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Ivonna Cadaver will co-host Guavaween stumble
Staff photo by CLIFF McBRIDE
Ivonna Cadaver, host of the nationally syndicated "Macabre Theater," will co-host Ybor City's Guavaween Festival on Oct. 31.
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Published: October 18, 2009
Updated: 10/19/2009 04:47 pm
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TAMPA - Mama Guava will have to stumble a little to the left this Halloween to make room for a new ghoul in town.
Ivonna Cadaver, host of the nationally syndicated "Macabre Theater," will be co-hosting Ybor City's Guavaween Festival on Oct. 31.
"I am not replacing Mama Guava, I am just here to help her," said Ivonna, who has become heir-apparent to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, as Los Angeles' favorite late-night vamp.
This self-described "ghoul next door" has been hosting a late-night horror movie series on KDOC-TV in Los Angeles since 2002. Also, for the past two Halloweens, she has presided at the Knott's Berry Farm theme park's annual Halloween bash in Buena Park, Calif.
"Now I am becoming a bicoastal ghoul and I am tickled to be guest host with Mama Guava during her Stumble Parade," said Ivonna, who arrived in town last week to start promotions for the 24th annual Guavaween. She will appear in TV commercials airing soon.
Ivonna will team up with the ornately decorated Mama Guava to lead revelers in the free Mama Guava Stumble Parade, a nighttime tradition that draws more than 35,000 to the adult-themed street party.
"We are pleased with the alluring presence of Ivonna Cadaver to add to our lively, fun-loving gathering," said Tom Keating, president of the Ybor Chamber of Commerce.
This year's theme is "Unleash Your Fantasy," and she adds to the fantasy theme, Keating said.
Ivonna, who said she isn't a day over 199 years old, is played by Natalie Popovich, an actress/writer/producer who grew up in the Tampa area before heading to California to seek fame and fortune.
"I actually grew up watching Dr. Paul Bearer on WTOG, Channel 44" said Popovich, recalling the late Dick Bennick who died in 1995. Bennick was a longtime late night and afternoon horror movie host. "When I was very tiny my father was best friends with the manager of Channel 44 and we used to go to parties and Dr. Paul would be there," she said.
Popovich, who went to St. Petersburg Catholic School, said she is considering moving the production of "Macabre Theater" to Tampa Digital Studios, a television, film and online production company in Ybor City.
Michael A. Piotrowski, senior producer at Tampa Digital, said they are in talks to tape her syndicated show here. "We are trying to get the program placed in the Tampa market," Piotrowski said.
"My show can be done anywhere, and Ybor is a perfect place," said Popovich who was impressed with the Goth-themed Ybor nightclub The Castle. "I want to partner with Tampa Digital. They are going to handle my Web presence and we're going to shoot new shows here."
Popovich said that "Macabre Theater" started with Butch Patrick (formerly Eddie Munster on "The Munsters") as a co-host. It became syndicated nationally in 2005.
She said Ivonna welcomes viewers into her own private dungeon each week where she engages in "delectable debauchery" and hosts classic horror and sci-fi films such as "Night of the Living Dead" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers."
A film buff with knowledge of horror history, Popovich said her character is more multidimensional than the legendary Elvira. But Ivonna still delivers hip and cutting-edge humor and commentaries. "I also do longer segments that are wrapped around the old movies," she said. "It's an honor to be compared to Elvira but I do it with a 21st-century twist."
Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.
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