Haunted Mansion Postcard from 1972
In my collection of Disney ephemera, postcards are some of my favorite time capsules because they preserve two stories at once: what Disney wanted you to see, and what guests actually chose to say. This Haunted Mansion Postcard from 1972 is a perfect example. The front features a rare close-up from the graveyard scene, showing the famous “trembling trio” of ghostly musicians, while the back delivers the kind of human detail you simply cannot manufacture decades later. In the early 1970s, Walt Disney World marketing still leaned heavily on printed souvenirs like postcards to spread the word, and it’s wild to think how casually guests could take home imagery from inside an attraction that Disney would almost never spotlight in close-up today.
The image is a rare scene from the graveyard that shows a closeup of several ghosts characters playing a lute, a horn, and a bagpipe. You can see tree branches behind the characters, as well. (I wrote more about the postcard, here.)
The Backside of the Haunted Mansion Postcard
I love it when I get a postcard with writing on the address side of it.
The message States: “Hello stranger! Write… Remember MM! (Mickey Mouse, dummy!) Marcia.
The card was postmarked on March 28, 1972 in Cocoa, Florida and mailed to Manchester, New Hampshire. (Over a 22 hour drive!) And it only costs 8 cents to send it (about 61 cents today.)
The postcard description is also intriguing.
The Haunted Mansion
A “trembling trio” of deceased musicians strikes up a graveside melody…one of the Haunted Mansion’s spectre-filled surprises in store of courageous guests.
The back of the card also features an icon of the themed land. Obviously, this is a reference to Liberty Square and the Liberty Bell.
What I love most about this Haunted Mansion Postcard from 1972 is that the “marketing” side is only half the value. The printed description on the card is classic Haunted Mansion drama, but the handwritten note is what turns it into a real artifact: it captures a relationship, a tone, a moment in time, and a tiny reminder that Walt Disney World vacations were already becoming part of people’s personal histories just months after the resort opened. The March 28, 1972 Cocoa postmark, the trip up to Manchester, and that 8-cent stamp are all small details, but together they make the postcard feel alive. If you collect vintage Disney postcards (or Haunted Mansion memorabilia), I’d love to know what you look for: the image, the publisher info, the postmark, the message, or the story you can infer between the lines. Share your favorite find, or your best “back of the postcard” message, in the comments.
Do you collect vintage Disney postcards or have a favorite piece of Haunted Mansion memorabilia?
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your favorite finds, memories, or any insights about this Haunted Mansion Postcard from 1972 in the comments below!
One thought on “Haunted Mansion Postcard from 1972”