Gracie Mansion

Gracie Mansion
Use:	Mayoral Residence
Appeared In:	Ghostbusters II
Address:	E 88th St & East End Ave, New York, New York, 10128
Founded:	1799 A.D.
Entities Encountered:	Fiorello La Guardia Poltergeist

Gracie Mansion is the official residence of the Mayor of New York City.

History

Primary Canon History

In 1779, it was built in Manhattan on the East River as Belview Mansion. It was later destroyed by the British. In 1799, it was remodeled for Archibald Gracie as a two-story wooden mansion. Gracie Mansion was then purchased by the City of New York in 1897 and made part of the Carl Schurz Park as the Museum of the City of New York. In 1942, Gracie Mansion was selected as the official mayoral residence and appropriated by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.

Decades later, around the time of New Year's Eve, 1989, the Ghostbusters were escorted by the police to Gracie Mansion after they caused an uproar at Armand's Restaurant. Two police officers drove their police squad car up to the front door of Gracie Mansion and sounded its siren. The Mayor's Doorman opened the passenger door. The Ghostbusters got out. The officer driving opened his door. The doorman was amazed to see the Ghostbusters. Peter Venkman asked him how he was doing. The doorman showed them the way and opened the front door for them then asked if he could get a Proton Pack for his little brother. Egon Spengler stated the pack was not a toy. Ray Stantz turned to the doorman in the doorway and admitted Egon was right. They waited in the study. Mayor Lenny and his aid Jack Hardemeyer were pulled from a social event to speak with them. A butler opened the doors of the Gracie Mansion study. Mayor Lenny entered. The Ghostbusters greeted him with open arms. Mayor Lenny was not so cheerful. Winston Zeddemore offered his hand out to shake. Mayor Lenny looked at him, in his slime drenched long underwear. Winston awkwardly pulled his hand away. Mayor Lenny asked if there was a slumber party going on. Jack Hardemeyer snickered. The Ghostbusters all talked at once. Mayor Lenny stopped them and declared they had two minutes to talk to him. Ray stated it was a great pleasure to see him again, and almost 50% of them voted for him in the last election. Mayor Lenny appreciated it. Peter apologized they always had to meet under these circumstances.

Ray informed him a psychomagnotheric slime flow of immense proportions was building up beneath the city. Mayor Lenny had no idea what he said. Egon repeated "psychomagnotheric." Peter quipped it was a big word. Egon explained negative human emotions were materializing in the form of a viscous, psychoreactive plasm with explosive supernormal potential. Mayor Lenny asked if anybody spoke English. Winston volunteered and told him all the bad feelings, all the hate, the anger and vibes of the city was turning into the sludge. Winston admitted he did not believe it at first either, but they just went for a swim in it and ended up almost killing each other. Jack found it all preposterous. Peter asked him to stop his lips from flapping for two little minutes then went over and touched Jack's lips. Peter asked Mayor Lenny if he had been out on the street lately because it got weird lately. He estimated there was three million completely miserable assholes living in the tristate area. Jack rolled his eyes. Peter adjusted his claim to three million and one. Jack took offense. Ray emphasized they had to do something fast or the whole place was going to blow like a frog on a hot plate. Jack was skeptical. Mayor Lenny asked them what he was supposed to go on television and tell ten million people they had to be nice to each other. He stated being miserable and treating other people like dirt was every New Yorker's God-given right. He declared their two minutes were up and bid them good night. Mayor Lenny left the room as they called out. He chose not to agree to help them warn the public about the slime. Egon told him to wait. Ray promised he was making a big mistake. Peter called it a very newsworthy mistake. He mused the Times was going be interested and the polls were going to go down. Jack became alarmed. Winston pitched the headline, "Mayor Hides Slime." Ray suggested, "Times Square Slime". Egon thought of "Slime Square". Ray liked Slime Square. Jack asked them if they would consider telling some of their people downtown about the slime. They seemed amiable. Peter told it had to be done right away. After the Psychomagnotheric Slime began to cause mass manifestations, Mayor Lenny spent one hour speaking to the ghost of Fiorello La Guardia.

IDW Comics

While the Ghostbusters, Special Agent Melanie Ortiz, Kylie Griffin, and the Chicago Ghostbusters were out-of-state searching for the key and Map to Nikulausson's Tomb, Janine Melnitz and Jenny Moran went on a call to Gracie Mansion and captured a troublesome Poltergeist.

Trivia

• In the August 5, 1988 draft:
  • On pages 82-83, the Ghostbusters arrive at Gracie Mansion where the Mayor is already waiting for them. He wants to keep their involvement a secret or risk his job. He asks the Ghostbusters for their help and offers to indemnify and insure the Ghostbusters against any and all damage claims resulting from anything done while in the employ of the city. The Ghostbusters agree and hold a meeting with all city department and agency heads and major business and community leaders.
• In the September 29, 1988 Draft:
  • On page 101, the Ghostbusters meet with the Mayor at Gracie Mansion. He is in a robe and pajamas. He absolutely rejects their plan.
  • On page 102, Peter tells the Mayor to take care of it himself. The Mayor relents. He goes with them to Liberty Island and still can't believe he's letting them use the Statue of Liberty.
• In the November 27, 1988 and February 27, 1989 draft:
  • On page 97, Peter jokes at the Mayor's party there's tons of bad caviar, Iranian terrorists, one in every five eggs is poisoned one and they know which ones, and they have to get there before the canapes. The cop frowns. Peter tells him to just make the call. Ecto-2, later Ecto-1a, drives to Gracie Mansion. The Ghostbusters are given police raincoats to wear. The Mayor is already in his study and grumbles he has 200 of the heaviest campaign contributors in the city eating a bad roast chicken waiting for him to give the speech of his life. Winston suggests they tell him about the Animated Toaster. They start thinking about going to the Times or the Post.
• The Gracie Mansion scenes were filmed at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, California.
• On page 13 panel 2 to 4 of Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #3, the blue Post-it note references Gracie Mansion and its address.
• On page 16 of Ghostbusters 101 #5, panel 1, the headstone is Archibald Gracie's. A prominent businessman whose former home is now famously known as Gracie Mansion.

Appearances

Primary Canon Appearances

• Ghostbusters II
  • Chapter 19: Scaring the Straights

Expanded Universe

• Ghostbusters II
  • Deleted Scenes
    • He Had Me by the Throat

Secondary Canon Appearances

• IDW Comics
  • Ongoing Series
    • Volume 3
      • Ghostbusters International #9
        • On page 2, Janine mentions Gracie Mansion.

Gallery

Primary Canon Images

Secondary Canon Images

Referenced in Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #3