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.

Don and Chris Murray finally go to Night of a Hundred Stars together ... Jon Bon Jovi and Steve Lopez go to a homeless shelter together ... Queena Kim gets together with a beer float ... RIP Bobby Espinosa, and thanks for "Viva Tirado" ... CyberFrequencies watches an episode of iCarly with its target audience: kids.

Lisa See's "Shanghai Girls" - sisterhood, immigration, fear, and acceptance ... the future of theatre in Southern California ... Dinner Party Download ... Avatar v. Lorax ... rare beer.

The New York Times Plagiarism Problem ... Randolph Mantooth says "give now and be prepared for an 'Emergency'" ... Nicholas Meyer on The Wrath of Khan ... CyberFrequencies and life on the web ... and how Dinner Party Download makes your life better.

CyberFrequencies talks with Ray Bradbury ... A new documentary: "Finding God in the City of Angels" ... Karen Fritsche invents the Love-o-Meter to weigh driving and dating ... A new butcher in Los Feliz ... Jeff Girod says Obama was right about Vegas ... "Lincoln Echoes."

Dinner Party Download ... "Up!" gets best pic nom, we talk with Ed Asner ... Queena tastes a bacon donut ... Steve Julian tastes at least six tequilas but no margaritas ... Remembering journalist and author Tomas Eloy Martinez, who bared the soul of Argentina.

Ringo Starr in concert and conversation ... Providence's Michael Cimarusti learns secrets and legacy of Japanese cuisine ... the DineLA family tree of chefs ... CyberFrequencies on life on the web ... Animators hold benefit auction to help comatose teen ... Local troupe performs Steve Martin play with Picasso and Einstein.

Editor breaks up with LA Times ... Dinner Party Download ... the lost tapes of Bobbie Gentry.

How to be Doo Dah Queena ... Steven Cuevas' prison special report ... Remembering Leon Lyon, who helped bring Kahlua to America ... CyberFrequencies talks with the father of virtual reality ... and more.