Description |
xiii, 237 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm |
Contents |
Preface -- 1. She was a plant, of course -- 2. Can you take Percepto? -- 3. They'll talk about Spyros Souras -- 4. It comes right at you -- 5. Blubberscope, whatever ... -- 6. Witch deflectors and fear flashers -- 7. 16 cameras! 1,600 camels! -- 8. Spots before your ears -- 9. Epilogue: The good old days -- Filmography of works mentioned in text -- Bibliography -- Index |
Summary |
William Castle, for instance, was a master promoter. In one scheme involving The Tingler, Vincent Price warns in the movie that "the only way to stop the monster is to scream. That's the signal to the projectionist to throw the switch. Under ten or twelve seats were some electric motors, war surplus things that Castle got a bargain on. The motors vibrated the seat, in the hope of scaring a scream out of someone. Just in case it didn't Castle planted someone in the audience to get the screams rolling." This book is about flamboyant promotion, the con artist side of the movie world--everything the ballyhoo boys did to separate the customer from the price of a movie ticket--Emergo, HypnoVista, 3-D, Wide Screen, Cinemagic, Duo-Vision, Dynamation, Smell-O-Vision, plenty more. Supporting the text are 107 photos and illustrations, some never-before-published, and a filmography. -- back cover |
Notes |
Reprint. Originally published: McFarland, 1989 |
Bibliography |
Includes filmography (pages 195-224) |
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Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-226) and index |
Subject |
Advertising -- Motion pictures.
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Cinematography -- Special effects -- United States.
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Genre/Form |
Motion pictures.
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ISBN |
0786411147 |
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9780786411146 |
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