Mayor Winston is the mayor of Normal Valley and the main antagonist of Michael Jackson's Ghosts.
He is portrayed by Michael Jackson who also played the Maestro, the Super Ghoul, and the Mayor Ghoul all in the same short film.
Biography[]
Known for his conservative views and preoccupation with keeping everything "normal" in the town. He ran for office and was elected mayor of the town of Normal Valley. When word reached him of the Maestro's activities, he immediately assumed Maestro was a threat to the citizens' sensibilities. Organizing a mob of concerned citizens, mostly the parents of the children involved, he marched up to Someplace Else and demanded the Maestro leave town. Winston made no attempt to discuss the issue rationally or even to be polite. He made it clear that the Maestro was unwanted and soon resorted to insults, calling him a "freak" and telling him to "go back to the circus".
The Mayor is possesed by SuperGhoul and he becomes in his own ghoul version.
The mayor soon learned his lesson, as the Maestro reacted to his taunts and demands by locking the doors and summoning his ghouls. While the townspeople were eventually won over, Winston continued to antagonize the Maestro. The mayor was soon singled out for a more intense show. The Maestro possessed him and forced him to dance with the ghouls, then transformed Winston's face into a ghoulish version of himself. Now the taunts were directed at the mayor, as the Maestro took control of his mouth and said, "Who's scary now? Who's the freak now? Freaky boy! Freak! Circus freak! Who's scary?".
Winston fought against the possession, forcing the Maestro out of his body. Maestro asked them all if they still wanted him to leave. While the townspeople remained silent, the mayor angrily shouted "Yes!" prompting the Maestro to crumble to dust and blow away.
Believing he had won, the mayor attempted to leave, only to be confronted by a monstrous face in the doorway. Terrified, the mayor fled the mansion, breaking through a window in his escape.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In the first draft of the film when it was called Is This Scary the role of the Mayor was portrayed by actor Ken Jenkins, it was the idea of new director Stan Winston to have Michael play multiple roles including the Mayor.
- It is believed that the design for the Mayor's makeup was modeled after American politician Bull Connor, who was a staunch racial segregationist. Known for his use of police dogs and fire hoses to quell the Civil Rights demonstrations in 1962-63.
- Its also believed that his makeup was also partially modeled after corrupt sheriff H.C Strider. Strider was notable after he tried to quickly bury the body of Emmett Till (a young black boy who was brutally murdered by two white men) and write the whole murder off as a hoax.