History Main / TheatrePhantom

If a character like this does appear don't expect much reference to the original story. The Theatre Phantom may act similar to the TropeNamer in the original story, but often the other characters and the plot of the original work will never be alluded to at all.

* An abridged version of the original story called "Spooks", featuring the Winkler and Lantz version of WesternAnimation/OswaldTheLuckyRabbit of course has a ghoulish Phantom. After Cornering Oswald he [[GainaxEnding asks "What sound does a chicken make when it lays a square egg?" (Cue Oswald saying "Ow!" From the Phantom slapping him) ",Correct!" And then he disappears.]]

!!Examples of Theatre Phantoms in media:

[[AC:ComicBooks]]

[[AC:{{Film}} - Live Action]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

* The {{Elseworlds}} story ''Franchise/{{Batman}}: Masques'' has 1890s version of Batman fighting a villain called the Phanto who is terrorising the ballet. The Phantom is Harvey Dent, once a proud and accomplished dancer, who was horribly scarred on stage when his costume caught fire from one of the stagelights. He is now obsessed with up and coming ballerina Laura Avian, and will do anything to make her happy. Even commit murder.

# The character will almost always wear some kind of mask.(Oftentimes people forget the original novel's Phantom had a full black mask; the movies made the popular WhiteMaskOfDoom a staple.) Usually this mask covers only half of the character's face, but full masks aren't unheard of.

* The {{Elseworlds}} story ''Franchise/{{Batman}}: Masques'' has 1890s version of Batman fighting a villain called the Phanto who is terrorising the ballet. The Phantom ins Harvey Dent, once a proud and accomplished dancer, who was horribly scarred on stage when his costume caught fire from one of the stagelights. He is now obsessed with up and coming ballerina Laura Avian, and will do anything to make her happy. Even commit murder.

* ''Discworld/{{Masquerade}}'' presents the Literature/{{Discworld}}'s take on ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'', with the mysterious 'Opera Ghost' haunting the Ankh-Morpork Opera House. Ultimately there turns out to be two different Opera Ghosts.

* ''Literature/{{Goosebumps]]'': In ''The Phantom of the Auditorium'', Brooke Rogers and Zeke Matthews are chosen to play Esmeralda and The Phantom in their school's version of ''Thatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'', but a chain of accidents impede production and threaten to have Zeke kicked off the cast.

* In ''Film/ThePhantomOfTheParadise'', a disfigured composer writes his music for a woman he loves so that she will perform his music. However, a record producer betrays him and steals his music to open his rock palace, The Paradise. Betrayed, the composer dons a new appearance and exacts revenge on the producer.

!!! Western Animation:

* WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog had The Great Fusilli, a crocodile who ran a stage that transforms its actors into puppets. Ironically he falls for his own trap when he mistakes Courage for a Theatre Phantom.
* In DanVs, Dan takes on a locally owned theatre by becoming a phantom to ruin it. He dons a mask with a GagNose so the crew won't recognize him.
* ScoobyDoo has gotten some mileage out of this kind of character, the fact that the original story was a ScoobyDooHoax ([[OlderThanTheyThink Long before Scooby Doo was around]]) too probably helps.
* An abridged version of the original story called "Spooks", featuring the Winkler and Lantz version of OswaldTheLuckyRabbit of course has a ghoulish Phantom. After Cornering Oswald he [[GainaxEnding asks "What sound does a chicken make when it lays a square egg?" (Cue Oswald saying "Ow!" From the Phantom slapping him) ",Correct!" And then he disappears.]]

!!! Video games:

* VideoGame/DoctorLautrecAndTheForgottenKnights has the Phantom as the leader of a faction of iron - masked knights.
* The Android game ''Dragon Coins'' has Phantoms as a recruitable {{Mon}}, [[BishounenLine you can get one by evolving a Death Mask]], which is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
* VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}} has The Catwalk Phantom, which is the main villain of a MoodSwinger starlets mind.

Film/ThePhantomOfTheOpera, based off the book and play, is a considered by many to be one of the best movies of all time due to it's gripping combination of drama and horror. The title character himself is very intriguing, being a masked madman with a lot of [[AlasPoorVillain tragedy]] and sadness has made him one of the most iconic villains (if not characters) in movie lore.

As with most successes, the concept of a "phantom of the X" has since been used countless times since it's introduction. In comparison to the original, characters based on the Phantom are often varied. Sometimes they are a CaptainErsatz, sometimes they're a thoughtful parody of their inspiration, but they often share a few key features:

* Don Octavio from ''VideoGame/Sly3HonorAmongThieves'' is a Opera performer turned MadBomber after music tastes changed when his career was taking off. He takes to dressing as a phantom while running the local mafia and planning to extort the populace into seeing him perform.

* Don Octavio from SlyCooper is a Opera performer turned MadBomber after music tastes changed when his career was taking off. He takes to dressing as a phantom while running the local mafia and planning to extort the populace into seeing him perform.

* {{Psychonauts}} has The Catwalk Phantom, which is the main villain of a MoodSwinger starlets mind.

* CourageTheCowardlyDog had The Great Fusilli, a crocodile who ran a stage that transforms its actors into puppets. Ironically he falls for his own trap when he mistakes Courage for a Theatre Phantom.

* DoctorLautrecAndTheForgottenKnights has the Phantom as the leader of a faction of iron - masked knights.

* ScoobyDoo has gotten some mileage out of this kind of character, the fact that the original story was a ScoobyDooHoax to probably helps.

Film/ThePhantomOfTheOpera, based off the book and play, is a considered by many to be one of the best movies of all time due to it gripping combination drama and horror. The title character, likewise, is a very intriguing. being a masked madman with a lot of tragedy and sadness has made him in many peoples opinion, one of the greatest villains (if not characters) in movie lore.

As with most successes, the concept of a "phantom" has since been used countless times since it's introduction. In comparison to the original, characters based on the Phantom are often varied. Sometimes they are a CaptainErsatz, sometimes they're a thoughtful parody of their inspiration, but they often share a few key features:

# the character will almost always wear some kind of mask.(Oftentimes people forget the original novel's Phantom had a full black mask; the movies made the popular WhiteMaskOfDoom a staple.) Often this mask covers only half of the characters face, but full masks aren't unheard of.

# The masked phantom will often haunt a place of entertainment, with live action theaters being the most commonly used as the characters stomping grounds because the Phantom can potentially harm the live people, as well as damage the establishments' revenue and reputation. Sometimes, they aren't associated with a single location at all.

# The Phantom will either be depicted as a BadassNormal, or actually BE a supernatural creature when finally confronted.

# They are a great LargeHam, due to where they dwell and the efforts they make to inspire fear.

# And last (and strangest), If they appear don't expect much reference to the original story. The Phantom may act similar to the original story, but often the other characters and the central plot will never be alluded to at all.

# the masked phantom will often haunt a place of entertainment, live action theaters are most commonly used as this characters stomping grounds because the Phantom can potentially harm the live people, as well as damage the establishments' revenue and reputation. Sometimes, they aren't associated with a single location at all.

# [[WickedCultured They'll often be dressed in a great cape and suit.]]

# They are a great LargeHam, due to their dwelling and effort to inspire fear.

* CourageTheCowardlyDog had The Great Fusilli, a crocodile who ran a stage that transforms its actors into puppets. Ironically he falls for his own trap when he mistakes courage for a Theatre Phantom.

* The Android game ''Dragon Coins'' has Phantoms as a recruitable {{Mon}, [[BishounenLine you can get one by evolving a Death Mask]], which is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
* {{Psychonauts}} has The Catwalk Phantom, which is the main villain of a MoodSwinger actress' mind.