#Paul Frees

[citizenscreen]

Paul Frees (June 22, 1920 – November 2, 1986)

[rose-of-pollux]

I will admit, when it was announced that Hattie's Florida placement would be before the seance room, I was both confused and concerned--I didn't want an attempt at tying in the ride canon with the movie canon, especially since the two Hatties have very different backgrounds and personalities.

That being said, now that I've actually seen video footage of Hattie in Florida... I'm not opposed to it anymore. Don't get me wrong--I agree it makes more sense for him to show up after the seance, and I would still prefer Hattie to be at his post in the attic, as he is in California (he was always meant to be there), but Florida!Hattie thankfully retains his original California personality, and I guess it makes some sense, since, in the merch and supplementary materials, it's been stated that Hattie can come and go as he pleases.

But Florida!Hattie has a new element now--he's working with the Ghost Host to greet guests, and on a meta level that's really super, super heartwarming because when you take a step back, it's Corey Burton working with Paul Frees (and if the timing is juuuuuust right, Corey/Hattie can end up chuckling at Paul/Ghost Host's "hot and cold running chills" line), and when you consider how much Corey respects and admires Paul, there's something about it that's just D'AWW.

So yeah, in spite of my initial concerns and doubts, Hattie's Florida placement does work out, particularly on that meta level.

[oldshowbiz]

An obscure animated Woody Allen special

[letterboxd-loggd]

Suddenly (1954) Lewis Allen

February 25th 2024

[stone-cold-groove]

Charter member of the Boris Badenov Fan Club.

[dani-luminae]

I found an extended recording of most if not all of the lines that Paul Frees did for the Ghost Host in the Haunted Mansion! It's so funny to listen to because I didn't realize his voice was just like that, and hearing the eloquent and mysterious Ghost Host stammer is so unexpected.

[thinkbolt]

Here Comes Peter Cottontail (Rankin/Bass, 1971)

[mariocki]

The Night Walker (1964)

"Have you ever dreamed that you were flying, flying into strange places, far beyond the worlds we know? Yes, that's it: fly. Fly! Maybe you can get away after all... fly! Fly! No. There's no escape. Now you're falling, falling... and they say if you ever complete that fall in a dream, you'll be dead. Yes, there's death in your dreams, too. Death and blood and the realm beyond death - the realm of eternity."

[male1971]

The Rankin/Bass production of The Hobbit

[animatejournal]

Cellbound Directors: Tex Avery & Michael Lah | Studio: MGM | USA, 1955

[fangirlmary]

I'm listening to this audio recording tonight: Paul Frees Full Ghost Host Audio Recording Tape - Haunted Mansion - Disn...

[movie-titlecards]

The Puppetoon Movie (1987)

My rating: 4/10

So yeah, this is basically an anthology of old cartoons. The framing device is nonsensical and saccharine in a way that would make Disney blush (culminating in a bizarre bit where various advertising mascots appear out of nowhere to go "thank you, George Pal" into the camera), and while the shorts themselves are technically extremely impressive, most of them are also incredibly racist, even for the time.

[oldshowbiz]

The Beat Generation (1959) versus The Beatniks (1960)

[rose-of-pollux]

Welp, I guess it had to happen sometime--there's been a shakeup in my faves. In a very short span of time (two months), Paul Frees has managed to zip past from "Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure I know who he is" to "Oh, he is now A Fave."

This may, in fact be partly due to the fact that, in early June, @ksturf and I went on the Haunted Mansion ride 4 times during our California trip. Somehow, I didn't expect that to have any lasting effects on me, and for about a month, it didn't seem to have, but, suddenly, in July, it caught up to me with a vengeance--Hattie became my blorbo and Paul, the voice of the Ghost Host, became A Fave.

Honestly, I shouldn't be surprised about Paul becoming A Fave--he's voiced so many different character types that I adore: The Sassmaster (Ghost Host), The Otherworldly Friend (Ghost Host again), Birb Friend (Ludwig Von Drake), and The Dad Friend (Captain Haddock--and Paul gets bonus points for voicing the Captain, as that is a character I've adored since my youngest years).

My biggest challenge, though, is trying to determine what other voices he does in random cartoons/radio because 1. he has The Range and 2. like most classic voice actors, he was only credited a fraction of the time. Ah, well...

[redeyeflyguy]

Wonderful Things That May or May Not Be Wonderful For years of development, Imagineers couldn't decide whether their new haunted house attraction should be spooky or silly. This was only brought to light when one brave soul asked "Por que no los dos?" and it became so. Not only does this teach us the value of compromise, it also gives us one of Disney's best experiences. Spine tingling visual illusions, an iconic ghost host, an iconic main tune with Grim Grinning Ghosts and nine hundred and ninety nine happy haunts all ready for a swinging wake. And that's just the Disneyland and WDW variations. Disneyland Paris' Phantom Manor has a wild west backdrop, a grim backstory, and Vincent Price. Disneyland Hong Kong's Mystic Manor doesn't have any departed spirits due to cultural customs but it does have a trackless ride system, a demonic music box, and some spectacular visuals. Regardless of the theme, regardless of the location, regardless of the ghosts, one thing is clear with this Disney Classic: There's always room for one more. Any volunteers?!

[chernobog13]

Some of the cast from The Thing From Another World (1951). This shot was used for posters and lobby cards for the film.

Actor Robert Cornthwaite, who played Dr. Carrington (on the left, the bearded fellow holding the flashlight) was arguably the best character out of a film filled with nothing but great characters. TIL he was in his early 30s when he made this film; that's a fantastic make-up job.

Also TIL the tall fellow in the back on the right is John Dierkes. He was a former FBI agent who originally went to Hollywood as a technical advisor. He got the acting bug and quit the Bureau.

What I already knew: the gentleman holding the carbine that obscures most of his face is Paul Frees. Even if you could see his face you might not recognize him, but you would as soon as you heard his voice. Frees worked for decades as a voice actor for radio, animation, and dubbing foreign films. Some of his credits include Boris Badenov from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Ben Grimm/The Thing from Hanna-Barbera's Fantastic Four cartoon (his is the voice I hear in my head when I read Ben Grimm in the comics, especially when he says "It's Clobberin' Time!"), Burgermeister Meisterburger from the perennial holiday special Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, and the French radio reporter from the American dub of Destroy All Monsters who describes Baragon (really Gorosaurus) destroying the Arc de triomphe.

As for the other guys in the photo: I'll do a separate post soon on Kenneth Tobey (from, with the axe) and Dewey Martin (the airman with the handgun) and their involvement in the film.

As for the blonde guy in the back with the pickaxe, I got no idea. I think he's a stand-in for James Young, who played Tobey's co-pilot Eddie Dykes. Please lemme know if anyone has any info.