July 19, 2005

Ghostly Sounds

I found this while rummaging through stuff at my parent's house. (Yes, even after 20 years in my own house, I STILL have not moved out all of my things from their house!) Anyway, I never owned my own copy of the famous Disney album "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House", but I did own this one, "Ghostly Sounds" by Peter Pan Records. I probably bought it in the early 70's, primarily because I thought the wrap-around cover art, by former Disney artist George Peed, was"wicked". (George Peed, huh, huh, I said peed!) And judging by the adhesive tape along the top and bottom edges, at some point I sliced the cover open to see the entire painting unfolded.
Those vampire skeletons were too cool, and the haunted mansion was excellent! But that goofy, grinning, green monster on the front cover, and that sappy frog on the back cover always bugged me!
Click on the image to see an enlargement.

The album has a series of narrated, and unnarrated scenerios. Whispering witches, dancing goblins, and very interesting, eerie synthesized music and sounds. I can still hear it in my memories, but considering I no longer own an LP turntable, memories are all I can rely on.

July 13, 2005

Alfred Hitchcock's Haunted Houseful!

In Elementary School, I used to love to look at the art on the covers and end sheets of a couple of the Alfred Hitchcock books they had in our small school library.

Does anyone else remember this one from "Alfred Hitchcock's Haunted Houseful"?

I LOVED that haunted house!!

I would borrow the book just so I could take it home and trace the house. The original painting is by artist Josh Kirby, who has illustrated hundreds of book covers. 

Did I ever read any of the stories in the book?
Of course not!

I wish I had those books now!