[Jason Stringer]

Great find Blizzi. And welcome back!

[Witch of Endor]

Is this of Burk or Howard?

[Jason Stringer]

It’s director William Friedkin talking with Linda Blair between takes.

[Witch of Endor]

Gee, maybe the molestation theory was correct, but it wasn’t Burk or Howard but William that was the culprit!

j/k

[fatherbowdern]

(Click to enlarge):

[Witch of Endor]

So the part of Howard was cast! Who’s face was in the photo.

By the way Father, don’t think I don’t appreciate your expertise.

[fatherbowdern]

Ah, sweet mystery … 🙂

[colombiancannon]

The picture of Regan’s dad is actually Jason Miller’s old college pic. Just kidding. If you look closely it does look like him, a foreshadowing? I was curious and enlarged the pic to fullscreen, the pic of Howard almost looks like it’s wearing the Captain Howdy make-up, especially the eyes. I’m not trying to create something here, but enlarge the pic to fullscreen, you’ll see what I mean. It looks like he’s missing eyebows and the mouth is a bit twisted. I was looking at the figurines by the picture, it has a Charlie Brown bobble head, but the head is completely turned around, that’s what I thought I saw. I looked closely, it’s facing normal and it’s just a statue and Snoopy is at the other end of the picture frame, next to a toy giraffe. Go figure.

[Witch of Endor]

Hi Colombian. I don’t want to sound mean but I think your imagination is runny amok here. Don’t see the resemblence to Howdy (it would be apropos) and the Charlie Brown looks fine. Chances are you won’t get much by zooming the screen cap. The resolution isn’t adequate. Maybe when the bluray disc is out we can clear this up, but I don’t expect anything spectacular here. Thanks for the input though.

[fatherbowdern]

I agree. I think everything looks fine … at least for now. Oh, while I was searching for the “who is Howard in The Exorcist,” I ran across this intriguing concept from AMC website:

“One of her imaginary friends, ‘Captain Howdy’ [a play on her father’s name, Howard, and an innocuous, innocent name that would obversely connote fear] …”

I guess you could split hairs on the hypothesis, but it’s quite clever nonetheless.

[Jason Stringer]

Father, I thought this was common knowledge? Friedkin touches on it in his atrocious DVD commentary and it is well suggested (though not blatant) in the book. Hmm. I really should do a write-up as part of the new site.

[fatherbowdern]

Cap, I had no clue (or just let the Howdy/Howard thing rust in the back of my mind). The site is here.

Thanks for letting me know and, yes, one of your great write-ups would be wonderful … 🙂

[Witch of Endor]

I’m surprised you didn’t know this either Fada. Its actually what I was alluding to when I wrote “it would be apropos” above. Maybe Colombia is right about this and we’re wrong. I’m just yet to be convinced. 🙂

[fatherbowdern]

As you grow older, you lose those minute details. 🙂

I’m sure if we get Sofia back online with us, she could point to the pages in the book that actually mention Howard/Howdy.

This is yet another reason to enjoy William Peter Blatty as a wonderful writer …

[Sofia]

All my posts keep getting deleted.. I don’t understand. 🙁

The novel posits a logical explanation for the name , ‘Captain Howdy’, of course. It may indicate a guilt complex caused by the absence of Regan’s father.

Here’s the excerpt where it’s mentioned: (Chapter 1, ouija board scene)

“Chris tried not to frown as she felt a dim and sudden concern. The child had loved her father deeply, yet never had reacted visibly to her parents’ divorce. And Chris didn’t like it. Maybe she cried in her room; she didn’t know. But Chris was fearful she was repressing and that her emotions might one day erupt in some harmful form. A fantasy playmate. It didn’t sound healthy. Why ‘Howdy’? For Howard? Her father? Pretty close.”

[Author]

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