Scream Queens: Maila Nurmi
Maila Nurmi (1922-2008) was a Finnish-American actress who made her mark as television’s first horror host, playing Vampira on The Vampira Show. For Further Reading: Vampira: An Appreciation of the Undersung Proto-Goth Goddess How Maila Nurmi’s Niece Unearthed the Hidden History of Goth Icon Vam…
Bonus: Dorothy Vaughan
Dorothy Vaughan (1910-2008) was an American mathematician and human computer who worked for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), and then NASA. She made waves in the industry at a time when racial and gender discrimination prevented women of color from gaining recognition for the…
Scream Queens: Isabella Tomasi
Isabella Tomasi, a.k.a. Maria Crocifissa della Concezione (1645-1699) was a Benedictine nun who lived in a convent in Sicily, Italy and claimed she was possessed by the Devil. In 1676, she wrote a cryptic letter that no one was able to decipher until 2017. Scientists theorize that rather than being…
Scream Queens: Lamia
Lamia is a demon from Greek mythology famous for her penchant for devouring children. Sometimes she’s depicted as a fearsome and hideous demon, other times she appears beautiful yet vampiric, seducing young men before drinking their blood. For Further Reading: Men Have Feared Women for Millennia.…
Scream Queens: Fay Wray
Fay Wray (1907-2004) was an actress best known for her role as Ann Darrow in the iconic 1933 film King Kong. Fay became a symbol of Hollywood's Golden Age and is remembered for her contributions to the horror and adventure genres. For Further Reading: Fay Wray, Beauty to Kong's Beast, Dies at 96 …
Scream Queens: Banshee
The Banshee is a female spirit in Irish folklore who heralds the death of a family member — usually by screaming, wailing, or keening. For Further Reading: In Search of the Irish Family Banshee, Her Cry Echoing Across Generations The Banshee: The Wailing Fairy Woman of Ireland Exploring Irish Myt…
Scream Queens: Shirley Jackson
Shirley Jackson (1916-1965) was an essayist, novelist, cartoonist, and short story writer specializing in horror and fantasy. Her dystopian short story “The Lottery” and “The Haunting of Hill House” are considered some of the greatest works of horror of the 20th century. For Further Reading: La…
Bonus: Betty Friedan
Betty Friedan (1921-2006) was an American feminist writer and activist. Her first book The Feminine Mystique is often credited with launching the second wave of feminism. This bonus episode is brought to you by the CBS Original ELSBETH. For Further Reading: Betty Friedan, Who Ignited Cause in 'F…
Scream Queens: Kuchisake Onna
Kuchisake Onna, or the slit mouthed woman, is an ancient Japanese ghost. She is known as a vengeful woman who was mutilated at the hands of someone she trusted. The folktale says she approaches single travelers in the night and asks them, “Am I beautiful?” If they answer incorrectly, she will mutil…
Scream Queens: Paula Maxa
Paula Maxa (1898-1970) was dubbed “The Most Murdered Woman in the World” and “The Princess of Blood” for her many on-stage deaths as a star performer at a Paris theater famed for its reliance on horror and gore. For Further Reading: The Most Murdered Woman in the World Paula Maxa: The scream quee…