Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize

September 14, 2017 11:46 PM

Disney imagineer and legend Francis Xavier "X" Atencio has died. Starting work at Disney in 1938, he worked on such films as Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Mary Poppins, but he is best known for his work on Disneyland, the theme park, several decades later. Of particular note are his lyrics to the songs of two classic Disneyland attractions: The Haunted Mansion's "Grim Grinning Ghosts (The Screaming Song)" and The Pirates of the Caribbean's "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)." (both links YouTube.)

Before writing "Yo Ho," X had never written a song before. As the obituary on official Disney fansite D23 says, "He simply proposed the idea of a tune for Pirates of the Caribbean, and Walt told him to go and do it." X also wrote the scripts for both of the rides.

Atencio was 98.

posted by Karlos the Jackal (22 comments total)

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posted by Hermione Granger at 11:53 PM on September 14, 2017

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🎶Drink up me hearties Yo Ho!🎶
(There's a hell of a lot of work in that song and the music that goes with it).
posted by rongorongo at 12:24 AM on September 15, 2017 [2 favorites]

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we maraud and embezzle and even hijack

at least it's an ethos
posted by mwhybark at 12:55 AM on September 15, 2017 [2 favorites]

posted by Karlos the Jackal

and my apologies, eponysomething
posted by mwhybark at 12:58 AM on September 15, 2017

Meeting X was one of the coolest things I ever did while I worked for Disney. All the nine old men are gone. X is gone, Hench is gone, Marty is gone.. sheesh, that's the whole slate I can think of.
posted by drewbage1847 at 1:02 AM on September 15, 2017 [6 favorites]

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posted by mystyk at 3:15 AM on September 15, 2017

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posted by filtergik at 3:16 AM on September 15, 2017

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posted by okayokayigive at 3:39 AM on September 15, 2017

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posted by Faint of Butt at 3:49 AM on September 15, 2017

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posted by doctornecessiter at 5:25 AM on September 15, 2017

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posted by mikelieman at 5:26 AM on September 15, 2017

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posted by Gelatin at 5:43 AM on September 15, 2017

To the 1000th Happy Haunt, may what you brought to us continue to bring us joy.

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posted by strixus at 6:18 AM on September 15, 2017 [3 favorites]

I am a nearly fanatical Haunted Mansion fan. I was at the Haunted Mansion in Orlando right before it closed for Irma on Saturday. X died the next day. He was a genius and his work will always be appreciated by Mansion Addicts.

As his gravestone says, no time off for good behavior.

Thanks X.
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posted by Sophie1 at 6:49 AM on September 15, 2017 [6 favorites]

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posted by DigDoug at 7:50 AM on September 15, 2017

All the nine old men are gone.

Bob Gurr is still around, does he count?
posted by davejay at 8:00 AM on September 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

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posted by tobascodagama at 8:22 AM on September 15, 2017

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posted by potrzebie at 9:23 AM on September 15, 2017

The Haunted Mansion is hands down my favorite part of Walt Disney World. I have a framed illustration of the mansion and its hitchhiking ghosts hanging in my house. The song is catchy as hell. RIP X. Keep on grimly grinning.

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posted by Roommate at 9:35 AM on September 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

💀
posted by radwolf76 at 6:08 PM on September 15, 2017

👻
posted by Ogre Lawless at 7:54 PM on September 15, 2017

All the nine old men are gone.

Bob Gurr is still around, does he count?

I think drewbage1847 meant the Nine Old Men in addition to X, Hench, and the other imagineers like Gurr.

The Nine Old Men were Walt's animation masters, and consisted of Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Marc Davis, Woolie Reitherman...*checks Wikipedia* Ward Kimball, Milt Kahl, Les Clark, John Lounsbery, and Eric Larson.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 3:08 PM on September 16, 2017 [1 favorite]