Scare-Meister William Castle is one of cinema's all time great showmen and a pioneer of innovative promotions. In the late 1950's, the film industry had to up their game in order to compete with the burgeoning TV business, and this created all kinds of wacky attempts to get movie goers back into the theaters. Quite the showman, Castle employed actual real life theatrics, including skeletons that would dangle at key moments from the ceiling; vibrating seats; light shocks administered to the seats; and even a "Certificate of Cowardice," given to anyone who could not brave the entire movie!
Post a comment!