Knowledge Builders

what is the story behind the haunted mansion

by Dr. Antoinette O'Keefe MD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Marvel's “Haunted Mansion” is ultimately the story of a teenage boy who ventures inside the spooky house after discovering that the spirit of a loved one may be trapped somewhere within its walls.

Anderson envisioned stories for the mansion, including tales of a ghostly sea captain who killed his nosy bride and then hanged himself, a mansion home to an unfortunate family, and a ghostly wedding party with well-known Disney villains and spooks.

Full Answer

How many ghosts live in the Haunted Mansion?

This ominous gothic mansion is haunted by 999 ghosts, goblins, and ghouls. They’re all “dying” to make their number an even 1,000. Look over there! It’s a statue with glowing eyes.

What is the Most Haunted Mansion?

The Stories Behind 12 Abandoned Mansions

  • Mínxíong Ghost House — Mínxíong, Taiwan. ...
  • Halcyon Hall at the Bennett School for Girls — Millbrook, New York. ...
  • Chaonei No. ...
  • Odd Fellows Home — Liberty, Missouri. ...
  • Villa de Vecchi — Cortenova, Italy. ...
  • Bannerman Castle — Pollepel Island, New York. ...
  • Los Feliz Mansion — Los Angeles, California. ...
  • Wyckoff Villa (Carleton Villa) — Carleton Island, New York. ...

More items...

Is Disney's Haunted Mansion really haunted?

Walt Disney World is home to the Haunted Mansion, a spooky attraction at the Magic Kingdom that features 999 happy haunts. Despite its creepy setting, the Haunted Mansion is more whimsical than frightening .

How to build a haunted mansion?

  • Play off the space’s creepiest features. Anything that jars a visitor out of the moment risks ruining the suspension of disbelief that makes a haunted house truly frightening.
  • Design the perfect timing. “Rhythm has to do with a lot of it,” Travis says of providing a scary experience. ...
  • The scares of the future. ...

See more

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What is the Haunted Mansion ride based on?

The Disneyland Haunted Mansion was largely inspired by the Shipley-Lydecker House in Baltimore, Maryland, pictured in Decorative Art of Victoria's Era, a book found in the Walt Disney Imagineering Information Research Center in Glendale, California.

How did the original concept of the Haunted Mansion come about?

The idea for a haunted house at Disneyland was included in an early concept design sketch by Harper Goff dating back to 1952, when Disneyland was still being conceptualized. Within a week of the Haunted Mansion's opening, Disneyland celebrated what was then its highest single-day attendance.

Who is the killer in Haunted Mansion?

Aunt Florence “Never did a dishonorable deed, yet found face down in canary seed.” Aunt Florence is now our current killer with a pistol on her grave and was Jacob's wife. So yes, this tale gets crazier folks because Florence murders her own son.

Is Phantom Manor based on a true story?

Trivia. The story of Phantom Manor was inspired by the never-built Western River Expedition, which was a Pirates of the Caribbean-style attraction designed by Marc Davis.

What was the Haunted Mansion before?

In its original conception, its name was a bit too on-the-nose. Walt Disney and his Imagineers called it Church, Graveyard and Haunted House, and their plan for it was to celebrate the classic Haunted House attractions that were already well-established by the early 1950s.

What do they say in the Haunted Mansion?

Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion. I am your host, your ghost host. Kindly step all the way in please, and make room for everyone. There's no turning back now.

Why did the ghost host hang himself?

He most notably narrates Mystery of the Manse, where he reveals himself to actually be William Gracey, a former sea captain and pirate under the moniker of Captain Blood. He hung himself over the loss of his bride, Emily de Claire when she was killed by the ghost of his former captain and victim Randall Pace.

Is Madame Leota a villain?

Madame Leota is a major antagonist in the Disney Park attraction The Haunted Mansion, which appears in Disneyland in California, Walt Disney World in Florida, and Tokyo Disneyland, as well as its alternate version Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris.

Who killed the dread family Haunted Mansion?

The two were murdered however by one Cousin Maude, both in their sleeps when she hit both of them in the head with a mallet.

How scary is Phantom Manor?

It's a very dark ride and while its not very scary I'm guessing she won't like it. It's my favourite ride, in saying that: I am a scaredy cat and it's not jump out scary but it really is creepy to me. If I was a child I would be far too terrified to go on it.

Is Phantom Manor the same as the Haunted Mansion?

Phantom Manor is the park's version of The Haunted Mansion attractions at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland, although it is designed to be darker in tone compared to other Haunted Mansion rides. It opened with Euro Disneyland on April 12, 1992.

What year is Haunted Mansion?

The Haunted MansionAreaNew Orleans SquareStatusOperatingOpening dateAugust 9, 1969Magic Kingdom44 more rows

Where is the original Disney Haunted Mansion?

The Haunted Mansion in Disneyland is located in New Orleans Square, the first themed land to be added to the park after its 1955 opening.

How does Disney make the ghosts in the Haunted Mansion?

5:5210:33How It Works: The Haunted Mansion - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLight grey busts with projectors filling in the remaining mouths. And eyes this effect while simpleMoreLight grey busts with projectors filling in the remaining mouths. And eyes this effect while simple has become a staple of the attraction. Through many of its installations.

What came first Haunted Mansion ride or movie?

It's obvious that the Haunted Mansion ride came first because it opened in California's Disneyland in 1969 and the movie only came out in 2003.

How old is the Haunted Mansion at Disney World?

The Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion opened with the park on October 1, 1971 and was inspired by Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, despite their differing exteriors and locations within their respective parks.

What did Leota believe if Emily was gone?

Leota believed that if Emily were “gone” Master Gracey would then fall in love with her and they could get married. On Master Gracey and Emily’s wedding day, Leota killed Emily and put her body in a trunk and put the trunk in the attic of the mansion. Well, Master Gracey was so distraught over Emily’s death that he hung himself.

Why do you see the Haunted Mansion?

Part of the reason is because there were several different Imagineers working on the ride, all wanting to add their own element.

What does Emily do in Doom Buggy?

Emily is angry, restless, and strikes out at the first thing she sees (which is you). Emily pushes you out the window (this is when the doom buggy tips backward and you descend down a hill – if you look to the right you’ll see the broken attic window that you just “fell” out of).

Who is Terri from WDW?

Terri is owner, creator and an author for WDW Hints. She enjoys taking less-traveled paths of WDW and sharing her lesser-known discoveries with you!

Is the falling to your death part true?

it pretty close to true i listen to inside the magic and skipper Ben used to be a cast member and they told him the falling to ur death part is true but from what he said is that she scared you and u jumped out the window bc if u look up as your going down u can see a pair of hand reaching for you and it suppose to be you trying to grap onto something while falling

What happened to the Vecchi family?

The Vecchi family spent very little time in the villa before tragedy struck—the Count’s wife was murdered and daughter kidnapped. After a number of search attempts, the Count himself succumbed to suicide. After passing hands around the Vecchi family for a few decades, the house fell to disrepair, nature intrusion, and vandalism. Still, the mansion lives on in lore to this day. Alongside the rumors of occult activities and sacrifices, locals still say the long-ago smashed piano still floats music outside of the house and down the countryside. Here are more historic places that now sit abandoned.

What is Lynnewood Hall?

Built in the late 19th century, Lynnewood Hall is a Neo-classical, Gilded Age mansion with a regretful past. The unfathomably rich art collector and tycoon Peter A.B. Widener commissioned the 110 room mansion with 55 bedrooms from famous architect Horace Trumbauer. This lavish, limestone mansion was build shortly after the death of Widener’s wife and filled with famous pieces and paintings (some by El Greco, Rembrandt, and Donatello). Tragically, the eldest son meant to inherit the property was on the Titanic’s maiden voyage. George Widener and his son lost their lives while his wife, Eleanor, survived on a lifeboat. Ironically, the Wideners were a large investor in the RMS Titanic. The younger son, Joseph, managed the property until his death in 1943 left the house unclaimed, abandoned, and stripped of its valuable decor. These amazing abandoned places no longer exist.

What is a mansion?

Of course, mansions are usually thought of as large, extravagant homes that convey wealth and status to all who behold them. Usually, mansions are sold or passed down in families for years, each loving and updating the sprawling property in a new way.

How many rooms are there in Halcyon Hall?

Halcyon Hall, a 200-room structure that functioned as a hotel before becoming an academic building in 1907, remains standing to this day. The abandoned property fell to decay and changed hands many times, somehow surviving multiple threats of tear-down.

What is the IOOF?

The IOOF was also known for “secret rituals, ” many of which were performed in the Odd Fellow Home throughout the 19th century. That is, of course, when they weren’t taking care of the at-risk members of their community at their 200+ acre complex with a school, nursing home, hospital, and orphanage, according to Atlas Obscura. While the complex fell to disrepair (aside from one building that now holds a functioning winery ), the Odd Fellows left a skeleton of one of their members behind, “George,” which was said to be used in the strange initiation rituals.

What was the name of the college that was founded in 1890?

Founded in 1890 in Irvington, the school later changed its name to Bennett College . Originally, before becoming solely a junior college, the school was a six-year, woman-only institution. The school closed and declared bankruptcy in the wave of co-ed education, a few weeks after welcoming an entire class of freshman to campus. Halcyon Hall, a 200-room structure that functioned as a hotel before becoming an academic building in 1907, remains standing to this day. The abandoned property fell to decay and changed hands many times, somehow surviving multiple threats of tear-down. Imposing and overrun with greenery, the halls seem content to continue into disrepair without crumbling completely.

Where is the spookiest haunted house in Taiwan?

Mínxíong Ghost House — Mínxíong, Taiwan. Ranked as the spookiest haunted house in 2019, the Minxiong Ghost House naturally lives up to its reputation. The stories surrounding this mansion run the gauntlet from affairs to suicide to simple relocation, but whatever you believe, this mansion definitely fits the creepy bill.

Why is Little Leota called Little Leota?

She earned the name Little Leota not for her relation to Madame Leota, but rather because her face and voice come from Imagineer Leota Toombs, who was the face actress (but not the voice actress) for the Leota in the Séance Room. Be sure to bid her farewell before you re-enter the mortal world!

What was the name of the bride in 2006?

Prior to 2006, you might recall still seeing a bride — a much spookier one — in the attic. Known unofficially as the Beating Heart Bride, the predecessor to Constance was a much more low-tech bride holding a candle, featuring a loud beating heart sound, no discernible face (short of glowing eyes!), and a glowing red heart in her chest.

What is the Doom Buggy ride?

Once guests enter the ride, a Doom Buggy transports them through the mansion, as they observe the activities of the ghostly residents, including a séance conducted by Madame Leota, a party in the Grand Hall, and a menacing bride in the attic. Now, let’s learn a little more about how these residents came to earn their places in The Haunted Mansion!

What is the haunted mansion?

Haunted Mansion. The Haunted Mansion is one of Disney World’s most iconic rides. It was an opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom and guests still eagerly (and nervously!) anticipate their tour of this spooky spectacle nearly 50 years later. But just who are the happy haunts we meet in The Haunted Mansion?

Why does Constance wear pearls in the attic?

Constance was in search of wealth, which she obtained by marrying rich men and then murdering them following their wedding day. That’s why each time we see her in the attic following another marriage portrait, she’s wearing an additional strand of pearls around her neck.

What are the names of the skeletons in the Hatbox Ghost?

These guys don’t have much of a backstory that is known! What IS known is their unofficial names: Phineas (the traveler), Ezra (the skeleton), and Gus (the prisoner). (And for you diehard mansion fans out there, the Hatbox Ghost is different from these dudes and is ONLY in Disneyland.)

How many happy haunts are there in the Haunted Mansion?

From malevolent brides, to friendly mediums, to invisible tour guides, it’s been a pleasure getting to know a few of the 999 happy haunts that reside in The Haunted Mansion! Maybe next time we’ll get into New Orleans plantations and a fella by the name of Captain Gore over at the Mansion in Disneyland. And remember, there’s still room for one more — any takers??

What was Rolly Crump's original theme park?

In around 1977, WDI considered utilizing the unused designs, creatures and effects that Rolly Crump had originally created for the Haunted Mansion and the Museum of the Weird as part of Professor Marvel's Gallery — "a tent show of mysteries and delights, a carousel of magic and wonder." This was to be built as part of Disneyland's Discovery Bay expansion area, and was dropped when those plans fell through.

What is the Mystic Manor?

Mystic Manor, spiritually inspired by the Haunted Mansion, opened at Hong Kong Disneyland in spring 2013. Unlike the Haunted Mansion, however, it does not include references to departed spirits or the afterlife, due to differences in traditional Chinese culture. Continuing the Society of Explorers and Adventurers theme of Tokyo DisneySea, the attraction tells the story of Lord Henry Mystic and his monkey Albert. Having recently acquired an enchanted music box with the power to bring inanimate objects to life, Albert opens the box and brings all of the house's artifacts to life. The attraction's exterior is that of a large Victorian mansion in an elaborate Queen Anne architectural style, and the experience features a trackless "ride" system and a musical score by Danny Elfman .

What is the haunted mansion?

The Haunted Mansion features a ride-through tour in Omnimover vehicles called "Doom Buggies", and a walk-through show is displayed to riders waiting in the queue line. The attraction utilizes a range of technology, from centuries-old theatrical effects to modern special effects featuring spectral Audio-Animatronics. The Haunted Mansion has inspired two similarly themed attractions, Phantom Manor and Mystic Manor, which exist at Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland, respectively.

What was the name of the restaurant in the Haunted Mansion?

Walt accepted these ideas and wanted to make the proclaimed "Museum of the Weird", a restaurant side to the now-named Haunted Mansion, similar to the Blue Bayou at Pirates of the Caribbean. Though this concept was never realized, some of its aspects were implemented into the final attraction.

When did the Hatbox Ghost return to Haunted Mansion?

The character returned on May 9, 2015.

When was the Haunted Mansion updated?

In 1994 , Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was updated. A phantom piano player sat at a run-down piano in the attic scene, just like the music room at Walt Disney World's Mansion. However, instead of the sinister Rachmaninoff -esque version of " Grim Grinning Ghosts ", a dark version of Richard Wagner 's Bridal March plays.

Who recreated Ken Anderson's stories?

Imagineers Rolly Crump and Yale Gracey recreated Ken Anderson's stories in a studio at WED Enterprises. In 1961, handbills announcing a 1963 opening of the Haunted Mansion were given out at Disneyland's main entrance. Construction began a year later, and the exterior was completed in 1963.

How many spirits are in Lemp Mansion?

The premises are now used for Sunday brunches and dinner theater, among other things. But the patrons here are not alone in their revelry — not according to Betsy Burnett-Belanger, a paranormal investigator who has studied the haunted manse for more than two decades. There are nine “identifiable” spirits in the house, she says, and while they aren’t malevolent, they aren’t exactly benevolent either. “They’re just people — and sometimes they have a bad day, and people make them mad.”

Was Lemp bigger than Budweiser?

Louis history, filled with immigrant dreams and unlikely riches, devastating losses and four suicides under the same roof. “At the time, Lemp was bigger than Budweiser,” says Mark Farley, founder of the St. Louis Paranormal Research Society. “You had this extremely successful family that went down this really bad road of tragedy.”

When did Billy's sister shoot herself?

No longer the wealthiest heiress in St. Louis and suffering from a troubled marriage, Billy’s sister, Elsa, shot herself in her bedroom, in March 1920 .

What happened to the Houghton Mansion before it was built?

Before the Houghton mansion was built, another home sat on the property. When that structure was demolished, the original basement remained and the Houghton Mansion was built over it. The Houghton’s themselves were reported to have remarked on a strange feeling in the basement.

How many times did Mary Houghton's car flip?

The car flipped three times, throwing everyone but Mary Houghton from the vehicle. When the dust settled, it was discovered that Mrs. Hutton had been crushed and killed as the car rolled over her and Mary Houghton had sustained fatal wounds. She would die later that day at North Adams Hospital.

Who was the chauffeur for the Houghton family?

Mr. Houghton went home, but he died ten days later in the mansion. Grief-stricken and wracked with guilt, the family’s chauffeur John Widders descended into the basement of the Houghton barn on August 2, 1914.

Where is the haunted house in Massachusetts?

The Houghton Mansion in North Adams has been called one of the most paranormally active spots in New England.

Who drove the Pierce Arrow?

It was a seven-passenger Pierce-Arrow touring car, and the family’s long-time chauffeur John Widders was instructed to learn to drive it. On August 1 of that year, Mr. Houghton and his daughter Mary decided to go to Bennington, Vermont for the day with their friends Dr. Robert Hutton and his wife, Sybil.

Who built the Houghton Mansion?

Albert Charles Houghton, President of the Arnold Print Works and first Mayor of North Adams, built the Houghton Mansion in the 1890s. In the spring of 1914, the wealthy Houghton family bought their first car.

What is the pipe organ in the ballroom scene of the Haunted Mansion?

The pipe organ in the ballroom scene of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion is the same organ used by Captain Nemo in Disney's "20,000 leagues Under the Sea.". The organs in the other park's Haunted Mansion are all replicas. Hope this post on the secret history of the Haunted Mansion didn't spook you too much!

When was the Haunted Mansion first thought of?

The idea of a haunted attraction at Disneyland was first thought of in the 1950s. DoomBuggies.com reports that Walt Disney was in the midst ...

When was the Haunted Mansion built?

After construction of the Haunted Mansion's exterior finished in 1963 , the attraction sat unused during the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. After Disney's death in 1966, Imagineers went back to deciding what to do with the Haunted Mansion. Some of the Imagineers on the project included Rolly Crump and Yale Gracey.

Who is the Imagineer in the Haunted Mansion?

At Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion, you'll see tombstones in the graveyard honoring Imagineers Marc Davis and Claude Coats! The tombstones read "Brother Claude and Grandpa Marc." The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World by Susan Veness reports that you'll find many other honored Imagineer and artist names, including Imagineer Tony Baxter as "Brother Dave," Yale Gracey as the one-and-only "Master Gracey" and X. Atencio, who scripted the ride and lyrics of "Grim Grinning Ghosts," as "Francis Xavier." Watch Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion ride video.

Does Hong Kong have a mansion ride?

Hong Kong has a mansion ride, but with a total different theme and concept! Disneyland's Haunted Mansion even celebrates the holidays beginning every fall with "The Nightmare Before Christmas" overlay; Jack Skellington takes over the mansion with Halloweentown's version of Christmas.

Who are the Phantom Five?

This is the Phantom Five! They are Ned Nub (performed by Jay Meyer), Uncle Theodore (Thurl Ravrenscroft), Rollo Rumkin (Verne Rowe), Phineas Pock (Bob Ebright) and Cousin Al (Chuck Schroeder). Disney musical contributor, Allan Davies, was going to originally get actors for the faces of the busts, but after seeing the band members perform the song, he decided to stick with their own faces!

Who voices Madame Leota?

The voice of Madame Leota, however, belongs to Eleanor Audley, who is also the voice of Sleeping Beauty's Maleficent! You can hear Toombs' voice at the end of the Haunted Mansion ride when you see the "Little Leona" bride.

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Overview

History

The idea for the Mansion precedes Disneyland and WED Enterprises, dating to when Walt Disney hired the first of his Imagineers. At the time, the park they were developing the attraction for was supposed to be located across from the studios. In 1951, the first known illustration of the park showed a main street setting, green fields, western village and a carnival. Disney Legend Harper Goff developed …

Attraction

• Disneyland
• Magic Kingdom
• Tokyo Disneyland
Entering the queuing area through a pair of ornate gates, guests find themselves in the antebellum-era mansion's well-tended gardens and courtyar…

Other versions

Due to the success of attractions that feature holiday overlays such as The Country Bear Christmas Special and It's a Small World Holiday, the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland is transformed into Haunted Mansion Holiday during the Halloween and Christmas seasons and has been since 2001, inspired by Tim Burton's 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas. …

In popular culture

• Walt Disney Pictures produced a theatrical feature film adaptation based on the attraction and starring Eddie Murphy on November 26, 2003.
In July 2010, Guillermo del Toro announced that he was set to write and produce a darker film adaptation also based on the attraction, promising that it would be both scary and fun. The film was officially confirmed in July 2021, with Tiffany Haddish playing a hired psychic that attempts t…

See also

• List of Haunted Mansion characters
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

External links

• Disneyland Haunted Mansion
• Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion
• Tokyo Disneyland Haunted Mansion

1.The Haunted Mansion's Backstory - Duchess of Disneyland

Url:https://duchessofdisneyland.com/tips-trivia/the-haunted-mansions-backstory/

23 hours ago  · The Haunted Mansion boasts 999 happy haunts, roaming its chilly halls and dancing through its ballroom. But what started the haunting? Why is the Haunted Mansion haunted? During development for the attraction, Imagineers floated tons of different ideas. There were tales of murder, abandonment, jealousy, limbo…all the ingredients for a great ghost …

2.The Stories Behind 12 Haunted Mansions | Reader's Digest

Url:https://www.rd.com/list/stories-of-abandoned-mansions/

24 hours ago What is the story behind Haunted Mansion? Asked By : Charles Winnie Anderson envisioned stories for the mansion, including tales of a ghostly sea captain who killed his nosy bride and then hanged himself, a mansion home to an unfortunate family, and a ghostly wedding party with well-known Disney villains and spooks.

3.So What's the REAL Backstory of Disney World's …

Url:https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/06/03/so-whats-the-real-backstory-of-disney-worlds-haunted-mansion-residents/

27 hours ago  · The Story Behind This Haunted Mansion In Massachusetts Is Truly Creepy The Houghton Mansion in North Adams has been called one of the most paranormally active spots in New England. It has a tragic history that sounds like it was ripped from the pages of a Hollywood script, and more than enough ghost stories to send shivers down your spine.

4.The Haunted Mansion - Wikipedia

Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Haunted_Mansion

2 hours ago  · up until recently, the haunted mansion didn't have a back story. a bunch of guests and CMs developed their unofficial backstory over the years, but the reality is one was never decided on because there were too many key imagineers working on the project and it was a case of too many cooks. tony baxter has said the official backstory was simply 'it's a retirement …

5.The Story Behind This Haunted Mansion Will Give You …

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Url:https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/haunted-mansion-ma/

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