This best-selling book and record-breaking box office movie re-defined the horror genre. But where did the core story come from? It’s actually based on a supposedly legitimate case of possession attested to in writing by over 50 witnesses. A Catholic Archbishop granted a rare approval of the ritual’s use. As it occurred in the area, "The Washington Post" published a front page, above-the-fold article, on the exorcism back in 1949, weeks after it occurred. Then a student at Georgetown University, future book author/screenwriter/film producer - William Peter Blatty - read the article and was inspired to pen what has become a $$ multi-billion dollar franchise. We re-open the original 1949 case to examine if it has merit, if demonic possession is genuinely possible, or just a manifestation of mental illness.

Please reach out to us at contact@scandalsheetpod.com or find us on Facebook as 'Scandal Sheet' or on X (formerly twitter) at @scandal_sheet. We’d love to hear from you.

“The Exorcist” Turns 50 –  A True Story?

Frequent guest contributor to WFAN sports radio in New York City, “Leonardo from Manhattan,” self-described Nats hater (he even hates the food in our ball park!) joins the Cheap Seats crew to represent our seminal rival and current Division leader, the Mets.

Comments and feedback are welcome at: thecheapseatsdc@gmail.com.  Each email is entered into a drawing for an official FTCS t-shirt!

Introducing Our Mets Correspondent

A Millennial girl and a Gen Xer guy deconstruct the Washington Nationals and the game of MLB baseball generally. Both devotional and irreverent, we blow up the “sports talk” genre with humorous, unapologetic, and shamelessly opinionated baseball news outside the press box, the dugout, and the stadium urinals.

“The Exorcist” Turns 50 – A True Story?

From The Cheap Seats

Related tracks