TURA SATANA RIP: Aloha pussycat

In bed with Tura: a wet dream come true
Tura as a torrid teen temptress

Dinner with an icon: Nikko Hotel, San Francisco, 2006
Tura sizzles in "Astro Zombies"
Tura lives forever as Varla in "Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill!"
I got a phone call this morning that not only changed my mood and my agenda for the day, but rocked my world. It was from my gal pal, swingin' SIOUXZAN PERRY, manager extraordinaire for many of the legendary Russ Meyer babes - including our famous friend TURA SATANA, who passed away on Friday, February 4 - Sooz's bday! - from natural causes at age 73. I promised to help craft an official press release and co-network memorial tributes, and naturally I've been busy posting my own memories all over cyberspace. It was an honor to know this great lady and film icon, a former model who went on to star  in three of the greatest cult flicks of all time: Russ Meyer's immortal FASTER PUSSYCAT, KILL! KILL! (1965), and Ted V. Mikels' pair of timeless thrillers THE ASTRO ZOMBIES (1968) and THE DOLL SQUAD (1973). I'll be presenting both Pussycat and Astro Zombies in a special "Faster Pussycat, Thrill! Thrill" Tribute to Tura at Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge in Alameda (where I  hosted her 69th birthday party for her June 10, 2007!), with a cocktail special created in her honor, this Monday, February 7, 7:30, no cover. More later, including my interview with Tura for VARLA Magazine, her second to last ever. For now, these photos say more than I ever could. Cheers to Tura! Tura! TURA!
Tura and my late cat Bubba, now both in Pussycat Heaven










Hosting Tura's 69th bday at Forbidden Island, 7/10/07

With Otto Von Stroheim and Siouxzan Perry, Forbidden Island





Tura and the Tiki Goddess, Forbidden Island 7/10/07
Aloha, pussycat

Will Viharo

WILL "THE THRILL" VIHARO is a freelance writer and the author of several "gonzo pulp" novels including "A Mermaid Drowns in the Midnight Lounge," "Freaks That Carry Your Luggage up to the Room," "Chumpy Walnut," "Lavender Blonde," "Down a Dark Alley," and the “Vic Valentine, Private Eye” series, the first of which, "Love Stories Are Too Violent For Me," has been optioned for a film by Christian Slater, reissued in 2013 by Gutter Books, which also published the new Vic Valentine novel "Hard-boiled Heart" in December, 2015.

Two science fiction novels, "It Came from Hangar 18" and "The Space Needler's Intergalactic Bar Guide," were written in collaboration with Scott Fulks, who added real science to Will's pulp.

Will's own imprint, Thrillville Press, has issued a three volume anthology series featuring all of his standalone novels called "The Thrillville Pulp Fiction Collection," along with another omnibus called "The Vic Valentine Classic Case Files," which include four novels from the 1990s, "Fate Is My Pimp," "Romance Takes a Rain Check," "I Lost My Heart in Hollywood," and "Diary of a Dick," plus a recent short story, "Brain Mistrust."

More recently published books include the Vic Valentine "Mental Case Files" trilogy comprised of "Vic Valentine: International Man of Misery," "Vic Valentine: Lounge Lizard For Hire," and "Vic Valentine: Space Cadet"; the original story collection "Vic Valentine, Private Eye: 14 Vignettes"; the erotic horror noir novella "Things I Do When I'm Awake"; and a collection of erotic horror noir stories, "VIHORROR! Cocktales of Sex and Death."

Additionally Will has had stories included in a variety of anthologies including "Fast Women and Neon Lights: Eighties-Inspired Neon Noir"; "Mixed Up!"; "Long Distance Drunks: A Tribute to Charles Bukowski"; "Deadlines: A Tribute to William Wallace"; "Dark Yonder: Tales and Tabs"; "Knucklehead Noir" and "Weird Winter Wonderland" (both Coffin Hop Press); and "Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror."

Viharo's unique brand of "gonzo pulp fiction" combines elements of eroticism, noir, fantasy, and horror. For many years he has also been a professional film programmer/impresario and live music booker. He now lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and cats

https://www.thrillville.net
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Faster Pussycat, Thrill! Thrill!: A Tiki Toast to Tura

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The return of Vic Valentine: FATE IS MY PIMP and ROMANCE TAKES A RAIN CHECK