Along with millions of other Disney vacationers, I am crazy about the Haunted Mansion. While I’ve only had the opportunity to visit the one at Walt Disney World, I feel certain that all the Disney Haunted Mansions are equally as wonderful. I’ve written a Haunted Mansion Halloween Homage and a bit about bringing some Haunted Mansion home. Today I want to revisit my love for the home of 999 happy haunts – specifically, I want to talk about a very important character, without whom our Haunted Mansion experience would be greatly diminished: The Ghost Host voiced by Paul Frees.
The voice of the Ghost Host is unique and forceful – absolutely perfect for a dark and scary Doom Buggy ride through the spooky rooms, hallways, attic and graveyard of the house at the end of the lane in Liberty Square. It doesn’t matter if he’s telling me that HE will lower the safety bar, explaining a pause in the ride, or warning me that a ghost may follow me home – the ride needs a host and I can’t imagine any other voice being as perfect.
Turns out, Paul Frees (born in 1920) voiced a great number of our favorite characters from movies, cartoons, 
and stop-motion specials over more than four decades until his death in 1986. Now, maybe you knew all about Mr. Frees other works, but I did not and am so surprised and thrilled to find out my beloved Ghost Host was also the voice of these characters (and many more)…
“Dead men tell no tales” – the voice in Pirates of the Caribbean that echoes this phrase over and over – Paul Frees! He also did other voices in this ride.
Ludwig Von Drake in Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1957 – 1986)…Do you remember him?
Boris Badenov in Rocky and His Friends (1959-1961) and The Bullwinkle Show (1961) While Rocky and Bullwinkle were, technically before my time – I grew up on the reruns and LOVED Boris and Natasha!!! Can you believe it?
Santa Clause in the much loved Frosty the Snowman (1969) – wouldn’t be Christmas without this special cartoon, would it? FYI – he was also in the 1976 Christmas hits Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (as Santa Clause, Eon, and General Ticker) and Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (as Jack Frost).
Ignatz Mouse in Krazy Kat (1963) – If you’ve not seen this very different cat and mouse cartoon series, you really need to check out some samples on YouTube.
Burgermeister Meisterburger – Seriously, it’s TRUE! Paul Frees is the village villain in Santa Clause is Coming to Town! (1970)
Okay, last one. Paul Frees was the voice of Crusty in The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)…if you missed out on this cinematic comedy classic starring Don Knotts as the title character, well you need to get your hands on the DVD!
So, how many of Paul Frees’ voices did you already know about?
So I’ve been meaning to comment on this one for a while… I LOVE Paul Frees. On your post on Dallas McKennon I mentioned that I’m a voice actor aficionado… I’ve loved Paul Frees because of Boris Badenov for years and years, long before knowing who he really was! I do think my favourite of his roles are the ones in Pirates of the Caribbean, just because – especially in the original version – he kept on popping up left and right; but he’s SO good as the Ghost Host in HM, and I think that was where I first really got a big sense of, you know, just PAUL FREES.
Side note, if you ever watch “Mystery Science Theatre 3000”, there is actually an episode that is making fun of a movie he made (wrote and directed), and a few others where he pops up in minor vocal or physical roles! Even though they make some fun, he is always, always good, and everyone knows it. 🙂
I was just so surprised by the dozens of shows I grew up with that Paul Frees was a part of! Amazing!!!
Great article! Sometimes I wonder if you somehow have access to my “Future Blog Posts” folder! 😉
Thanks for stopping by, Nick – Great minds think alike, y’know!