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.

Virtual Tour of China: Chinese Artists look Outside; Dinner Party Download; Putting the Brakes on Fast Food; E is for Idiot; Virtual Tour of China: Shaved Ice in the SGV and beyond; L.A.'s Own Water Polo Olympian; Lawn Bowling: Beijing or Bust?; Tower of Terror; Going for Gold in the Smog; The Mayor of Gladys Park; Virtual Tour of China: Absurd Recreation; Handy Man

Dinner Party Download; Sushi Zen; Sushi 101; Hot Ramen; I Eat Ramen, Here Me Roar!; Would You Eat Granny?; Urban Survivalist; El Pollo Chino; Some botanas, por favor; Umami=Yummy; The Best Milkshake in Riverside; Too Fresh Fish; Sushi Delicacies; Your Own Sushi Chef; Sushi Wrap-Up

Happy 2nd, Off-Ramp!; There's Gold in These Hills!; Dinner Party Download; Newsletter Alert!; Shaken and Stirred; The Earthquake As it Happened; Gold Fever; Charles Perry, Renaissance Man; Monster Movie Sets: Built for Destruction; Tanker Planes Take a Hit; It Was Worth the Wait, Right?; No Jalapenos? Well try these peppers; Music on Off-Ramp: "My Dwarf is Getting Tired"; Music on Off-Ramp: "Use Me"; Music on Off-Ramp: "There's a Goldmine in the Sky"

The Debut of the Dinner Party Download; A Tribute to Theme Songs; The Art of Theme Songs; Song for Night; Song for Night; On the Righteous Path; The Watson Twins; Hollywood's Hungarian Rhapsody; Hooked on... Jane Austen?; Olive Oil in California; Music: Anat Cohen

Welcome to Doo-Dah; Doo Dah Surf - Part One; The Duke of Surfing; Doo Dah Surf - Part Two; Doo Dah Surf - Part Three; Hang Tiki; Surf Break; Time Capsule; A Nest for the Homeless

It's a Wonderful Life; You Knew Him As Bozo; Onion Rings in the I.E.; Mock Me Gently; Compton Remembers the Williams Sisters; How Green Was My Valley?; Tom Disch Remembered; The New Beverly Cinema; Tarzan of Tarzana; L.A.'s Screenplay: "Right of Way"; Doo-Dah Surf on July 19th

Anime-niacs!; On Being Faithful; Coming to America; New Citizens; "El Piolin," American At Last; Full Metal and Tiny Toys; Attention!; The Voice of Anime; Say NET-SKAY!; Yowee!; Representative Spendthrift; He's Ba-ack...; Banana Oil!; Remembering Summer

1984 Revisited; Cruisin' for Neon; Megapuss Live at the Hammer Museum; Harvard Glee Club Celebrates 150 Years; Look Ma--No Hands!; George Carlin Remembered; Reporter's Roundtable; It's a Costume, Savvy?; Cheech The Art Collector; A Late Composer's Early Birthday Bash; Pomp and Circumstance; They're back...