Corey Burton, the talent behind many popular cartoon and character voices, has gained recent popularity with fans of haunted attractions for his characterization as the disembodied voice of the "Ghost Host" in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Holiday, which is a seasonal overlay given to the classic Haunted Mansion attraction. The new narration Burton recorded for the holidays is an homage to the original voice of the Ghost Host, Paul Frees.

"It is a great honor, but a frightening benchmark to live up to," Burton says, regarding comparisons between his performance and the original. "I didn't really think I'd be the one to do the actual recording, as there are others who naturally posses the magical Frees sound and great talent, but circumstances came together suddenly, and I found myself in the unique position of creating my own vocal illusion of (Frees') great narration in this clever tribute to the classic Mansion."

Burton is not a newcomer to voice work, nor to Disney projects. Before his stint as the "Ghost Host," Burton had performed numerous other popular Disney vocalizations. In fact, his career spans decades. "There are 30 years worth (of characters)… but to name a few: 'Moliere' in Atlantis, 'Cap'n Hook' in Return to Neverland, 'General Knowledge' in Walt Disney World's Cranium Command (another attraction credit), "Gruffi & Toadie" in Gummi Bears, "Dale" in Chip 'n' Dale's Rescue Rangers, and narrator of several "making of…" features for Walt Disney Home Video as well as the WDW Explorer CD ROM," Burton said. He noted that there is a complete list at his website.

Burton was handed the role of the "Ghost Host" in a rather unusual way. "I'm not sure you could say I was actually 'chosen' for the part - it was more a matter of being called in (as one of Disney's regular utility voice guys) to do a demo track for the proposed holiday show," Burton explained. " I think Bruce Healey, Walt Disney Attractions' Music Director, had a hunch that I'd end up on the final recording, as he surprised us with the complete script when I arrived for what I thought would be a brief audition-demo track, to be used when developing the actual show."

The recording process was relatively straightforward, according to Burton. "It was all done in one long session," he said. "Sitting in a chair, I'd listen to the original Frees recording which coincided with the section I was reading, and then I did the new lines keeping in mind the "music" of the original as a guidepost for the tonality and pacing." Burton is an accomplished talent, so the recording session wasn't very complicated. "It would generally require two or three takes per section, and sometimes up to five or so, and then an additional complete run-through of the entire show, top to bottom. There were also a few alternate lines, and the additional queue-area bits," Burton recalled.

When listening to the new holiday soundtrack next to the original Frees soundtrack, it is quite remarkable to note just how similar Burton's characterization is to the original Frees recording. "Most importantly, we used a vintage RCA ribbon mic-most likely the very same one used by Paul Frees for the actual attraction," Burton explained. "These microphones are indeed magical, and I beg to use them whenever appropriate, as they bring out all the best qualities inherent in character voices." Furthermore, some post-recording processing was utilized to further emulate Frees' voice. "The track was then equalized and compressed by recording engineer Randy Koppinger, employing programs to digitally emulate the specific sound processors Disney used in those days, constantly comparing the results with the original tracks until the overall sound and texture was indistinguishable (from Frees)," Burton continued. "Even the reverb was carefully matched to simulate the ancient Fairchild Spring Reverberation device used by Disney from the late 1930's through the early '80s."

Some have claimed that Burton is the "new" voice of the Haunted Mansion, a fact that is hardly disputable. But Burton is riled at the suggestion that he may somehow replace the character that Frees created. "Hogwash! Flattering though it may be (to voice the role), the Ghost Host is Paul Harcourt Frees, now and for all time," Burton stated. "I'm proud to play a part in this delightful tribute… and to have crafted an illusion which emulates the work of a true vocal genius, but that's all it is," he said. In fact, Burton wasn't at all interested in the job at first, given his fondness for the original attraction. "Actually, I wasn't (interested), since it's terrifying to be asked to recreate a masterpiece. It so easily could have sucked," he said.

Burton goes even further, claiming the Haunted Mansion to be the "single greatest inspiration in my life. Upon my first childhood visit, I vowed that I would some day meet the man who possessed that most remarkable voice I'd ever heard, and that I would somehow make a career doing voices myself. It also gave me an appreciation of great writing, showmanship, sound recording and music, illusion, engineering, art and architecture, the supernatural... The whole thing was simply 'perfection itself' to me, and I couldn't imagine people creating anything that could top it," Burton said. "I'm still waiting," he added.

For more information on the work and characters performed by Corey Burton, visit his website at www.coreyburton.com. Brandon Champlin, a collector of Haunted Mansion media and data, may be reached at Champlin@ezl.com.