Local Horror Hostess, Evelle LeChat, Wins National Vampira Contest!

Conway's own horror hostess, Evelle LeChat, the "Vixen of Vamp" and hostess of the locally-produced TV show, "Night-Frights", was recently named "The New Vampira" at HorrorHound Weekend in Indianapolis, IN. 

On January 10, 2008, millions of horror fans were saddened by the death of Maila Nurmi, aka Vampira, the world’s first television horror hostess who reigned supreme in the 1950s.  Vampira was responsible for the creation of the campy format for the presentation and review of horror movies still used by television hosts world-wide.  Vampira was also known for her waspish figure, high-arched eyebrows, and ear-piercing, high-pitched screams.

On March 26, 2010, in Indianapolis, IN at the Dark Carnival Film Festival and HorrorHound Weekend, Evelle LeChat won a national Vampira look-a-like search contest.  Applicants were asked to submit a videotape audition to be considered for the contest.  The top three finalists were invited to compete for the title before a sold-out capacity crowd in excess of 8000 attendees.  The competition consisted of three parts:  (1) The contestant’s resemblance to Vampira; (2) The contestant’s ability to capture the essence of the Vampira character via speaking lines of dialogue and re-creating Vampira’s ghostly walk; and (3) Screaming like Vampira.  After the competition, the judges were in a two-way tie, and the competition came down to one final “scream off”.  LeChat won in all three categories and took home the title of “The New Vampira”.

On March 28, 2010, fans were given another chance to meet the revered Vampira via Evelle LeChat, the newly-reborn persona of Vampira.  LeChat was literally resurrected as “The New Vampira” via a stage-production show hosted by actor Daniel Roebuck (aka Dr. Shocker), and a slew of other horror hosts that paid homage to Vampira and other deceased hosts.  Master Ron Fitzgerald, Gothic Illusionist, revived the dead body of Evelle LeChat as she rose from the grave and transformed herself into “The New Vampira”.  The thousands of fans in attendance all screamed in unison as Vampira was reborn via Evelle as a tribute to their beloved Vampira. 

The event was also attended by representatives of Guinness World Records to document the largest gathering of horror hosts at any time in history.  The previous record was shattered as more than double the previous number were present for the event.  The hosts scarcely all fit on one stage. 

LeChat is a regular-featured celebrity at horror conventions nationally. "Night-Frights" first aired in 2007 in Conway and Conway Corp. won MIDI awards in 2008 and 2009 for best community programming for the show.

References:

http://www.vampiratribute.com/ http://www.horrorhoundweekend.com/shows/201003/default.shtml