Ghost Wanted (1940) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The big ghost is the interviewer who runs the haunting job at 1313 Dracula Drive. He uses intimidation tactics like yelling 'Boo!,' sending a Ghostal Telegraph, and dropping a lit firecracker to test whether the newcomer is tough enough for the job, or perhaps to eliminate competition. However, his plan completely backfires when the fireworks ignite in his own pocket, sending him flying into a well outside the house.

Foreshadowing: The Laughing Ghost briefly practices haunted poses in his mirror earlier, hinting that auditions involve demonstrating scare skills.

• big ghost
• interviewer
• scare tactics
• intimidation
• audition

The bigger ghost drops a lit firecracker (resembling an M-80) to scare the little ghost, but the match he uses also ignites fireworks he had tucked in his own back pocket. The resulting explosion propels him wildly through the house until he crashes out the building and falls into a well outside.

• firecracker
• explosion
• back pocket
• big ghost
• accident

No. The audition fails before it can properly finish. The big ghost's own contraptions backfire, causing chaos that allows the little ghost to escape. He runs back to his own house and returns to studying his guide book, effectively turning down the opportunity by fleeing.

Foreshadowing: He reads that the job requires no experience, but the actual interview proves far more dangerous than advertised.

• haunting job
• audition
• fail
• escape
• job listing

He swaps from his white ghost sheet into a light blue suit and white hat to look professional for his job interview. Even though he becomes invisible during the brief change, he still prefers opening doors rather than passing through them invisibly, showing he values presentation and proper etiquette for the occasion.

• suit
• clothes change
• job interview
• professional
• appearance

The big ghost is launched out of the mountain house by his own exploding fireworks and falls into a well outside the building. His taunting laughter turns into a splash as he lands in the water below. The little ghost escapes during the chaos and returns home safely.

Foreshadowing: The Ghostal Telegraph flashes 'Boo!' repeatedly right before everything goes wrong, as if foreshadowing his own downfall.

• big ghost
• well
• defeat
• fall
• comeuppance

The little ghost escapes because the bigger ghost's own attack backfires spectacularly. While the big ghost is being propelled wildly through the house by the exploding fireworks, the little ghost, who is smaller, faster, and more agile, takes advantage of the confusion to slip away and flee back to his own house.

• escape
• chaos
• retreat
• opportunity
• flight

December 13, 1939 was actually a Wednesday in real life, not a Saturday. This is a deliberate joke in the cartoon, the fictional 'Saturday Evening Ghost' newspaper uses an unlucky date for comedic effect, playing on the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th and the number 13.

• December 13 1939
• newspaper
• date
• joke
• superstition

The Ghostal Telegraph is a comedic prop used by the big ghost during the interview. It's a telegram delivery system that repeats the word 'Boo!' in a flashing light display, essentially a supernatural version of a scary message. It represents the more absurd, cartoonish technology of the ghost world.

• Ghostal Telegraph
• boo
• message
• scare device
• gag

After surviving the terrifying audition, the little ghost decides the mountain house job is too dangerous. He retreats to his own small, comfortable haunted space where he feels safe. The experience teaches him that not all haunting opportunities are worth pursuing, and he returns to studying his guide book to prepare for better chances ahead.

Foreshadowing: The little ghost is shown happily reading at home before finding the ad, suggesting his cozy home is his preferred environment.

• return home
• safe place
• lesson learned
• cozy house
• comfort

1313 Dracula Drive is a deliberately spooky address that plays on classic horror tropes. The number 13 is traditionally unlucky, and 'Dracula' directly references the most famous vampire in horror fiction. It's a humorous fictional address meant to look like a haunted mansion listing in the ghost classifieds.

• 1313 Dracula Drive
• address
• horror
• vampire
• 13 number