In July of last year, I did a “Doctor Disney Explains” article that detailed the Hitchhiking Ghosts trio, and who they really are. This year’s D23 Expo brought about an Audio-Animatronic of one of the most iconic ghosts ever from The Haunted Mansion in the Hatbox Ghost. Well, Doctor Disney feels it is time to explain some more because there are a lot of people that have no idea who the Hatbox Ghost even is.
Fans of Haunted Mansion – especially myself – are infatuated with the Hatbox Ghost, and beg and pray for a long-awaited return to the mansion he used to haunt. He has made appearances over the years on T-shirts, as statues, on pins, and so much more, but…so many have no idea who he even is.
When the Haunted Mansion first opened on Aug. 9, 1969, the Hatbox Ghost made his debut at Disneyland, but he didn’t last very long.
It is said that he lasted only two weeks before being taken out of The Haunted Mansion, and being put on the shelf for good. It wasn’t because he was too scary or bothering anyone, but his special effect just didn’t work as it was supposed to work.
The effect of the Hatbox Ghost was supposed to have his head disappear off his shoulders and then appear in the hatbox he was holding in his hand. The problem is that the effect was never done too well, and didn’t look like Disney had planned it to look.
With that being said, the awesome big guy was taken out.
Since it only made such a short appearance, it seems like it wouldn’t be that big a deal, right?
Well, the Hatbox Ghost was used in a lot of preliminary artwork, Haunted Mansion record album covers, and a lot more. They couldn’t just act like he never existed, and that made him a cult phenomenon. He has a following online that has seen numerous petitions circulated to bring him back to the attraction.
In 2009, for the 40th anniversary of The Haunted Mansion, a life-size replica statue of the Hatbox Ghost was made by Disney artists Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily. It was sold at the D23 Expo that year for $9,400, and rumors have it that director Guillermo del Toro purchased it.
Del Toro is a huge fan of The Haunted Mansion, and will be writing and directing the re-imagining of the film…if it ever gets some more legs to get going. Hopefully it will, and we can see more of the Hatbox Ghost like we did with the poster art for the film.
Rumors have for years that the Hatbox Ghost would be heading back to the attraction, but there has never been any confirmation of that at all from Disney. We can only hope. The Audio-Animatronic shown at the D23 Expo could very well have been a hint that his return is coming sometime in the future, but all we can do is wait and see.
For now, we can purchase the pins, T-shirts, and statues that come out with the Hatbox Ghost on it. Personally, I’ve got all three of those items and a lot more.
UPDATE: The beloved Hatbox Ghost did indeed return to the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland in 2015.
