The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
Young Adult Non-Fiction Illustrated Reference Behind-the-Scenes Paranormal Fantasy Art & Design Disney Theme-Park History
Step inside the stretching room—Jason Surrell’s 128-page, fully-illustrated paperback is the only officially sanctioned “behind-the-veil” tour that takes readers from the original 1969 Disneyland attraction straight to Eddie Murphy’s 2003 big-screen adaptation. Released by Hyperion in 2004 and aimed at ages 9-up, the book layers concept sketches, ride blueprints, set photos, and ghostly gag art into a breezy, photo-journal style narrative that feels like sneaking a flashlight into the Mansion after hours. Every turn of the page reveals something collectible: early Ken Anderson storyboards, unused Marc Davis gags, and Surrell’s own production diaries that explain how 999 happy haunts jumped from dark-ride tableaux to living, breathing cinema.
What makes this copy a smart buy is condition and completeness. At 198 mm tall it slips easily into a backpack or display shelf, yet every spread is intact—no ex-library stamps, no personal inscriptions, no dog-eared surprises. Light cover scuffing is the only clue it’s been loved, while the tight binding keeps the panoramic gatefolds crisp. Because Disney never reprinted this exact edition, clean copies are increasingly scarce; fans who want the ride’s full visual history without paying collector-grade prices snap up lightly circulated examples like this one.
Beyond nostalgia, the book is a master-class in trans-media storytelling. Surrell—then a Walt Disney Imagineer—unpacks how color palettes, sound loops, and “black-light theatrical” tricks evolved into cinematic mood lighting, CGI hitchhiking ghosts, and that unforgettable graveyard jamboree. Whether you’re a Haunted Mansion completist, a Disney park historian, or a film student charting how theme-park IP migrates to movies, this single volume connects the dots with humor, insider anecdotes, and rare concept art you won’t find on Pinterest or in the parks’ gift shops today.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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