Today we know Cassandra Peterson as the gothic horror hostess Elvira, "Mistress of the Dark," but before she was famous she was a young showgirl in Las Vegas. It was Elvis Presley, who she had a "sort of" date with 50 years ago, who pivoted her career in a different direction with "the best advice in the world." The actress recounted that fateful day in an interview with Closer Weekly.
"I was a showgirl in Las Vegas and Elvis told me to get the heck out of Las Vegas and pursue a singing career and, because he was Elvis, I decided to do that," Peterson said. "At the time I was the youngest showgirl in Las Vegas; I was 17. If it wasn't for Elvis, I would now be the oldest [showgirl] in Las Vegas, I'm positive."
Peterson said she had always been a massive fan of Presley and was "completely smitten" when they had their "sort of" date, according to Fox News. The 68-year-old did not go into detail but in a previous interview with Entertainment Weekly, she dished on their alleged date.
"He invited me to a party at his suite, along with lots of other people, and he really kind of took to me, I think because I was 17, and probably all the other showgirls there were in their 30s," she claimed, adding that she had grown up with Elvis as her idol. "The fact that I was meeting him was beyond belief. We did hang out one whole evening, a whole night, the next morning, and mostly talked, believe it or not."
Peterson admitted there "was some kissing going on" but they were being closely watched and nothing else transpired. She added that Elvis "couldn't have been more wonderful" and she credited him for changing her life.
"I, at the time, thought I had reached the pinnacle of show business, becoming a Las Vegas showgirl. Elvis convinced me that this was no town for a young girl to be in, by herself, and that it would not lead to bigger and better things."