The organ in the original attraction.
The Pipe Organ is an item found within the Haunted Mansion.
Description[]
The pipe-organ is a fairly large organ with 12 pipes. It has a headboard in the shape of a black bat with outstretched wings and it is lit by two candelabras.
History[]
The idea for the grand-eloquent pipe-organ played by an undead, disappearing musician first notably appeared in development for the proposed Museum of the Weird attraction. Here it would have been played by a skeleton as seen in the Disneyland 10th Anniversary special.
In the original Disneyland attraction, the organ was a reused prop from the 1954 Disney film, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea where it was an organ belonging to Captain Nemo aboard the 19th century submarine The Nautilus. The said prop was put on display in Disneyland's Tomorrowland in 1955 within a walk-through attraction known as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea which was hosted by Thurl Ravenscroft. In 1966 the attraction closed to be replaced with the omnimover dark-ride Adventure Thru Inner Space (hosted by Paul Frees) which in modern days, houses the attraction Star Tours and later its sequel, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. Following the attraction's closure in 1966, the organ was moved to the Haunted Mansion for the ride's opening in 1969.[1]
While the organ console of the original pipe-organ remains the same, a bat-shaped note stand replaces the headboard mirror and a new and taller set of pipe replaced the original pipes to compliment the room's dimensions and make a good effect of the banshees flying out of the pipes.
Appearances[]
The Haunted Mansion[]
Throughout the ride's queue and pre-show areas, the pipe organ's music can be heard playing Grim Grinning Ghosts. The Pipe Organ is finally seen in the Great Hall where the Organist plays Grim Grinning Ghosts as an instrumental waltz. While the Organist plays, the heads of banshees emerge from the pipes as ballroom dancers dance to its music.
At Walt Disney World's mansion, the composer crypt features a carving of the organ on one side and guests can play it as if it were real while mist sprays from the pipes. Here, the organ has the brand name Ravenscroft on it as an homage to singer Thurl Ravenscroft. Additionally, there is a carving of the raven upon the headboard looking down at guests.
In other Media[]
Epic Mickey[]
The Pipe Organ appears in the video game Epic Mickey within a location known as Lonesome Manor. The game is set in a place called the Wasteland, which is an alternate Disneyland-style world that serves as home to forgotten and scrapped Disney characters as-well as sentient animatronics.
The Pipe Organ appears in this world's version of the Haunted Mansion where it is a giant sentient being who's playing drove out the Mansion's residents of the Lonesome Ghosts. Mickey Mouse is recruited by the ghosts to stop the Pipe Organ's playing in one of two ways; Mickey can destroy the organ's keys forcing the organ to defend itself by attacking Mickey only to be killed; or Mickey can aid in playing the Organ's melody so the Organ will calm down and give Mickey a reward.
2003 film[]
The organ appears in the film but has three keyboards instead of two and lacks the bat-shaped note stand while it's bench is rectangular instead of round. It is also located at the center of the ballroom's grand staircase, which is not found in the ride. The organist does not appear in the film but he is instead referenced through the character, Ezra, when the latter wears a cape and a hat while playing the instrument.
In the backstory of the film, it is elaborated that the pipe organ originated from a Scottish mansion which was supposedly owned by an evil man who died in a fire that destroyed the entire residence, minus the pipe organ and fireplace. Both of these items were purchased by Master Gracey's father George to be brought to their family-home for his wife Abigail as a gift.
2023 film[]
The organ appears in this adoption and is heavily modeled on the Disneyland version, as evidenced by two candelabras holding one single candle. Like the ride, the instrument is in the Grand Hall, which is dubbed as the dining room.
Trivia[]
- The pipe-organ having once belonged to Captain Nemo is interesting as Captain Nemo exists within the Disney Parks mythos of which the Haunted Mansion is a part of, namely through S.E.A..
- A recreation of the original pipe-organ from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea appears in the Disneyland Paris attraction Les Mystères du Nautilus where it is shown to be haunted by Captain Nemo's ghost, appearing in the mirror of the head-board.
References[]
Gallery[]
