Oh, boy. Just watch:
So the main point of this here weird vintage Disney Park special from 1970 is to advertise the debut of the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. And eventually we do get there but not before one of the very oddest Disney specials I've ever seen. The thing is, I know I saw this as a little kid and it almost certainly was my first encounter with nearly all the songs included in it. Including the unforgettable "Oh, Please Be Him", which has to be one of the most hysterical-in-every-sense-of-the-word songs ever created.
And I'm almost positive this was the first time I ever encountered The Osmonds. Whew boy...
Unless you're a huge Osmonds fan, this gang of smiling white 70's boys with unsettling teeth are by far the least interesting aspect of the special. They sing smiling white versions of contemporary songs, they are among the first people to ride the Haunted Mansion (I promise we're getting there), and they emphasize the crucial importance of having a designated spot to meet when your party gets separated. Then again, this is a version of Disneyland where the costumed characters openly kidnap people.
I think this must have been made smack in the middle of what would eventually be unofficially known by Disney nerds as the Walt Disney Presents Weird Sh*t Happening to and/or Around Kurt Russel Series (not to be confused with the John Carpenter Presents Weird Sh*t Happening to and/or Around Kurt Russel Trilogy, which is generally considered better), because Kurt is our host here. And he narrates the very best part of the special where we get a look at the effects and characters that populate the Haunted Mansion. He also gives a STORY for the beloved ride that's much nicer than any business with rings stuck in the sidewalk. We get to ride the ride along with the Osmonds and get a reminder of how mind-blowing those effects must have been for the first visitors.
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Art of the Day!
Cute, Mary Blair-esque birds
