The Haunted Mansion has been a fan favorite for ages. With today being the first of October, the new Haunted Mansion shoppe "Momento Mori" that is currently replacing The Yankee Trader next to the Haunted Mansion in Disney World, and the fact that me and my husband have accepted the challenge to put together our very own Haunted Mansion Halloween Costumes. Which is definitely sounding like a difficult task.
While I have never done a review before I think this would be a awesome time to start. While I don't have many haunted mansion items. Since Haunted mansion items are rare and highly desired, I am extremely happy with the few items I do have. I think the best way to set up the Haunted mansion item reviews would be a 2 part blog so be watching out for the Haunted Mansion playset review some time this month along with other awesome spooks, tricks, treats, and fun.
Before I pull out the game it's self I wanted to do a little research. When I research a item I like to check Ebay, Etsy ( if it is vintage), Amazon, google , wikipedia, etc. I like to know as much as I can about a item before I purchase it unless it's really cheap. In this case my husband bought the game for me for our anniversary. He bought it from a friend from his work who got it from a auction for a great price. What I found out made me very glad he did.
Haunted Mansion Game , The Chilling Challenge to Escape the spinning spooks is a board game copyrighted in 1975. Even with a slit in the plastic and some dents to the corner this board game has sold on Ebay $1,142.77 plus shipping.
Doombuggies.com mentions the game in their article titled "Collectibles from the Haunted Mansion", saying "
The intricate, 3-D game board with colorful artwork and moving pieces is hard to find in good condition today, which makes this game a valuable Haunted Mansion collectible."
I would put mine in the category of good. When looking at the box there are some major flaws. The box is bowed out which would make me think that some time between the time of purchase and the time it was purchased for me the game came in contact with water. There are bends and rips on the sides of the box and the Base of the box is part of the game so it doesn't come apart . ( At least not that I have tried since it is in there very tightly.) The cover art is bright, eye catchy, and not damaged.
Upon opening the box there is a fold out back drop. The inside of the mansion on one side depicting multiple ghosts and Abigale Patecleaver sitting on her husbands tombstone. A little back history about Abigale, later named Constance Hatchaway is one in the same to the hatchet baring black widower found in the Attic of the Haunted Mansion. On the far right side of the front you can find the Raven. Inspired by Edgar Allen Poes book "The Raven" while seen many times through out the mansion plays no huge role but on the 1969 record, "The Story and Song From the Haunted Mansion" the Ghost Host refers to the raven as being possessed by the restless spirit of a old nag. The Raven is attached by a plastic bar to the game board allowing it to move. On the back of the backdrop you can see the outside of the Mansion. Again the raven appears just over the logo on the gate post.
The game pieces for the game for the game are a red, blue, yellow, and green Doom Buggie. The game also comes with 2 small dice and 4 cardboard standees. One set of Spectral Waltzers, the Opera singers, Ezra and Gus of the hitch hiking ghosts and of coarse the terrified care taker (or as the game refers to him the watchman) with his poor scared to death whimpering dog. These are set on the spinning discs attached to the bottom of the board game.
To Play: Players take turn rolling the dice and moving their pawns to race through the haunted Mansion. BUT ... if your token lands on a spin the turntables are to be spun a quarter turn. This could either send you to the exit door and the win or back the way you came from. First person to get to the exit wins. Simple and fun and a awesome collectible to have!
QOTD : Who or what is your favorite Haunted Mansion haunt?
References:
DoomBuggies.com - http://www.doombuggies.com/collectibles1.php
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Haunted_Mansion_characters
