What are the real - life events that might have inspired 'House on Haunted Hill'?

One possible real - life event could be old, abandoned houses in the countryside that give off an eerie vibe. People might have been scared to go near them because of strange noises coming from inside. This could be a basis for the spooky atmosphere of Hill House.

The movie could draw from a variety of real - life phenomena. There are accounts of places where people feel an overwhelming sense of dread or unease for no apparent reason. Also, stories of electrical equipment malfunctioning in certain old buildings in a seemingly paranormal way. And then there are the tales of people having vivid nightmares or feeling like they're being watched when they stay in old, creepy places. All these could be the building blocks of the 'House on Haunted Hill' story, which has been fictionalized and dramatized for the screen.

Shirley Jackson was likely influenced by the general cultural atmosphere of the time regarding the supernatural. In many places, there were stories of houses with a history of misfortune or death, and these houses were often thought to be haunted. There could have been a particular house she heard about where people reported strange happenings like doors opening and closing on their own, or objects moving without any explanation. She might have taken these kinds of stories and combined them with her own imagination to create the detailed and terrifying world of Hill House.

Perhaps it was based on personal accounts of people who claimed to have had supernatural experiences in old, large mansions. There could have been stories of apparitions, cold spots, or objects moving on their own in such houses. The filmmakers might have collected these types of stories and used them as building blocks to create the story for 'House on Haunted Hill', adding their own fictional elements to make it a full - fledged horror movie.

The idea of a regular person interacting with a celebrity in an unexpected way. Like how in real life, fans might randomly meet their idols and something special could happen.

It could be inspired by the real - life power struggles. In society, there are often people vying for power and wealth, just like the villains in the story who are after the Baudelaire orphans' fortune. Also, the feeling of being constantly on the run and in danger might be based on the experiences of some persecuted groups in history.

The 'Haunted Hill House' may draw from real - story elements. There are places that have a reputation for being haunted. These places often have a long history, and sometimes their architecture or location might play a role. For instance, an old mansion on a hill that has been through many generations and has a history of family tragedies. People might have heard strange sounds coming from it at night or seen lights when no one was supposed to be there. All these real - world haunted - place stories could be related to the 'Haunted Hill House' concept.

One of the supposed true events is that there were strange lights seen in the attic at night. Another is that people heard footsteps when no one was around.

The rumors of a strange presence in the Paris Opera House catacombs could be one. Also, there might have been stories of people with disfigurements being shunned in society at that time, which could have contributed to the creation of Erik's character.

Shirley Jackson was likely inspired by rumors and tales of haunted houses she had come across. These could be local stories in the areas she lived or visited.