The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 9: Madame Leota

When Karen and Pegasus enter the Séance Room, they receive a mysterious welcome, and Karen’s intuition tells her that what they are about to experience is Disney magic just for them.

Image of Madame Leota

Here is a picture of Madame Leota, the disembodied medium of the Haunted Mansion, the floating face who appears in this scene. Thanks to madam3leota on Pinterest for the image. I don’t know the original source.

And if you are curious about the woman whose face appears in the glass sphere, look at this article. She was an artist and one of the original Disney Imagineers, Leota Toombs Thomas.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/03/recognizing-women-of-the-disneyland-resort-leota-toombs-thomas/

Scene 9: Madame Leota

Karen peeked into the room beyond the door, then Pegasus stuck his head in above hers. They saw a room that was almost dark. A ghostly shape floated in the background, but the ornate wooden table illuminated by a hanging lamp with an embroidered shade and strings of glass beads hanging from its edges held their attention. Karen looked at the table and the beautiful chair on the other side.

“Pegasus, my legs feel weak. Do you suppose it’s okay if I sit in that chair?”

As they pondered her question, a glass sphere resting in a bronze frame on top of the table filled with a ghostly light. The face of a beautiful woman appeared in it, as if her head were floating, and she had no body.

She spoke in poetry:

Serpents and spiders, tail of a rat
call in the spirits wherever you’re at.
Karen and Pegasus, honest and fair,
please take a seat in this lovely old chair.

Karen realized the woman had been speaking to her and now stared at the chair. As she tottered across the room, the disembodied head continued speaking:

Rap on a table, it’s time to respond,
send us a message from somewhere beyond.
Goblins and ghoulies from last Halloween
awaken the spirits with your tambourine.

Karen slowly lowered herself into the chair. Pegasus stood behind her. They heard someone rap on the table, but whoever it was, was invisible. Then they heard a tambourine jingle.

The woman continued:

Creepies and crawlies, toads in a pond
let there be music from regions beyond.
Wizards and witches wherever you dwell
give us a hint by ringing a bell…

A bell sounded, and Karen felt shivers run up and down her spine. She almost stood up to run away, but the woman turned and spoke directly to her. Karen knew in her heart that this would not be part of the standard Haunted Mansion ride, when it opened in the future. This was just for her and her horse.

Original Text ©2021, Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved. (Part of the text was adapted from the actual poem that Madame Leota recited. You can read about it at this link: https://discuss.micechat.com/forum/disney-theme-park-news-and-discussion/disneyland-resort/38124-disneyland-history-the-haunted-mansion-seance-room

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 8: In the Haunted Mansion

In this scene, once again brave Karen and Pegasus overcome their fears and actually enjoy being in a haunted house full of ghosts. But when the ride ends, they receive a mysterious invitation. What will happen, next?

If you’re interested in Disney history, here’s a link to an article on the opening of the Haunted Mansion, along with a picture that is part of the article.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/08/today-in-disney-history-haunted-mansion-opened-at-disneyland-park-in-1969/

Scene 8: In the Haunted Mansion

They walked slowly up the stairs to the open door. When they stepped inside, it slammed behind them. Karen whirled and grabbed the doorknob, but it would not turn.

A deep voice said, “Welcome, Karen and Pegasus. We have been awaiting your presence. This attraction will not open to the public for years, but for you it is open today.”

Lights in sconces provided the only illumination. Sunlight did not seem able to pass through the windows. The lights flickered and dimmed slowly. Suddenly, they moved and danced about in the air.. Karen giggled nervously and held onto Pegasus’ mane. She did not know what to expect.

The deep voice said, “Please move forward to the next room.”

Karen continued to hold Pegasus’ mane, as they passed through a pair of double doors into another room. Everything seemed to rotate in it. Then an old-fashioned carriage appeared.

“Please enjoy your ride in your Doom Buggy,” the voice said. “It is specially made to carry horses as well as people.”

“Hold on to me, Kitten.” Pegasus said. “I do not want to fall out of this thing.”

As soon as they got in, Karen sat down and held Pegasus with both arms around his neck. A ghost appeared ahead of them. She looked at it, and it looked back at her.

“Oh!” Karen said.

She was startled. But then, she and Pegasus both began to giggle out of a combination of being scared and having jittery nerves. They did not know what to expect.

Next, they saw their own reflections, as if they were ghosts, too. Their heads seemed to float along beside them.

With each twist and turn they began to relax. Soon, they were laughing. They didn’t want it to end, but the Doom Buggy stopped.

The deep voice said, “There is someone here who wants to speak with you, Karen and Pegasus. Please go up the stairs to the Séance Room of Madame Leota.”

“Oh boy, Pegasus. Now I’m scared,” Karen whispered.

“That’s all right Kitten. Just as you said, we need to face our fears and climb those stairs.”

The stairs were wide, but as the reached each floor, they grew narrower. At last, they reached the top and stood before a closed door. They looked at each other, and Karen knocked.

From inside, a woman’s voice said, “You have faced your fear, so you may enter here.”

Karen reached for the doorknob with her strong right hand. It turned, and she pushed the door open.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 7: The Haunted Mansion

In this scene, Karen and Pegasus stroll by the Haunted Mansion. It will not open to the public for years, but the Disney magic opens it for them. Karen overcomes her fear and leads Pegasus toward the ghosts waiting inside.

The image is from the Wonderful World of Disney Magazine, Vol. 1 No 4, with thanks to the Internet Archive.

Scene 7: The Haunted Mansion

As they moseyed down the street, they veered to the left. A huge white mansion house stood about fifteen feet away from them. As Karen watched, it shimmered as if it were not quite real.

“Pegasus,” she said. “What’s happening? That house looks really strange.”

“I don’t know, Kitten,” he replied. “It looks strange to me, too. Look at that sign in front of it.”

They read the sign. It said ghosts could move in sometime in the future.

“I think it’s a coming attraction, boy. It isn’t open, yet.”

“I can’t stop shivering, Kitten. If it isn’t ready, then why is the front door opening, and why is a scary voice calling for us to enter?”

“What do you mean, boy? I see the door and hear the voice, too. What should we do?”

“I think it’s more of the Disney magic, Kitten. It won’t really open for years, but it’s open for us, today.”

“Let’s go in, Pegasus,” Karen said, as she motioned with her hand. “That’s the best thing to do when you’re scared. You have to face your fears, or you’ll never get anywhere. I’m scared, but I’m going in.”

“Okay, Kitten. I’ll be by your side.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 6: Mouse Ears

In this scene, Karen and Pegasus don their own mouse ears, and once again the Magic Kingdom welcomes them and accepts them as they are. Believe it or not, I had trouble finding a picture of the mouse ear beanies as they used to be, but finally I found one on ebay. This cap was actually from Walt Disney World, but the ones at Disneyland were essentially the same.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/143616542871 Mickey Mouse Ears cap

Scene 6: Mouse Ears

As they strolled down Main Street, they enjoyed every moment. They looked into shop windows and even visited some of them. Then Karen noticed something. Nearly all the other children were wearing something that she was not.

“Pegasus,” she said. “I think we forgot to buy something very important. Can you guess what it is?”

Pegasus thought for a moment, and then said, “No, Kitten, I cannot. We bought tickets to get in. We bought food. You wanted to buy a glass figurine, but they were too expensive, so you are going to save your money to buy one. When we get to the rides, we can go on them, but we are not that far, yet. What am I missing?”

“Well,” Karen said slyly. “You and I each have two of these, already. Can you guess, now?”

“Eyes?”

“You’re very close, my friend. What do we have two of that are beside our eyes, but just around our heads?”

“Ears? We have two ears, right?”

“Yes! Pegasus! You guessed it, but what kind of ears do we need for a day at Disneyland?”

Pegasus laughed, as he realized what she was hinting at.

“Mouse ears!” he said. “We need Mickey Mouse ears.”

“Yes!” Karen said. “There’s a souvenir stand. Let’s go buy some.”

The bright red stand sold all kinds of Disneyland souvenirs, everything from hats to pillows and even little white gloves.

Karen said to the girl working at it, “I want to buy a Mickey Mouse beanie for myself, and do you have one that’s big enough for my horse?”

The girl said, “Not a beanie, but I think this might work.”

She pulled a springy headband with Mickey ears attached to it down from her display.

“You wanna try it on him?” she asked.

“Sure!” Karen said as Pegasus lowered his head, so she could put the headband on him.

He straightened up and said, “How do I look? Do they fit right?”

The girl’s mouth opened wide, and she said, “You’re a talking horse! You’re magical, and I think the mouse ears look great on you.”

“Thank you,” Pegasus said. “How about you, Kitten? Do they look good?”

Karen’s heart filled with joy, not only about the ears but about how the girl accepted Pegasus as magical.

Blinking back tears of joy, she said, “You look fantastic!”

She put a beanie on herself and paid for her purchases.

The girl said, “Be sure to come back and see me, next time you come to Disneyland.”

Karen and Pegasus said in unison, “We sure will.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 5: The Glass Blower

In this scene, Karen and Pegasus watch in wonder as a glass artist creates a figurine of a horse. Karen takes another step toward learning to make her own decisions by deciding that she will save her money so she can buy one.

If you are interested in glass blowing, here’s a link to some info about the Disneyland glassblowing studio, followed by a link to a YouTube video that will show you how it’s done.

Scene 5: The Glass Blower

After they finished their snacks, they continued walking. They passed a bank with a line of people standing outside.

“Pegasus, why do you suppose they’re standing in line?”

Her horse replied, “Probably to cash checks, so they have money to spend.”

“Oh,” Karen said. “I hadn’t thought of that. How do you know so much, Pegasus?”

He laughed and said, “I heard Tex and Babbs talking about going to their bank for cash, so it wasn’t hard to figure out.”

They walked a little further, and Karen looked into a store.

“Oh my!” she said.

Pegasus stuck his head into the shop and then froze in fascination.

As they watched, a man held a long metal tube with a blob of red-hot glass on the end of it. He blew into the tube, and as he blew he turned it. At first it was just a big blob of color, but as they watched, he created a glass sculpture of a horse.

When he finished, they took a moment to look at the beautiful blown glass figurines that filled the shop’s shelves.

“Pegasus, I’m going to save enough money to buy one of those.”

They backed out of the shop and continued on their way.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 4: A Pear for Pegasus

In this scene, Pegasus takes a huge step forward. He speaks in public for the first time ever, because he knows that in Disneyland magic is not only acceptable, it is valued for the wonder it brings into everyone’s life.

Here is a picture of what the fruit stand might have looked like, with thanks to The Mouse for Less.

Scene 4: A Pear for Pegasus

As they walked toward the fruit stand under its green awnings, Karen saw that it was almost overflowing with fresh apples, bananas, oranges, pears, and other fruits lying in baths of ice. Bottles of soda pop sat chilling in metal tubs of ice. Everything was cold and fresh and perfect to eat.

The man working at the stand shouted, “Come and get your delicious cold fruit and drinks here!”

She asked Pegasus, “What looks good to you, boy?”

He thought for a moment and then answered, “You know, Kitten, since I’ve been fully alive I’ve become very fond of fruit. I have eaten apples and bananas and some others, but never a pear. Not even one. So, I think that’s what I would like, if it’s all right with you. My very first pear on this very special day.”

“Sure,” she said. “If you like apples, you’ll love pears.”

“And you know what else, Kitten? I think I’d like to order it myself.”

“You mean you’re going to talk to the man at the stand?”

“Yes! This is the Magical Kingdom, and I think it will be just fine. Everyone here expects to encounter something wonderful and something magical. They’ll think I’m just part of the show.”

Karen laughed and said, “I’m sure they will, boy, but you’re never just part of anything. You’re the star.”

They laughed some more, and then got into line. When their turn came, the vendor asked Karen, “What would you like, young lady?”

To his surprise, Karen kept quiet as Pegasus answered, “Actually, sir, I would like a pear for myself. My friend already got a Mickey Mouse pretzel for herself. And how much will a pear cost?”

All of a sudden, everyone around them stopped talking for a moment, and then several people said at once, “It’s a talking horse! Isn’t Disneyland just the best! How do they do these things? He looks so real, and now he’s going to eat a pear.”

The man at the stand took a step backward and then said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were cast members. No charge for you, then. But which movie are you from? I know Mister Ed, but that’s not Disney.”

Karen felt her heart sink and did not know how to reply, but Pegasus said, “We shall be in a forthcoming feature film. It’s still in the early planning stage.”

Karen and Pegasus turned around and into the Town Square, where they found a quiet space where they could eat together.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 3: The Pretzel Cart

In this scene, Karen once again demonstrates that she is growing up. She buys herself a pretzel, but holds off on enjoying it until she can get a suitable treat for Pegasus. If you’re curious about how you can make these pretzels at home, here is a link to the recipe, courtesy of the Official Disney Fan Club:

https://d23.com/mickey-pretzels-and-cheesy-dip

D23 Party Kit recipe Pretzels and cheesy dip

Scene 3: The Pretzel Cart

Karen and Pegasus poked their heads into many of the shops, as they walked down the street. Then, they stopped at a cart parked in the street. In it, Karen saw a man shaping dough into pretzels that looked like Mickey Mouse. Karen’s eyes were focused on him. She had never seen anything like this before.

“Um, yummy,” Karen said. “I love those pretzels, Pegasus. They must taste so good. Perhaps I’ll get one later.”

“If you want one, Kitten, why don’t you buy one, now? Breakfast was a long time ago. I think we’re both due for a snack to keep up our strength.”

“You’re right, boy. My stomach is growling like a tiger.”

She bought one of the pretzels and started to take a bite out of it, but then paused.

“What about you, Pegasus? You must be hungry, too.”

Her horse neighed and said, “I see a fruit stand just ahead. They must have a good treat for a horse.”

“Yes!” Karen said. “I’m sure they must, and I’ll hold onto my treat until we can eat together.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 2: Pegasus Meets a Horse

In this scene, Karen strolls down Main Street and sees how architecture and color can create a feeling of joy and safety, so people can relax and forget their worries. Pegasus then expresses his appreciation for what she has done for him, and she realizes that she truly can give as well as receive.

Here is a vintage postcard I found on Etsy. It shows how Main Street looked in the era when Karen brought Pegasus to it.

As of this writing, it is for sale. You can buy it here.

Scene 2: Pegasus Meets a Horse

Pegasus carried Karen along with the flow of people, until they saw a horse-drawn street car from the 1890s pulled by a large brown horse.

“I wonder if I’m related to that horse. I’m going to talk to him,” Pegasus said.

“Okay, boy,” Karen said. “Just let me get down, first. I want to walk around while you talk. You can catch up with me in a few minutes.”

After watching her mount stroll over and begin a conversation that looked to her like a lot of neighing, blowing, and hoof-stamping, Karen found her attention drawn to the feeling that Main Street gave her. Everyone around her looked happy, and they all got along with each other.

She walked between the rows of colorful buildings. Some stood tall, while others were short. Golden yellows and beiges set the tone of the street. Awnings shaded some shop windows, while balconies with beveled glass doors opening onto them topped others. There was a cheerful Mediterranean and Spanish look to some. They had different style columns. That’s what made them look so distinctive. Some were thick and square, while others were round.

She realized that it was the architecture and colors that made the street so warm and inviting. They put people at ease, so they could relax and enjoy themselves.

She strolled by a row of shops. Some sold candy and ice cream. Some sold clothes. There were even a bank and a pharmacy, just like in a real town.

After a few minutes, Pegasus came bounding up to her, filled with energy. She had never seen him prance like this before.

He neighed and then said, “I can’t believe it, Kitten! This place is amazing. It’s even better than I imagined it would be. I visited with that brown horse. He was so friendly that I made friends with him. He said that working here is the best thing a horse could hope for. There really is magic here. I don’t know how to show you my appreciation for bringing me here, Kitten. You don’t know what this means to me.”

Karen was moved beyond words. She needed a minute to compose herself. She knew now, that she could, indeed, bring about blessings. She knew that she had made her stallion completely happy. She knew that she could give to him, as well as receive the blessings of his presence and guidance.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 1: Karen and Pegasus Begin Their Disneyland Adventure

In this scene, Karen and Pegasus are no more than a few minutes into their exploration of Disneyland, when they get the feeling that not only are they welcome, but that the place has its own magic. Thanks, again, to yesterland.com for their historical photos. This is a scan of a photo of the Red Wagon Inn as it would have appeared.

Scene 1: Karen and Pegasus Begin Their Disneyland Adventure

“Pegasus! Let’s explore,” she said.

Her faithful steed mosied to Main Street. He walked carefully, so he would not bump into the other guests and the cast members dressed as Disney characters. Mickey and Minnie held hands and skipped along beside them. Donald Duck waved and squawked. Snow White waved one white-gloved hand and blew a kiss to Pegasus. He whinnied and pranced.

When they got to Main Street, a barbershop quartet standing in front of the Red Wagon Restaurant broke into the theme song from Mister Ed. Pegasus did a little dance, as they sang, “A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no one can talk to a horse, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed!”

Karen leaned forward and whispered into his ear, “This place really is magical, and we both fit in.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 14, Scene 5: Karen Buys Tickets

In this scene, Karen and Pegasus exit the tram and enter Disneyland. Everyone is nice to them, and she gets their picture taken. Once again, thanks to Yesterland for their historical photos.

https://yesterland.com/images-mainstreet/entrance_floralmickey1998ww.jpg

Scene 5: Karen Buys Tickets

When the tram stopped, Karen thanked the driver and said good-bye to the other passengers. Several of them said they hoped that she and her horse had a wonderful day.

Karen held Pegasus by his mane and led him to the line of people waiting their turn to buy tickets. When they reached the cream-colored booth, the lady inside said that Pegasus could get in for free. She pointed to a gate that Karen and her horse could use since they could not get through the turnstiles.

As soon as they got into the park, Karen spotted the Mickey Mouse flowerbed in front the Disneyland Train Station. She jumped up onto Pegasus’s back and rode to it.

“Excuse me,” she said to a passing couple. “Could you please take our picture? Here’s my camera.”

She pulled a little Brownie camera out of her bag and handed it to them. The lady took a picture and returned the camera.

“Thank you!” Karen said. “I bought this camera just for today.”