Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs Of The Mistress Of The Dark By Cassandra Peterson Book Review

I’ve been a fan of Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) for many years, and I knew she released her memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira:  Memoirs Of The Mistress Of The Dark a few years ago (2021), but I had not gotten around to reading it yet.

I’m sorry it took me awhile to get to it, but once I did, it was hard to keep down.

I wish all books were like that.  Hers definitely is.

In her memoir, Cassandra talks about growing up in Kansas and Colorado Springs, getting accidentally burned as a child, becoming a groupie for a brief period (stories about Jimi Hendrix, The Yardbirds, Tom Jones, which is not a flattering story on Tom’s part), meeting Elvis Presley (amazing story), becoming a singer/dancer and later a Las Vegas showgirl, and becoming an actress.

She talks about starting work in The Groundlings troupe, which included Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman), Phil Hartman, Edie McClurg, and others. 

And she talks about becoming Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark, in which she became a household name, and many more stories.

Cassandra, like all of us, has had a lot of ups and downs.  Some of it is hard to read, but it’s her story.  But even throughout the bad times (and the good), her humor stands tall.

She is tough and has not only survived, but thrived.

I’m very glad that she put out this memoir and I’m even more of a fan of hers now.

Thank you for all the entertainment you have given us fans over the decades and you are always appreciated.

And everyone:  Please check out this book.