Over the years, I’ve collected quite a few articles about the Disneyland Haunted Mansion, which I’ve been sharing this week. One of my favorites is the E-Ticket Magazine’s interview with Ken Anderson, one of the original Imagineers who designed the attraction. The article gives a fascinating behind the scenes look at how the Haunted Mansion moved from concept to final design.
Ken shares a story of how Walt Disney personally assisted with the narration, even recording an early version himself. Years ago, I checked with Dave Smith at the Disney Archives and learned that they did not have a copy of this early recording in their files, unfortunately.
The Haunted Mansion building was constructed in 1964 and Walt Disney passed away in 1966. The ride did not open until 1969. Ken’s interview gives a unique perspective on this difficult time for the company and how he eventually brought one of Walt’s final projects into reality.
