The manifesting and disappearing ghost in the noble-minded ballroom of Disneyland ’s Haunted Mansion are n’t holograms or digital projections . They ’re base on Pepper ’s Ghost , a 19th 100 technique that , until the Haunted Mansion was constructed , had never been used on such a grand scale .
This is Part Two of our selection serial fromThe Unauthorized Story of Walt Disney ’s Haunted Mansion , by Jeff Baham , issue byTheme Park Press , and reprinted here with permission . tally out the first selection here .
The Pepper ’s Ghost effect essentially combine two scenes into one by storm the viewer to see a superimposed image through reflexion . In the typesetter’s case ofthe Haunted Mansion dance palace , the Doom Buggy caterpillar tread runs directly between the two sets . The carriages look a giant tack of plate glass , through which guests view the scenery and props from above , peer down into the solidifying . Below and behind the Doom Buggies , the appearing and disappearing “ ghosts ” are aim into a 2d char set in a mirror position relative to where they are to appear intersperse with the scene and airplane propeller . As they are crystalize , their manifestation in the glass seem to interact with the scene in the dance hall lot .
The Secret Tech Behind Disney ’s Haunted Mansion Illusions
magic trick alone can not make a mundane congeal convincing . So the Haunted Mansion is packed to the brim with detail , atmosphere , and Audio - Animatronics . Veteran Imagineer Bill Justice , another Disney vitalizer pull into WED , was charged with bring the robotics to life . “ Bill could be considered the conjuror of the chemical group , ” said Imagineer David Mumford . “ He program all the lively ‘ corps ’ that dwell the ghostlike Mansion . ”
Richard Tremblay , a veteran Disney technician who has worked on the Haunted Mansion draw for twelvemonth , offered an overview of the Disney robotics :
The designing of many animated figures begins with what is holler the pedestal frame . It is the base upon which the seeable anatomy is mounted , and it ’s also a emplacement for various working parts that bring in the chassis alive , include hydraulic and pneumatic distribution ironware , actuators , and other hardware that contributes to the working of the animatronic figure .
This type of pattern is mount in place , and is more or less limited to movement that does not involve leaving the base . But there are many figure in the ballroom that move , fly , and even dance . This is accomplish with a series of turntable to which the ( by and large static ) figures are attached . Tremblay extend :
There are four large rotating turntables in the banquet hall , and another one in the burying ground . There are two lazy Susan in the banquet scene , with three dancing duet on each lazy Susan . There is also the “ visitors ” turntable with the figures horizontally turn out in a circle . From the drive , these all reflect off the ice to make it wait like they are swim in and out of the door that is open with the hearse in it . The overhead “ banshee ” lazy Susan has several horizontal figure rotating on it , and it gives the essence of ghost floating in and out of the blowing curtains windowpane . There is also a “ skull bicycle ” that rotate over the organist , and this , too , is a motor drive mechanism .
After passing over the ballroom ’s balcony , the Doom Buggies express the patrons through a sullen doorway into a musty , neglect attic . When the Haunted Mansion first open , former riders cover that yarn - alike “ cobweb ” hung from the ceiling , brushing against guests ’ face , though this effect has long been lost to story . debris underwrite all variety of old remnants of the Haunted Mansion ’s mortal owners ’ former lives . trunk , statue , paintings , and lamps are strewn about , and the Doom Buggies spin their way through the clutter .
Prior to 2005 , the attic scene could be described as follows : Permeating the darkness , a human - sound heartbeat throbs through the stale breeze . Meanwhile , sick weirdo pop up from behind trunk and out of chests with screeches and shrieks , frightening the casual supporter caught unaware . Finally flesh out a corner that will lead the Doom Buggy out a window and to freedom from the Haunted Mansion ’s spooks , patrons are brought grimace - to - face with the source of the rhythmical beating : a mournful Saint Bride , her pale deal clutching a flickering candle , and her face hidden in the shadows except for the burn embers of her eyes . Slowly holding up her candle , she balefully watches as the Doom Buggy fleet her by and heads toward the loose attic windowpane .
In 1969 , when the Disneyland Haunted Mansion first opened , there was an additional character in the loft : a nervous sometime Hat Box Ghost who stood across and down the track from the bride , near the attic windowpane . The Hat Box Ghost was an ambitious , close - up special result that was supposed to make the bony , elderly ghost ’s skull - like head evaporate and then reappear in the hat box he was toting in one claw- like deal , while the other hand quivered on an old cane . design by Yale Gracey ( with character concepts contributed by Marc Davis ) , the effect rely on kindling to enlighten the “ literal ” forefront , and then decimate as another brightness illume the “ hat box ” straits , creating the semblance that the head was fly from the first position and reappearing in the 2nd . While the construct was inhale , the instruction execution was n’t as effective as the WED engineers had hoped , and Marc Davis himself made the call to pull the effect from the attraction , according to Imagineer Wayne Jackson , who both built the pattern and then had to move out it . In the brusk term , the drive was better without a misfiring upshot , despite the fact that the character has since taken on a fad take after . But , as Davis would like to say , “ Do you want the truth , or do you desire to find good ? ” “ regrettably , this ghost had some troubles with his hocus pocus , ” quipped Imagineer David Mumford.5 Though the effect was n’t in place for long , some veteran Haunted Mansion fan commend seeing it in place in the first days of the Haunted Mansion ’s performance back in 1969 , and both a grainy place movie and a snap photo have been bring out of the animatronic , proving that it did live , though quite shortly .
During a 1995 “ ride rehab , ” a process that takes place every few years in which a Disney theme park attraction is closed for a period of prison term and review with a fine - toothed comb , the Disneyland attic scene was update to narrate more of a story . A piano was bring to the attic , with a protrude animated shadow of a cloaked piano player pounding the keys , which are playing themselves . The inconspicuous pianist spiel the Bridal Chorus in a minor key . The intact set was re - themed to make the St. Bride more of a centrepiece . The pop - up wraith were re - dressed in top hats and black fore ties , and instead of screeching , they began to clapperclaw “ I do ! ” in ominous tones . The bride herself was spruce up as well , with her face painted to show a little more point , her surgical gown gussied up with fancy lacing , her hair lengthened , and , at Walt Disney World , expanded to constitute a mad , wavelike halo of apparitional style .
Both Walt Disney World ’s and Disneyland ’s brides received makeover , to mixed reviews . buff set behind and below the animatronics made the brides ’ gowns and pilus billow in the darkness . A hydraulic support was also tally underneath the figure , make the bride look to be floating . Whirling bats across from the bride added even more gesture to the conniption . Despite the miscellany of ways the garret has changed over the years , the bride has remained the cryptical heart of the Haunted Mansion attraction , partly due to her confounding presence , and part due to Ken Anderson ’s tarradiddle that have exist since the attracter was on the draftsmanship board back in the 1950s .
In Storyboard Magazine , X. Atencio makes the point : “ The storyline was say to be about a Saint Brigid who drop dead , so they have an illusion of a Saint Bridget in a spousal costume , her heart thump away . The St. Brigid beckons with a flickering candela as her nerve pounds clamorously , glowing the vividness of blood . ”
In 2006 , the attic prospect was revisited again , and revised importantly . The bride was yield a name , a sharp - witted new persona — and a sharply - edged weapon , as well . Now named Constance , the Saint Bride seems to have taken up residency in the Classical Greek , displaying token from her numerous tripper down the Lord’s table — all of which seem to have ended in catastrophe .
While much of Constance ’s story is left to the imagination , there are some hint in the freshly - pack attic that give guests insight into the character . A series of wedding party portraits are exhibit among the various wedding gifts and ceremonial housing dissipate throughout the attic — and as guests cash in one’s chips each pic , the heads of Constance ’s former grooms disappear from each portraiture , and then reappear again . In one photograph , Constance holds a rosiness while posing next to a stableman named George , echoing one of the unfold portraits at the offset of the ride that portrays a widow holding a rose wine as she stands over the grave accent of her in a heartfelt way departed husband George , whose key has been hacked at with a hatchet .
In 2007 , the Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion underwent a major rehab , and Constance was added to the attic scene there as well . The voice of Constance ( who is also known by Imagineering as the “ Black Widow Bride ” ) was execute by Disney voice - over artist Kat Cressida . Cressida ’s performance was also apply for the creation of the projected image , though there is some considerable digital burden employment involved with the final Cartesian product . A high - definition picture project onto a motionless bod with practical blowing embryonic membrane complete the upshot , which is unbelievable to observe , and adds a new level of menace to the story of the Haunted Mansion .
The actress who portrays Constance in her early days as a young bride in the various wedding portrayal scattered throughout the attic is Julia Lee . In add-on to her contributions to the Haunted Mansion ’s garret , Lee has also appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and in small roles in characteristic films .
For her part , Cressida is proud of the case she has brought to spirit . “ [ The Imagineers ] need Constance to seamlessly outfit in with the mythology and the feel of the Haunted Mansion … not to feel like something that had never been there before , ” she said . “ perchance you would go through [ the ride ] and say , ‘ Was that always here ? ‘ Cause that was really coolheaded ! ' ”
The slur where the Hat Box Ghost once stood at the attic windowpane through which the Doom Buggies make their evasion has been covered over with attic junk , but remains essentially vacant . Perhaps , someday , a long - lose resident of the attic might notice his way back to his former rest home … or at least , his fan can always trust .
Jeff Baham runs the democratic sitedoombuggies.com , the leading resource about the Haunted Mansion . He has posture on the Disneyland Creative Advisory Council , and contribute to Disneyland Records ’ release of the Haunted Mansion ’s 40th Anniversary CD and Box Set .
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