Haunted Elegance: The Foyer

Greetings Ghost Fans,

For the Haunted Mansion Movie, there was a great concept created for many of the set pieces seen. For some sets, The Ballroom, The Library and the Foyer, there were two versions of the same set. There was the normal version, and then the Haunted version. Even the exterior had some plans of being less haunted than what we saw in the movie. In example here, there are two photos of the Foyer set. The before features brighter colors and more decoration, it also features the normal versions of the changing portraits (later to be put into a new set). One of the key features of this set are the two statues that adorn the clock over the entrance of the Armory. The normal versions, which were rented from a Hollywood prop house feature two women with their candleabras held high. The after versions (created by the studio), feature the women as shrouded figures, no longer holding their lights high. These styles of hooded/shrouded figures are found in many places in the movie.

Going his way?

Greetings Ghost Fans,

It appears that one of the Hitch-Hikers finally got out of the mansion and has gone abroad. Ezra has made himself a nice living as a ticket seller for the Ghost Train of Phantom Canyon in Phantom Manor. What is he selling? One way tickets, essentially to the Thunder Mesa from Hell. The cost? 20 dollars. Its ok though, its just pretend money.

Cousin Victor

Greetings Ghost Fans,

Back in the late 1960's when Disneyland still had its original queue graveyard, one of the tombstones not later transplanted to Walt Disney World was for Cousin Victor.

Cousin Victor is actually a play on the name of Imaginere Vic Greene. Vic Greene oversaw many architectural projects in the parks as a land planner and also a draftsman for many key locations within the park. Vic was also the Art Director for Disneyland's Jungle Cruise. His main contribution for The Haunted Mansion, both at Disneyland and Disney World was the overseeing of architectural elements both outside and in.

(NOTE: In keeping on the mouse's good side, I have blurred out the measurements for this tombstone.)

Do You Hear Something?

Greetings Ghost Fans,

This week we take a look, and listen to something that has been playing at the Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion for decades while many people have never noticed. The US Mansion Graveyards are nearly idenical in terms of effects, character placement and the like. However, Walt Disney World has had one audio track that Disneyland hasn't.

At the Hearse Tea Party, three ghostly guests enjoy some tea while another ghost sits atop a rock nearby. These three, are the monotonous singers normally heard while riding by. But there is one more singing that most have never heard. His technical name is the Hearse Background Vocal, but I have come to name him the La La singer. This character was voiced by Alan Davies, the same vocalist who voiced the Mummy only a few feet away.

Click HERE to listen to a sampling of the La La singer.

How much is that Ghostie in the window?

Greetings Ghost Fans,

This week we look at Phantom Manor. Yeah, I know I haven't done too much on the subject of the Manor, but I haven't visited it... yet.

Phantom Manor was a very different mansion than what we had already seen in the United States and in Japan. Being the most recent mansion, some of the Imagineer's artists styles are a little different than what we knew in the past. Dan Goozee created an amazing concept of the Manor's facade with many spooky details. In fact, this small portion of a concept actually came to fruition. In some of the windows of the Manor, you can spot the shadowy figure of the Bride and the Phantom. Seen in this concept we have a ghostly form standin in the 2nd floor window. It's sad, these great details mostly go unnoticed.