If you’re familiar with the movie The Exorcist you’re probably acutely aware of the final scene where a priest is thrown through the window and then falls down some stairs. If you’re not familiar with the movie I highly encourage you to go watch it. It’s the kind of movie that set the standard in the genre for decades. It still stands in as a classic in almost any critic’s book. Regardless of whether or not you’ve seen it you can view the scene briefly below.
Now that you’re up to speed I’d like to talk about the stairs that Jason Miller (Father Karras) falls down and the house next to it. These stairs , it turns out are not to far from where I work. They are in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Incidentally the story was written by a Georgetown University graduate. You can see a few pictures of the stairs and house below.
I sort of fancy myself as a pop culture buff and Americana trivia geek. I think these stairs and the adjoining house fall directly into those two categories. I pass by these stairs regularly as a part of my lunch time runs and it’s always a treat to see them, except when I incorporate them into my workouts. There are other neat little things to see all around the D.C. area. Perhaps you are familiar with some of them, perhaps you aren’t. What I would like to know is, what would you like to see? Is it something that might be close to me? Tell me. It might be something I don’t know about. I may be inclined to alter my running path around to go see it, and then do a post about it. It would be great if it’s not something widely known (ie not the Washington Monument) Also if you’re planning on making a visit to the DC area, or are already here, let me know. I would love to have lunch with you. We can revel in our mutual geekiness.
^^This is a view from the bottom of the stairs, there are 75 steps in total.
^^Here is a view from the top of the stairs. Can you imagine falling down those?
Next to the stairs is the house from which he fell out of the window. Most of the view is blocked by trees, this is the best shot I could get with my camera phone.
This sign offers up a bit of information about the stairs and some other Hollywood landmarks in the Washington, D.C. area.
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