William Castle

William Castle (April 24, 1914?May 31, 1977) born William Schloss, was an American film director, producer, and actor.

Gimmicks used by Castle

• "Percepto" for The Tingler. Electrified theatre seats shocked the audience during the movie.
• "Illusion-O" for 13 Ghosts. Special 3-D viewing glasses reveal the ghosts.
• "Emergo" for House on Haunted Hill. Inflatable skeletons flew over the audience.
• "Fright Break" for Homicidal. Theatres gave out certificates that would allow refunds to frightened audience members if they left before the last five minutes. When people started using it to essentially see most of the movie for free, a "coward's walk" was added in order to redeem the refund, and the threat of public humiliation was responsible in greatly reducing the refunds given.
• "Fright Insurance Policy" for Macabre. Showings also had ushers dressed in surgical garb with ambulances outside theater.
• Seat belts for I Saw What You Did.
• "Punishment Poll" for Mr. Sardonicus. Audiences voted to kill or spare the villain. However, the voting devices in fact did nothing, and only one ending existed.