Following an already established career in Hollywood as a director, William Castle set out on his own and began his own independent production company in the 50s, taking his knack for showmanship to the nth degree. Castle churned out a series of B-movies that have since become classics in addition to some being remade by the Hollywood system he left behind; House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler, 13 Ghosts. What made these schlock fests more than what they were, however, were the ostentatious gimmicks that accompanied their screenings. I’m talking real skeletons flying over the audience on a wire or theater seats that would vibrate during the scariest scenes, not to mention ticket refunds for people too frightened to sit through the whole film. In celebration of Castle’s birth and just in time for Halloween, the Brattle Theatre is running a handpicked series of the impresario’s best. No refunds, though.