craigalicious:

In 1964 the Disneyland haunted mansion, in the newly completed New Orleans Square, was sitting empty, unoccupied by any of the 999 ghosts.   Problems with the story line, and the distraction of designing Walt Disney’s groundbreaking attractions for the 1964 New York Worlds Fair, (“It’s a Small World” and “The Carousel of Progress”) had postponed the completion of the haunted attraction in Anaheim.

Perhaps to remind the public that the haunted mansion would be opening some time in the future, Disneyland Records released “Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House”.

The album was a collection of spooky sound effects from the Disney library of sounds that had been collected after many years of producing movies and cartoons.   If you were a kid in the U.S. during the 60’s and 70’s, you are probably familiar with the album, or at least with some of the signature sounds that could be heard everywhere.

The album was first released in 1964 with a white sleeve featuring Paul Wenzel’s gloomy, mysterious painting of a haunted house (above).   The album was released several more times during the 70’s.   Most people will probably remember the orange LP sleeve art from the 1973 release.

Side One of the album had a collection of ten creepy stories narrated by Laura Olsher.   The stories made use of many sound effects, and transported many a child into a realm of supernatural, spooky adventures.

Side Two had a collection of sound effects.   The moans, groans, cats, dogs, creaks, thunder and crashes could be heard in almost every Halloween party and home brewed haunted house display.