This week as it has been Halloween we are going to visit the Grim Grinning Ghosts and look at the gravestones of the Haunted Mansion!
As you queue up to enter the Haunted Mansion make sure to look at the gravestones and read what they say. These gravestones are for the imagineers who contributed to the rides creation.
Have a read of these funny inscriptions.
Requiescat
Francis Xavier,
no time off for
good behavior
R.I.P.
Francis Xavier “X” Atencio developed the storyline for the Mansion, wrote the lyrics for its theme song “Grim Grinning Ghosts,” and also wrote the inscriptions on the tombstones.
Dear departed
Brother Dave,
he chased a bear
into a cave
Dave Burkhart built the model of the Haunted Mansion.
At peaceful rest
lies Brother Claude,
planted here
beneath this sod
Claude Coats was a show designer who created a number of concept sketches, and also designed the track layout for the attraction.
In memory of
our patriarch,
dear departed
Grandpa Marc
Disney Legend Marc Davis did most of the concept design for the attraction, starting back when the Mansion was to be a walkthrough attracton housing the Museum of the Weird.
Master Gracey
laid to rest,
no mourning please
at his request
Farewell
Yale Gracey was WED's resident special effects wizard, and designed such Mansion effects as the dancing ghosts, changing portraits, and the séance room.
Rest in peace
Cousin Huet,
we all know
you didn't do it
Cliff Huet was one of the lead interior designers, and also worked on some of the Mansion's architecture.
Here lies
good old Fred,
a great big rock
fell on his head
R.I.P.
Fred Joerger was an art director who specialized in special finishes - rockwork, distressed timbers, etc. He created special plaster work effects for the Mansion.
Here lies a man
named Martin,
the lights went out
on this old Spartan
Bud Martin was a lighting designer who later served as head of WDI Special Effects Department.
R.I.P.
In memoriam
Uncle Myall,
here you'll lie
for quite a while
Chuck Myall was a designer at WED Enterprises who also helped in the overall design of the Magic Kingdom.
Here rests
Wathel R. Bender,
he rode to glory
on a fender
Peaceful rest
Wathel Rogers was the grandfather of Audio-Animatronics, and he designed and programmed many of the A-A figures in the Mansion.
R.I.P.
Mister Sewell,
the victim of
a dirty duel
Peaceful rest
Bob Sewell of the WED model shop did a lot of modeling work on the Mansion.
Good friend Gordon,
now you've crossed
the River Jordan
Gordon Williams was one of the resident Audio-Animatronics experts. He also helped design the sound effects for the Mansion.
Dear sweet Leota,
beloved by all
In regions beyond now,
but having a ball
Leota Toombs was an artist at WED who served as a stand-in model for the head in the crystal ball during concept testing of the Mansion. She did such an excellent job that the test performance was used in the final version, and the character was named “Madame Leota” in her honor. The voice for the head was done by Disney voice veteran Eleanor Audley.
Well thats it for this week and i hope you have enjoyed these brilliant details. Next time your in line have a look at the stones and now you will know who they are for.
Until next week.... Look Closer
Really cool!! Thanks for laying out all this detail; it's super interesting to read about. Can't wait to go back to disney!!!!
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