedy! -- by listening to his story "A Crafty Little Christmas," which he performed for "Once Upon a Christmas" in 2012. (We first broadcast it on Off-Ramp in 2013.)

Support for this podcast comes from Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune ... another Hard Times update ... goodbye Cal Worthington ... the Congressman who arm-wrestled Putin ...

Harry Dean Stanton smokes in front of Patt Morrison; Zoey 101 as Bob Tur continues to become a woman; remembering writer Frederik Pohl; and lamenting Miyazaki's retirement from animation.

Dwight Yoakam performs at Hollywood Palladium, Patt pokes Pershing plan, our newest Instagram contest celebrates working men and women.

Marc Haefele marched on Washington 50 years ago ... Kevin Ferguson takes us to Glendora's Rubel Castle ... the Western stories of Elmore Leonard ...

Jason Mandell of The Coals sings in studio ... how is tattooed Jahsan doing? ... meet LA's new coroner ... Marc Haefele on the new Sam Francis exhibit ...

Answered on this episode: What happens to your old mattress? What moves comedian Eddie Pepitone? What are the best pop melodies? Can humans breathe in the Funkmosphere?

Driving with stuntman Jim Wilkey, art with Robert Williams, OCMA's California Pacific Triennial, and the best stuff that was never built in Southern California.

Larry King on almost 80 years ... dishing on Deitch ditching MOCA ... called a "cracker," Clay Russell tells us about his eureka moment ... why did a Lomita builder collect 55,000 dresses?