Haunted Mansion storyline?

[Kellybelly777]

i've always wondered what the storyline behind it was. I read some where that...

"Mr. Gracie, the mansions owner, came home to find his fiance* in the arms of the tailor. He killed the tailor and his bride-to-be jumped out the window**. In his dismay, Mr. Gracie hung himself in the mansions foyer, hence the beginning of the ride."

I found that off of some website, but I can't remember what it was called. Does anyone know any additional information about the storyline?

*=perhaps she's the bride in the attic who chopped the grooms heads off?
**= I've also heard the broken window is somewhere either outside of inside of the ride. Does anyone else know about this?

 

[Robo]

I found that off of some website, but I can't remember what it was called.

For all things "Haunted Mansion," you can't beat -

www.doombuggies.com

 

[sydneysmom]

For all things "Haunted Mansion," you can't beat -

www.doombuggies.com

Awesome website Robo! You always have the coolest info to share !!

 

[Holoshed]

Ah yes, my favorite subject. Yes the site mentioned above is by far the best resource but if you want to HEAR the history and have 99 cents I suggest to check out the verbal history: http://doombuggies.com/nuptialdoom.htm

I like the older history better where there wasnt the black widow tie in but I guess they had to make it more thrilling and such...

It has been a while since I heard the voice one linked above but as far as I remember, and the page says, its the original one that helped drive the imagineers in the early days.

 

[themilesfamily]

I read this piece of trivia that I'd never heard before.

On top of the Haunted Mansion there are chess pieces - couple of
pawns, rooks, kings, queens, etc. - decorating the roof like mini-towers.
The chess pieces are there because the building's architect and attraction's
chief designer loved chess.The reason there is no knight chess piece
on the roof of the mansion is because it is always "night" inside the Haunted Mansion.

Here's a pic from the last time we were there. I can see the chess motif.

 

[ilovejsparrow]

That chess thing is neat! That's one Haunted Mansion fact that I've never heard before.

OP- there are soooo many different rumors about HM it's hard to keep them straight! The woman with the axe's storyline is that she killed a number of her husbands.. the number is escaping me. As you pass by each hologram picture, the heads of the men disappear. That's why she's saying the creepy wedding vows. Apparently, for each man that dies, she gains a strand of pearls. My friend has noticed this but I haven't yet.

I think the Mr. Gracie storyline is actually the one from the HM movie. Not sure what it's relation is to the actual ride though. Either way, it's fun to speculate about all the storylines

 

[bradk]

the backstory is that there is no real backstory. HM is one of the few attractions where this happened. Basically the imagineers had difficulties deciding on the direction the attraction should take, scary vs comical and it's just a case of too many cooks.

the official backstory became nothing more than 'a retirement home for ghosts'

there is a whole fan-fabricated backstory however. a lot of that also included the fabled wedding ring in the pavement (which it never was) which has since been done away with.

 

[Berlioz70]

the backstory is that there is no real backstory. HM is one of the few attractions where this happened.

YES - this!!!

I train new CMs at the MK and we spend quite a bit of time on the Haunted Mansion. We encourage the CMs to make up their own stories when talking with Guests. The idea is like a campfire, everyone tells it different.

 

[Kellybelly777]

I found the book I got the original storyline from (one of the unassociated or something guides.)

Like someone had said, I had originally believed Mr. Gracie was just in the movie, but he was mentioned in the book which came out long before the movie.

I have skimmed through Doombuggies.com once or twice and it's deffinetly interesting! I love reading the stories of CM's who think the ride is actually haunted

I had never noticed the chess thing either! Very interesting!

HM is one of my favorite rides and it's cool to be able to learn more about it. If anyone has an additional unknown fact on it I'd love to hear it!

 

[bradk]

Mr. Gracey comes from Yale Gracey who was an imagineer and one of the leads on Haunted Mansion.

he also has a tombstone dedicated to him as many of the imagineers do.

ETA: if you look at #16, you'll see the tombstones and who they refer to: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/disney-faq/haunted-mansion/

there's also one for (Madame) Leota Toombs that was added to MK's, the one right in front of the entrance that has eyes that open and move.

 

[themilesfamily]

I also read that Mr. Toad is memorialized in the pet cemetery
outside the attraction. I'll be looking for that next time we're
there!

Master Gracey's grave -- with a fresh red rose!

Madame Leota

 

[hogwartsdropout]

I saw the fresh red rose on top of his gravestone once in the whole year I worked at WDW. I thought it was a really nice touch.

 

[Kellybelly777]

there's also one for (Madame) Leota Toombs that was added to MK's, the one right in front of the entrance that has eyes that open and move.

I have seen the one for madame Leota before. On the special Disney channels they have at the hotels I had seen something about it so I always make sure to look.

I've heard it's supposed to be the lady in the crystal ball. True?

I'll have to look for Gracie's "grave" this time too. The rose adds a nice touch

 

[bradk]

Madame Leota in the seance room is the face of Leota Toombs (but not the voice). The story goes that when they were working on the effect, they used Leota to create the test footage and liked it so much, they kept it.

Leota does however provide the voice for 'Little Leota' at the end of the attraction.. the 'Hurry back.. don't forget your death certificate'

 

[Metro West]

Madame Leota in the seance room is the face of Leota Toombs (but not the voice). The story goes that when they were working on the effect, they used Leota to create the test footage and liked it so much, they kept it.

The voice of Madame Leota is provided by Eleanor Audley who also did the voices for Lady Tramaine, Maleficent and played Mrs. Douglas on Green Acres.

 

[Kellybelly777]

Oh and thank you to whoever put up the website with the grave information and stuff. That was really cool to read!

 

[kaligal]

Disney has a really interesting book on it: The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies

If you're really interested, you should pick up a copy!

Also, stop and check out the little graveyard (on the left after you've exited). In the far back, on the left, is Mr. Toad. He was added after his ride was removed.

 

[gzh6464]

The voice of Madame Leota is provided by Eleanor Audley who also did the voices for Lady Tramaine, Maleficent and played Mrs. Douglas on Green Acres.

confused...wasn't "Mrs Douglas" Eva Gabor?

 

[onnawufei]

Disney has a really interesting book on it: The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies

If you're really interested, you should pick up a copy!

Also, stop and check out the little graveyard (on the left after you've exited). In the far back, on the left, is Mr. Toad. He was added after his ride was removed.

Seconding the love for this book! Last year I was trying to find something to buy to bump me up to wherever I needed to be to buy the pretty throw blanket and ended up getting that book. It and the HM soundtrack cd are probably the best things I've brought home yet.

 

[keypooh90]

I just wanted to add a thumbs-up for the doombuggies.com site. It is absolutely amazing. Oh, and if you are ever in the mood to listen to HM music on a constant stream, there's a haunted mansion radio on live 365 !