Ollie Johnston passes.

The last of Walt Disney's 'Nine Old Men,' Ollie Johnston, has passed at the age of 95. Johnston was an animator with the Walt Disney Company, and he won the National Medal of Arts in 2005. "He was especially proud of his work on 'Bambi' and its classic scenes, including the heartbreaking death of Bambi's mother at the hands of a hunter," an AP press release said regarding his work.

"The mother's death showed how convincing we could be at presenting really strong emotion," Mr. Johnston said in 1999.

Mr. Johnston’s other credits included "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp," "Sleeping Beauty," "101 Dalmatians," "Mary Poppins," "The Jungle Book," "The Aristocats," "Robin Hood" and "The Rescuers."

RIP, Ollie.

Corey Burton Interview.

Audrey Brown, who has written an upcoming article about DoomBuggies for Haunted Attraction Magazine, has published a great interview in Animation World Magazine with voice actor Corey Burton (whom DoomBuggies fans may recognize as the voice of the Haunted Mansion Holiday's Ghost Host, eerily channeling original Ghost Host Paul Frees.)

In the interview, Burton discusses his work for Disney and Lucasfilm, among other familiar voice jobs. Click here to read the interview.

RIP.

Main Street pianist performs 'Grim Grinning Ghosts'

Musician Alan Thompson Jr., currently at the ripe ol' age of 29, has already earned the John Philip Sousa Award and a Marine Corps Award for marching band performances - but while marching at Disneyland as a teen, he became enthralled with the Main Street pianists. Studying with some of them, he became an accomplished ragtime pianist and was hired by Disneyland to perform when he was barely 20 years old.

Thompson continued as a Main Street pianist at Disneyland until 2006. He has since gone on to follow other pursuits, but has allowed DoomBuggies to publish a special live recording of one of his performances of Buddy Baker's "Grim Grinning Ghosts."

Listen to Thompson perform "Grim Grinning Ghosts," or click here to learn more about Alan Thompson.

RIP.

Origins of the Anaheim Mansion revealed

"Progressland" has unveiled the exact historical architecture that was copied to become the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. Completing a process that was begun when DoomBuggies revealed to Justinspace that the original photo reference for the Mansion was discovered in a book by Francis Lichten, Progressland has gone on to do a fascinating job of investigative reporting, resulting in the discovery that the original photo of the building is actually the Shipley-Lydecker House, a structure that has since been razed, but had been located at 2550 McHenry Street, Baltimore.



The illustration above is a sketch of the home found in a family history called "The Shipleys of Maryland," another publication Progressland uncovered. This structure in undoubtedly the sole reference which informed the design of the Haunted Mansion facade in Disneyland. While there may have been WED trips to the Evergreen House and the Winchester House for detail reference materials, it is quite clear that the Shipey-Lydecker House was the singular inspiration for the overall design of the structure.

Head's off to Progressland! Click here to view the entire article.

RIP.

Your own horse-drawn hearse

Now on eBay: a late 1800s horse-drawn hearse. What a fascinating conversation piece!



RIP.

Last chance: Join DoomBuggies.com for a Swinging Wake at Disneyland!

Come join with like-minded fiends at DoomBuggies Tenth Anniversary Swinging Wake - it'll be a graveyard smash! While our original registration deadline is past, a few cancellations have left a small number of tickets available - so come join us! Attendees at our Swinging Wake will have a rare opportunity to hear stories directly from some of the famed imagineers who originally worked with Walt Disney and created the Haunted Mansion - in a personal setting with amazing food and wonderful people. This is truly a rare opportunity for fans of Disneyland and Disney history.

Participants to this exclusive event on February 25, 2008 will be treated to the following eerie extravaganza:

* Entry to Disneyland Park at 6:00 p.m. with no additional ticket needed (discounted full-day passes are available)

* An exclusive, attendees-only dinner and program at New Orleans Square's inimitable Blue Bayou Restaurant at 7:00 p.m., located inside the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction

* A special after-hours ride through the Haunted Mansion, exclusively for Swinging Wake attendees after the public has left Disneyland Park

* Fantastic special guest speakers and unforgettable photo opportunities with official Disney characters

* An event logo t-shirt, an event cloisonne pin and lanyard, and a collectible special gift

Following is the dinner menu, developed by Disneyland Park specifically for our Swinging Wake:

Course One
Brides Beating Heart Red Pepper Bisque
Fresh Microgreens with Blood Orange Vinaigrette

Course Two
Filet Mignon & Shrimp
Accompanied by
Risotto and Seasonal Vegetables

Course Three
Graveyard Chocolate Coffins
Coffee, Tea, Soda,
Non Alcoholic Mint Julep

Vegetarian Option
Portobello Mushroom marinated in a balsamic vinaigrette, broiled, served with roasted corn and bell-pepper couscous and sautéed spinach

The price per person for this event is $249 (plus handling fees, for total of $256). Payment in full is due via Paypal to chefmayhem@aol.com by January 31, and we are currently filling last-minute registrations on a first-to-pay basis.

If you wish to purchase tickets, or have any questions or concerns, please contact Chef Mayhem at chefmayhem@aol.com.

So come out and socialize with us... at the DoomBuggies.com Tenth Anniversary Swinging Wake!

Haunted Mansion tattoos

The Haunted Mansion has long been a popular subject matter for tattoo wearers and artists. Not too long ago, Rolly Crump's "demon face" wallpaper was one of the more popular designs to be copied onto skin, but as Ste3ve (from the DoomBuggies.com administrative team) reports on the DB forums, it seems that the "Alligator Girl" stretching portrait has gained in popularity lately. Here's a photo Ste3ve recently discovered on Flickr from this year's ComicCon:



Have a Haunted Mansion tattoo to share with DoomBuggies.com? Let me know.

RIP.

Best practices at WDW.

Newsweek has discovered that Walt Disney World has "a lot to teach about the realities of business." While this discovery seems to come a little late in the game, it's a good reminder of some of the reasons that fans (such as ourselves, if I may be so bold) flock to the parks time and again. Author Daniel Gross writes:

Airline executives should rush to the Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom. Our heads sank when we approached and saw the sign advertising a 15-minute wait. Despair turned to elation when we were ushered into the spooky entry hall in just a few minutes. This experience was repeated time and again—at rides and restaurants—where promised delays of 20 minutes miraculously shrank in half. After a few days, it became apparent that this might be a conscious strategy of underpromising and overdelivering. Which is precisely the opposite of the tack airlines have taken lo these many years. The carriers continually promise that planes will leave or arrive at a specific time when they know the probability of an on-time departure is only slightly greater than the probability of your suitcase's being the first item to hit the luggage carousel.

Curiously, the article immediately following this one in the print version of this week's Newsweek is about scattering cremated ashes, and the "comforting farewell" the act can bring to surviving family members. Perhaps while Disney is enlightening Newsweek regarding best practices, Newsweek in turn can offer some insight to the various Disney cast members that encounter individuals scattering ashes to and fro as they deal with the situation.

RIP.

Ashes to ashes

You may recall reading the story on DoomBuggies.com of the family that stealthily dumped the cremated ashes of a small boy in the Haunted Mansion ride on Dec. 14, 2002 - but according to a recent Miceage column, the dumping of cremated human ashes is becoming more and more common throughout Disneyland Park.

The Los Angeles Times even picked up on the story this morning. Disneyland, however, denies the reports of an increase in ashes being spread.

Incidentally, back in December of 2002, radio host Phil Hendrie discussed the boy's ashes being spread in the Haunted Mansion, and ended up recommending Tom Sawyer's Island doubling as a funeral pyre. Pretty funny.

RIP.

The ravishing bride (and vanishing groom)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween - and heads off to DoomBuggies' fan Brent at Devious Concoctions for winning the $50,000 prize in Fearnet's national Haunted House contest! Brent, who happens to be located within a stone's throw of DoomBuggies.com's worldwide headquarters, was featured on the Today Show and operates DC Cemetery, a yard haunt that has been operating for 17 years now. Congratulations, Brent!

As a special post-Halloween treat, DoomBuggies is offering you attic-fans a detailed look at one of the Black Widow Bride's marriage certificates. Usually only seen momentarily as you pass it by in the attic's flickering gloom, here's an up-close-and-personal look at the prop as it exists in the attic set. It seems that Constance's last name was Hatchaway - an interesting name indeed, when you consider that one definition of "hatch" is "to devise or concoct." (Not to mention the hatchet Contance wields from time to time...)



Click on the image to download a high resolution version.

RIP.

DIY Life

DoomBuggies was a featured resource today for a Halloween-themed DIYLife article focusing on crafts inspired by the Haunted Mansion. The article features some fun projects and a tidy nutshell history of the Haunted Mansion. Happy Halloween!

RIP.

DoomBuggies on Club Haunt TV

If you want to learn a little bit more about the past 10 years of DoomBuggies history, visit ClubHaunt.net. A recent interview with me is the featured video podcast this Halloween, and we discuss a decade of DoomBuggies.com, various Disney Haunted Mansion events, and the latest changes at Walt Disney World's Mansion.

RIP.

Last chance to visit Boney Island!

This just in from Emmy-award-winning Simpsons producer (and DoomBuggies fan) Rick Polizzi:



Catch it while you can! And if you're located further east, you might want to visit DoomBuggies administrator REDRUM's haunt: FrightFest NH, in Nashua, New Hampshire.

RIP.

Haunting fly-overs

Looking to make the most of some dead time this spooking season? With Microsoft Live, you can flyover the Disney theme parks from multiple angles, and inspect many of the behind-the-scenes areas from the sky. It's a fascinating way to view the layout of the parks. Need somewhere to start? How about with our favorite homes-away-from-home:



Click here to see Disneyland



Click here to see Walt Disney World

RIP.

Halloweentime with the Dapper Dans at Disneyland

The Dapper Dans have a new set that they perform in celebration of Disneyland's Halloweentime celebration, and it includes their version of "Grim Grinning Ghosts." DoomBuggies staff photographer Andy captured the set yesterday on video:



RIP.

Arrrgh!

Ne’er too late it be to be celebratin’ Talk Like a Pirate Day, mates! In honor of the day spoken of, we the crew of TellNoTales.com have designed a piratical puzzle of a bewitchin’ nature that, once solved, might lead ye to a bloomin’ treasure!

Set course for the TellNoTales.com Forums and solve the puzzle for a chance to win a copy of Jason Surrell’s book, Pirates of the Caribbean, from the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. Autographs include Jason Surrell, former Disney Imagineers Harriet Burns and Alice Davis, Jim Byrkit (storyboard artist for all three POTC movies) Hal Hickel (animation supervisor at ILM), Joel Harlow (makeup artist for all three POTC movies), Rich Heinrichs (production designer), Jon Rogers (Director of Franchise Development for Buena Vista Motion Pictures) and Lee Arenberg.

The contest runs until Wednesday, Sept. 26th, so grease your thinkin' caps and beat your stout-hearted mates to our treasure! Ye need be registered at the TellNoTales.com message boards to join in, but joinin' is free and the gatherin's are not but pleasant diversions from the relentless call of Davy Jones' Locker - so what be ye waitin' for? Sign up and join our crew today!

Yo ho!

An insider's view of the WDW Mansion enhancements

Long-time DoomBuggies forum member wdwcaretaker, who spent a decade working in the Haunted Mansion as a maintenance tech, has shared some insider insights after a lights-on walkthrough:

"...Seeing that so much has already been said with the show just opening, I can only tell you my impression from an experienced eye. From the portrait gallery - which has totally changed much for the better - to the Grand Staircase, which is totally mind blowing, the new Knight in Armor action... [there is] so much action and change."

Walt Disney World's Mansion also received some scenes that were added to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion over the past couple of years, as wdwcaretaker reports:

"Then the Seance Circle. The glowing harp is now more sedate and haunting, (and) some of the props have added enhancements, and the wires they hang from are virtually invisible - even with the work lights on. The Banquet hall has changed very little, but then you get to the Attic...

"No pop up ghosts, no great loss there, less trash - (but) more meaningful treasures and antiques, no bats, but then there she is... the new bride. So spectacular I cannot describe her. Across from her past location, she will haunt your memory for a long time. Amazing."

The newly enhanced Mansion ends with a bang, according to wdwcaretaker:

"The Graveyard scene is the same, but is much more lively... The audio system in the pods is totally changed and updated. Little Leota? New projection makes her so lifelike (ghostlike?), and Madame Leota and her floating crystal ball back in the Seance area have to be seen to be appreciated. The Stretch room portraits look great."

"My overall impression, made with a jaundiced eye, is that this is an attraction that needed change and improvement, and it was worth the three-month wait. An excellent job done by everyone involved. Oh yeah - the mechanic's bay where repairs to the ride system are made? A complete makeover. It looks like a lab.

"I give this baby 4 stars out of 4."

Read more ride reports and critiques at the DoomBuggies forums.

RIP.

WDW ride reports are in!

Opening to huge crowds and great reviews, the Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom is finally open, and DoomBuggies.com has ride reviews. Visit the DB forums now for photos, opinions, debates on the changes and more...

http://p098.ezboard.com/fdisneyshauntedmansionfrm0

RIP.

Jack is coming back!

DoomBuggies staffer Andy snapped these photos in New Orleans Square, Sept. 8. Word is that just days after closing down the Mansion for the yearly holiday overlay to be installed, the revamped Foyer, Expanding Room, and Portrait Hallway are already in place.





RIP.

"Making the Haunts Even Happier"

The following is a cast member communication from Walt Disney World:

"Making the Haunts Even Happier"

That old, creepy, uninhabited mansion -- you know, the one where you sometimes hear mysterious sounds and see eerie apparitions? I think something's going on up there. Ever since June, I seem to hear weird noises in the dead of night ... noises suspiciously like hammering and sawing. But none of the 999 permanent residents seem to be leaving the joint. Is it possible that that place is going to get even SPOOKIER?

That's right -- in case you haven't heard the news through the ghoulish grapevine, the Magic Kingdom Park's venerable Haunted Mansion is getting a facelift. New details are being added to reward sharp-eyed spookhunters, and some high-tech magic is being put to use to create old-fashioned thrills. Kathy Rogers, Senior Show Producer for the attraction, told us what to expect if you dare to venture through the doors of this most beloved attraction, which is slated to reopen this month.

"For several months, our team has been "illusioneering," making the invisible, visible," explains Kathy. "For example, a previously unseen wing of the Mansion has been revealed for the first time. Observant Guests will see more of the 999 happy haunts cavorting on a seemingly endless staircase leading to secret realms. Watch closely and you'll see evidence of these residents -- their glowing footprints, candles going out -- is it the wind or did someone blow them out? It's for you to decide. Other haunts reveal themselves in the mansion's infamous Corridor of Doors -- don't blink or you'll miss the clues!"

The Haunted Mansion is one of the Disney Theme Park attractions that have inspired legions of passionate fans. The last thing anyone wanted to do was to change the experience in a way that would disappoint Guests, and Kathy and her team were acutely aware of the necessity to "strengthen the story, and not change it." So in many cases they expanded on the lore that already existed -- as in Kathy's own favorite addition: "In the attic the long, sad tale of Constance on her wedding days finally comes to light. For almost 40 years, our Guests have come face to face with Constance the bride. Now it's time for them to meet her and her grooms face to face -- all five of them! They all loved Constance," she laughs. "In fact, you could say they lost their heads over her."

In addition to adding to the story, the Imagineers are taking advantage of some technological advances since the Mansion first saw the light of day. You won't be overwhelmed with high-tech bells and whistles that disturb the eerie atmosphere, but, Kathy promises, "Imagineers constantly look for new ways to combine compelling stories with new technologies. As we've worked to enhance Haunted Mansion, we've added a few surprises that may make the ghosts seem a little closer than before."

So whether it's your first visit to the Mansion or your hundredth, when Guests are allowed to enter that elegant but eerie house again, keep your eyes peeled. You never know when you'll stumble across the evidence of a haunt you haven't encountered before! And remember -- there's always room for one more.

"Old almost new again..."

From today's Orlando Sentinel:

Eric Jacobson, senior creative executive, and Kathy Rogers, the show producer, emphasize that it will be the Haunted Mansion that we know -- only better. Think of it as a "refreshening," Jacobson says, in the same category of the Pirates of the Caribbean refurb that inserted Capt. Jack Sparrow into the ride. (Rogers also worked on the Pirates refreshening). Expect technological advances, new features and more of the house's 999 happy haunts revealed. "We've brought them out of hiding," Jacobson says.

Look for Haunted Mansion ride reports fresh from WDW on the DoomBuggies.com forums tomorrow!

RIP.

Dan Vado and the Haunted Mansion anthology

SLG Publishing is putting out a book containing the first 6 issues of the Haunted Mansion comic - and there will be a special, slip-covered, clothbound collector's edition available directly from SLG for around $50 (although if you preorder, you can get one at a 10% discount.)

I spoke with Dan Vado, the publisher at SLG, about the Haunted Mansion books yesterday. "I did the Haunted Mansion comic because I just really love that ride - and while (the comics) may not have been to everyone's taste, I really want to say that I did something that people like me might have enjoyed," Vado said. "It justified the nearly two dozen times I made my parents take me on the thing over and over again when I was 11."

From my perspective, a big reason to be a fan of this title is simply because it's obvious that every single one of the authors and artists has been moved, inspired or touched by the Haunted Mansion attraction in some way - it shows in the work. Also, granting the Haunted Mansion license to an indy comic publisher was an inspiring decision for the Disney Company to have made - the type of decision that I'd like to see more often.

RIP.

The Hawthorne Village "Haunted House"

Hawthorne Village is known for producing little collectible trains, miniature Christmas villages, and miniature Halloween villages. So it wasn't a surprise that they would finally come up with a Disney-themed "Halloween Haunted House." What is surprising is that, apparently, they weren't granted the right to call it a "Haunted Mansion," even though it is clearly modeled after Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion (and it even features tiny Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters riding though it in miniature Doom Buggies.)

We at DoomBuggies have been tracking this item since last winter, when someone found some sort of direct-mail advertisement advertising installment payment plans and pre-orders (the total cost of the sculpture is around $150). But the item itself never showed up on the Hawthorne Village web site or anywhere else until just recently. Interestingly, Hawthorne Village reps have at various times said it was created way back in 2004, and never released until 2006, although we haven't been able to find any cases of the product being released publicly until this year.

Regardless, DoomBuggies forum members are starting to receive their sculptures in the mail, and reports are that the item is quite nice, and a great value for the price. There are various light-up elements, and "spooky" sounds (though they are not from the actual Haunted Mansion.) As mentioned before, a chain of Doom Buggies circles through the door of the house, and all of the "Fab Five" (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy) are represented on the piece somewhere.

Most interesting to DoomBuggies.com fans is the fact that the images that appear in the lit-up windows of the Haunted House are images that were lifted straight from DoomBuggies.com. Each of the images used was retouched and corrected by DoomBuggies from the original in a way that makes it plain that the window pictures are one and the same as the web site images. We at DoomBuggies are pleased to have been of service to Hawthorne Village in the development of this piece - even having found out about it long after the fact.

For more information, click the image below to visit Hawthorne Village.


RIP.

SLG Publishing's Haunted Mansion comics

There's an interesting debate regarding SLG Publishing's "Haunted Mansion" title occurring at the 2719 Hyperion blog. Being an anthology, the nature of SLG's "Haunted Mansion" comic is to be hit-and-miss in terms of appeal, since there are a number of different styles of art and storytelling involved in each issue. But personally, I very much enjoy the intimate and outsider/independent vibe that SLG brings to the project, despite my occasional indifference toward some of the stories. (Thanks for the link, Ste3ve!)

RIP.

WED's-eye-view of the Haunted Mansion, April '69

In April of 1969, WED public relations manager Frank Allnutt wrote this information sheet describing the Haunted Mansion experience. Since it was written four months before the attraction would open to the public, the piece was intended as an internal document at the time, but today it offers an interesting look at some subtle intentions of the Imagineers before the attraction was finalized (i.e., using the Raven as a "foil" to the Ghost Host character.) Also interesting to note is how many of the passages Allnutt wrote were used word-for-word on the official "Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion" album, which was recorded at the end of May.









RIP.

Imagineering on the WDW Haunted Mansion updates

Death Becomes Them

Like its counterpart in Anaheim, the Haunted Mansion at the Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom will be getting some new magic when it re-opens in September, after its current refurbishment is completed. But make no mistake, warns a team of spirited Imagineers, this is no typical touch-up-the-paint-and-remove-(okay, add)-the-cobwebs project.

"To call this a refurbishment doesn't even come close," says WDI senior principal production designer Neil Engel. "We're taking a classic attraction and using new technologies to present the existing, signature show in a more exciting and immersive way — which has us just as jazzed as the guests will be!"

The Haunted Mansion Imagineering team is hard at work in both California and Florida, getting ready to add new magic to several key scenes, including the attic scene (complete with the now-infamous bride whose husbands always seem to get the ax … ) and the séance scene. They're also adding a completely new story to a previously
dead space and upgrading the attraction's audio, lighting and special effects systems.

"With a project like this, it's so exciting knowing that you are going into and touching a classic attraction," says Kathy Rogers, senior show producer, director. "And in the end, the show winds up even better than it already was; we know it will remain a classic."

It's All in the Details
A portion of this refurbishment involves re-propping a few key scenes, such as the attic. But locating items that clearly and quickly tell the story of the perfect murder(s), as well as pieces to complement a mid-19th century Southern motif, isn't as simple as heading to the closest Ikea.

"The challenge has really been finding the right prop and period dressing that tells the story you want to tell," says Steve Probus, set decorator, principal. "We're looking for mid- to late-1800s furniture, books, drapery and a multitude of props and dressing that convey information about each of the couples that have inhabited the mansion. In addition, we want to add an extra layer of props for more depth in the scenes."

One Step Beyond
The other components that will give new life (of sorts) to these scenes are a few key special effects that will be updated during the refurbishment. Both the floating Madame Leota head and the Haunted Bride, two characters whose latest technological incarnations debuted at Disneyland, have been upgraded even further for their reappearance in the Magic Kingdom.

"The Haunted Bride special effects are an improved version of what we installed a few years earlier in Disneyland," says Ken Horii, digital media production supervisor, director. "R&D had done a great job with that last bride, making her look like a lifelike-looking ghost, as much as that is possible, anyway! And so this time, we wanted to take it one step further."

Stairway to … ?
If all of that isn't enough to raise the dead in eager anticipation of the Haunted Mansion's resurrection, Imagineers are also installing an entirely new scene into a previously uninhabited space … and taking that space in a few new directions.

"I think I'm most excited to see the staircase scene when it's finished," says Eric Jacobson, senior vice president, Creative. "We haven't seen it before and it adds something completely new to the ride, in a space where there wasn't really anything before. But there is just so much to this refresh — it really is the sum of the parts. The whole ride will be enhanced and end up better than before."

As part of Imagineering's commitment to enhancing classic attractions around the world, the new magic that this team is spreading to the Haunted Mansion is sure to be something Magic Kingdom guests will be dying to see.

(c) Disney

Bats Day at Disneyland

Bats Day in the Park, the popular gothic celebration held annually at Disneyland, was held last weekend. DoomBuggies staff photographer Andy was on hand to capture some Kodak moments for DoomBuggies.com.



"It seems as if the Haunted Mansion has exploded and the 999 happy ghosts have gained corporeal form," said LA Weekly. "Combat boots and parasols - just as Walt would have wanted it."








Read the LA Weekly article here.

Haunted Mansion named among top U.S. haunted attractions

‘America’s Best Haunts’ Gives Thrill-Seekers a Guidebook to the Best Fright Factories for 2007.

America’s Best Haunts, LLC, the authority on premier haunted attractions throughout the country, has released its official list of the top frights for 2007. Established as the only expert resource of its kind, America’s Best Haunts (www.americasbesthaunts.com) scoured the U.S. to select only 11 among hundreds of thrill attractions to honor with its prominent seal.

Catering to the more than 20 million Americans who visited haunted houses in 2006 (according to the National Retail Federation), the one-of-a-kind guide for thrill-seekers highlights the best of the worst fright factories from New York to California.

An esteemed panel of judges, with more than 100 cumulative years of experience in the thrill park industry, stringently evaluated haunted houses across the country based on a broad list of criteria, including:

• Special Effects


• Overall Intricacy of Attraction and Characters


• Consumer Value and Appeal


• Fear Factor


• Marketing


• Longevity in the Marketplace


• Safety

Once associated with basic tents and street fairs, today’s more sophisticated spook factories feature everything from Hollywood-quality makeup to top of the line technology and special effects. Meanwhile, a growing market of hungry consumers is paying anywhere from $20 to $50 for an average ticket.

"From small towns to major theme parks, the haunt business is growing in popularity across the country, as are ticket-holders' expectations for bigger and better thrills each year," said Steve Kopelman of America's Best Haunts. "Our team of haunt experts searched every eerie crevice of the U.S. to find the very best attractions to be marked with our stamp of approval."

Following months of analysis, America’s Best Haunts selected the following attractions as the 2007 top picks:

Bennett’s Curse, Baltimore, MD: Bennett’s Curse - House of the Vampyres is Maryland's can’t-miss attraction come Halloween. Revolutionizing fright entertainment, its unique special effects and attractions are sure to leave visitors screaming. From the “Dominion of Darkness” to the “Sanctuary of Insanity,” its mazes and paranormal illusions make for an unforgettable adventure.

Woods of Terror, Greensboro, NC: Woods of Terror will celebrate its 16th season this year. Located on 20 acres, it comprises numerous haunted houses, a hay ride, corn maze and a midway. On October 12 and 13, Woods of Terror will host a special eerie guest - Doug Bradley, “Pinhead” from the Hellraiser films.

Realm of Darkness, Pontiac, MI: The Realm of Darkness transports more than 25,000 visitors each year back to medieval times with an adventure deep into this enchanted castle. Visitors control their own destiny, traveling through the spooky castle walls. If they choose their path wisely, they’ll be rewarded. If not, their fate will surely be grim.

The Nest, Phoenix, AZ: Located just outside Phoenix, Arizona, The Nest is a journey through the barn of Arizona’s most notorious serial killer, Jacob Kell. Visitors first venture through the graveyard where all 35 of his victims are buried and later experience The Carnage, 5,000 square feet that represents the torture “Killer Kell” reaped upon his victims.

Screamworld, Houston, TX: Screamworld is Houston's longest running haunted attraction. From 2004 – 2006, it was voted Houston's scariest haunted attraction by the Houston Chronicle and Houstonhaunts.com. Screamworld comprises 5 attractions: The Haunted Hotel, The Edge of Darkness, Monsters in 3D, The Maze of Maniacs and The Tobias Strange Family Cemetery.

Nightmare, New York, NY: Rated as AOL Cityguide's ”No. 1 Haunted Attraction in America,” Nightmare is primed to spook its way into its fourth season. Located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the haunt features 23 rooms that each host a different spirit waiting to inflict a unique brand of fear on the unwary.

Terror on the Fox, Green Bay, WI: 2007 will mark the 10th season for one of Wisconsin’s top Halloween traditions, Terror on the Fox. To celebrate, it will feature its newest attraction, Torment, which tests the limits of fear with vertigo, claustrophobia, chainsaws, darkness, rats, snakes and much more.

Thrillvania, Dallas, TX: Thrillvania is the nationally-acclaimed thrill park featuring six different haunted attractions, a midway with fun and games, food and beverages and a haunted store. Founded nearly 20 years ago, the renowned park is located on 50 acres of haunted property approximately 30 miles east of Dallas. Attracting more than 25,000 visitors each Halloween season, Thrillvania is the premier area attraction for discerning thrill seekers.

The Haunted Mansion, Disneyland, Anaheim, CA: Established in 1969, visitors to The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland first experience the mysterious stretching room and portraits that transform before their eyes. Later, a “Doom Buggy” waits to transport visitors to a world of humorous houseguests, silly dances and ghostly galas. As they depart, the 999 happy haunts wish them well.

Universal Horror Nights, Orlando, FL: Now in its 17th year, Halloween Horror Nights was Amusement Today’s “2006 Golden Ticket Award” winner for the best Halloween event. Annually drawing hundreds of thousands of horror fans from around the globe, the event promises to break new ground this year with all new frights and immersive thrills never before imagined.

Frightfest, St. Louis, MO: Each October, Six Flags in St. Louis hosts FrightFest, a Halloween celebration that is tough to stay away from. The celebration features haunted houses, frighteningly entertaining shows and beloved Warner Brother’s characters. Entertaining for young and old, Frightfest provides fun and terrifying excitement all in one place.

About America’s Best Haunts

Established in 2007, Americas Best Haunts (www.americasbesthaunts.com) is the only expert resource of its kind on the Web, identifying the most superior haunted attractions in the country for today’s discerning fright lovers.

RIP.

Fan Mail!

Here at DoomBuggies central, we occasionally receive a fan letter here and there, typically from a Boomer excited to be reliving a memory from childhood. But as I was filing some ephemera away today, I rediscovered a letter I received a couple years ago - by far my favorite fan letter ever:



My kind of kid. Click it to see the gory details. I'm not sure if my favorite here is the executioner with the bloody axe, or the skeleton hanging from a noose. The "curtain" that Gabriel is thanking me for is a small snip of cloth that I used to give away in DoomBuggies fan club kits that came from the foyer set of the Haunted Mansion movie. (There are still some pieces left, so if you hurry, you can still receive one as a bonus when you join the DoomBuggies Fan Club.) His mom wrote me asking if I had anything I could send to her little Haunted Mansion fan, if I recall. Makes me remember the days when I used to trace the pictures in my own Haunted Mansion record album way back in the mid-'70s. As I said, a kid after my own heart.

RIP.

TellNoTales.com sets sail!

Arrrgh! Just a note to let you all know that TellNoTales.com, having been totally redesigned, has just re-launched with tons of new media and features. There's also a brand new TellNoTales.com myspace page at myspace.com/tellnotalesdotcom. Befriend us, you fo'c'sle swabs!

In other news: TellNoTales.com is scheduled to be featured in an article in this week's New York Times travel section (May 18, I believe), so keep a weather eye out, mates!

Yo ho!

Disney comics "not...a success" for SLG Publishing

SLG Publishing, which publishes a number of Disney-licensed comic titles including "The Haunted Mansion," isn't realizing the success they had hoped to achieve with the projects, which also include titles based on Disney's Gargoyles, Tron, and Alice in Wonderland.

Dan Vado, head honcho over at SLG, had this to say in a recent blog posting:

The Disney thing (as I call it) has not been what one might call a success for us. While the comics have sold better than the rest of our line (for the most part) the sales have not justified the amount of time, money and effort that has gone into these projects. ON top of that, I made some bad contractual decisions that are coming back to haunt me. Lesson learned, just as you should never get into a land war in Asia, you should also never make a deal with Disney that involves creating original content with their properties.

RIP.

Nicholas Cage compares "Ghost Rider" to the Haunted Mansion

After being asked about the filmed script of "Ghost Rider" differing from an earlier, R-rated draft, Cage says:

Yeah, that [R-rated script] would have also been a good movie. But that movie dissolved and then Avi brought Mark in and I talked to Mark…and Mark found a way to make it more palatable to larger audiences. It became more of a spooky ride. You know you go to the amusement park and you have a rollercoaster and then you have the Haunted Mansion. This is just the right amount of scares to get your adrenaline up, but not so much that you can’t finish the ride. It’s something for the family.

Read the whole interview here.

RIP.

Haunted Mansion Butler/Maid a "dream job" for many

CareerBuilder.com today announced the results of a national consumer employment survey conducted by Harris Interactive that reveals nearly four out of five U.S. workers (84 percent) are not currently in their dream job.

The majority of U.S. workers surveyed thought it would be fun to work at a Disney theme park (57 percent). Most respondents dreamed of navigating the waters as a Jungle Cruise Skipper (28 percent) while others chose to take the royal route and see if the glass slipper fit as a Fantasyland Princess-in-Waiting (20 percent). Still other respondents wanted to get chills and thrills by being a Haunted Mansion Butler or Maid (19 percent).

Click here to read the whole article.

Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas

If you love The Nightmare Before Christmas and Haunted Mansion Holiday, check out "A Scary Little Christmas" - a collection of familar holiday songs performed with a gothic twist by pianist Kris Knight, and produced by DoomBuggies.com's Chef Mayhem. Each song is available as a single digital download, or the whole album is just $4.99.

Listen to samples of each tune online. Visit now: http://www.scarylittlechristmas.com/

RIP.

Reminder: Listen today to a secret Halloween tale from DoomBuggies.com!

Greetings, Ghost Fans... and Happy Halloween!

Just a note to remind you that today at DoomBuggies.com, you can listen to Kat Cressida (the actress behind the "Black Widow Bride" in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion) tell an authentic story about the mythic history of Disney's Haunted Mansion as it was told in the halls of WED Enterprises (now known as Imagineering) back in the late '60s!

This is one of the only recorded histories of a "backstory" for the scenes in Walt Disney's original Haunted Mansion, as it was told by the designers of the attraction itself. Recorded with cooperation from Disney Imagineers and Walt Disney Records, this 20-minute story is a treat for any fan of Disney history or the Haunted Mansion.

Hear it today, streaming for free, at

http://www.doombuggies.com/nuptialdoom.htm

If you miss it on Halloween (or would just like to archive the story for your iPod or digital music library), the file is and will be available as an instant download for 99 cents.

In other news - for another look at the inspiration behind DoomBuggies.com, you can read a new interview with me, Chef Mayhem, at BlogCritics Magazine here:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/10/31/053417.php

And don't forget that my book, "The Secrets of Disney's Haunted Mansion," is still available at

http://www.lulu.com/doombuggies

Hope you all have a happy and safe Halloween!

Hurry back,

-The Chef
DoomBuggies.com

"The Bride in the Attic" - a DoomBuggies.com Halloween special

ANAHEIM, CA - The mythic, haunting history of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion will finally be told by voice talent Kat Cressida, the artist whose performance as the high-tech "Black Widow Bride" was added in early 2006 to the Disneyland version of the Haunted Mansion attraction as part of park-wide enhancements made to the attractions during Disneyland's 50th anniversary festivities.

Disney aficionados will be pleased to hear that this is the first time that a telling of the "backstory" from the Haunted Mansion is presented being based on the story as it was told by the WED Enterprises "Imagineers" themselves back in the earliest days of the attraction's existence. For decades, Haunted Mansion fans have told tales and myths of the Mansion's storied history, with little more than anecdotal evidence to back their claims. Cressida's telling of the story will be pulled directly from her childhood conversations with her father, who worked for Disneyland's PR Department, and also worked directly with the original Imagineers who created this famed attraction.

"Dad was a graphic artist and 'marketing-meister' who worked closely with Disneyland in the early '70s, so he had come in contact with many of the Imagineers who had crafted the attraction," Cressida explains. "[While waiting in line for the ride,] he loved to ask me, 'Why is the Mansion so neat and pretty if it's called the Haunted Mansion?' He'd ask, 'Do you see that? Do you know what this is? Do you know why that's there…?', which led to a grand unfolding of this tale as we inched our way towards the turnstiles."

Curious? Well, be certain to visit DoomBuggies.com on Halloween day, 2006, to hear the story of "The Bride in the Attic" for yourself! The story will be streaming for free for one day only (and will then be available as a download for your digital music library for 99 cents.)

"Nuptial Doom: The Bride in the Attic"
A History of the Haunted Mansion... As Told by Kat Cressida

Adapted by John Starling

Written for Recording by John Starling & Kat Cressida

Recorded at the GRAMMY® Award-winning SoundWorks Studios, North Hollywood, California, on October 19, 2006

Recording mixed & produced by Jeff Sheridan

Sound effects courtesy of Walt Disney Records, from a new digital master of the original sounds of the Haunted Mansion

Special thanks to: Chris Goosman, (Walt Disney Imagineering), Tom Fitzgerald (Walt Disney Imagineering), Walt Disney Records, Brian Nefsky, (Theme Park Productions), Ned Lott, Howard Green (Walt Disney Studios), Tim Curtis (William Morris Agency), Jerry Beber... and a certain Pirate.

To view Kat Cressida's extensive VO credits (including her work for other Disneyland attractions), visit KatCressida.com.

About DoomBuggies.com
DoomBuggies.com, a tribute to Disney's Haunted Mansion attractions, has been called "exhaustively in-depth" by Variety Magazine, and has been named a Yahoo! Pick of the week, as well as a USA Today HotSite. The web site, which will celebrate its 9th anniversary on Halloween, features a rich tapestry of history, stories, secrets, interviews, and multimedia offerings that enable visitors to both re-live their memories of the Haunted Mansion and enhance future trips through the ride by arming themselves with insight and understanding of the attraction. The web site also features a large and active message-board community of fans of the Haunted Mansion.

DoomBuggies.com on WDW Today and Inside the Magic!

Don't miss this week's Inside the Magic podcast (hosted by Ricky Brigante) - You can hear me asking a Haunted Mansion trivia question as part of the ongoing month of Haunted Mansion trivia contests. There'll be another question next week too, so keep tuning in:

http://www.distantcreations.com/insidethemagic

And you can also learn a little more about my thoughts about creating this site on this week's WDW Today podcast (#166) - in all of my "uh, ummm, gee-that's-a-good-question" glory (heh.) There's also a little sneak preview of what's coming for Halloween at DoomBuggies.com at the end of the interview!

http://www.wdwtoday.com/

It's already been brought to my attention that when the WDW Today hosts were asking me about the differences between the WDW/DL attractions, I didn't make a case for the 50th enhancements, to which I can only say, I know. My perspective, after the years of running this site, is simply that the heart of all 4 Mansions (including Phantom Manor) is very similar, to me. Maybe they were looking for more nitty-gritty details - I don't know. But I do find both DL and WDW to feel very much the same, even with the new attic and levitating Leota ball at DL.

Anyway - enjoy the podcasts!

RIP,

-The Chef

"Ghost Host" Paul Frees to receive prestigious posthumous Disney Legends Award

Our own inimitable Paul "Ghost Host" Frees has been named one of this year's Disney Legends.

Corey Burton, who does a fantastic Frees imitation for Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay, has said that recreating his version of the Frees' Ghost Host character "was a great honor, but a frightening benchmark to live up to."

Frees joins 11 other honorees this year. The full list includes:

* Renowned singer and songwriter Sir Elton John;
* ABC News anchor Peter Jennings;
* Actors Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran (Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss
Family Robinson, Mickey Mouse Club);
* Actors Tim Considine and David Stollery (The Adventures of Spin and
Marty);
* Actress Ginny Tyler (Mickey Mouse Club)
* Disney and Pixar animation story artist Joe Ranft;
* Voice actor Paul Frees (Haunted Mansion, Ludwig Von Drake);
* Disney Imagineer Don Edgren (Disneyland, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space
Mountain);
* Animation background artist Al Dempster;
* Founder of Walt Disney Records, Jimmy Johnson

Of course you know and love Frees from the Mansion, but do you know what other projects he accomplished throughout his life? Read what the Disney Legends bio says about our Ghost Host:

PAUL FREES * Television, Film & Parks

During his lengthy career, "the voice of actor Paul Frees was not so much ubiquitous as inescapable," says film historian Hal Erickson. "It was literally impossible during the 1960s and most of the 1970s to turn on the TV on any given night and not hear the ineluctable Mr. Frees."

Born Solomon Hersh Frees in Chicago, he began his acting career in 1942, and remained active for over forty years. During this time, he was involved in more than 250 films, cartoons, and TV appearances; like many voice actors, his appearances were often uncredited.

Gifted with an amazing ear and versatile voice from an early age, Frees' early radio career was cut short when he was drafted during World War II. He was wounded in action at Normandy on D-Day and returned to the U.S. for a year of recuperation. He attended the Chouinard Art Institute under the G.I. Bill, but his first wife's failing health forced him to drop out and return to radio work.

He was the star of The Player, a syndicated anthology series in which he played all the roles. He appeared frequently on such Hollywood radio series as Escape, Suspense, Gunsmoke, Crime Classics and The Green Lama.

Frees began working in films in 1948, sometimes as an on-screen actor, but most often utilizing his chameleonic voice acting ability. When Chill Wills was unavailable to provide the talking mule's voice for Francis in the Haunted House (1956), Frees replaced him, recreating Wills's drawl; when Tony Curtis's "Josephine" in Some Like It Hot required a more melodious falsetto, Frees was able to supply it.

Frees was often called upon in the 1950s and 1960s to "loop" the dialogue of other actors, often to correct for foreign accents, lack of English proficiency, or poor line readings by non-professionals. These dubs extended from a few lines to entire roles. Whenever Japanese film star Toshiro Mifune appeared in an English-language film like Grand Prix (1966) or Midway (1976), he would insist that his heavily-accented voice be "looped" by Frees -- Mifune claimed that Frees "sounds more like me than I do."

He was a regular presence in Jay Ward cartoons, providing the voices of Boris Badenov, and Inspector Fenwick (in Dudley Do-Right), among many others. He spent major parts of his career working with at least nine of the major animation production companies of the 20th century: The Walt Disney Studios, Walter Lantz Studio, UPA, Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, MGM, DePatie-Freleng, Jay Ward, and Rankin-Bass Productions.

Frees began working for Disney dubbing voices for television and features, including narration for the "Man in Space" series (1954), "From Aesop to Hans Christian Andersen" (1955), the "Boys of the Western Sea" serial (1956-57), "The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca" (1958), Tonka (1958), "Tales of Texas John Slaughter" (1958), The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), "Moochie of Pop Warner Football" (1960), The Ballad of Hector, the Stowaway Dog (1964), and The Monkey's Uncle (1965). For The Ugly Dachshund (1966) he looped the voice of "Eddie" entirely, since actor Richard Wessel had passed away after the completion of principal photography.

Most famously, Frees comic Germanic accent and free-wheeling improvisational ability brought personality and popularity to Donald Duck's nutty Uncle, Professor Ludwig Von Drake, who was introduced on "An Adventure in Color" (1961) and subsequently became a frequent host of the Sunday night television institution, as well as a star of Disneyland Records.

For the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, Frees was the sonorous narrator of the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln pre-show at the Illinois Pavilion. For Disneyland, he provided the dramatic "you are there" narration for Adventure Thru Inner Space. Some of his most memorable voice performances are still playing today at Disney Parks: Frees is the "Ghost Host" in the Haunted Mansion, and many of the varied Pirates of the Caribbean.

Frees was active until his death from heart failure on November 2, 1986, in Tiburon, California. He was 66 years old.

RIP, Paul.