I don’t remember where I found the first photo, but it shows the Kallet Capitol Theatre, now Rome Capitol Theatre, in Rome, New York. Note the two Disney movies on the right side of the marquee: Snowball Express (1972), a staple at elementary schools across America throughout the 1970s, and The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973).
The second photo, from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, shows The Exorcist UK premiere at London’s Leicester Square Theatre on March 13, 1974. It’s playing with Enter the Dragon. Remember that the next time someone says movies today are just as good as they used to be.
The Exorcist remains the most unforgettably frightening movie ever made, in my opinion, although I still think Jaws is the greatest horror movie ever made. The video below shows many more marquees and premieres, as well as audience reactions to the blockbuster, including lots of fainting.
2 Warps to Neptune 
Ah yes, the all-time classic…hands down the most frightening film I’ve ever seen. Never will be topped. You know they have it in the total bargain bin at the Albertson’s by my house? $5.99. I’m going to have to pick it up.
I’m trying to remember when I first saw that movie, and I think I was 8-9 years old (1978-79). The 360º spinning head thing gave me nightmares for awhile, but I survived.
Yet, they’re having an outdoor screening of The Conjuring at the park right by my house this weekend, and I’m hesitant to show that to my boy, who’s 8 yrs. old. It’s not even half as scary as The Exorcist. What gives??
When we saw scary movies, we had a whole bunch of friends that saw it too, and we all dealt with it together. Your boy doesn’t have that, I bet.
And I saw The Exorcist on the sly. I don’t think I would let my kids watch The Conjuring at 8. Night of the Living Dead, maybe. You know, the classics.