The complete Hatbox Ghost

This site has a terrific collection of Hatbox Ghost images. Everything from original schematics to pins, posters and figures.

A collection to die for

I wish I lived in this guy's home. He's got an amazing collection of Haunted Mansion memorabilia, Psycho movie props, Don Post masks, Universal Studios monster masks, and "general creepy and spooky items, including a functioning guillotine that he's all too eager to demonstrate if you bring along a cantaloup".



(Via the Haunted Mansion Collectibles site.)

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."

Haunted Mansion display

This Haunted Mansion collector found this in-store display 20 years ago. It was part of some Disney Halloween vhs display stand. Looks great.

Haunted Mansion office

When California-based animator James Lopez moved into a new house a few years ago, he decided to decorate his home office like Disney's Haunted Mansion. He went so far as to sculpt and build his own bat stanchions and library busts. I wish I had a Haunted Mansion-themed room in my house.

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."

Hitchhiking (and embroidering) ghosts

Fans of hitchhiking ghosts will want these custom embroidered renderings of Phineas, Gus, and Ezra to follow them home.

(Via Boing Boing)

Happy Birthday Haunted Mansion!

Haunted Mansion coloring book

Not the Disney attraction we all love, this Haunted Mansion was based out of Long Branch, NJ. In the late 70s, this fantastic coloring book was created to publicize the attraction. Dig the gruesome imagery!Click here for more pages from the book.

Haunted Mansion board game

In honor of my upcoming trip to Disney World, I present the Haunted Mansion Game. Released in 1972, it's "based on the classic attraction from Walt Disney World. Players try to move their pawn through the haunted mansion. A major portion of the game board consists of rotating discs that change the path that the player pawns can take. Check out Board Game Geek for more info.

Haunted Mansion tattoo

In keeping with yesterday's Haunted Mansion-theme, I present this awesome tattoo.

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".

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.

Animated coffin model

Everyone's favorite papercraft guru has done it again. Ray Keim, at Haunted Dimensions, has created a 3D tribute to the famous "Conservatory Coffin" scene from the Haunted Mansion. And the best part is that this model will actually animate! "A simple lever allows you to simulate the desperate attempts of the confined ghost to lift the lid."

Click here to download your Conservatory Coffin model kit.

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/