Back in 1960 I started The National William Castle Fan CLub. Within the year I had over 250,000 members and that was before the internet. I gave away membership cards, because, come on, who doesn’t want a membership card to put in their wallet?
And I sent out newsletters like this one.
I love the last paragraph. In case you have trouble reading the faded typed words I have transcribed them here for you:
“Now for more important news!
My new picture, HOMICIDAL, will be coming along within the next few months. I’ve seen some preview scenes of it, and frankly, I’m even afraid to sit through it alone! I’m sure you’re going to shudder to every chill in it. And there’s going to be a big surprise for you when you see HOMICIDAL, though I don’t know how many of you will take advantage of it. Children will shiver….Women will weep…Watch FOR and WATCH OUT FOR HOMICIDAL!
In the meantime let’s hear from you.
William Castle”
I still think HOMICIDAL is one of the scariest films I made aside from “Rosemary’s Baby.”
And there was something about Warren’s teeth.
But dear Emily, she was so good with a dagger. And she kept them sharp. Sharp enough to chop off a head and watch the head slowly tumble down the staircase.
Those were fun days. We filmed the exteriors in a town called Solvang. It is a small Danish community about an hour from Los Angeles.
I picked this location because not long before I made this film, Christine Jorgensen was one of the first widely known people to undergo sex reassignment surgery.
Solvang became the perfect town in which to set this film. Besides I loved it there. They have the most amazing Danish sugar cookies.
I love twist endings and HOMICIDAL has a doozy. REMEMBER, “Don’t give away the ending to anyone who has not seen the film because if they don’t kill you, I will.”
WC
