Hatbox Ghost

The Hatbox Ghost
Background information
Shows	House of Mouse
Park attractions	The Haunted Mansion
Designer	Marc Davis Blaine Gibson
Voice	Corey Burton Paul Frees (2015 update)
Character information
Other names	Randall Pace (SLG comics) Hattie/Hatty (fan nickname)

The Hatbox Ghost is a character from The Haunted Mansion that was removed from the attraction shortly after it opened. Despite this, he has appeared in various media related to the attraction. He officially returned to the attraction on May 9, 2015.

History

The Hatbox Ghost was designed as the primary gimmick of the Attic scene, appearing just to the right of the exit, across from the Bride. A trick lighting effect would make it appear that his head would disappear off his shoulders and reappear in a hatbox he held in his hand, timed to the beat of the Bride's heart. However, the effect did not work as planned and the character was removed very early in the attraction's run. 46 years later, he finally returned to the Disneyland attic.

The new Hatbox Ghost figure has more movement than the 1969 version: the original figure's only moving part was his trembling hand holding his cane. The 2015 figure moves all parts of his body due to improvements in technology over the 46 years since the original figure disappeared. His signature gimmick is now achieved by a new means that has proven successful: a face is projected onto a blank head. With a chuckle the face vanishes and the head drops into the body, leaving no traces of the head. At the same time, the head is projected into the hatbox. After a few seconds, this projection vanishes and his head reappears on top of his shoulders.

Appearances

The Haunted Mansion

The Hatbox Ghost appeared in the Attic scene in the first few days of the attraction's run before being removed.

It was announced April 10, 2015 on the Disney Parks Blog that the Hatbox Ghost would return to the attraction on May 9, 2015 as part of Disneyland's 60th Anniversary Celebration. The new Hatbox Ghost appears at the end of the Attic scene and lets out an evil chuckle before his head switches places through the use of rear-projected face technology. The set-dressing around him also includes a cart holding four hatboxes with him holding the fifth, possibly suggesting he was an accomplice of Constance's before she "axed" him off, or that he was one of her five unfortunate husbands.

Haunted Mansion Holiday

The Hatbox Ghost appears in the seasonal update to the Haunted Mansion, based on The Nightmare Before Christmas. During the ride, the only changes made to his balcony scene are that mostly unchanged, except for a decorative Halloween pin in his hat, and a giant Santa hat on the nearby pile of Hatboxes.

The Haunted Mansion comics

In the Slave Labor Graphics Haunted Mansion comics, the Hatbox Ghost plays a part in the Mystery of the Manse storyline. He was once Randall Pace, a gunrunner  on the ship that William Gracey was captain. After discovering what they were shipping, Gracey decapitated Pace and became a pirate. When Gracey eventually settled down outside New Orleans, a scorned Madame Leota would call upon the spirit of Pace and the rest of Gracey's long dead crew and the Hatbox Ghost would play a part in the death of the bride. After murdering The bride he leaves The Mansion, referencing his own removal from the original attraction. 

He also makes minor appearances in other stories of the comic usually as a background character.

In Disney Kingdoms: The Haunted Mansion, the Hatbox Ghost appears as a friendly guide character in the third issue of the book. Rescuing Danny from the Sea Captain in the Grand Hall, he takes him through the Endless Staircase, which is revealed to be a network connecting the Haunted Mansion to haunted locations around the world (a detail probably inspired by Del Toro's "spider at the center of the web" quote); he says that he has spent some time away from the Mansion traveling on these routes. He also reveals to Danny that the Sea Captain's curse has not only trapped the resident ghosts, but the magic that allows the ghosts freedom to travel to these other locations. After advising Danny, he leaves him in the Library as this is a fight he's staying out of.

House of Mouse

In the episode "House Ghosts", the Hatbox Ghost joins the Hitchhiking Ghosts, the Bride and the Executioner in singing "Grim Grinning Ghosts" along with the Lonesome Ghosts and the Skeletons from The Skeleton Dance to scare Pete out of the club.

The Haunted Mansion (upcoming film)

The Hatbox Ghost is planned to be the pivotal character of the film, described by Guillermo del Toro as the "spider in the center of the web" of a whole network of Haunted Mansions located around the world.

Other appearances

The Hatbox Ghost appeared in the Story and Song from The Haunted Mansion record, which was published when the ride opened, hence his inclusion in the book's attic scene.

As the Hatbox Ghost's cult following grew, Disney recognized his popularity in various merchandise and media and utilized him in a Haunted Holidays online campaign as the host, with Corey Burton providing his voice using the same voice that he uses for the Ghost Host.

Trivia

• When the Hatbox Ghost was reinstalled to the attraction in 2015, he utters a small evil chuckle before his head appeared in the Hatbox. The voice actor of the chuckle is unmistakably that of Paul Frees, the original voice actor behind the Ghost Host until his death in 1986. Today, Corey Burton is now the current voice actor behind him.
  • This had been done prior with using the Ghost Host's voice for Hatbox Ghost during the aforementioned "Haunted Holidays" online campaign.
• His head is molded off of Ezra's head which turns out to be a ghoulish sculpt that acts as a hologram that appears in the hatbox. Ezra is one of the Hitchhiking Ghosts who appears in the DoomBuggy during the ride's ending.

v - e - d

Series Seekers of the Weird • Figment • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad • Figment 2 • The Haunted Mansion • Enchanted Tiki Room Disney Characters Candleman • Despoina • Reaper King • Dreamfinder • Figment• Professor Brainard • Cumulus Isobar • Barnabas T. Bullion • Jason Chandler• The Spirit of Big Thunder• Tyrannosaurus Rex • Billy the Disney Goat • George Willikers • Captain Gore • Madame Leota • Constance Hatchaway • Hatbox Ghost • Hitchhiking Ghosts • Ghost Host • Pickwick • Organist • Duelists • José • Michael • Pierre • Fritz • Tangaroa • Maui • Tangaroa-Ru • Pele • Rongo • Ngendei • Hina Kuluua • Orange Bird • Bandito Gang Original Characters Maxwell Keep • Melody Keep • Arthur Keep • Ellen Keep • Roland Keep • Reaper King • Chimera • Fye • Chairman Illocrant • Singular • Abigail Bullion • Capricious Harmony • Spark • Doubtfinder • Danny Crowe • Saoirse Bullion-O'Callaghan Concepts Museum of the Weird • Journey Into Imagination • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad • The Haunted Mansion • Matterhorn Bobsleds • The Enchanted Tiki Room • The Western River Expedition • Spaceship Earth • Journey Into Your Imagination With Figment

v - e - d

Media Films: The Haunted Mansion (video/soundtrack) • Haunted Mansion (video/soundtrack) Television specials: Muppets Haunted Mansion Shows: Chibi Tiny Tales • Random Rings Books: Tales from the Haunted Mansion • The Haunted Mansion • Disney Kingdoms: The Haunted Mansion • Kingdom Keepers • The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic • The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies Video Games: Adventures in the Magic Kingdom • The Haunted Mansion • Walt Disney World Explorer • Kinect: Disneyland Adventures • Disney Infinity: 2.0 Edition • Disney Crossy Road • Disney Emoji Blitz • The Haunted Mansion: The Black Widow Bride Disney Parks The Haunted Mansion • Phantom Manor • Mystic Manor • Haunted Mansion Holiday • Memento Mori • Museum of the Weird Characters Ghost Host • Madame Leota • Caretaker • Master Gracey • Hatbox Ghost • Hitchhiking Ghosts • The Singing Busts • George Hightower • Constance Hatchaway • Raven • Captain Gore • Little Leota • Organist • The Coffin Occupant • Sally Slater • The Bride • Pickwick • The Mariner • Prudence Pock • Bluebeard • Death • The Executioner • The Beheaded Knight • Duelists • Grams • Alexander Nitrokoff • Quicksand Men • Werecat Lady • Black Prince • Medusa • The Watchful Busts • Miss April December • Dracula • Spiders • One-Eyed Black Cat • Shadow Pianist • The Hellhound • Haunted Armor • The Mummy • Gargoyles • The Alligator • Bats • The Purple Shroud • Organ Banshees • Wraiths • Haunted Trees • Caretaker's Dog • Phantom Five • Graveyard Owls • Graveyard Cats • Pop-Up Ghosts • The King, the Queen, and the Duchess • Bicycle Ghosts • Graveyard Specters • Dread Family • Plaque Devil Phantom Manor: Melanie Ravenswood • Henry Ravenswood • Martha Ravenswood • Goliath • The Gardener • The River Creature • Jake the Foreman • The Ticket Seller • The Apothecary • Mayor of Phantom Canyon Mystic Manor: Henry Mystic • Albert • Captain Mary Oceaneer • Maestro D'Elfman • Chinese Dragon Statue • Chinese Armor • Carnivorous Plant • Samurai Armor • Lava Idol • Tribal Totem Poles • Drummer Idol • Warrior Idols • The Monkey King Statue Haunted Mansion Holiday: Jack Skellington • Oogie Boogie • Lock, Shock and Barrel • Sally • Zero • The Vampire Teddy-Bear • Zero • The Giant Snake • The Man-Eating Wreath • The One Hiding Under Your Bed • Skeleton Reindeer The Museum of the the Weird: The Mistress of Evil • The Candleman • Madame Zarkov • The Grandfather Coffin Clock • The Ghost Fish • The Beast Man Characters from Spinoffs: Elizabeth Henshaw • Ramsley • Emma • Ezra • Jim Evers • Sara Evers • Megan Evers • Michael Evers • Zombies • Zeke Holloway • Atticus Thorn • Amicus Arcane • Danny Crowe • Maxwell Keep • Melody Keep • Roland Keep • The Fiery Dragon • Ben Matthias • Father Kent • Gabbie • Harriet • Bruce Davis • Travis • Pat • Vic Songs Grim Grinning Ghosts Haunted Mansion Holiday: Kidnap the Sandy Claws • Making Christmas Mystic Manor: Mystic Manor Theme Song Muppets Haunted Mansion: Rest in Peace • Life Hereafter • Tie the Knot Tango • Dancing in the Moonlight Spinoffs: Down by the Old Mill Stream • She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain • By the Beautiful Sea • When the Saints Go Marching In • Superstition • Bridal Chorus • His Soul Left Gloss on the Rose See also Gracey Manor • The Flying Dutchman • The Ghost Relations Department • Bat Stanchions • Griffin Statues • Floating Candelabra • Face Armchair • Grandfather Clock • Leota's Spellbook • Pipe Organ • Tarot Cards • Mystic Manor • Ravenswood Manor • Big Thunder Mountain • Thunder Mesa • Big Thunder Mining Company • Iocane Powder • Beacon of Souls • Soul Gems • Seaman's Ring • Crump Manor • Evers and Evers Real Estate