Has Peter Jackson Chosen His Bilbo? ~ Geeks Corner ~ DAPs Magic

It was recently announced that the Phantom of the Opera would be coming to Los Angeles for the last time. This marks the end of the 17 year tour for Phantom of the Opera after performing more than 7,000 times around the United States. Los Angeles was chosen to be the end of the tour as it was also where the tour began in 1989.

Phantom of the Opera was originally written by Gaston Leroux and published in Le Gaulois from November 19, 1909 through January 8, 1910. When published in book form, it didn’t sell that well. Since then, it has been adapted to film and stage multiple times. The most well known version is the Andrew Lloyd Webber Broadway musical. Opening on Broadway in 1988, it is the longest running Broadway play of all time. Andrew Lloyd Webber went on to adapt his version of Phantom of the Opera to the big screen in 2004. There is a sequel in the works to Phantom of the Opera penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is called Love Never Dies and will be opening in London later this month and on Broadway later in the year.

The current Phantom of the Opera tour will be hitting Dallas, Austin, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland before coming to Los Angeles.

Having seen it a couple of times, this is one of my favorite Broadway plays. If you are anywhere near any of the cities the tour is hitting, check it out! You won’t regret it! While I would liked to have seen Webber stick a little closer to the book, it really is well done. Speaking of which, if you haven’t read the book… do it!

LABELS: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA US TOUR, PHANTOM, ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, GASTON LEROUX, MR. DAPS, BROADWAY

1 C O M M E N T

Post a Comment

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

Disneyland Paris Phantom Manor

POSTED BY MRDAPS AT 12:28 PM

Phantom Manor in Frontierland at Disneyland Paris

Phantom Manor overlooks Disneyland Paris’ Frontierland and more specifically the town called Thunder Mesa. When Disneyland Paris was being developed, Tony Baxter decided that several classic rides be included in this “new” Disneyland. The Haunted Mansion was one of these. At the time, a version of the Haunted Mansion already could be found in Disneyland, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland. Phantom Manor was based off these attractions.

Phantom Manor in the Rain - Frontierland - Thunder Mesa - Disneyland The story for Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris though seems a bit darker than its two counterparts in the United States that I have also been able to experience. Phantom Manor is a much darker and more menacing attraction. I could easily see parts of it scaring people much more than the ones in the United States. This adds to its allure and to the illusion that the guest really is entering a haunted house. Much like other versions of the attraction, Phantom Manor begins with a walk through portion that includes the stretching gallery, a portrait hallway, and then a loading area. In this case, the loading area faces a grand staircase that must have been a centerpiece of the manor in a happier day.

That happier day, from what I can pick up, goes back to the mid 1800’s. As can often happen, the happiest moments can directly precede the most tragic. This was most certainly the case at Phantom Manor. The manor had been built by Henry Ravenswood who made his riches by mining Big Thunder Mountain. When he struck gold, he founded the Thunder Mesa Mining Company. This was followed by the town Thunder Mesa being built near by. The culmination of this was the construction of Ravenswood manor overlooking the town. The catch? It was all built on Shoshoni Indian sacred grounds. They believed that a Thunder Bird god protected the land and anyone who disturbed the land would pay the consequences.

Meanwhile, Henry and his wife Martha would also raise a child Melanie, born in 1838. She grew into a beautiful young woman and from what I can tell from several renditions of the story, when she was 22, she was engaged to be married in 1859. The family was excited about this, the manor was prepared for the wedding, and guests were invited. On the day of the wedding as the beautiful young bride got ready for the wedding, her future husband told Henry Ravenswood of his plans to take his soon to be wife away from Thunder Mesa. Enraged, Henry eventually hung the groom to be in the attic of the manor, above the gallery (stretching room).

Unaware of the heinous crime committed, the young bride and the guests of the wedding waited for the husband to be (Frank Ballard) to arrive. She grew desperate as she waited and eventually the guests left. Melanie became a recluse, and eventually learned the truth of what had happened. She was filled with hate for her father and her life became devoted to connecting with her fiancée through séances.

This is where things get foggy. Some versions of the story have Melanie dying within a year and forever haunting the house, singing her mournful song of lost love. Others have her waiting for eternity, still singing the mournful song of lost love as she wandered the house. If the latter is true, she would be approaching 160 years old! I think that perhaps the most likely story is that Melanie died young of a broken heart, still in her wedding dress waiting for Frank Ballard who could never return. Never realizing she was dead, she continued to wait for her love in the house only to be set free upon judgment day when she would be reunited with Frank.

Phantom Manor in the Rain - Frontierland - Thunder Mesa - Disneyland Paris The exact fate of Henry and Martha isn’t known either. One story told is that an earthquake consumed both of them. This earthquake also consumed Thunder Mesa and is now only inhabited by those who live in the supernatural realm. It is known by locals of the newly rebuilt Thunder Mesa in Frontierland as Phantom Canyon. It is assumed that the wrath of the Thunder Bird god finally attacked Henry Ravenswood. In this version, it is not known if Henry Ravenswood went on to become the Phantom or if the Phantom appeared because of all the evil and hate that lived within the manor.

Another version of the story has Henry living the rest of his days with the burden of being hated by his daughter. His days weren’t that many however as it is believed that in 1860, just months after the wedding was meant to be, the Thunder Bird god struck and his fortunes were ruined. He would go bankrupt and be filled with hate and resentment, becoming increasingly bitter before finally dying and being tied eternally to the manor in the form of the Phantom.

With all stories however, it is recognized that as time went by the Phantom invited more ghosts and spooks into the manor and the place became increasingly more filled with evil and darkness. Melanie was eternally stuck wandering around the house, watching the evil spirits celebrate, haunting her with the memory of the celebration of her wedding that never was. As time went on the house fell further and further into disrepair and eventually it is believed that nothing living could inhabit the house.

Whatever the story is, it is recognized that a great evil resides within the Phantom Manor in the form of the Phantom. Who is, it isn’t quite known. What happened to Melanie isn’t known either. What is known is that they are both still there in one form or another and the result is a darker and more menacing haunted mansion than can be found in the United States.

A couple more side story plots that you might find interesting:

Melanie’s future mother in law, Ma Ballard was known to have osteoporosis. It was so bad that when she reclined her upper torso bent and rested on her lower torso. One of her favorite phrases was "Over my Dead Body," which she felt was ironic because of her condition and insisted be inscribed on her tombstone. This can be found in the graveyard to the side of the house.
Jasper and Anna Jones were believed to be the two main servants of the house and were married. They outlived their masters and their tombstones read respectively, “kept his master happy” and “kept his master happier!”
Vincent Price was originally supposed to be the narrator in the Phantom Manor. He recorded both English and French but sadly as the attraction evolved his recordings were no longer useable. The only place his voice can still be heard is the laugh in the gallery (stretching room).
From the outside, a ghost can be seen at night with a candle going from window to window. The Phantom and the Bride can also be seen behind the top window.
The sounds and voices of ghosts can often be heard in the graveyard.
As Henry Ravenswood and other wealthy landowners would have at the time, the furnishings of the manor are from around the world. Some of the carpets Imagineers picked up in Turkey, silverware in the main banquet hall is from London, and some of the lace throughout the house is from Belgium.
In the ballroom, skulls float out of the organ.
A major influence of the story was from Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera, but in a western setting of course.
The pictures in the Gallery (stretching room) are all of Melanie doing different activities.
Gerard Chevalier is now the narrator (Ghost host) for the Phantom Manor.
The original “ghost host” can be heard in the remnants of Thunder Mesa in Phantom Canyon.

My final thoughts on the Phantom Manor are as follows. It is one of my absolutely favorite Disney attractions worldwide to date. While the storyline is never quite set in stone, the mystery of it just adds to its allure. I would love to see it get an update much as both of the Haunted Mansions stateside have received in recent years. While the Phantom Manor looks amazing, I would love to see a more advanced animatronic Melanie and some upgraded effects in a few places throughout the ride. I do love the wallpaper effect just before the séance room. I love riding down through the graveyard with skeletons trying to escape into Phantom Canyon where the singing busts reside. The Phantom in all his forms is awesome and I love how his character evolves throughout the attraction. Overall as you can probably tell, I really like Phantom Manor. It is a MUST experience when you visit Disneyland Paris. If possible, go on it at night. If you are really lucky, it will be rainy with a few stray lightening bolts adding to the experience. We definitely were lucky enough to experience this in September when visiting. It made for the ultimate Phantom Manor experience.

Now I will share with you my video of the attraction. I apologize for it being so dark at times. I hope it gives you a flavor of what Phantom Manor is like. Next time I also hope to get a better recording!

Disneyland Paris - Phantom Manor Video 1

Disneyland Paris - Phantom Manor Video 2