13 Haunted Mansion tombstones

Here is a collection of Haunted Mansion tombstone photos. Each one includes information on who the stone's epitaph is dedicated to. For instance, in this "Dear Departed Brother Dave" example, it's in honor of Imagineer Dave Burkhart who "began his career with Disney in 1967 serving as an artist model maker, building architecture and show models, including some full scale sets and props. He subsequently became a show designer and field art producer, working on attractions such as the Haunted Mansion, Swiss Family Treehouse and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

The Game Of LIFE (Haunted Mansion Edition)

What a great idea! I want one.

"It is the classic game of LIFE with a chilling spin. Welcome to the After-LIFE incorporates the stories, mythology, history and the scary fun of the Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland Paris Haunted Mansion attraction (known as Phantom Manor in Paris) to create an otherworldly game play experience.

If you've played THE GAME OF LIFE, then you're in for a real treat (and a few tricks!) It's all here from the game you know, but re-imagined to take place on the grounds of Master Gracey's vast, decrepit, and mostly haunted estate. You may encounter the "soul" mortal - the Grounds Keeper and his dog as you travel through the After-LIFE. There will be trials and tribulations as you, kind spirit, encounter a hitch-hiking ghost or three, all the while trying to accumulate the most screams along the way. If you are the spirit to arrive at the FINAL RESTING PLACE with the most accumulated screams you will be welcomed as the 1,000 ghost at the Haunted Mansion.

Spook-tacular Facts about The Game of LIFE - Haunted Mansion "Welcome to the After-LIFE" Disney Theme Park Edition

- The game board centers on extending the stories of the four stretch paintings found within the Haunted Mansion.
- Elements from inside and outside the Mansions tucked with in the game board. Can you find the musical instruments? "Tomb Sweet Tomb?" Transformation paintings? Tombstones? Busts from the library, the pet cemetery, the ghosts and ghouls, the five roses?
- The buildings include the Haunted Mansion from Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland Paris (aka Phantom Manor), a crypt, a carriage house, the Grounds Keepers shack, and a BOO-niversity. The buildings and spinner are glow-in-the-dark.
- The spinner is inspired by Madam Leota's table, complete with tarot cards on the table, a melted candle on the spinner and a raven who watches your every move.
- The bridges hold a few surprises of their own...
- The movers are modified Doombuggies, to hold you and your "passengers" along the path of the After-LIFE.
- Also included are new elements not found at the Mansions but would certainly be found at the Gracey Estate.
- The "Scareer" cards have images of the classic spirits residing in the Haunted Mansion and a few more that have long since been unseen, until now.
- And of course, there are Hidden Mickey's - see how many you can find on the game board and on the cover."

Lifesize Hatbox Ghost replica

My friend Richard just brought this to my attention. At the recent D23 Expo (the single largest gathering of all things Disney ever assembled) they auctioned off a one of a kind, lifesize Hatbox Ghost figure. Measuring 5 feet, 3 inches tall the piece went for $9300! To create it, designers Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily had to call on "nearly every skill we've got. Engineering, sculpting, woodworking, metal and plastics construction, painting and sewing. Lots and lots of sewing. His body is plastic and wood armature on a wooden base designed to resemble attic flooring. His cane is reinforced steel, his hairpiece is sewn nylon fiber, and he's covered from head to toe in sheer chiffon fabric held together by miles of my own hand-stitching. The hands, head and feet are molded resin from my original sculpts."
To see more images of this terrific figure (as well as exclusive "making of" shots) visit Kevin & Jody's blog here, here, here and here.

Hatbox ghost

I finally own a Hatbox Ghost figure! Look at this guy. He's gorgeous! I was on pins and needles waiting for him to be delivered. (These things are notorious for getting damaged during shipping). Fortunately, he reached my home in perfect condition. And he's big too. 2 feet tall and super heavy. He'll definitely get displayed year-round.

Skeleton Dance revisited

A couple of years ago I wrote about Disney's Skeleton Dance cartoon. Well, for fans of that delightful short, I've now learned that the same concept was later reimagined (in color!) as Skeleton Frolic. Check it out and let me know which one you prefer.

(Via Boing Boing)

Happy Birthday Haunted Mansion!

The Haunted Mansion gets Shag-ified

California lowbrow artist Shag has created 13 new pieces commemorating the 40th anniversary of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. "Represented in the artwork are some of the attraction's most beloved scenes, including the Stretching Portraits, the Ballroom, the Seance Room, the Attic, Graveyard, among others." Prints of these images wont be going on sale until August 2009, so start saving your pennies.

Click here to see the entire collection.



(Via Boing Boing)

Haunted Mansion model (video)

On display at the Magic Castle in Hollywood (the very cool, very exclusive member's only club for professional magicians) is the original model for the Haunted Mansion's famous ballroom scene. Built by Imagineer Yale Gracey (also a Castle member), this unassuming plywood box with a small viewing window was created to demonstrate the Pepper's Ghost illusion for Walt Disney himself. (According to Milt Larsen's Magic Castle Tour book, "Believe it or not, Yale developed the principle of the illusion totally separate from the magical effect that dates back about 100 years.") Push a button on the front of the device and one ghost rises from his coffin, another floats through the room and a flash of lightning reveals an ax-wielding silhouette in the portrait above the fireplace.

Phantom Manor

I found this image in an old Disney annual report from 1988. The photo is of "an Imagineer at work on model of Euro Disneyland's Phantom Manor".

Euro Disney's Adventure Isle

Also from that 1988 Disney annual report, this image is an artist's rendering of Euro Disney's "Adventure Isle".

Haunted Mansion tour from 1969

Check out this behind the scenes look at the making of the Haunted Mansion. Originally part of a 1969 episode of "Disney's Wonderful World Of Color," it's hosted by an 18 year old Kurt Russell and features his good friends, The Osmonds.

Haunted Mansion fanatic

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about this Haunted Mansion fanatic. Now another has been brought to my attention. Richard Brigante runs "Inside The Magic", the internet's first Orlando-based Disney podcast. He is also the proud owner of nearly every Haunted Mansion collectible ever released! An entire room of his house has been filled with everything from stretching portraits to Hatbox Ghost statues.

Check out some more images from his massive collection here.

Recreating "The Haunted Mansion"

James Lopez is a former Disney animator who creates a Haunted Mansion-inspired yard haunt each year. He has personally sculpted replicas of the famous hatbox ghost and staring statues that look every bit as good as the real thing.

But that's not all...

While his Halloween display may only be up for a few short weeks a year, he proves his love for the Haunted Mansion 24/7, 365 with a home office done up like the Mansion itself. He has stenciled the famous demon wallpaper on his walls, put cobwebs on the chandelier, and even built full-scale props based solely on unused "Haunted Mansion" concept art.

Check out more of his amazing display at http://hauntedmansion-northside.blogspot.com/