Ghostbusters Meet the Ghost Riders was a coloring-book storybook-and-cassette set published by Peter Pan Books in 1986. Unlike most Ghostbusters related items this was based on the first movie and not based on the animated series. Peter Pan also released Ghostbusters Meet the Laser Ghost, which also includes the sing-along "Ghostbustin' Machine".
Story[]
A man named Sandy Doonze from Minersville, Colorado calls in the Ghostbusters complaining of a crowd of ghosts haunting the town. After a drive taking exactly three days and three hours by Ray's watch, the four Ghostbusters arrive at the small, deserted mining town and immediately encounter a herd of at least a hundred head of steer being driven by two dozen cowboys on horses; ghost riders chasing a ghost herd through a ghost town.
A bouncing yellow light blinds the Ghostbusters as it approaches, and it turns out to be a lantern held by Sandy Dunes come to meet them and confirm that the ghosts come through every night at about the same time - midnight - and have been for the past two months. Talking with Sandy the Ghostbusters conclude that the ghost riders seem connected to the town's defunct silver mine, which opened when miners drove the original cattlemen out of town but had since apparently dried up. Sandy and two others were the only townspeople remaining, and as ghosts the cowboys were still trying to drive the townspeople away and reclaim their land.
The following night the Ghostbusters and townspeople head to the mine. The townspeople go deep into the mine and make mining noises to attract the ghost riders, and as the ghost riders show up and attempt to enter the mine the Ghostbusters appear at the mine's entrance and obliterate the threat with their laser beams.
After a brief battle the ghosts are gone, and Sandy Doonze is happy to see that the Ghostbusters' laser beams had an unintended side effect; they broke off a layer of rock in the mine and revealed the mother lode of silver, ready to be mined.
Credits[]
The book's title page contains the following credits:
- Script: Gary Marcus
- Art: Tony Tallarico
- Art Direction: John McKinzie
- Production: Joey Porrello & Roger Hatfiel
- © 1986 Columbia Pictures, Inc.
Trivia[]
- Unlike the other Peter Pan Books book-and-tape release Ghostbusters Meet the Laser Ghost, which was a full-color illustrated book, the book in this case is a coloring book. The illustrations are all line drawings made to be colored in. This has resulted in this book being far more rare than the other today, as coloring books are consumable items which don't tend to last as long or get passed along secondhand.
- The song Ghostbustin' Machine is credited to J. Fischer (lyrics) and R. Hatfield (music) © 1984 Rojo Music. The lyrics are printed in the book to sing along with. A short excerpt of the song plays at the beginning of the story, and the full song plays at the end.
- The Ghostbusters' proton packs are referred to as laser beams in this story. No reference is made to ghost traps; in this story the Ghostbusters simply shoot their "laser beams" at the ghosts which apparently neutralizes or destroys them in some manner.
- The Ectomobile is illustrated as more of a van-like than hearse-like shape, without the Cadillac's fins.
- Unlike Ghostbusters Meet the Laser Ghost, it is believed that "Ghostbusters Meet the Ghost Riders" did not have a book-and-record release; the only audio format it was released with was audiocassette.
- The back page features a tear-out mail-in order form for Peter Pan Books merchandise; a Peter Pan Books logo t-shirt and a teddy bear named "Barney the Book Bear."
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