I did a photoshop to give y'all some visual idea of what the original backup effect looked like. From the relevant blueprints you can tell for sure that there was some kind of projected effect involving objects moving from mirror to mirror, and that they undulated, thanks to a curved screen. What you can't tell from the blueprint is what the content of the projection was. One of them says "Ghost Images," but that's all. For anything more detailed than that, we have no other source right now than my memory (and that of a few others I've encounter over the years).
So...is this re-creation accurate? Can you take it to the bank? You can, but you'll need three forms of ID, a blood sample, and a notarized statement from your mother.
It is quite possible that Marc Davis did this concept art work for the backup
HHG-in-mirror effect. If so, it was rejected in favor of faceless, anonymous wraiths.
©DISNEY
It's too bad that The Haunted Mansion doesn't provide both effects at the same time. Or, would that be ghost-overload?
ReplyDeleteIt would be pretty tough to do both, even if you wanted to. The track-bound HHGs would get in the way of the projections.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazes me most is that this effect was so utterly forgotten. I remember being very impressed by it and utterly at a loss to figure out how it was done. It looked mahvelous.
It's too bad that both these effects plus others could not coexist and bring twice the effects combined in random sequence making the ride almost infinitely different every time through.
ReplyDeleteJust saying.
I know I'm eight years late, but is this effect still present in the ride, just not turned on? Like, if they chose to, could they flip a switch and bring it back?
ReplyDeleteNope, it's history.
Delete