The DoomBuggies Podcast
The DoomBuggies Podcast is a show dedicated to fans of Disney's Haunted Mansion attractions, Disney theme parks, Halloween, scary movies, and things that go bump in the night.
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Ep. 42: Remembering Rolly
04/11/2023
Ep. 42: Remembering Rolly
Ep. 42: Remembering Rolly In this episode, Jeff talks about the time he spent with Rolly working on his book, and discusses the impact Rolly made on Imagineering and the history of the Walt Disney Company. We also talk about an upcoming event THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 14 (see @TheHappiestClubOnEarth for details) featuring Jeff with voice actors Mark Silverman and Peter Renoudet, and ponder the corruptible, mortal state of the Ghost Host.
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Ep. 41: Disney animation's dark side and the Haunted Mansion
02/06/2023
Ep. 41: Disney animation's dark side and the Haunted Mansion
Ep. 41: Disney animation's dark side and the Haunted Mansion In this episode, Jeff and Julia discuss animation and its impact on the development and operation of the Haunted Mansion attraction. First, we discuss the darker side of Disney animation, and then Jeff reviews a panel discussion about Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, a recent animated stop-motion feature, and then we talk about the Haunted Mansion's history, and how Walt Disney Production and WED Imagineering used animation to create the scenes and effects inside of the Haunted Mansion. Contact the DoomBuggies Podcast at 1-888-5-HATBOX or [email protected].
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Ep. 40: DoomBuggies at Mousecon East Bay 2022
11/23/2022
Ep. 40: DoomBuggies at Mousecon East Bay 2022
Ep. 40: DoomBuggies at Mousecon East Bay 2022 On November 6, 2022, DoomBuggies founder Jeff Baham spoke about the Haunted Mansion at the 7th annual Mousecon East Bay convention in Northern California. This episode of the DoomBuggies Podcast is DEAD-icated to that presentation, which is presented here in its entirety. If you didn't get a chance to visit Mousecon in Northern California, you can still get tickets to Mousecon Bakersfield, which will be taking place on January 28, 2023, and Jeff will be making a presentation there as well. Contact the DoomBuggies Podcast at 1-888-5-HATBOX or [email protected].
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25th Anniversary Special: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
10/31/2022
25th Anniversary Special: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
In honor of the 25th anniversary of DoomBuggies.com on Oct. 31, 2022, DoomBuggies founder Jeff Baham has teamed up with the Sibling Library Podcast to create a brand-new telling of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." As Haunted Mansion fans know, "Sleepy Hollow" was a tale which Walt Disney made into a classic animated film, and was then considered by Imagineer Ken Anderson as a potential setting for one of the showstopping scenes inside of Disneyland's proposed haunted house attraction, long before plans for the Haunted Mansion were finalized. So grab a blanket and start a crackling fire, pour yourself a cup of warm cider, and enjoy listening to our telling of Irving's classic horror story. Contact the DoomBuggies Podcast at 1-888-5-HATBOX or [email protected].
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Ep. 39: Haunted Mansion media through the years
10/13/2022
Ep. 39: Haunted Mansion media through the years
Welcome, Foolish Mortals! This month, The DoomBuggies Podcast celebrates 25 years of DoomBuggies.com by discussing a wide variety of reflections of the Haunted Mansion in media and popular culture. We talk about possible inspirations, famous recordings, television and streaming specials, and more. Also, as a special bonus, we have a conversation with Theme Park Designer David Younger and discuss his latest project, an adventure game titled "Foolish Mortals." Plus - Halloween sound effects records... and more! Special note: DoomBuggies' host Jeff Baham will be speaking about the Haunted Mansion at Mouse-Con in Concord, CA on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. For more information, visit mouse-con.com.
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Ep. 38: DoomBuggies.com - the First Quarter-Century
09/15/2022
Ep. 38: DoomBuggies.com - the First Quarter-Century
Welcome, Foolish Mortals! This month, the DoomBuggies Podcast takes a wander down the tree-shrouded path into the dark shadowy history of DoomBuggies.com, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next month on Halloween. We talk about the legendary 10-year-anniversary party at Disneyland, and share some stories and memories from the past quarter century of Haunted Mansion fandom. Plus - more merch news, happenings, Hocus Pocus 2, and a thought about that famous demon-eyed wallpaper.
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Episode 37: Sleepy Hollow, Ken Anderson and The Headless Horseman
07/20/2022
Episode 37: Sleepy Hollow, Ken Anderson and The Headless Horseman
Welcome, Foolish Mortals! This month, the DoomBuggies Podcast takes you to Tarrytown, NY where we visit the home of author Washington Irving and the location of his story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Julia talks about modern Sleepy Hollow and a quick visit she made to the village, and Jeff looks at the town's history, and some of the ways Irving's famous short story has affected the place. Finally, we take a look at Disney's interpretation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and we discuss Imagineer Ken Anderson's concepts for incorporating the story into his walk-through Haunted Mansion. Plus - LEGO finally releases a Haunted Mansion kit, we consider Salem, MA as a Halloween destination - and more.
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Ep. 36: Collecting the Haunted Mansion
06/14/2022
Ep. 36: Collecting the Haunted Mansion
Welcome, Foolish Mortals, to the June 2022 episode of the DoomBuggies Podcast. This month we're digging heels over heads into the topic of Haunted Mansion collectibles! We'll take a look at the grue-vy history of the attraction's souvenirs and memorabilia, and we'll mention some of the events that have produced so much ghoulishly great stuff over the past 53 years. We also discuss some upcoming events, new Haunted Mansion dice, a cool collectible from Phil Sears, and more! Contact us at [email protected] or call toll free 1-888-5-HATBOX.
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Ep. 35: The Haunted Mansion movies
05/14/2022
Ep. 35: The Haunted Mansion movies
Welcome, Foolish Mortals, to the May 2022 episode of the DoomBuggies Podcast. This month we're digging up - er, digging IN to the latest news regarding the 2023 version of "The Haunted Mansion" from Walt Disney Pictures, and we speak with Maegan Foret, who had the good fortune of acting as an extra and a stand-in in the upcoming film. We'll also take a look back at the official backstory from the 2003 version of "The Haunted Mansion," and compare how that story relates to the various storylines pursued by the Imagineers during the creation of the Disneyland attraction in the '50s and '60s. Plus - Halfway to Halloween merch, our latest collectibles - and more! Contact us at [email protected]
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Ep. 34: Muppets Haunted Mansion with Director Kirk Thatcher
10/16/2021
Ep. 34: Muppets Haunted Mansion with Director Kirk Thatcher
Welcome foolish Muppets to our October episode of the DoomBuggies Podcast. This month is dead-icated to "Muppets Haunted Mansion," a new special streaming on Disney+. We share news of Muppets-related spooktacular events at the Disney Parks, discuss our feelings about and opinions of the new show, talk about MacGuffins, and report on a recent event at the Walt Disney Family Museum that featured Dave "Gonzo the Great" Goelz and Bill "Pepe the King Prawn" Barretta sharing inside stories from the sets of the new special, and talking about their experiences while making the show. Finally, we welcome Kirk Thatcher, the director of "Muppets Haunted Mansion," to the show to share his insights into the making of this new holiday tradition. Plus - post a photo of your Haunted-Mansion-themed Halloween pumpkin and tag #doombuggies, and you can win a Death Certificate autographed by Ghost Host Peter Renoudet!
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Ep. 33: The Haunted Mansion's opening day in 1969
09/15/2021
Ep. 33: The Haunted Mansion's opening day in 1969
This month, DoomBuggies hosts Jeff and Julia take you back 52 years to the opening day of the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. We talk about the myths that surrounded the attraction before it opened, the press accounts that accompanied the opening of the attraction, and the mindset of the foolish mortals who waited upwards of 4 hours to ride through the Mansion during the hype of the long-awaited opening of the doors - the "creak heard 'round the world," as they said. Plus - counting the Mansion's ghosts, and a merchandise report!
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Ep. 32: MAPO and engineering the Haunted Mansion
06/19/2021
Ep. 32: MAPO and engineering the Haunted Mansion
This month, we take a brief look into the history of the development of the mechanics of the Haunted Mansion, and a few of the key engineers and technicians from WED and MAPO who took the famous Imagineers' designs and concepts and turned them into an immersive physical experience. We also look at the latest news, including an upcoming Disney+ series featuring the Mansion and a new book about Haunted Mansion designer Claude Coats. Plus, which would make a better Haunted Mansion overlay - Dark Shadows, or Hocus Pocus?
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Ep. 31: Disneyland's Haunted Mansion re-opens
05/28/2021
Ep. 31: Disneyland's Haunted Mansion re-opens
This month, Jeff and Julia visit Disneyland on opening day 2021 and make a beeline for the Haunted Mansion to experience the updates, refreshed sets, and new effects added to the refurbished attraction. We also discuss the latest Haunted Mansion news, including a Muppets mash-up, new merch (of course), and an exhibit from the Disney Archives that is closing soon.
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DoomBuggies Episode 30: New changes to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion
04/19/2021
DoomBuggies Episode 30: New changes to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion
This month, Jeff and Julia present a special edition of the DoomBuggies Podcast to discuss the soon-to-be-unveiled changes coming to the Disneyland version of the Haunted Mansion, which include fan-favorite characters and new props and effects which call back to some of the Imagineer's earliest concepts for the attraction.
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Episode 29: Ghost Stories
03/15/2021
Episode 29: Ghost Stories
Welcome, Foolish Mortals - to the DoomBuggies Podcast! This week, we take a look at some of the ghost stories that existed during the conceptualization of the Haunted Mansion, and consider some of the ideas and tales that might have influenced the Walt Disney and his Imagineers as they designed the greatest haunted house dark ride of all time. Also, in news, we mention some new artwork dealing with the Haunted Mansion, a new publication ready for pre-order, and we await the reopening of Disneyland and the original Haunted Mansion attraction.
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Ep. 28: Melanie Ravenswood and the Phantom Manor
02/13/2021
Ep. 28: Melanie Ravenswood and the Phantom Manor
This month, DoomBuggies explores the topic of nuptial doom, specifically as found in the recently renovated Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris. We meet Melanie Ravenswood, the bride of the manor, and discuss her tragic history, the sorrow of loves lost, and the new special effects that were added to the attraction in 2019. We also discuss our favorite couples in the Haunted Mansion, and share the latest news in which Donny Osmond remembers going to school in the Haunted Mansion as a child - and more!
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Episode 27: The Haunted Mansion's Ghost Gallery
01/13/2021
Episode 27: The Haunted Mansion's Ghost Gallery
This month, we are going back to the late 1980s to discuss a much-discussed book of tales: The Haunted Mansion's Ghost Gallery. This collection of stories was developed by Cast Members from the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion attraction, and it represented their attempt to describe all of the denizens of the Mansion. We'll discuss the history of the collection, the development of the stories, and we'll read a few excerpts. Plus - we list our favorite graveyard ghosts, and we discuss the new merchandise that is hitting the shelves.
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Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks
12/13/2020
Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks
This month, we take a dive into the newest gigantic tome for your tomb published by Disney Editions - Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World from Fall to Winter, by Graham Allan, Charlie Price and the director of the Walt Disney Archives, Rebecca Cline. We dig specifically into the book-length chapter about Haunted Mansion Holiday, and discuss some of the revelations and artwork unearthed by this magnificent collection of photos and facts. Plus - some Haunted Mansion related gift ideas, and more.
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DoomBuggies Episode 25: The architecture of the Haunted Mansion, part 2
11/13/2020
DoomBuggies Episode 25: The architecture of the Haunted Mansion, part 2
This month, we present part two of our discussion of the architecture of the Haunted Mansion, and discuss the look, feel and architectural style and era of the facade buildings in Anaheim and Orlando that give the Haunted Mansion its spooky setting. We discuss the atmosphere and styling created by WED Imagineer Claude Coats, the historical setting dedicated to each of the Mansions' settings, and the single book that started it all. Plus - news about Haunted Mansion paper projects, spooky "no-touch pulls," NBC pop-up advent calendar... and a discussion of Haunted Mansion Holiday's pros and cons.
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DoomBuggies Halloween 2020: The Haunted Mansion, Nov. '68 script
10/31/2020
DoomBuggies Halloween 2020: The Haunted Mansion, Nov. '68 script
In this special Halloween 2020 edition of the DoomBuggies Podcast, Jeff and Julia present a word-for-word dramatization of the continuity and narration working script for Disneyland's Haunted Mansion from November 13, 1968, as written by famed WED Imagineer X. Atencio. Enjoy this peek behind the scenes at the production of the greatest haunted house attraction ever created. Happy Halloween, Doombugs and Foomorts!
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DoomBuggies Episode 23: The Architecture of the Haunted Mansion
10/14/2020
DoomBuggies Episode 23: The Architecture of the Haunted Mansion
Welcome, foolish mortals, to the DoomBuggies Podcast! This week, we celebrate the start of the spooking season by listing our favorite Disney Halloween video treats (all of which are available to stream on Disney Plus, to boot!) Then we discuss the latest news, including a virtual fan-created Haunted Mansion project, some new Haunted Mansion merch, and a cool virtual trick-or-treat fundraiser. Finally, we discuss the origins of the Haunted Mansion's architecture, and consider what really lies under the foundations of that old house on the hill.
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DoomBuggies Episode 22: Creepy crafting, auction results
09/14/2020
DoomBuggies Episode 22: Creepy crafting, auction results
This month, DoomBuggies celebrates the start of the spooking season with some crafty tips from some bewitching artists. But first, we take a look at the results of the recent Van Eaton Disneyland memorabilia auction to consider the value of some of the high profile Haunted Mansion souvenirs that were sold. Then, DoomBuggies welcomes artisans Emma "Emmacabre" Mosier and Tina Biles to the show to discuss some ways to keep things spooky this Halloween, from inspiration to methodology. Learn easy ways for you to spookify your own home. We also have all the latest Haunted Mansion news, including new merch, comics, rumors of a new movie, and special events hosted by the Walt Disney Family Museum.
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DoomBuggies Episode 21: "Disneyland: The First 65 Years" auction
08/09/2020
DoomBuggies Episode 21: "Disneyland: The First 65 Years" auction
This month, DoomBuggies celebrates the Haunted Mansion's 51st birthday with a plethora of spooky happenings. We all might be locked down, but opportunities await. While Disneyland's Oogie Boogie Bash might have been cancelled, you can still get your scare on by buying candles with dancing flames using licensed Imagineering technology, or taking a haunted virtual run while learning about the Bay Area's most ghostly places. We also discuss Super 7's Comic Con Haunted Mansion "ReAction" figures, which quickly sold out... and then we explore the upcoming Van Eaton Galleries auction called "Disneyland: The First 65 Years," which contains a plethora of amazing artifacts for Haunted Mansion fans to ghoul over.. er, drool over. Plus - our favorite Haunted Mansion-related experiences - and more!
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DoomBuggies Episode 20: Mansion merch report, Ub Iwerks
07/13/2020
DoomBuggies Episode 20: Mansion merch report, Ub Iwerks
In this month's episode of The DoomBuggies Podcast, DoomBuggies' founder Jeff Baham introduces co-host Julia Layne and they introduce the show's new format, then talk about some new Haunted Mansion merchandise hitting the virtual shelves, including dolls, tiki mugs, Funko, face masks, and more. Next, Jeff offers a short history lesson on the contributions of Disney Legend (and Walt's original business partner) Ub Iwerks to the special projection effects used in the Haunted Mansion.
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DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 19: Haunted Mansion 50th, potential origin stories
07/13/2019
DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 19: Haunted Mansion 50th, potential origin stories
In this episode of the DoomBuggies Spook Show, we look at some opportunities that are coming quickly as the Haunted Mansion's 50th anniversary rapidly approaches on August 9, 2019. DoomBuggies offers a special event on August 9, while Disneyland offers its own overnight spooky celebration celebrating the anniversary with two parties and the release of a plethora of new art and collectibles. Then, Jeff talks about the winners of the D23 Expo Design Challenge and reviews "Happy Haunts Materialize: Fifty Spirited Years of the Haunted Mansion" at the Disney Gallery at Disneyland. Finally, we take a look at two potential moments of inspiration behind the Haunted Mansion - one being an article from a Kansas City newspaper from 1921, and one being an episode from a radio show from 1949. Both provide an interesting context to the world into which the Haunted Mansion emerged in 1969.
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DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 18: Ken Anderson and Disneyland's Haunted House
09/07/2017
DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 18: Ken Anderson and Disneyland's Haunted House
In this episode of the DoomBuggies Spook Show, we look at the earliest plans for Walt Disney's Haunted Mansion as envisioned by WED Imagineer Ken Anderson in 1957. Thanks to recent discoveries this year, new details about Ken Anderson's plans for a haunted house at Disneyland have been unearthed, and we take a deep dive into the various ideas and proposed floor plans for this surprisingly grim attraction. From a conceptual link between the pirates of New Orleans Square and Walt Disney's proposed haunted house, to an old house haunted by Disney's Lonesome Ghosts, we mull over Ken Anderson's various ideas for the haunted house before it became known as The Haunted Mansion. Plus - plans for DoomBuggies 20th anniversary events are announced; Haunted Mansion products are discussed; and a review of AtmosFX's latest digital decorating kit.
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DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 17: Foolish Mortals Documentary, Ghost Post ride-through
10/26/2016
DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 17: Foolish Mortals Documentary, Ghost Post ride-through
Happy Halloween! Celebrate the 20th year of DoomBuggies.com with this special episode of the DoomBuggies Spook Show. In this episode, we speak with the director (James H. Carter II) and executive producer (Ryan Grulich) of "Foolish Mortals," a documentary about Haunted Mansion fandom. Learn about their inspiration, goals, and discoveries along the way toward finishing this film, and their own personal histories with the Haunted Mansion. We also will take an audio trip through Disneyland's Haunted Mansion with a twist - join me in a special Doom Buggy designated for Ghost Post subscribers, and communicate with the Mansion's happy haunts directly! Plus - Disneyland's family plot returns to the Haunted Mansion grounds; new podcasts announced; new merchandise reviewed; Disney XD premiers animated Haunted Mansion shorts; and Jeff announces a special appearance at Creature Features in Burbank on November 19.
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DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 16: Imagineer Patrick Romandy-Simmons, Ghost Post subscriptions
05/13/2016
DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 16: Imagineer Patrick Romandy-Simmons, Ghost Post subscriptions
In this special Friday the 13th episode, we welcome Imagineer Patrick Romandy-Simmons to the show to talk about the anniversary of the reappearance of the Hat Box Ghost in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. Patrick sculpted the new character, and shares secrets about the creation of the ghost, as well as other haunting tales about his career with Disney, including a story about Marc Davis and "Friday the 13th Part VII". In other news, Guillermo del Toro is trending again with a tidbit about his Haunted Mansion film project; Disney uses RFID to personalize your trip through the Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion; the Haunted Mansion comic book from Marvel is going strong, and The Disney Store releases a subscription to the "Ghost Post," a box of Haunted Mansion collectibles that doubles as an alternate reality game. Visit Patrick Romandy-Simmons at https://www.facebook.com/ArtOfPatrickRomandySimmons, www.instagram.com/ipatrickromsim, and www.patrickromsim.tumblr.com . 2yf3w6kk
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DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 15: Joshua Williamson on Marvel's "The Haunted Mansion"
02/16/2016
DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 15: Joshua Williamson on Marvel's "The Haunted Mansion"
On this episode of the DoomBuggies Spook Show, host Jeff Baham speaks with comic book writer Joshua Williamson about Marvel's new Disney Kingdoms title, "The Haunted Mansion." Williamson talks about his history as an artist, his interest in Disney's Haunted Mansion, and his trek through Disney fandom. We talk about how he goes about creating characters for this enigmatic attraction, and the book's balance of spookiness and silliness. In other news, Jeff talks to actor Doug Jones about the possibility of becoming Guillermo Del Toro's Hat Box Ghost, and we remember WED Imagineer Paul Saunders, who recently passed away. Also, we host a custom Haunted Mansion Mickey Ears giveaway, courtesy of Etsy's Pixie Dust Dreams by Renee.
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DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 14: The Hat Box Ghost, The Ghost Host, and The Queen of Halloween
10/05/2015
DoomBuggies Spook Show Episode 14: The Hat Box Ghost, The Ghost Host, and The Queen of Halloween
Bridget Marquardt, the "Queen of Halloween," joins this jam-packed holiday edition of the DoomBuggies Spook Show to share some tips for celebrating Halloween as we dive into the fall season. Imagineer Daniel Joseph joins us to talk about the triumphant return of the Hat Box Ghost to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, and to discuss some of the obstacles that WDI had to overcome to bring the beloved character back to (after) life. Author Jason Surrell joins us to talk about the new edition of his book "The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic," and to talk about some of the heroes from the development of the incredible attraction. Finally, Disney voice actors Mark Silverman, Margaret Kerry, and original "Ghost Host" Peter Renaday join DoomBuggies' own Jeff Baham and Mousetalgia's Kristen Pfeifer in a re-enactment of the original 1969 "Story and Song of the Haunted Mansion" record album. Plus - a free Halloween soundscapes album, lots of Halloween news... and more!
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