MSB S1E08: In the Haunted House

Time for me to take chances, make mistakes, get scared! I'm going to review an episode focused on how we hear sounds and how sounds vibrate. Blog, do your stuff!

8. In the Haunted House.
Topic: Sound.
Written by: John May, Kristin Laskas Martin & Jocelyn Stevenson

Guest star: Carol Channing as Cornelia C. Contralto II.
Aired: 30 October 1994.

Carlos invents a new instrument for the class concert at the "Sound Museum," but it sounds awful. When the bus breaks down, they miss the rehearsal, giving Carlos more time to perfect his instrument. But to do so, the class must learn how sound is made in the middle of the night in the Sound Museum itself, where they learn about the history of the museum.

Looks like the entire class is having a William Tell Overture in the concert. With Carlos on a strange instrument he made himself with the help of Dorothy Ann, Keesha on a clarinet, Tim on a violin, Liz on a drum kit, Wanda on a trombone, Phoebe on a saxophone, Arnold on a sousaphone, Ralphie on a xylophone, and Dorothy Ann conducting.

Don't know what instrument Carlos is on, but it kind of looks strange, especially the weird sounds it makes whenever he tries to perfect it.

"Oh dear, what can the matter be?"

Never mind about Johnny, Ms. Frizzle. Just look for a phone for a mechanic to help repair the main character.



Oh, Carlos! You and your eary pun. One occasion where the rest of the class dislike your puns. This joke does work since that's a gargoyle with moving ears.

The one who lived in this haunted house was Professor Cornelia C. Contralto, born 1807, disappeared in 1892. According to this episode, she died 102 years before this episode.

"You mean your house doesn't have a jungle, an ocean, a city, and an alpine wonderland?"
Nah! The landlord wouldn't go along with it!"
"Tim!"

Who would've thought Tim would make a pun? 

Someone took Carlos' instrument! But who? 

One funny thing about this episode is how scary it is, especially considering the setting and the topic it teaches kids. Earlier, as the door slammed shut, Arnold jumped in Ralphie's arms, here, he and Dorothy Ann are holding each other out of fear. Anyone would hug another out of being in the dark.

Here's the one who took Carlos' instrument. Professor Cornelia C. Contralto II, the great granddaughter of Cornelia. And she was told about Carlos' instrument. 

Here's another hint of possible love in the series. Dorothy Ann hugging Carlos for performing the perfect sound. I take it this is one of the reasons very many people who grew up with this series ship these 2. Even so, these 2 kids are my favourites. I went into detail as to why here.

Yep. This is one scary producer. A ghost producer! Even Liz is scared out of her wits here!


This episode scared even me, especially considering its spooky tone, and considering the Producer Segment. It was a ghost answering the call.

Some funny things about this are not only Carlos' eary pun, but also how scared Arnold, Ralphie, and to a lesser extent, Dorothy Ann, were. This would've been a perfect moment for Arnold to have stay home. But then, the entire class would have been a laughing stock had he done that.

Also, Tim made a good pun here too. "The landlord wouldn't go along with it." where everyone called out "Tim!"

And it showed that someone took Carlos' instrument, but the one who did it was Professor Cornelia C. Contralto the 2nd (Voiced by Carol Channing), just to help perfect it.

This episode was one of those moments where Wanda ordered the class to move along, calling them "A bunch of Weaselly Wimps".

Scary or not, this episode was a very good way to teach kids about how sounds vibrate. The blue ripples joined together represent high sounds while red ripples represent low sounds. What makes it more interesting to me is that it focuses on Dorothy Ann and Carlos. The 2 kids are my favourites in the series, so I guess I'm being biased. And how scared the kids got was funny. Also, Carlos did make the perfect sound in the end. But then again, we can't really see sound, but really, we just hear it.

My rating: 9.5/10.

Season 1 scorecard.

1. Gets Lost in Space: 9/10.

2. For Lunch: 10/10.

3. Inside Ralphie: 9/10.

4. Gets Eaten: 8.5/10.

5. Hops Home: 10/10.

6. Meets the Rot Squad: 8/10.

7. All Dried Up: 10/10.

8. In the Haunted House: 9.5/10.

Season 1 so far: 9.2/10.