American film director, producer and actor. that used gimmicks to promote his films.Macabre (1958)
A certificate for $1,000 life insurance policy was given to each customer in case they should die of fright during the film. Ushers dressed up surgical costumes as ambulances waited outside the theater.
Polyester (1981)
This film features a gimmick named "Odorama". This gimmick allowed the audience to smell what they saw on the screen through scratch and sniff cards.
Odorama
Waters used cards with spots numbered 1 to 10 were given to audience members before the show - very much similiar to how 3d glasses are distributed. When a number flashed on the screen, this indicated when the audience had to scratch and sniff the spot. Smells included the scent of flowers, pizza, glue, gas, grass and feces.
After sniffing the scent of the bouquet of flowers, a brief swap was made to old trainers. This juxtaposition resulted in a joke on the audience.
This gimmick was deeply inspired by the 1960 William Castle filmWaters used cards with spots numbered 1 to 10 were given to audience members before the show - very much similiar to how 3d glasses are distributed. When a number flashed on the screen, this indicated when the audience had to scratch and sniff the spot. Smells included the scent of flowers, pizza, glue, gas, grass and feces.
After sniffing the scent of the bouquet of flowers, a brief swap was made to old trainers. This juxtaposition resulted in a joke on the audience.
On the commentary track for the film, John Waters expressed his delight at having the film's audience "pay to smell shit". Brilliant.
Scent of Mystery
This film was, of course, developed with this crazy technique in mind. This obscure technique was created by Hans Laube. This was the one and only film that featured use of "Smell-O-Vision". This gimmick released 30 different smells into the theater seats when triggered by the film's soundtrack.
In 1960, the film opened in three theaters in NYC, LA and Chicago. At first it did not work properly, when the aromas were released they were released with a distracting hissing noise. Audience members situated in the balcony complained that the scents reached them after the action was shown on the screen. To add to this, some of the odors were too faint, causing audience members to sniff loudly in an attempt to catch the scent.
When technical adjustments were made by the manufacturers, it was too late. The film recieved many negative reviews and failed miserably.
The film aired once on MTV in the 1980s, in conjunction with a convenience store - much like the 3D Week on Channel 4 with Sainbury's.
This film was, of course, developed with this crazy technique in mind. This obscure technique was created by Hans Laube. This was the one and only film that featured use of "Smell-O-Vision". This gimmick released 30 different smells into the theater seats when triggered by the film's soundtrack.
In 1960, the film opened in three theaters in NYC, LA and Chicago. At first it did not work properly, when the aromas were released they were released with a distracting hissing noise. Audience members situated in the balcony complained that the scents reached them after the action was shown on the screen. To add to this, some of the odors were too faint, causing audience members to sniff loudly in an attempt to catch the scent.
When technical adjustments were made by the manufacturers, it was too late. The film recieved many negative reviews and failed miserably.
The film aired once on MTV in the 1980s, in conjunction with a convenience store - much like the 3D Week on Channel 4 with Sainbury's.
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