The Haunted Mansion Record and Book
The Haunted Mansion is a dark ride attraction that exists at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan. The attraction features Omnimover vehicles called “Doom Buggies” that allow riders to experience a variety of ride-through and walk-through special effects.
The story behind the attraction dates back to the 1940s. At that time, the theme of haunted houses was new to Disneyland and inspired by the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. This spooky building featured a hallway gallery with several doors that opened to walls and holes, a stretch room with a hanging corpse and a music room where the shadow of an invisible pianist could be seen.
After the success of the Winchester Mystery House, Walt Disney began to consider incorporating such features into his own theme park. He consulted Imagineer Ken Anderson to see what type of stories would be suitable for the attraction.
While Anderson’s initial ideas for the attraction were quite different than those of Walt, he did provide some insight into the direction that the design would take. Anderson had visited the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, and he was very excited by the prospect of a spooky and mysterious mansion. He was especially drawn to the fact that the Winchester Mystery House was constructed using only wood and that the architecture was so incredibly detailed.
It also had a large library with a collection of ghost stories and staring marble busts of renowned ghost writers. In addition, the Music Room featured a phantom piano player who played Rachmaninoff’s Grim Grinning Ghosts, and a balcony where a singing organist could be heard.
In 1969, Disney released a record with the title The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion, to commemorate the opening of the attraction. The album was narrated by Thurl Ravenscroft and featured the voice talents of Robie Lester, Ronny Howard and Eleanor Audley. The record also included a storybook with illustrations drawn by Collin Campbell.
The album was originally released on a 78 rpm record in stereo and mono. The latter was pressed with yellow, red and purple rainbow labels. The album was later re-released on CD in 2009.
When it first came out, the record had a limited run and was distributed through drug stores and five-and-dimes to promote the attraction. The story book was also published separately as a paperback version without the record.
This book is an excellent introduction to the Haunted Mansion and will be a great addition to your library. Its eerie illustrations and three-piece cloth cover are perfect for Halloween, and the book’s text is appropriate for children of all ages.
In the book, Mike and Karen get trapped inside the haunted mansion after a date goes wrong. Their ghost host guides them through the mansion, leading them through a stretching room and onto a balcony where they can hear partying mingling spirits. The story then continues through the hall, ballroom scene and attic.