One of the first supernatural figures encountered in the original Ghostbusters has found a fitting new home.
Pop-culture historian, author and collector Mike Drake presented Gotham Cinema Rides with a life-mask casting of actress Ruth Hale Oliver, whose unforgettable appearance as the Library Ghost helped establish the strange, funny and frightening world of the 1984 film. The casting was donated as a permanent gift for Gotham Cinema Rides’ collection of Ghostbusters memorabilia. The presentation was photographed alongside the company’s Ecto-1 in front of The Museum Of Moving Image in Astoria, Queens.
“The Library Ghost gives audiences their first real demonstration of what the Ghostbusters are up against,” said Drake. “Ruth Hale Oliver appears quiet and almost reassuring before delivering one of the film’s greatest scares. I wanted this casting to go somewhere it could be appreciated by people who genuinely love Ghostbusters and share that enthusiasm with the public. Gotham Cinema Rides could not be a more appropriate home.”
Gotham Cinema Rides lets fans experience New York from inside a meticulously detailed Ecto-1. Used by Sony to promote Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the vehicle now hosts the company’s Ghost Tours of NYC and is available for special events. The experience combines an iconic movie car with the streets the Ghostbusters famously protect.
The donation also offered a preview of Drake’s upcoming presentation, “Life Masks in Cinema,” taking place Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. During the approximately 60-minute program, Drake will explore the history of life masks and their frequently overlooked role in motion pictures. Rare photographs, production stories and actual masks available for close examination will demonstrate how facial castings have contributed to makeup effects, character transformations and screen-accurate collectibles. The Library Ghost mask will be among the pieces discussed. One attendee will also receive a life mask to take home and begin a cinematic collection.
“Life masks occupy a fascinating place where art, technology, craftsmanship and film history meet,” Drake added. “Most moviegoers have seen the results of this process without realizing how important it was in creating what appeared onscreen.”
“Life Masks in Cinema” is free with advance RSVP. Museum of the Moving Image is located at 36-01 35 Avenue in Astoria. Event information and registration are available at https://movingimage.org/event/life-masks-in-cinema/.
To learn more about Gotham Cinema Rides’ Ecto-1 and its Ghost Tours of NYC, visit https://www.gothamcinemarides.com/ecto1.
Ghostbusters Masks courtesy of Trick Or Treat Studios https://trickortreatstudios.com/collections/ghostbusters
Photo by Tony Behar
