Disneyland's Haunted Mansion - 55th Anniversary

Today, Disneyland's Haunted Mansion is celebrating it's 55th anniversary!

In honor of this anniversary, let's take a look at some Haunted Mansion-related articles, which appeared in Disney News Magazine over the years.

From the Summer 1969 issue:

I believe this was the publication's earliest mention of the Haunted Mansion.  As the article states, the attraction was "to be completed in late summer."  It also mentions a new fleet of Disneyland-Alweg Monorail trains, which would also be debuting that summer.  These would have been the Mark III five-car trains.  Oh, and that's Yale Gracey, posing with the original Hat Box Ghost figure!

From the Fall 1969 issue:

This issue's article is entirely about Ciro Rolando Santana y Arrite, a Cuban sculptor who was hired to carve "wooden furniture and ornamentation for Disneyland's Haunted Mansion."  The attraction would have been open at this point, but the caption for the photos below the article states, "Here is a sneak preview of the Haunted Mansion."

The blog, "Long Forgotten" has provided some additional info about the work of Ciro Rolado Santa y Arrite, in a blog post from August of 2010.

From the Winter 1969-1970 issue:

This article includes quotes from a few children who were interviewed prior to entering the Haunted Mansion, and also upon exiting.  The child in the photo is hiding behind a tombstone with an epitaph that reads, "Here Lies Phineas Pock - Laid To Rest Beneath This Rock - R.I.P."  I clearly remember this headstone during my childhood visits to Disneyland.  At that time, it was located on the hillside, or "berm," to the west of the Haunted Mansion, along with other headstones.  I remember returning to the park at some point, and the headstones were noticeably missing.

Once again, the "Long Forgotten" blog has an excellent and thorough post, about the disappearing, reappearing, and relocation of the headstones over the years.

 

From the Fall 1974 issue:

By this time, a second Haunted Mansion had opened at Walt Disney World, in Florida.  This article discusses both versions, including the influence for the two different exteriors.

The article also describes how the dust and cobwebs are applied throughout the attraction.

Happy 55th anniversary, to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion!

Haunted Mansion - 42nd Anniversary!

Today, in honor of the Haunted Mansion's 42nd anniversary, we have yet another item from my childhood. It's the Disneyland Record and Book, "Walt Disney Presents The Haunted Mansion" from 1970. This is a "little" long playing record and has a different story and different artwork than the larger LP that was sold around the same time (the one with Ron Howard voicing one of the characters).

I've tried my best to record the audio. Sorry if the sound is a little "tinny" and also for any "pops" or scratches on the vinyl. If you click on the YouTube logo in the frame below, the audio will open in a separate window....that way, you will be able to follow along in the book while you listen. And you will know when it is time to turn the page when Tinker Bell rings her little bells like this, "Brrrrrrrrring"!

Let's begin now. Have you ever been in a Haunted Mansion? I have, and I'd like to tell you about it.....























Here's Part 2. After the story ends, there are two tracks from the 1964 Disneyland record, "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House" that were used as "filler" on Side B of the record.












Happy anniversary to one of my favorite Disneyland attractions!

To see my Haunted Mansion anniversary posts from the past two years, click here:
Haunted Mansion 41st Anniversary - 2010

And here:
Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary - 2009

Haunted Mansion Model Kit Series - 1974

In honor of today being the 48th anniversary of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, I am posting another Haunted Mansion-related item from my childhood. This is the box for one of four models from a series that came out in 1974.

This one is called, "Play It Again, Sam." Incidentally, that line is a misquote from the film "Casablanca." Humphrey Bogart never said "again", he just said "Play it, Sam!" Ahhh, but I digress! I saved this box, but I'm not sure if I still have the model or not. I want to say that I did save it and that it is in my mom's garage. I guess I will say that.

Hey, what's up with that mummy coming out of the organ? A mummy is only seen in the graveyard section of the Haunted Mansion attraction!

This side panel explains, "Zap/Action!" There was a series of Pirates of the Caribbean models made by the same company, that also had "Zap/Action!"

I also had the "Escape From The Crypt" model, but I know for sure that I didn't save that one. The box may still exist, but I haven't seen it for years. Now I'm thinking if I had saved the box, it probably would have been kept together with this one.

I think it's odd that there weren't more of the ACTUAL scenes from the attraction that were recreated for this series. The vampire scene is especially annoying!

I really should have looked to see if I could find this model, but I know if it does still exist, that it will have a horrible paint job! As a kid, I wasn't very good with a paint brush. Wait, I'm still not!

Happy 48th anniversary to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion!

Haunted Mansion - 41st Anniversary!

Today is the 41st Anniversary of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. In honor of the occasion, let's take a look at a vintage Haunted Mansion souvenir. This postcard booklet was purchased during one of my childhood visits to the park back in the early seventies.

This last pic shows the Hitchhiking Ghosts before "Phineas" (the first one on the left), had his eyes removed. I would like to know why they were taken out. For years now, they have been just dark empty sockets. To see how he appears now, click here for Daveland's post on the Hitchhiking Ghosts and check out the very last pic of this guy.

Happy 41st Anniversary to a Disneyland classic!