Haunted Mansion History For Sale!

More items today from the upcoming December 7th Van Eaton Galleries History of Disneyland auction. This post is for the Haunted Mansion nuts (of which I am one!). Anyone interested in an original Haunted Mansion Model Ghost Maquette?

An incredibly rare 1969 maquette of a pop-up ghost from the original model of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. This rare artifact was rescued by an Imagineer working at WED when the model was dismantled. The haunting figure is constructed of plaster, fabric, and hair over a metal spring that was attached to the model. Measuring 3.5" tall





Haunted Mansion Door Knocker Prop, c.1970s-80s. An original prop door knocker from Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. The prop is cast in metal so that when animated (through a small hole in the mount) it would create a realistic "knocking" sound. The prop is a functional and exceptionally rare artifact from the attraction's iconic Corridor of Doors. Measuring 7"x4.75" and 3" deep.









Are you a Grim Grinning Ghost fan?



How about some original Grim Grinning Ghosts Sheet Music?

An original 1969 vocal lead sheet used by actor Ernie Newton while performing the vocals for the Beheaded Knight within the Haunted Mansion. This sheet music is for the iconic theme song Grim Grinning Ghosts, and has many handwritten notes and changes throughout from its original use, which helped Newton in this memorable performance. This incredibly rare sheet music is an astounding artifact in the history of the Haunted Mansion. Measuring 13"x19" when opened.









This next auction is listed as an original Haunted Mansion Stretching Portrait.

An original c.1969-70s hand-painted stretching portrait on canvas used within Disneyland's Haunted Mansion attraction. As the elevator descends, the portraits would "stretch" to reveal their full image. However, the consistent "stretching" would eventually cause some wear to the canvas, and these portraits would need to be replaced. In the early years of the attraction, the portraits were all hand-painted with imagery designed by Imagineer Marc Davis, whereas later versions were printed. This stretching portrait depicts the man standing on a barrel of dynamite. The canvas measures 130"x35" and the portrait is in very good condition with some wear from use. These portraits are exceptionally rare and sought-after artifacts from the earliest years of the Haunted Mansion.

While it appears to be an original Mansion-used portrait, it is definitely not an original Marc Davis. Here’s a vintage shot from December 1969. Compare and contrast, folks!



Set of 3 1960s Haunted Mansion Changing Portrait Concepts.

A set of original concepts by Imagineer Ed Kohn for a series of changing portraits to be used within Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. The set includes an original painting in acrylic and marker on art board, and two pencil drawings on art paper. The two drawings appear to be early renderings for Guy Fawkes, who was originally planned to be included as a talking portrait rather than a changing portrait. These concepts range in size from the smallest 8.75"x8.5" painting to the largest 11"x8.75" drawing.



Are you Mansioned out? Want to bid? Check out the upcoming Van Eaton Gallery auction for yourself!

See more Disneyland Haunted Mansion photos at my main website.

Politically Incorrect Pirates, April 1974

If you like vintage politically incorrect Disneyland, then this treasure trove should be right up your alley! Take a journey back to April 1974 and enjoy these sequentially presented images that give are probably as close as you're going to get to seeing what the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction looked like in its original incarnation. Shall we begin at Lafitte's Landing?



I had to zoom in for a closeup on this figure:



Join us in the belly of the grotto.



The Captain's Bar:



A closeup of the Marc Davis painting, back when it was probably the real thing.



Captain's Quarters:



There is so much clutter in the scene today; I had never noticed these two small paintings before:





I don't believe they are there anymore.



A dark shot of the treasure room:



The Wicked Wench, back when it was still commandeered by Blackbeard!



Poor Carlos - the eternal dunk.



The Wench Auction scene; the latest piece of Disneyland to come under fire for being offensive.



A closeup of the beloved Red-headed wench:



She doesn't seem to bother the onlookers!



Here is what I believe to be the first part of Pirates that came under fire: The Gluttonous Pirate. I had never noticed that he also held the lady's slipper besides her slip.



Today, you get a treasure map, a key, and Jack Sparrow.



The looting pirates and the hat thief:



The last one of the bunch shows the pistol duel:



I have to say that I am very impressed not only with the quality of these shots, but with the choice of scenes that the photographer chose to document. I doubt I could have done a better job back then with my Polaroid One-Step!

More Disneyland Pirates of the Caribbean attraction photos at my main website.

At Home with Monsters, Pt. 1

Finally I am getting back to covering the Guillermo del Toro exhibit at LACMA that I mentioned a few weeks ago. I barely squeaked in before it ended and was so glad that I made the effort. It was a truly unique installation featuring items from del Toro's home (titled Bleak House), showcasing his interest in horror movies and all things macabre.



In the lobby area, this piece gives you an idea of what's to come. I did my best to get the credits of what I saw, but the exhibit was extremely crowded with people standing in front of the art taking the perfect selfie...and retaking it...and retaking it again.





An antique photo of family members with a lost one; apparently that was something that was done in the day. Not quite the standard holiday card fare, but to each their own.



This amazing gown is one of the Kate Hawley Crimson Peak dresses from the 2015 film by del Toro:



A portrait of Lady Beatrice Sharpe by Daniel Horne, also from Crimson Peak:



Another Crimson Peak piece is this figure of Kate Hawley, Ghost of Edith Cushing's Mother; it almost seemed like she would grab you at any minute:



There were a number of models inspired by the 1960 film "The Time Machine."



This interesting figure is called Divine Messenger by Craig LaRotonda:



The Nosferatu puppet on the clock truly creeped me out...in a good way. Even Walt Disney knew that people truly enjoyed getting scared.



A closeup:



What every home should have: a life-sized figure of Edgar Allan Poe.



Admirers of Poe's work will also geek out over the 1953 concept art from The Tell-Tale Heart by Paul Julian:



Disneyland fans will geek out over the Marc Davis Medusa portrait from The Haunted Mansion:



The current portrait hanging in the Mansion:



Come back tomorrow for more from this incredible exhibit!

For more photos of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art visit my main website.