Here's a vintage "Miss October," had Playboy been founded in 1895.  This illustration appeared in The Idler.

While poring through old magazines, we discovered two precursors to famous films.  First, you might recall the tentacled Davy Jones playing the organ in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.  Here he is in Metropolitan Magazine, way back in 1906.



And you'll recognize the illustration below as a precursor to Home Alone.  The caption reads, "He fell all the rest of the way, accompanied by the rifle, the camphor bottle, the carving-knife and the axe."  It's from Metropolitan Magazine, 1914.

Here's a precursor to "Thing" from The Addams Family, from a 1921 issue of Collier's magazine.

In the grand finale of Disneyland's famous Haunted Mansion, a ghost sits next to you.  Here's an illustration from an 1891 issue of The Strand magazine.  The caption reads: "Haunted."

[This one's dedicated to our friend at Long-Forgotten, who ruminates fascinatingly on the eccentric masterpiece that is the Haunted Mansion.]

THIS is someone you guys should know. He's a bona-fide genius. He runs a whole raft of blogs and websites and is the author or co-author of more than 60 books (including WHOLE DICTIONARIES). That's six zero. And he doesn't even look 40. Amazing fellow.

Anyway, he's a big Haunted Mansion fan, and he leaves nice comments at el bloggo now and then. He's a voracious reader, going through old journals and magazines and other obscure stuff. Probably reads and writes more before breakfast than you or I do in an academic semester. Today I got an email from him explaining that he's found a couple of precursors to the HM, one in a 1902 Cosmopolitan mag and the other in an 1891 The Strand mag.

He's already published the 1902 Cosmo pic HERE, so it's available to see. It illustrates ghosts coming out of a pipe organ as it is played. (Note that there are two organists in the pic, so don't be confused. Look at the lower left. The artwork is not especially clear.)

The second one I have seen but can't share yet, as it's pre-blogged and won't be published until the end of March, but it's even better, showing ghosts sitting alongside someone seated on a bench (or in a vehicle?). It's very much like the (original) HHG mirror gag. In fact, IMO, this drawing could be an actual source of inspiration. You'll see it at the end of March.

An illustration from an 1897 issue of The Ludgate Illustrated magazine.  The caption reads: "Seated by the other Stephen King."

Pre-dating the hilarious comedy series "Childrens Hospital" [sic] about a clown doctor who heals through the power of laughter, here's an illustration from an 1891 issue of The Strand magazine.  The caption reads: "Bravo Slap-Bang!"

Reminiscent of a famous scene in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, here's an illustration from a 1902 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.  The caption reads: "From the smaller organ raved up a pandemonium of ghoulish execrations."

Here's a percursor to the paranormal-erotica craze, from a 1906 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.  The caption reads: "Hardly had my shaking hand found the door-knob when—merciful heaven!—I heard it returning."

Dedicated to Teresa Burritt.

Pre-dating the hilarious comedy series "Childrens Hospital" [sic], about a clown doctor who heals through the power of laughter, here's an illustration from an 1891 issue of The Strand magazine.  The text reads: "'Doctor,' said the clown to the physician, 'do not be jealous, but it seems to me that my tomfooleries have done more good than your prescriptions.'"  The caption reads, 'Thank you, Slap-Bang."

From our "Magic Words" outpost at Blogger:

Don't miss this clip of our eccentric short talk entitled "Jeff McBride and His Precursors," in which we trace one stage magician's effect on art backwards through time.