The Hideout

Page with soundtrack

Beetlejuice
by Danny Elfman

Phantom Duck's secret hideout was designed and built by Gyro Gearloose under Donald's house. The hideout's first appearance is in the second Phantom Duck story PAPERINIK ALLA RISCOSSA (THE REVENGE OF PHANTOM DUCK) and it is also shown, with some differences depending on the artist, in most of the Phantom Duck's adventures.
PAPERINIK TORNA A COLPIRE PAPERINIK TORNA A COLPIRE
There are three secret entrances to the hideout, the first one is by an elevator hidden in Donald's bedroom closet, another one is by a trapdoor which is connected to the hideout by the garage, the third one is an emergency tunnel connecting the hideout directly with the house's backyard (this was not shown in the first stories but was created later).
In this hideout Phantom Duck keeps his costume, and all the special devices, some of which belonged to Fantomius and most of the others created by Gyro. PAPERINIK TORNA A COLPIRE
PAPERINIK E LA SCUOLA DEL KRIMEN In the story PAPERINIK E LA SCUOLA DEL KRIMEN (PHANTOM DUCK AND THE KRIMEN SCHOOL) the hideout is equipped with a closed circuit camera which allows to spy Donald's rooms and yard.
In the interesting special published in TOPOLINO n°2409 Jannuary 29, 2002, dedicated to Donald's home, the Architect-artist Blasco Pisapia shows with awesome cutouts the Donald's house and his secret hideout as well.
These really interesting drawings show the hideout itselfs (maybe represented too futuristic according to what is shown in the first Phantom Duck stories) and the various secret entrances: The closet elevator in Donald's bedroom, the excape tunnel which goes directly to the backyard, another entrance in the chimney (in my opinion a little bit exagerated and useless even if it is shown in some less significant post-Guido Martina Phantom Duck stories). The other passage is shown connected to the basement of the house but in this case would be much more logical as shown in the most Phantom Duck stories connected to the garage where the masked duck kept his special car.
Several times Donald's hideout was almost discovered or destroyed. The first time happened in the story PAPERINIK E IL CASTELLO DELLE TRE TORRI (PHANTOM DUCK AND THE THREE TOWERS CASTLE) where Scrooge McDuck decided to sell donald's house to his other nephew Gladstone Gander.
Another really dangerous situation for the hideout is shown in the story PAPERINIK E LA BELLA ADDORMENTATA (PHANTOM DUCK AND THE SLEEPING BEAUTY), where John Rockerduck receives from Scrooge (by a trade with the painting of "Sleeping Beauty") the property of Donald's house, which he intended to destoy in order to build a pool.
For a long time the hideout was not in dangerous until the story PAPERINIK E LA MINACCIA AL RIFUGIO (PHANTOM DUCK AND THE THREAT TO THE HIDEOUT) where Scrooge wanted to create another money storage place just under Donald's house, so Donald is obligated momentarely to transfer all his devices to Villa Rosa's underground.
In this story, like in most of the same period ones, the Phantom Duck's hideout from a simply but comfortable and efficient place is transformed by some artits in an uncomfortable and messy room stuffed with strange devices, masks and useless knick-knacks.
In the recent story PAPERINIK E L'INTRIGO SOTTERRANEO (PHANTOM DUCK AND THE UNDERGROUND INTRIGUE), the building of Duckburg's Subway puts Phantom Duck's hideout at risk once more.
But in the end our hero manages to have the subway line moved, thus saving his secret hideout.
In the very interesting story of Gervasio PAPERINIK E IL TESORO DI DOLLY PAPRIKA (PHANTOM DUCK AND THE TRASURE OF DOLLY PAPRIKA) there is this beautiful view of the secret hideout with Phantom Duck reading one of the Fantomius diary.
Another beautiful hideout drawing in compliance with the original design, is shown in the PANINI stickers album "That's Donald" (1997) in the page dedicated to the Donald's house.
An interesting secret hideout view is shown again in another PANINI stickers album MICKEY & DONALD L'album di TOPOLINO (2003). Also in this case, even if well drawn the hideout is represented too futuristic according to what is shown in the first Phantom Duck stories.
In the same page there is also a sticker (covered with a special thermo-sensible paint) of Villa Rosa but unfortunately not represented in a correct way respect to the original design.
In the issue n.9 of Disney Parade De Agostini's library (2003) dedicated to Phantom Duck, there are two pages concerning the secret hideout with some informations, curiosities and a beautiful view of the hideout which takes reference to the one realized by Blasco Pisapia.
A plastic model of the secret hideout and the relevant Phantom Duck figurine is part of Donald's house kit given as a gift with the Italian comicbook TOPOLINO from number 2606 to 2610 (October-Dicember 2005).
This gadget is a rare piece for the Disney memorabilia collectors, even if it isn't excellent in quality. It is a pitty that for obvious manufacturing and handling problems the hideout has been placed at the ground level and not under the house.