Herk Harvey's inspiration for Carnival of Souls came from a late night drive past Salt Lake City's abandoned Saltair amusement park.

Harvey's Carnival crew consisted of only five people besides himself.

While interiors were filmed in Lawrence, Kansas, exteriors were shot on the run on the streets of Salt Lake City.

The organ factory seen in the film is the Reuter Organ Company of Lawrence, Kansas. Because screenwriter John Clifford thought this was an effective location, he made the character of Mary Henry a church organist.

Only one set was built for the film – the doctor's office, constructed at the office of Centron. Car scenes were also filmed at Centron, using projected backgrounds.

When Herk Harvey first saw lead actress Candace Hilligoss, he thought she was too dowdy and considered recasting.

Harvey and his crew were allowed by local authorities to shoot the opening bridge sequence provided they pay for any damages incurred. Harvey later received a bill for $12.

Actor Sidney Berger is blind in the eye Harvey had him use to peek through Candace Hilligoss's room keyhole .

Herk Harvey paid a stranger $25 to drive his van through an alley after a fleeing Candace Hilligoss.

The Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce charged Herk Harvey $50 to shoot for one week inside the ruined Saltair Pavilion.

The ghouls seen waltzing in the Saltair ballroom were hired from a Utah University dance class.

When Carnival of Souls was bought by film distributor Herts-Lion, cuts were made to shorten its length so that it could be double-billed with The Devil's Messenger (1961), starring Lon Chaney.

One of the ghouls seen arising out of Salt Lake at the end of the film is the grandson of Viennese playwright Arthur Schnitzler. When Candace Hilligoss' agent saw Carnival of Souls, he refused to represent her any further.

Compiled by Richard Harland Smith

SOURCES:
Herk Harvey interview, Return of the B Science Fiction and Horror Heroes by Tom Weaver
John Clifford interview, It Came from Weaver Five by Tom Weaver
Candace Hilligoss interview, Attack of the Monster Movie Makers: Interviews with 20 Genre Giants by Tom Weaver
Carnival of Souls liner notes by John Clifford
Carnival of Souls liner notes by Bruce Kawin