The Unauthorized Story of Walt Disney's Haunted Mansion
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
Flip to back
Flip to front
The Unauthorized Story of Walt Disney's Haunted Mansion Paperback – August 6, 2014
See all 2 formats and editions
Hide other formats and editions
| Amazon Price | New from | Used from |
$15.80
FREE Shipping on orders over $35.
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Gift-wrap available.
 If you buy a new print edition of this book (or purchased one in the past), you can buy the Kindle Edition for FREE. Print edition purchase must be sold by Amazon.
Learn more. |
Start reading The Unauthorized Story of Walt Disney's Haunted Mansion on your Kindle in under a minute.
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Want to know our Editors' picks for the best books of the month? Browse Best Books of the Month, featuring our favorite new books in more than a dozen categories.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?.
|
More About the Author
Jeff Baham has been a Disneyland fan as far back as he can remember - at least through 1973, which is his earliest memory of breaking his treasured "Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion" record album and crying inconsolably (until his mother relented and bought the first of numerous replacements that would follow through his childhood years.)
More recently, Baham is known for founding and operating DoomBuggies.com, a Haunted Mansion fan website that has become a focal point for Mansion fandom to congregate and share stories, learn facts, and enjoy a common bond. DoomBuggies.com has contributed to numerous Disney theme parks' Haunted Mansion events, and was an invaluable resource to Walt Disney Pictures during the production of "The Haunted Mansion," starring Eddie Murphy. Baham also served on the Disneyland Creative Advisory Council.
Even more recently, Baham contributed to the Walt Disney Records "Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary" CD and box set, and founded the Mousetalgia podcast, a weekly show dedicated to the exploration of Disney in society, emphasizing theme park culture and exploring the past, present and proposed endeavors of the people who have imagined Walt's happy place into existence. Listen to the show on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or at www.Mousetalgia.com.
In 2013, Baham started "The DoomBuggies Spook Show," a podcast about the history of the Haunted Mansion and other "spooktacular similarities" that might appeal to fans of the attraction. Find the show by visiting www.DoomBuggies.com.
More recently, Baham is known for founding and operating DoomBuggies.com, a Haunted Mansion fan website that has become a focal point for Mansion fandom to congregate and share stories, learn facts, and enjoy a common bond. DoomBuggies.com has contributed to numerous Disney theme parks' Haunted Mansion events, and was an invaluable resource to Walt Disney Pictures during the production of "The Haunted Mansion," starring Eddie Murphy. Baham also served on the Disneyland Creative Advisory Council.
Even more recently, Baham contributed to the Walt Disney Records "Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary" CD and box set, and founded the Mousetalgia podcast, a weekly show dedicated to the exploration of Disney in society, emphasizing theme park culture and exploring the past, present and proposed endeavors of the people who have imagined Walt's happy place into existence. Listen to the show on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or at www.Mousetalgia.com.
In 2013, Baham started "The DoomBuggies Spook Show," a podcast about the history of the Haunted Mansion and other "spooktacular similarities" that might appeal to fans of the attraction. Find the show by visiting www.DoomBuggies.com.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By
Amazon Customer
on August 20, 2014
Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase
Comment
Sending feedback...
If you're looking for a pretty picture book full of glossy color photos and cute Disney anecdotes then this is not your book. If, however, what you want is to know how the Haunted Mansion came in to existence then this is the book to get. Baham painstakingly delves into Walt Disney's life to speculate on his desire to have a haunted house in the Mickey Mouse park years before ground was ever broken on Disneyland. You get a sense the many false starts and conflicting direction the mansion took in preproduction. Disney was announcing it before they really had any idea what it was going to be: IE ride through or walk through, scary or funny. Politics and conflicting personalities, as well as Walt Disney's death, almost killed the attraction deader than its 999 resident ghosts. This book is a history book that lays all that out with a few b&w photos along with written descriptions of the various attraction's effects and experiences. I liked the book quite a lot, but if you're more of a casual fan or looking for glossy photos of how the ride works it might not be the book for you. I recommend it for the fan who comes off the ride realizing the tremendous amount of work, collaboration, and determination that went into creating this unique haunted house experience and who wants to know more about those people that created it.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By
Julia Layne
on August 18, 2014
Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase
Comment
Sending feedback...
To say that Jeff Baham is an expert on Disneyland's Haunted Mansion is putting it mildly. This book is mindbogglingly thorough and meticulously researched with many first hand accounts from those imagineers who originally worked on the ride. The text is effectively broken up into two sections that first give an extensive background of the origins of the attraction and then seamlessly changes into an extensive description of a ride through. There is something for everyone in this book and is well worth a purchase.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By
Bill T.
on August 21, 2014
Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase
Comment
Sending feedback...
This book was honestly one of the coolest books I've ever read. I received it from Amazon just a few days after my copy was published and I couldn't put it down. Not only does it dive into all the behind-the-scenes about how the mansion was brought to life, it also tells the personal stories of the people who helped create it. This is a must-have book for any Haunted Mansion fan and I highly recommend it.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
SuperC142
on September 18, 2014
Format: Paperback
Comment
Sending feedback...
Disclaimer: I was provided with a review copy of this book at no charge. However, I did not allow this to influence this review (and there was no expectation that it would).
----------
When I started reading this book, I thought I already had a fair amount of knowledge on the subject of the Haunted Mansion. However, this book served to illustrate how little I actually knew. Filled with insights small and large, this book makes me feel like a bona fide expert now.
Much of the book is very fact-centric and so it can be slightly dry at times. That's a very minor complaint though; because the quality of the writing is very good and the facts themselves are so compelling, I never found myself becoming disinterested. Besides that, the author's enthusiasm for the ride does frequently shine through.
With regard to the Haunted Mansion's secrets, no stone is left unturned. I was happy attention was paid to everything from set design, to special effects, music and sounds, lighting, and even to some interesting bits about what kind of maintenance is required to keep the attraction looking amazing. There's even a great deal of information about marketing and merchandising in the appendix that I think could have warranted being an "official" chapter.
The book is divided into two main parts with the first part being dedicated to the history of the attraction. It describes who the major players were, their (frequently conflicting) ideas about what the attraction should be, and what ideas "won" and (almost as interestingly) what ideas didn't win. Surprisingly, not even Walt himself seemed to have a clear idea of what his long-sought "haunted house" should entail! The second half is a step-by-step walkthrough of the ride.Read more ›
----------
When I started reading this book, I thought I already had a fair amount of knowledge on the subject of the Haunted Mansion. However, this book served to illustrate how little I actually knew. Filled with insights small and large, this book makes me feel like a bona fide expert now.
Much of the book is very fact-centric and so it can be slightly dry at times. That's a very minor complaint though; because the quality of the writing is very good and the facts themselves are so compelling, I never found myself becoming disinterested. Besides that, the author's enthusiasm for the ride does frequently shine through.
With regard to the Haunted Mansion's secrets, no stone is left unturned. I was happy attention was paid to everything from set design, to special effects, music and sounds, lighting, and even to some interesting bits about what kind of maintenance is required to keep the attraction looking amazing. There's even a great deal of information about marketing and merchandising in the appendix that I think could have warranted being an "official" chapter.
The book is divided into two main parts with the first part being dedicated to the history of the attraction. It describes who the major players were, their (frequently conflicting) ideas about what the attraction should be, and what ideas "won" and (almost as interestingly) what ideas didn't win. Surprisingly, not even Walt himself seemed to have a clear idea of what his long-sought "haunted house" should entail! The second half is a step-by-step walkthrough of the ride.Read more ›
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
Bassocantor
TOP 1000 REVIEWER on September 7, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
Comment
Sending feedback...
This book is a well-designed and extensively researched discussion of all aspects of this most wonderful ride. Part I of the book explains the long and winding history about the design of the ride. It turns out that years of analysis and study were required. Some ideas died out when a certain creative person died. Lots of ideas sounded good on paper, but worked poorly in practice.
Part Two is called, "The Experience." I found this part to be far more interesting. This portion of the book explains the guest experience--how things are laid out, what the guest sees, how the ride actually works in practice. We find out exactly how fast the cars move (and that they slow down a tad in winter.) The initial chamber the guests enter is actually just a disguised, high-capacity elevator. I also enjoyed the discussion about how many of the spooky tricks actually are done, such as the "hitchhiker" ghosts, and the room that seems to go on to infinity. And wouldn't you know it? The spiritist, Madame Leota is actually Leota Toombs, who was working for the Disney company, and trying out her costuming and model skills on other attractions.
The editor of HAUNTED MANSION did an excellent editing job. I didn't see any obvious flaws. Extensive end-nodes document the citations. Also, the links in the Table of Contents work properly. There is also an appendix called, "Needful Things," which discusses, among other things, the various marketing plans related to the Haunted Mansion.
√ All in all, a well-written, thorough history and analysis of this great ride. Being a former Disney employee, I enjoyed reading about this ride. Next time I see that seance scene, I'll look for Madame Leota. Recommend!
Part Two is called, "The Experience." I found this part to be far more interesting. This portion of the book explains the guest experience--how things are laid out, what the guest sees, how the ride actually works in practice. We find out exactly how fast the cars move (and that they slow down a tad in winter.) The initial chamber the guests enter is actually just a disguised, high-capacity elevator. I also enjoyed the discussion about how many of the spooky tricks actually are done, such as the "hitchhiker" ghosts, and the room that seems to go on to infinity. And wouldn't you know it? The spiritist, Madame Leota is actually Leota Toombs, who was working for the Disney company, and trying out her costuming and model skills on other attractions.
The editor of HAUNTED MANSION did an excellent editing job. I didn't see any obvious flaws. Extensive end-nodes document the citations. Also, the links in the Table of Contents work properly. There is also an appendix called, "Needful Things," which discusses, among other things, the various marketing plans related to the Haunted Mansion.
√ All in all, a well-written, thorough history and analysis of this great ride. Being a former Disney employee, I enjoyed reading about this ride. Next time I see that seance scene, I'll look for Madame Leota. Recommend!
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Most Recent Customer Reviews
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
